Best Blonde For Dark Hair (2024 Update)

I really liked how this turned out on my hair. My hair is already pretty dark but my roots grow in pretty fast so this was absolutely needed. It does not have a super strong chemical smell, and left my hair feeling soft: I have problems using color that often damages my curl pattern. This did not! This is my hair immediately after wash. And!!! This is affordable and inclusive for natural hair. Good job, love it you guys!alejandra.m

For reference my hair is a medium to light brown with an ash undertone and some gray hairs. Midnight blue is really nice with an undertone of a blue tint but no actual blue to your hair. Jet black is very dark, sharp and glossy looking. Natural black still solid coverage but a softer tone to it. Chestnut brown has a golden almost auburn color to it. Red hot rhythms is stunning when first applied but quickly loses color in less than a week making your hair look very much like a box dye job. Golden blond is true golden warm tone but again you need a professional to lighten your hair first in order for the color to take all the way through your hair. I don't know who has their nose broken, but the conditioner smells absolutely fabulous. Reminds of a salon honestly. obviously when you're dying you need to have a fan going but even that's not a bad smell. Bottom line as with any color going darker than your hair tone is always easy and possible. And going lighter impossible without a bleach or toner to lighten it first before depositing color. Gray coverage 90%.SERINA

I really liked this brand, it was new to me and this is how I feel about it. Now that I’ve went through the process of dying my hair and the color has now been in for a full day. First the packaging was very neat and you knew what you were working with. Once opened everything was in the box with easy to read instructions. I was super excited to see the dye bottle was a twist off top. Usually I have to cut the tip of the dye bottle in the boxes dye that I normally use. The dye mixed after a few hard shakes, but once I poured into my hair I could see that it didn’t mix all the way so had to give a bit more hard shakes to get it to fully mix. The liquid itself was runny, I like my hair dye a bit less runny. The smell of it was not too powering, and once on the head and scalp it did burn a bit while I sat to catch my hair. The washout was nice and not messy. A few rinses and it came out clear. The product came with a very nice sized conditioner, that has left my hair super soft. The conditioner had a very nice smell. It reminded me of tropical fruit. My hair still smells like it, and I work all day. All my hair caught the color and came out great. I would recommend trying this brand if you have it within reach. I’m happy I was able to receive this for free, and try it out.nurina.g

Go with Excellence. I normally use L’Oréal Excellence but decided to tried something different and tried Preference in same shade I usually use in dark ash brown. Well, Excellence does a better job… Preference faded and washed out from my gray roots. I had to do a double take to make sure I used permanent dye. Well it was! I have partial gray areas I use the dye to cover. I don’t recall having this issue w/ Excellence. If you have gray you’re looking to cover, go with Excellence. More user friendly also since it’s cream based not liquid as well.Target Shopper

I didn't approve or ask for this shade! I got starry black. I'm a natural blonde. In order for me to achieve black hair that doesn't turn green after the 1st wash,I would have to do a filler color first like a medium brown. I don't want to put all those chemicals on my hair. Plus I don't want black hair! I DID NOT USE THIS! I have used feria in the past though, I have used their bleaching kit and their auburn, red and black cherry shades. It is the only box dye I will use. It not only has an essential oil you add to it for a better smell but it also helps the hair feel softer and more hydrated as well as look shiny and healthy, well as healthy as dyed hair can look. For a box dye it's not bad. If I had gotten a color I approved of I totally would have used it! My daughter has medium golden brown hair and has been debating allowing me to use this on her. I will update with photos if that happens.julie.h

I don't know if I got a defective kit, but this product did pretty much nothing on my hair. I got it with the understanding that the result would be slightly redder than the swatches, as I was using this to reduce a brassy faded red color that did not take and lighten my light brown hair to a strawberry blonde. My original shade does, in fact match the light brown swatch on the product. However, after application, there was very little difference in the result and certainly nowhere near the lighter blonde swatch that was shown on the package. The product did not thicken very quickly when mixed (which is unusual for hair color but not unexpected as some color mixes will thicken a lot whereas some will thicken very little) and turned to a gel-like consistency after approximately 10 minutes. The product shows a 1-3 level lift on light brown to blonde hair. This product did not provide even a 1 level lift on my hair, which has always been very easy to color, even with this product line in other shades. Honestly, I could have gotten a better result with a product like 'Sun-in'. So I was very disappointed in this product and would not recommend 8.5A Champagne Blonde to anyone needing a light brown/dark blonde to a lighter blonde result. It did not work and wasted my time and money.stormraven523

