Best Box Dye For Red 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

I used this for the first time this week. I really like the shade. The trick to getting a good application is to make sure you shampoo your hair before application so it’s damp and why residue/build up is gone, which can make the color not adhere to your hair. Remember, semi-permanent coats the surface of your hair, not the cuticle, so you want it as clean as possible. Using it on dry hair will give you a tint, but probably not the bright effect you were hoping for. Liked it so much, I got a few more shades of red and brown to try out.shannon.g

this stuff is AMAZING!! So I have been on the grey silver hair trend (well trying to get there at least) lol and the stuff is a lifesaver! I couldn't get the darn brass out of my hair and it was driving me crazy! tried almost everything! My last option was toning but after all the bleaching I didn't want to use chemicals… this saved my life and turned my pale yellow to a beautiful silver after one wash with a little bit in my shampoo! then I shadow tried with it full strength! no brass slightly profile like I wanted (only in the sun and thats because I left it on as little longer to achieve the purple silver look). I also used it on my son because w bleached his mohawk twice but was still orange like really orange! one freaking wash with a purple shampoo I made with this (a little stronger than the one I made for my hair since his was so orange) and we got a beautiful silver!! I'm 1 wash!! no more expensive purple shampoo for me baby! I got one bottle and have made 3 batches of purple shampoo, shadow ripped my hair fill strength 4 times and still have over half a bottle left! My go to and will always keep it stocked in my house!! totally recommend if having title getting brass out or arrived orange after bleaching and don't want to bleach again!jessica.e

This bottle will last you a good while if you mix with water. It will still do the job and look bright and shiny. I used this to colour the blonde as my regrowth came through and trust me it looks better then having half blonde half black hair. Mixed this with the sapphire and got a beautiful blue. Would definitely recommend 😉😉 Ordering more after. Covers and great results.Izzabelle A.

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.

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

I have being dying my hair bright, vibrant red for just over five years now, and Arctic Fox has been part of my color maintenance routine since day one. Vibrant red hair is not easy to maintain and keep from fading quickly, which can very quickly do serious damage to your hair if your only using ammonia-based chemical dyes every time you need to refresh your color. Arctic Fox doesn't damage hair at all. In fact, it helps undue the damage caused by permanent dyes because it doesn't have any harsh chemicals that strip hair. Arctic Fox is actually GOOD for your hair and works just like a conditioner, not like a hair dye. I add Arctic Fox to my regular conditioner (sulfate free of course) so that every time I wash my hair I'm also keeping my red looking vibrant and even healthier every time. I always wash my hair using the coolest water I can tolerate and after I shampoo I apply my premixed bottle of 3/4 sulfate free conditioner, 1/4 Arctic Fox Wrath + a dollop of Violet Dream and let it sit on my hair secured on top of my with a claw clip while I finish the rest of my shower routine, just like I would do with a nourishing hair mask. Once my routine is done, I rinse out my hair thuroughly in cool water and towel dry it only so I get the most out of conditioning my hair, and viola! My looks, feels softer and healthier than before I washed it, plus my red still looks like it did the day I first day I dyed it. It's a win win. Not only does Artic Fox keep my red looking great, but it leaves my hair healthier every time also. Plus the custom colors you can create by mixing different different Arctic Fox colors together are endless! I was amazed at the color i got by mixing Purple AF + a touch of Aquamarine! It sounds crazy to mix aquamarine and deep purple together, but the color came out a multidimensional dark blue/purple-ish color that changes color depending on how the light hits it. It's my new favorite color! It does come out very dark, so I apply it (no conditioner added) to the bottom 1/3 of my hair and lightly pull the color upwards into my red to get a perfect blended fade from bright red to deep blue/purple. I get compliments on my hair every day and people always ask me how I keep my color looking so bright all the time. Arctic Fox, that's how! =)member-e56c4

I have virgin dirty blonde hair. I bought the shade Transylvania which is a pure black color. I applied it last night to my clean hair, no products or nothing in it and let it sit in foil for about 40 minutes. I didn't apply the dye to my whole head, I just wanted to add pieces here and there throughout my hair like I've done in the past. Upon rinsing my hair out with cold water and letting it dry I noticed how faded the black looks. In the shower the water ran blue. I know black dyes typically contain blue but this was like a vibrant blueish green. In artificial lighting the dye in my hair looks like a dark grey, but in the natural sunlight it looks like a greyish green which isn't very pretty at the moment. I'm going to give it one more go before I decide whether or not to return this. I usually LOVE arctic fox dyes and have never had issues before but this black dye really needs to be reformulated.Jen

