Using hair dye at home can be a scary process. Sometimes we act on impulse and decide that we need a change, but it is good to decide whether or not we want it permanent or only for a moment.
Professional Opinion
Professional hair-stylists tend to hate box dye because of how hard it is to get out. A big problem with box dye is how hard it is to come out. Dark colors, reds and purples contain pigments that are hard to come out. Since box dyes already contain a lot of pigment, this will make it a lot harder for even a professional to remove. If you bleach your hair after dying it red or black, it will pull shades of red, orange, yellow and green.
Laura Czech says when she tried to go blonde at home, her hair turned green leaving her with dry, brittle, breaking green hair.
Making your hair darker is a lot easier and safer to do at home rather than going lighter. If you are planning to go lighter, it is recommended to get it professionally done. Bleaches from drugstores are not the same as bleaches at a salon. They tend to contain different developer volumes and some may be too much for your hair. Sometimes, the directions aren’t clear enough as well. When lightening your hair especially with bleach, you should be checking on your hair every 10-15 minutes. Some directions don’t specify that you have to and this can lead to your hair breaking, drying and even falling out.
Another problem that people don’t realize is that everyone has different hair. Everyone’s hair has different hydration levels, porosity and curl patterns. People with curly hair have to hydrate it and put products in it which may affect the result of your hair after using box dye.
Damaging Chemicals
Box dyes contain chemicals like PPDs, ammonia and salts which can severely damage the hair leaving it dry, brittle, and cause it to break. This can also occur when going to a professional, but professionals are prepared when your hair is going to go wrong.
Laura Czech says, “Before my senior pictures, I wanted to go blonde at home. The next day my hair was green and falling out.”
Ammonia is a colorless highly irritating gas with a sharp suffocating odor. When ammonia is concentrated, it is corrosive to tissues upon contact.
Best Drugstore Box Dyes
There are lots of different hair care brands that we know and love but some of their hair dyes aren’t so great. Some can be so damaging that you will spend more money on repairing it then coloring it.
Sometimes it can go right, and won’t affect the outcome of a professional dye. Sofia Sokolow went from blonde to dark brown using Loreal box dye and it was an easy process. She then went to a professional and got high-lights, her hairstylist’s work wasn’t affected from the dye.
If you want to permanently dye your hair, Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Color is a perfect option. This hair dye gives you a hydrating and shiny look that a salon usually gives you. It is oil based which will leave the hair hydrated and not as damaged. It also doesn’t contain ammonia which is a damaging chemical that is actually toxic.
If you are looking for a change but not permanently, Clairol Natural Instincts Semi-Permanent Hair Color is the perfect match. this hair dye is infused with aloe and coconut oil which will keep your hair healthy, shiny and moisturized.