Really impressed with this. I bought 7 Dark Blonde after a particularly bad 'balayage' job (mostly awful white/yellow highlights) and the colour has come out exactly as it's shown on the box. I still had my natural light brown roots and this has blended really well after being on for 20 minutes. It's obviously not the colour I wanted when I set out trying to be lighter with the initial balayage attempt, but it has rescued my hair from that disaster, and at least I can leave the house again without a hat! It's in no way very dark, and as it's a semi dye it will fade and the lighter colours will come through again a bit more in time. If you're despairing about a terrible blonde dye job and want to get back to a dark blonde/lighter brown then this is for you. I did use a purple shampoo on my hair a few days before I used the dye, although I'm not sure how much difference it made to this outcome. This dye seems to have redder tones to it after application which might freak you out initially, but it settles and blends. It does give good coverage, and the blonde comes through with subtle tones, so don't use it if you want to still be mainly a light blonde colour, you will most likely be the colour on the box. If you're looking for something to just tone down yellow brassiness then I don't think this will be for you, as I think it will initially cover your blonde. As ever, it's good to do a patch test if you're not sure you'll like the final results.Anna

I have been using this brand haircolor for years, trying different shades. I recently went through chemo therapy and lost all my hair. Since it’s grown back in its come in with a lot of grey. I have naturally medium brown hair. It is in excellent condition and thought I would color it with this new formula. So many reviews state the new formula is not as good as the old, I love the new formula. No burning on application, no hot roots, more even coverage. Many reviews also stated that the sheets are much darker than reflected on the box. For this reason I purchased suede light brown. It is so dark! Thankfully I don’t mind dark hair on myself. This is the only negative. My hair feels so soft and fluffy. And it was great at covering my greys! I will definitely purchase again. I have included photos of my natural hair and after I applied the hair color.FanGirlTG

I used to color my hair with Clairol Natural Instincts about 10 years ago and never had an issue. With a special event coming up I decided to freshen my hair up with some color. Upon reading the instructions it seemed as if the product had improved since I last used it. I bought two packages, but one bottle covered my shoulder-length hair just fine. However, after applying and rinsing out the product as instructed, I noticed that my hair didn't feel very good. Back in the day it used to leave my hair super silky and soft, like a model in a shampoo commercial. But the real horror happened after I dried my hair and realized that the color I got was NOT the color on the box! I selected #4 dark brown to get a Hersheys dark chocolate color. Instead my hair came out looking like kona coffee grounds in water (aka, almost black). It looks completely unnatural and now I'm trying to desperately get it to wash out early. (In the shower for the first wash since coloring, my hair felt like even more of a bird's nest than when I rinsed the dye out. Bleh!) I have now sworn off hair dye for the rest of my life. Hopefully by the time I get to the special event this weekend some of it will have washed out.Amanda

Have been dying my grey roots every 3-4 weeks for about 10 years now and nice n easy in 6N (half a box) had been my drug of choice up to now. Few formula changes later and am ready to try something different. I like that I can easily measure out what I need to use as both are liquid and mixed in a 1:1 ratio. I love that there is no overpowering odour striking as soon as mixing happens although slightly unnerving that this mixes into a plastic-like gel with no other odour?(Not sure how natural it is?) It is odd but you do get used to it, just don’t get lulled into a false sense of security and make sure you take usual precautions to clean up any spillages etc as it does stain quickly as with any other dyes. Colour-wise is about equivalent to nice n easy one and covers grey well but does seem to fade quite quickly so have just started adding a couple of capfuls of 5N to half bottle 6N when applying to roots then rest of 6N for last 5 mins on rest of hair. Bought few boxes in a recent deal so got really good price – making it more on par with other hair dyes.DancingDonnaDee

This is a lovely hair colouring product: easy to use and great colour results. The smell is, not unpleasant, just different. My only criticism would be that using it on my level 7/8 hair, I used 8A, there isnt enough ash in it to counteract the orange undertone that kicks up when you lighten in that mid blonde range, so it looks a bit warmer than I would have liked. Toning shampoo (blue) helps. It will probably get cooler on my second use when I retouch my roots. It looked lovely on the lighter parts of my hair though so my advice would be to use it if your hair is lighter than a level 8, but be prepared for your colour to be warmer than ash if its darker. The hair mask thats included has a, again not unpleasant, smell to it thats different, but gives lovely, shiny results. I will be using this colour product again and would recommend it.aunty_deedee

This hair colour does a great job of covering my VERY stubborn greys. And keeping them covered for a good 6 weeks. I tried a couple of others during the pandemic and once I tried this, I never went back. When salons opened, the stylist was actually pretty impressed by how healthy my hair and how “soft” the colour looked. Definitely use the quinoa mask that comes with it. And don’t scrimp on the conditioner and/or leave in conditioner and your hair will look fab!TORONTOMOM