This is the FIRST (and really ONLY)hair color that I've used that isn't entirely gone and faded in a couple weeks. The irony is that when it's time to move onto a different color or I want to change it up, I have no issues getting it out! I personally prefer the shade cotton candy (and it looks intimidating in the bottle as if it would be too bright, but it's not). I've used various colors via this line and I absolutely love them all, I pass several stores with non traditional colors to get to the one who carries Adore (and come here when they're inaccessible).jakeisia.w

Okay so I usually don't do anything to my head unless it's getting done at my favorite salon girl but with quarantine I decided to take a leap of faith my god this product did not disappoint at all! It was super adorable pretty sure I paid under $7 for this tiny bottle. Yes the bottle may look tiny but it did not disappoint! It was soo pigmented better than the maniac crap that washes out almost immediately! This has had such a beautiful vibrant pink color for over a month with multiple washes! Only thing it does stain when applying!!! So make sure to cover your walls and sinks. Other than that the gel like substance is amazing!kelly.m

Heyyyyy… let me start by saying this dye works miracles. I had burgundy hair and I tried a specific brand of blue dye that turned my hair into a rainbow Couple weeks after I bought and adore red semi permanent dye and decided to try it in my rainbow hair. I was a bit pessimistic because the first one was a failure and I wasn’t bleaching it or anything just apply red dye Let me sayyyy!!! The result blew my mind… all my hair was bright red and beautiful. It was just even with color vibrant and everybody liked it. It didn’t stain my hair line because I used Vaseline but the results really shook mekelia.s

To keep it a buck, I did not want the color that Magenta and Red mixed together created. I wanted more of a burgundy color and what I got was something that looks like…sangria. I asked a professional if I were to do the color from a box, if it would create the color I wanted even though I had naturally dark brown, resembling black hair. She said, “YES! Trust me!” And so, I decided to and ended up not getting the color I wanted, 😅. However, there are some pros! -The color is super vibrant. -My hair is not as dry as I thought it’d be. It’s my first time coloring my hair and I thought my hair would be brittle, but it actually felt moisturized after the completion of dying my hair. -I didn’t use bleach and the color still came out very pigmented. You don’t always need bleach, y’all. -My curl pattern hasn’t changed at all and you could see the definition far more now that my hair is red! Overall, this hair dye was pretty good. I wanted to try the Creme of Nature or even Dark and Lovely hair brands due to less harmful chemicals, but my curls still look very healthy and shiny. I’ve currently had the hair dye for a week and the color hasn’t faded at all when I’ve washed my hair at least 3 times. Although this wasn’t the color I wanted, I am warming up to it as it does compliment my skin tone AND I have had strangers stop me and compliment how much they love the color. I would recommend this to a friend, especially a dark haired friend who wants a vibrant color without having to use bleach! Below are two photos of my hair color. In the first one, I am outside in natural lighting which makes my hair appear way lighter and the second one, I am indoors where my hair looks darker and like wine.jayleen.r

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

My natural hair is dark brown, almost black. Close enough to black that I don’t feel like I’m lying when I say I have natural black hair. It’s the same color as your standard IKEA black-brown finish. So when I decided I wanted RED RED RED hair, like cherry/fire engine red, I went with this. I didn’t feel confident bleaching my hair separately after trusting a friend who had almost graduated from hair school. This stuff lifts like a mothertrucker. If your hair is medium to light brown, get 10vol developer. 20 was enough for my dark brown hair. If I wanted it to process more quickly I went to 30vol. 40 is so overpowered you’re going to fry your hair off if you leave it too long, and don’t mess with that if you don’t have years of experience dying and bleaching your hair with more than the $5-8 boxes at Walmart. This stuff is the real deal, your hair WILL BE RED. Like the same red as you see on Pinterest searches for bright red hair. I still have a box of this I hope to use soon and I will buy it again. I hope they expand their shades into the magenta and purple range a bit more. Be warned, this will stain the hell out of any bathroom surface it touches. Buy red towels. Lay the towels over your countertop and your floor. Be extra careful when you add the color boost packet into the bowl because it’s basically sharpie ink and it’s as viscous as water. Your hair will bleed red so much it looks like someone got stabbed when you wash your hair in the shower. Get a professional dye-friendly shampoo and consider oVertone red shampoo to maintain the red color week after week after week.jordan.t

As someone who dyes their hair quite frequently, Manic Panic is always my go-to dye brand. So far, I have used Ultra Violet, Vampire Red (the color shown here), and Hot Hot pink. As a semi-permanent dye, it washes out quicker than permanent dyes typically do, but re-applying it when needed is super easy. Purple and pink for instance, tends to wash out quicker than red in my experience. After a week or two of washing hair daily, the purple and pink are almost completely gone. Vampire Red has seemed to last longer, however, and even after several weeks my hair is still tinted a slight pinkish-orange color unlike the other colors which leave no evidence of ever being dyed after a few weeks. To make the color last longer, I like to wash my hair and then put a shower cap on for the rest of the duration so that the water doesn't hit it the entire time, which seems to do wonders for keeping it vibrant for a little while longer. All of Manic Panics colors are super vibrant and I love that they do not have ammonia or some of the other damaging chemicals that most other dyes have. I would definitely recommend this brand for anyone who is interested in trying out a funky new do.BulldogLover

I use to love manic panic hair dye and have dyed my hair so many times with their products. However this product dyes everything it touches and I've spent many hours removing everything it has stained in the bathroom. It has unfortunately stained my entire shower as well as my skin. It's been over a week since I've dyed my hair and the dye is still bleeding on everything. I am now researching how to remove hair dye and booking myself in to the salon to remove the colour. Unfortunately due to this terrible experience I am reluctant to buy Manic Panic again. I'm aware that Manic Panic tends to bleed more than other dyes but from using their products for almost a year, I've never experienced anything like this.Charlie_09

This was the very first time I tried manic panic of any kind, and as far as the company and product itself goes, I'm definitely going to get more! Unfortunately, however, I wish they'd properly advertise how the colors will show up on brown hair. This color shows up completely green (dark green) on my hair (which is normally identical to the dark hair on the chart). Despite what I expected, the green was more than fine by me, so I added some more to my hair. If this were the only problem, I would have left 4 stars. The nice, dark, almost metallic green color left behind only lasted about 3 days afterwards. 3 days and two washes later it was virtually all gone. I know they advise bleaching to get the best color, but if they know it won't work well on darker hair, then maybe they should stop advertising it for darker hair, or at least add honest photos of how it'll actually look rather than just photoshopping a blue layer over brown hair. If I got a different color better suited for my natural hair color, there's no doubt in my mind I would leave a 5 star review for that. The product itself was very easy, left my hair soft and undamaged, and surprisingly didn't stain as badly as I expected. So bottom line, yes, I would recommend, but ONLY if your hair is light. Anything darker than dirty blonde- stay away! (Unless, of course, you're looking for green!)Greenie

Originally when I picked the color off the lime crime website it looked more like a tan neutral almost with subtle hints of peach close to nude color, and then when it arrived and the I swatched it – it was so far from what it looked like on the website? Hence why I usually don’t like purchasing make up mostly “lipsticks” online. However, I was extremely surprised how beautiful it was with little to no make up on and just very light mascara and lashes and how beautiful it went with my pale skin it wasn’t too dark and it wasn’t too late it’s the perfect shade for any occasion. I wouldn’t say it’s a nude color, I guess it could be placed in the nude category but I’ve found it had more hues of browns grays purples almost like a very dry it out purple with subtle and when I say subtle I mean very subtle hints of pinks and peaches and just all sorts of colors that I can’t quite point my finger on may be a little bit of a gray but mix those all together and you get this beautiful cashmere color that goes on smooth! I love that it’s a liquid lipstick aka VELVETINE matte (so I know it won’t be coming off on my teeth, clothes, drinks or even when I’m eating greasy foods – THIS HAS STAYED PUT!) I’ll even go as far as saying it lasted one very long passionate date night with my husband 🙊🙈😂 (insert blushing emoji here)  This was actually my second time purchasing this shade, and I would definitely purchase it again and again! Limecrime has great sales from time to time so make sure to look out for that! I think they’ve rebranded their website at showing the exact color on different skin tones and even have multiple lips pictured so you have a better idea how it will look, from when it was just the same pair of lips that was always pictured in every shade! I recommend any of limecrime’s liquid velvetines as they are soft on the lips and go on very smoothly.chantal .v