I picked this colour probably about 6 to 12 months ago. Wasn't sure about it at first. I have dark brown hair naturally. I usually dye it a chestnut colour. So this is a bit different than what I usually dye my hair with. But people have been complimenting how they love the colour my hair, so I kept it this colour since then, and I absolutely love it. It is my favorite colour for my hair. I really hope they don't discontinue this colour, as this will probably be my lifetime hair colour lol….. Although I'm having troubles finding it in stores right now, so it's making me a little worried that is just a limited time. And if that's the case, I don't know what to do for my hair colour. Go back to my chestnut colours. I do recommend this color and product. Love how it feels in my hair. My hair soft and the colour is very vibrant. It lasts long time. I do wash my hair with cool to cold water though. It helps keep the red bright longer. One thing though, it does continue to run every time you wash your hair so when your hair is wet it will stain your towels, or your shirts, or bed, or pillows. But I guess that's part of dying your hair red as it will always have the colour run. Does a great job at covering up the grey hair. Please keep this colour!!SPARKLES

This is the first time I have ever dyed my hair, I’ve had naturally red curly hair all my life but wanted to change it up a bit. I’ve always wanted to dye my hair burgundy so I got shade BR2 passion fruit. I will say it is such a pretty color but it isn’t exactly like the picture on the box. I’m sure that’s to be expected especially since I already have natural red hair. The color turned my red hair into a darker color with purple undertones, there’s definitely a noticeable difference which is what I was looking for. The reason for 3 stars is because this hair dye smells absolutely HORRIBLE. The whole time I was applying it to my hair my eyes were watering as well as my nose burning. It felt like I had inhaled a ton of chemicals, even almost 10 hours later It still feels as if I’d inhaled chemicals. Unfortunately I won’t be repurchasing due to this reason because I will not put myself through that again!sarah199

This was my first time dying my hair at home. I have medium brown hair and when longer it has natural highlights. Since I wear it short, the darker colors clash with the gray, so I got this since the box matched my natural color. It definitely covered all gray and was easy to apply (I used bowl and brush instead of squeeze bottle). However, it came out as a copper color highlighting my hair, not simple ash brown. I like the color, though! But it’s just not what was on the box. The other nice thing about this color compared to colors I’ve had at salons is it didn’t irritate my skin at all. I have very sensitive skin, and this didn’t sting or burn, like I’ve had from salons. Also a plus is the after color conditioner. It leaves your hair SOO soft and smooth. I’m continuing to use it about twice a week to keep my hair smooth since the small bottle lasts a while on short hair.LucasA

I received this product and was eager to trial it. There’s nothing quite like a colour touch up to make you feel a little more refreshed and energised! The product was super easy to use and everything needed was contained in one compact box. I followed the directions with ease and all progressed to plan. The end result was reasonably true to the desired colour although my hair did end up more orange than I had anticipated. I accept this can happen with hair colours because there are so many factors that contribute to the end result. The hair colour did address my primary concern – covering the dreaded greys! The smell was not offensive as can happen with some brands and I liked the fuss free application process. A major benefit is the convenience of doing this at home at a time that suits me and a cost that is budget friendly! I have had my colour now for a week and the colour at this stage is still looking fresh with great coverage. I would suggest that anyone with thick hair or very long hair should invest in two packets and not chance a dye disaster!! I have long hair but it is very thin so one packet for me was sufficient. Overall – I will be using this product again!Elle B.