I would NEVER recommend this dye to anyone. It only gets a star because it smelled nice. I got Sea Witch and it has dyed every surface my hair touches that color if the strand is wet. As soon as any water hits my hair, the color just starts running everywhere. I just put a little gel in my hair so I could braid it and my scalp has turned green again and so are my hands. My hair has been falling out more than usual after using this dye and all my towels, pillow cases, every surface in my bathroom, the sink at work, they are all covered in little hair strands that turn the counter top green. It’s infuriating. I get that washing your hair means color will come out, but I’ve NEVER had any other brand wash out like this or turn every surface it touches that color. I will never be buying it again and I’m probably going to take this color out of my hair soon. I’ve dealt with this for almost 2 weeks and it’s only getting worse. I would not recommend this dye to ANYONE And to put my review up, I have to choose if the product is fair, good, or great and it’s none of those thingsAngie24

I love this brand so much. I’ve used maybe five of their colors, but the jello and chocolate Cherry are my absolute favorite ones. First off, the color penetration is excellent. If anyone out there is looking for tips, try rinsing your hair with cool water every time you wash it. Keeps the color longer and stays vibrant. The smell is a plus!!! And the price isn’t bad considering you’re getting over two more ounces of color compared to Manic Panic. I’ve been doing my hair funky colors for about twenty years now, I’ve tried literally every brand out there. I even put myself through beauty school and experimented with top notch dye, yet I still come back to this brand. I love it! I’ve got jello and cherry in my hair but I’m looking forward to trying Mochi soon, I’m excited about the grey/purple/bluish look it has. My rule of thumb is go darker and enjoy the fading process. Lucky for me, this brand produces product that keeps giving! Every fade maintains beautiful hues. And the conditioning aspect of the dye is a major plusEmerjessy

PLEASE be aware that this has a chemical called ethanalomine in it. A corrosive and dangerous substitute to ammonia. No harsh chemicals? Bah! I have lost 75% of my hair since I started using this product during the pandemic last year. I have been through rounds of steroids injections to try to bring it back. It has ruined my life. Shame on you Madison Reed. Google "ethanolamine hair loss" and you'll find it causes up to 85% more hair fall than the typical ammonia.UBA

Came out way, way darker than expected. I would describe the color as “soft black” and definitely not “medium brown”. I had to pay a stylist to fix it. I also have been experiencing a significant amount of hair shedding since using this. My stylist confirmed that my hair definitely looks thinner. A bit of Google searching confirmed that this is a common problem and there is even a class action lawsuit in NY over it. Just pay a stylist or use another brand. Madison Reed is just good marketing but still just as damaging and dangerous as cheap brands.GroundBear

I am 48-years old and this was the first time I have ever dyed my hair. I was starting to really get grays and wanted to cover them but keep my hair color as close as possible to my natural color. I bought the Sardinia Red and it covered my grays beautifully. It's a little darker than expected indoors but its a very radiant red when you are outside in the sun. I'm really happy with this product so far and I would purchase it again.krissyp42

This came recommended by my hair dresser. Got the purple one. First application of 20 drops turned my dark bleach blond hair a rosey pink sort of, and the ends a more vibrant purple. Was pretty patchy. Tried again with 30 drops, result was more vibrant but still very patchy, only the ends were actual purple. I tried all the stuff with not using silicone shampoo and cleansing your hair etc before the second application it made no difference whatsoever. Am letting it wash out now, it’s been 6 washes, the ends are now a horrible green/blue/grey colour, some of the hair is still pinkish it looks pretty nasty. Certainly didn’t get the lovely even purple results on the box, even though apparently this works on hair darker than mine. I followed all the instructions to the letter so I don’t think I missed the product but maybe it’s not suitable for everyone.Ruth

Recently got balayage highlights & one little streak in my fringe didn’t lift very well and was full on orange. It was done by a new starter at the salon so last thing I wanted to do was go back to get it fixed and make them look bad. Purple shampoo wasn’t cutting it as it was definitely orange not yellow. I used 1oz conditioner and just 1 drop of this and left it on the little streak for 10 mins and it has completely banished the brass. It’s a perfect perfect blonde now – not a hint of orange, not a hint of blue. Amazing!! And because I only used 1 drop I have so much left! Will keep to maybe mix with purple for a refresh in a few weeks. Thanks shrine!!Sarah