I received this hair dye to trial as part of the Beauty Review Crew. I have used this brand of hair dye a few times over the past couple years. In particular, I have used the shade 'Darkest brown' which is the same shade I'm trialing today. The shade has always been is a lovely vibrant colour and the colour result is similar to my natural hair colour. The dye promises to 100% grey hair coverage and it lives up to its promise. Preparing the dye for application is nice and easy. After applying the gloves that are included in the packaging, you pour the colour formula into the bottle of developer before placing the lid back on and shaking the bottle until completely mixed. It's that easy! Then starting at the roots, you evenly apply the dye. The dye goes on smoothly and, surprisingly, the dye scent isn't as strong as other brands. Other brands tend to have a strong chemical smell which makes my eyes water and nose tingle when breathing it in. Clairol have done a great job at producing a hair product with a low scent. One of the best things about Clairol's nice n' easy hair dyes is the short processing times. Unlike other brands that have a processing time of upwards to an hour to reach your desired shade, these dye have an average processing time of just 25 minutes. The short processing time means you can dye your hair during your lunch break, before a night out, or before a date, without it taking up too much of your time. The rinsing process is also quite a smooth and easy process. After applying some warm water, give your hear/head a little massage and then rinse until the water runs clear from all the dye. It normally takes around two minutes for the water to run clear. Then using the conditioning Clairol conditioning treatment that comes with the hair dye, you apply from roots to tips and leave for a couple minutes before rinsing. The conditioning treatment has a lovely scent and is nice and thick. It's almost like applying a luxurious hair mask. It glides onto the hair smoothly and evenly. After rinsing the conditioning treatment you can instantly feel how hydrated you hair feels. Dying your hair often dehydrates it and your hair can feel a little worse for wear. Clairol's hair dyes are gentle on your hair and the conditioning treatment prevents damage and keeps your hair hydrated and feeling lovely. After towel-drying my hair, I blow-dried my hair until was dry. Looking in the mirror you could instantly see how vibrant and lovely the hair colour result was, and it looked and felt really healthy. I am always so very impressed with the results every time and I often get compliments from friends and family members. As my hair grows fairly quickly, I use this product every 2-3 months to help cover grey hairs. Despite dying my hair so regularly, my hair has remained healthy and manageable, and hasn't compromised my hair in any way. The only downside I can mention is that the dye stains your skin. Normally hair spray or acetone on a cotton ball or cotton pad helps remove hair dyes from skin but I found this dye to be lot stronger and barely budged from the skin. I also tried scrubbing with soap and dishwashing detergent but the dye only faded slightly. It took a few days of scubbing before the dye faded completely. The best thing of all about Clairol's Nice n' Easy hair dyes are they cost just $9 from your local supermarket. Sometimes, you can grab them on special for just $6! SIX BUCKS! Now that's what you call a bargain! Why pay $200+ t an expensive hairdresser when you can get almost the same results for just $9.Fallon G.

Staff Review by BC's Tamara I'm not going to lie – I have greys. Lots of them. But the Clairol Nice'n Easy Permanent Hair Dye did a mighty fine job of making them disappear! I have actually used this dye in the past, and can't recommend it enough. The range of colours on offer is wonderful as there is something there for everyone. I have dull brown hair, so usually opt for a warm shade to brighten my colour – I used the Medium Chestnut Brown 5RB. The instructions are clear and easy to follow and after spending 10 mins applying the product as thoroughly as I could, it took a simple 25 minutes to penetrate before washing it out and conditioning. The colour completely covered my greys (which was my main objective), but overall my hair looks so much healthier as it is shiny and the colour has more life to it. My favourite thing about this dye is that the colour brings out the natural highlights I have and it looks really natural. At $12.99 the Clairol Nice'n Easy is a bargain as it is a high quality product and I would recommend it!BC's Tamara C.

I have very light gray coming in on my sides and wanted to cover it for a bit longer. My natural colour is dark ash blonde. So I chose Revlon 60. I left it on longer as per the instructions for covering gray which it supposedly does 100% and had good hair saturation. And 5 minutes prior to rinsing I combed the remainder through my hair. I'm experienced with box colouring. Result? Red and patchy gray coverage. It's a cheap colour so I shouldn't be surprised. I do not recommend. At all.Jo

I recently purchased 2 boxes of Revlon Colorsilk Honey Blonde #42 and I was disappointed by the products results for my daughter's 3b/c dark brown hair. The product doesnt lift the hair color enough to show and all around color difference on the hair. It was inexpensive and cheap on quality. 2 bottle of the shade wasn't enough. DARK AND LOVELY OR CREME OF NATURE OR FADE RESISTANT BY D/R is far a SUPERIOR product and in my opinion, better quality for African American Hair where you outstanding results and are not cheated out of your money, time, self- esteem. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO DO NOT USE REVLON HAIR COLOR PRODUCTS ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HAIR THEY SUCK.buxomkitten31

Okay, I purchased this to do my own hair and my extensions. First off, my hair and the extensions were the same color (dark blonde). This dye did NOT turn my hair the same color as it turned the extensions. My hair looks like a dark chestnut brown, now… while my extensions look red. Neither have a plum component, which is the base color highlighted on the box. This isn't burgundy, nor is it deep burgundy. My hair looks awful and the only thing I can do now is dye my hair and extensions a different color. I'm deeply upset about this.Aly B

Took 3 bottles to cover my whole head. I have shoulder length (when stretched) 4b/4c hair. I feel like less product is coming in the bottles. Buy one more than you think you need. My hair has been previously dyed so the first 2 pictures are more accurate results.Nota_Mermaid

I love the color guide! I used it to help me in choosing the right color for my hair. At least this way I know what to expect my results to be like. I love a good hair color that is designed for women of color! This works great with my skin tone. The nourishing care conditioner is amazing because it can be applied on the skin before you put the hair color so your skin doesn't stain. The conditioner is infused with argan oil and Vitamin E which is great because it has no harm on the skin. I only needed one box for my hair. My hair length is past my shoulder. It gave me vibrant results with a beautiful shine to my hair after I washed and dried it.F_ridha

This box is great to dye your hair red if you have dark hair. It comes with two different tubes. Bigger one comes out like a cream and its white ish, then the smaller tube is the actual “dye” or ink lol. It’s labeled as “copper intensifier” or something like that. I was so indecisive to use it but it’s literally needed, because the bigger dye is just white. So you mix them together to get the red. I only bought one because I mixed it with two magentas to get my ideal red lolAmerica

The product itself is great when you receive the correct coloring packet. I give the product 5 stars. The vendor gets a 1. My daughter has used it many times purchased elsewhere. Her friend didn't look at the label and used it on my daughters bright red hair. It was not red it was copper. I asked for a replacement and the company wanted pictures of the box, contents and packing slip. I don't have a packing slip so sent a screen shot of my on-line order form which clearly states the product was shipped to me by them. They keep sending me the same letter and I keep sending them the same pictures. 4 times I have sent pictures. I will not order from this company ever again.Jane

I never used this product before and I’m so impressed with the result. The color is so bright and perfect I’m in love of the color. I use two tubes to color my hair because I have a lot of hair and is kind of long, and yes guys I cut off my hair too is not that long as it was but is not too short too. But this color is dye is totally recommend it I use one number 5H on my mom’s hair and the color is so bright and beautiful as well. We love it.cristina.l

Dear L'Oreal, I've been using L'Oreal Excellence hair color 7R Red Penny for many years. Everywhere I go I am complimented on my amazing hair color – the beautiful color, the shine and softness. Imagine my disappointment when I found out that my color was discontinued! I, too, have tried 6R and the color was bland in comparison. I have now been forced to try other brands to try to duplicate the look of 7R, but to no avail. Please, please, please bring Excellence Cream 7R Red Penny back! People (strangers!) have even stopped me in the middle of stores to ask me if my hair color is natural (because it looks so natural) and if not, what product and color I use. I have recommended your product, in particular 7R, to dozens of people! Again, please bring 7R Red Penny back! I want the same amazing hair color with its softness and shine, and I also want to continue to recommend your product to those who stop to compliment my beautiful red hair!bleaurose

I used the 5AB color because I wanted to cover my brassy lifted hair and go maybe a shade darker. Make sure you use 10 volume developer not the one they give you if you’re just going darker. If you use the one they give, it will be harsh and lift your hair and you risk having even more red or orange in your hair. I have a really thick head of hair but only ended up using half a bottle since my hair is short. It feels pretty soft and I didn’t lose much hair rinsing it out. We’ll see how it wears! Just wish it was cruelty freeAnon

I’m not quite sure what people are doing wrong, but I have used this product for years if not decades to cover up grays. I have black/brown hair with bright white grays and I use the dark brown color. The color lasts for two months . I have no problem with matching- because the color always “reveals” itself at two weeks- which is normal for all box dye in my experience. I love everything about this kit. I purchase extra gloves nitrile, hair dye brushes, cheap butterfly clips and disposable shower caps. I do it on a day where my hair is greasy because I’m about to take a shower (this protects my scalp from the color and my hair from damage). I mix the color and developer together and let it sit while I rub the pretreatment in with my gloved hands. I shake up the color a lot (60 seconds!) and after I see actual color develop I shake it some more and then start applying. I apply to the top of my hair, brushing it in and then I clip that section off. I work in sections, top, sides and back and then let the dye work for 40 minutes from when I finish applying- cover it with a disposable cap so I don’t drip dye everywhere. I use all of the bottle for my shoulder length hair. This is key!!!! You need to let the part of your hair that is seen the most sit for the entire time. I rinse it out with cold water only (gloves!!!) and then add the conditioner (the whole tube) and let it set in my hair for 5 minutes (also in a cap) before rinsing it out with cold water and washing it with color safe shampoo in cold water. I do not apply this with a comb. There is a comb attachment- but I use a brush to spread it on my hair and the comb attachment to spread it on the brush. You want to paint your hair, soaking it with dye. The other trick is that when I shower, I condition first before I shampoo. This keeps the color in more and I get an incredible volume without my hair getting crunchy.tiziny

I didn't approve or ask for this shade! I got starry black. I'm a natural blonde. In order for me to achieve black hair that doesn't turn green after the 1st wash,I would have to do a filler color first like a medium brown. I don't want to put all those chemicals on my hair. Plus I don't want black hair! I DID NOT USE THIS! I have used feria in the past though, I have used their bleaching kit and their auburn, red and black cherry shades. It is the only box dye I will use. It not only has an essential oil you add to it for a better smell but it also helps the hair feel softer and more hydrated as well as look shiny and healthy, well as healthy as dyed hair can look. For a box dye it's not bad. If I had gotten a color I approved of I totally would have used it! My daughter has medium golden brown hair and has been debating allowing me to use this on her. I will update with photos if that happens.julie.h

The box came with everything I needed for color application as well as after care. Instructions were easy enough to follow. There was enough color to fully saturate my hair. I started with light brown hair and it got it to a dark vibrant black. Washed as instructed and used after care products and my hair did not feel damaged. I have washed it probably close to 10 time and there is minimal fade. Definitely recommend if you are wanting to box dye your hair.wynona.l

I decided to try this product. I have black hair, which I have dyed with black hair dye to cover grays. I knew that this will lighten my hair and pull out the red. Now it's too brassy. What color can I put on this to tone it down? Blue conditioner? I was hoping for a milky brown color as the end result.Selly

I have medium brunette hair and this kit turned my hair orange. It says that people with brunette to black hair can use this product. I have used many highlighting kits by L’Oréal and had wonderful honey blonde highlighting results. I also regularly color my roots with L’Oréal, so I am not new to coloring. I bought this kit by Clairol on sale and what a mistake that was. I will only use L’Oréal from now on. Do not recommend.Stefanie

Love It. I've now used this 3 times. The first at the tips, the second up on the mids and the third was to add highlights. I used a highlighting cap and use blue conditioner every few weeks. It did not damage my hair in the slightest. I got a lot of compliments. I have natural dark brown hair and it came out an ashy/caramel color and not the slightest bit orange. I will mention that my hair was 100% virgin. There was no color on my hair when I used this…that may affect the results.Kristen

I really like L’ORÉAL Paris age perfect home color. Covers grays very naturally. Blends the roots completely and naturally. This version includes a interesting applicator that helps smooth product through your hair. The creme is thin enough to distribute easy but thick enough to not run. The conditioner that comes with this helps neutralize the chemical smell. My hair feels soft, full, and shine. My hair did not feel fried, dry, straw like , or rough. And there’s enough conditioner for several more weekly treatments- it claims 8- it’s more like 4-5 for me. So that is why I reduced one star. With proper care, this color lasts almost three months for me.lisa.f

The ammonia smell hits you when you first squeeze the colour out, but it mixes nicely with the Schwarzkopf dedicated developer. It’s smooth and has opaque coverage. 100% grey coverage when mixed with natural, large colour selection. I use it for certain clients but not everyone.gina.s

Tried and true! If you’re looking for STRONG HOLD that lasts, look no further than this. I’ve used this for years and it’s never disappointed. It does get crunchy if you use to much so start light and build up. Great for slick back looks.kathryn.m

If a hair dye could be said to be a soul-mate… I have found my soul-mate! For years, I have used those direct deposit "fun" colour type dyes on part of my hair. Some brands are better than others, of course, but they always faded out too fast for me, or left me with stains everywhere (and not just from wet hair… but while dry… pink sheets, pink fingernails – from merely running my fingers through my dry hair!), so there was always some sort of drawback with them. I have naturally porous hair, so I never needed to pre-bleach in order to get coverage (luckily, I also never aimed for a pastel, either) despite having around a 6 or 7 level hair and auburn/ginger in colour (the orange in my hair did mean that the end colour was not true to the intended colour, though). I did pre-bleach for this colour, but only to remove the last bits of a deposit dye and because I was unsure about the coverage of this dye. I shouldn't have worried. Not only did it take wonderfully to the bleached hair (and softened it back up to near-undamaged, as my hair did not like being bleached at all), but it also covered some of the unbleached hair that I accidentally included in the dye coverage, some of which also still had direct dye still staining it. You cannot tell the difference between bleached, unbleached, and any remaining direct dye stained areas (some bleached parts still had it too). It's all covered, and looks the same, but without looking flat… it has dimension to it, like hair should have. So, it doesn't look like a flat matte lifeless solid wig of pinkish hair… it just looks like… (fuchsia/plum) hair! 🙂 Now, although this colour is a level 9, so you would think it is a light colour… it is not. The end result (bleached or unbleached) is around a 6 or 7 level (same as my normal level), indoors it does appear slightly darker, too (maybe a 5 or 6 level). This could be due to how porous my hair is, but having seen pictures of others who have used it, I think it just is that dark due to being very pigmented. But! That *is* what I wanted! The colour is glorious! The -98 part of the number system indicates violet red. 9 = violet, 8 = red. So if you are looking at other Igora colours, keep that in mind. An -88 will be a red red, a -99 will be a violet violet, etc. The order does matter, as the first number is dominant, the second is to shift it. So an -89 would be redder, and the -98 is more purple. The end result is a wonderful medium/bright fuchsia/magenta (pink!!) in sunlight, and indoors looks more medium/dark plum/wine. It glows and shines and is sovery soft! Because it doesn't just coat the hair on the outside, it doesn't leave any weight or feeling of having something coating your hair (I don't use styling products, so that's sort of a big deal to me)… and no funky coloured fingernails! And the shine! It isn't just vibrant – it shines! It doesn't leave the hair dull looking at all. My natural virgin healthy hair looks dull in comparison (seriously, I am contemplating actually getting some of this line in a shade to match my own hair colour, just for the shine factor). If you like a deep purple/pink colour, I highly recommend this colour (and if you don't change colours every two weeks or something, that is). If you have naturally darker hair than a level 5 or 6, I don't know what will happen for you (I used a 20 developer, so a 30 may give better results for darker hair), but if you have 6 or lighter, it should come out as a deep berry/wine/plum (the red/pink hue is still present, just muted) indoors and deep bright magenta/fuchsia outdoors. If you want to add a little pizzaz to a brown dye, just to kick it up a notch, I'd also say this would do the trick, if you add just a bit in with your brown dye and developer. The Igora line also offers some "fun fashion" colours, most of which are in the pastel family. I would say this could be added to those to achieve a lighter colour of pink, or to punch any of those up a few notches as well. I do not know about mixing it with any other brand of dye, or what that would do to the end result, so I will not comment on that other than to say "proceed with caution" if you choose to do that. I cannot, as yet, make any claims about the fade factor or how long it will last. But, other reviews of this line say it lasts and lasts with little fading, even the reds. So, I have high hopes, and even if it does fade, I expect it to be slower than any direct dye (and hopefully more evenly). I wish I had used the Igora developer (contains oil), because if it came out this soft and lovely to the touch (over fried bleach hair!) with cheap no-name developer (it's what I had on hand from my daughter)… I can only imagine how much better it would have been with the higher quality stuff. Next time, I will!thegingerdragon

Go with Excellence. I normally use L’Oréal Excellence but decided to tried something different and tried Preference in same shade I usually use in dark ash brown. Well, Excellence does a better job… Preference faded and washed out from my gray roots. I had to do a double take to make sure I used permanent dye. Well it was! I have partial gray areas I use the dye to cover. I don’t recall having this issue w/ Excellence. If you have gray you’re looking to cover, go with Excellence. More user friendly also since it’s cream based not liquid as well.Target Shopper

I was looking to color my hair auburn which is exactly what this product did. I had medium brown virgin hair with a few grey's. I would suggest to apply the product to the middle and ends of your hair for 15 minutes and only apply to roots for maybe seven minutes. I did get some hot roots in a small patch near the front of my hairline. I will be googling and youtubing how to correct that spot. I would definitely not keep it on my roots for the full 10 minutes the box suggests. There is not alot of multidimension color but there is definitely color change from my medium brown. I think that the product doesn't need to be as strong as it is. I don't know a ton about color, but this company should maybe use a less harsh developer? They are trying to appeal to a large audience, but they are just messing up alot of people haircoloring experience. I read alot of the reviews beforehand so I knew that my hair would go auburn. If someone just picks the box and thinks their hair is gonna have Carmel highlights they are in for a unpleasant surprise.Sarah

I thought the product was magnificent. The one application was enough to cover my entire head from root to end and when my hair is wet it lands on my shoulders and I have naturally curly hair. I have tons of white hair or with some would call grey very heavy in the front. I have been ill and having colored my hair in 6 months. My hair is naturally black but at 55 I want it to go lighter without anything pulling red. The results are absolutely stunning. Again more than enough color cover all my hair from root to end professional disposable gloves that are easy to take on and off, and a great tube of conditioner that can last me for about three applications. My hair is so soft and shiny and the color Blended beautiful with my already black hair considering I had about 4 in of regrowth and another 6 in of black hair it Blended in beautifully.Yvette

So I bought this to bleach a wig that I bought. I previously bleached the wig the same day but it still wasn’t bright enough. I used three boxes and the hair was long and I didn’t leave it on for the recommended time on the instructions. This did exactly what I needed it to do. I think i will start buying this for my own hair. It’s a one stop shop. I wasn’t looking for the color in the box, but just a light blonde color. If i would have left it on longer, it most likely would’ve gave me that color.Melanie

I bought this because I LOVE Dark and Lovely’s Hair dyes for women of color, so when I saw this I had to get a box!!! Works well (works waaaaaaay better for virgin hair of course) even though my hair has been blonde to black to blonde a few times. This kit still lifts the color!!! like??? okay purr. But yes yaw I recommend this. MAKE SURE U GET A CUPPA BOXES IF UR HAIR IS PAST UR EARS PLEASE!!wadaminnit

Did a great job at bleaching the hair. Color came out even, however hair was EXTREMELY dry after rinsing…… BUT that said, the toner included infused so much moisture back into my strands I was thoroughly impressed. It did relax my curl pattern slightly, however all my natural curls are still intact. I did half my hair using the bottle in the kit, which was fine, but the other half I put in a bowl and applied with a applicator brush (just because it seemed quicker and would give a more even bleach job). Would absolutely recommend.Llove0321

On the packaging her hair is a little peachy, but when I put it over my bleach hair, it is totally purple gray. I love the color tho, just a caution for someone think about to get this color. After one wash, purple striped always, now my hair is gray but brassy.nhi.d

I have used this brand for years varying in dark to light beige blonde. Recently began using this lilac tint. I have been getting lots of compliments on it. I hope L'Oreal doesn't discontinue it.bubo-67

Firstly, the colour didn't exactly take to my already light blonde hair. It left some silver and rosey brown hues behind that were actually pretty but it is completely washed out after 2 showers. I even used shampoo/conditioner for colour treated hair. This dye shouldn't be called permanent, it is misleading and false.JM

First off, I didn’t buy a multipack, it’s just one stick. And honestly, thank goodness for that. This product may be “natural” and “sustainably produced” but it just isn’t as effective. Secondly, i’ll be honest… I didn’t purchase this item for use under my arms. I’m a big girl and big girls thighs gotta glide on hot days… lol. And much to my disappointment it wasn’t effective for that purpose either. Let me explain. 1) The formula is NOT long lasting. It evaporates rather quickly and requires constant reapplication. 2) Although it’s easy to apply, the formula is just super sticky… and if it makes my legs sticky I could only imagine what it’d be like under my arms. 3) the scent is deceiving. While a hint of apricot is faintly noticeable upon application, the stronger scent seems to be that of the tree from which the apricot came from. Heavy on the ode of greenery and not so much on the fruit. Another tally for the bummer list. And for the price-point, just over $4.50 for the single 2.25oz stick, I was hoping for something worthwhile. Going to stick with my gel formula Secret for now… hasn’t let me down yet!amanda.m

Have not used professional colour at home before but did a little research and went for Inoa 6.1 for a dark Ash Blonde mixed with Inoa activator. Was very happy with the results Colour is beautiful and dense, makes my hair appear thicker and leaves a lovely shine. Is pretty dark but thats the look I was going for. Mixed with Inoa 20 activator made it lovely as thick to apply. Cant recommend enough.Anonymous

My hairdresser uses this, but I am not sure the exact shade my hair is tinted dark brown, but I recall him asking the assistant to mix more than one Inoa colour so I bought this 3 and the shade 2, plus the peroxide developer massive 1L bottle back in May, but I was reluctant to use it in case I didnt get it right it didnt cover my white roots properly. Important to know that unlike the usual brands of hair colour you can buy from a chemist or supermarket this is just a tube of colour. You need to buy the Inoa developer peroxide separately and it needs to be the strength required for your colour i.e. for dark hair It is 20. After waiting for a long time my roots were c. 3 long and pearly, blinding white I finally decided to colour my own hair today, as I couldnt look in the mirror anymore, but I am still not confident enough going out Postlockdown and coming in close contact with people in a salon. Messy and time consuming as per brilliant advice from a fellow Perfumes of London shopper, best use a kitchen scales to weigh 60g of developer peroxide once you have squeezed the 60g tube of colour or half of each tube, as I did into a bowl the result was salonlike and my hair is back to normal It has freed me from having to wear a wide Lycra band to cover my badgerlike roots during video calls or going for walks. My husband keeps saying that I look 10 years younger bless…. I should have done it a long time ago prepandemic, I had my roots done every three weeks, but I hadnt been to a hairdresser since 12 March until doing the colour myself today. I have now ordered a couple more tubes, for when those pesky roots start showing up again and I dont feel like having to wear a mask to have my hair done. The advice from fellow Perfumes of London shoppers on what strength peroxide developer to buy and the weighing of the colour developer right proportions was brilliant and invaluable.Anonymous

I used this product in shade 5N last week to cover up gray hairs and make my hair look more alive without paying salon prices. I bought it at Sally Beauty supply and mixed it myself with the Ion 20 volume developer. Brunette box dye can either turn out black or red on me so I was nervous but it turned out beautiful! The color is rich and was darker than what I wanted at first but after the first few washes, it lightened up a bit. It DOES pull a red, but it’s more of an auburn/copper color than a brassy orange so I personally think it’s okay for me. Overall, it was easy to use and my hair looks healthy and shiny!jessica.r