Loved this to add rose gold, purple, and grey blond hints to dark blonde hair. I think the bad reviews people are not using correctly, maybe they are using shampoos and conditioner with silicone which coats the hair and colour cannot penetrate (listed in instructions) I have dark blonde hair with few lighter highlights and I got the pink, purple and blue to try. I applied it to dry hair to get a stronger result but I still wanted pastel, more toner than strong colour so mixed fewer drops with conditioner. The pink I mixed 3 drops, purple 4, then mixed the toner that takes brassiness from blonde hair (2 purple + 1 blue drops) and I applied to dry hair just small streaks/sections through my hair, it came out amazing colour, for all my hair is quite dark the colour tone was lovely and the purple/blue mix made the dark blonde look lighter and grey which I loved. I wash my hair in very cool water and use steam straighteners on low setting so the colour lasted well, around 8 washes and colour still there but faded. Definitely worth the money as with only doing small sections I used a quarter of the conditioner and drops so stored remaining for future applications. It can work on any hair but make sure you wash hair and apply no silicone based product until you have done the colour. Dry hair applications makes results stronger.Tracy44

I personally think this dye is great, but I can think of another brand that has more staying power and is cheaper, so for that reason I can only give this 4 stars. The tone of this pink is unique to pinks I have bought previously and I think that's great when wanting some dimension! The texture is hard to describe but not its really creamy or gel like. And I think it smells like peppercorn, which doesn't bother me. I find a tube of this goes a really long way too, which is fantastic! The staying power is pretty average for your vivid pinks. Its rare for them to last too long. But I touch mine up every few washes around the roots and let the rest fade to a pastel, so its no big deal.dominique.f

I recently tried this product for the first time and I think it’s now one of my favorites! I’ve gotten TONS of compliments since I used Blue Ruin and I’ve used them all, over the years. Warning: stuff is Pravana Vivids level of stainage. RIP to a couple of ratty old towels, lol. My hair is between a level 2-3 with grays and I bleach and then highlight it to level 7-8. Pro tip is that I mix this product with a little conditioner and Olaplex 3 and then leave it in my hair for 2 hours. It really saves it from being fried. I have a feeling I’ll be using that combo for a while.lisa.b

I tried to manage my expectations a little with this product, as it’s recommended for light blonde or pre-lightened hair but mine was a balayage with dark blonde/light brown. Turns out it defied my expectations and still came out as a super vibrant red! My hair is chest length and the tube had just about enough to cover nearly my whole head (my roots are dark so I avoided those) with a small amount of conditioner mixed in to stretch it a bit further. I’m now on wash 3 or 4 and I’m surprised by how much colour is still in my hair! The vibrancy has been toned down but it’s definitely still red and I expect it will be for a while yet.Nicole

I was looking to freshen my level 7 color and level 9 highlights, both ash toned, and i thought I would give this a try. I used it according to the package directions, applying all over my hair and leaving it on for 25 minutes (direction say 20 to 35 minutes). There was no visible change to the level 7 color, but my highlights are now lavender and my scalp is straight up purple! I went back to Ulta for a scalp scrub and have washed my hair 6x to try to remove the color. Thankfully, the scalp color is now gone and enough color has been removed to allow me to return to work without lavender hair!Janet

For years I have experimented with different ways to keep my blonde fresh, brass free and have that just out of salon tone and finish without the damage. I have tried several things from sallys toner to demi permanent color, purple shampoos, toning masks, etc to do the trick but nothing worked or gave the results I was looking for without damage. This is amazing! No harsh smell at all and gentle on the hair. I leave on for the max time I believe was 20 mins and covered. My blonde looked so pretty, and fresh with the correct tone without the drying/excess damage for several weeks. It was not until maybe the third or fourth week that I noticed I needed a slight refresh and got about 1.5 uses for my very long hair. Thanks guys for creating a great product. This is my go to now for great, salon looking results. I also like to do roots with the brown then blend into the creme where my blonde balayage gets heavy on the rest of the hair between coloring to keep my hair color looking fresh and beautiful. This is a great product! I was shocked to see any negative reviews.Shelby

I was looking for something that would give a boost to my blonde highlights (level 9 ash). I use a purple shampoo on a daily basis. I used the product exactly as instructed and left the product on my hair for 25 minutes. My scalp is now a beautiful shade of violet and my hair is very dull and dry looking. I will be shopping for a scalp scrub product today to remove the color from my scalp before I have to go to work tomorrow!Janet_C

I went from a medium copper red to dark auburn brown with the shade Milano Brown – 5NAC. Picking a shade on the Ulta app wasn't the easiest process and going to the Madison Reed website only helped a little in that their quiz matched me to the same shade I was leaning toward based on the photos here. The shade may be a touch too dark for me, but I just dyed it today so I think it'll grow on me. The sites, both Ulta and Madison Reed, list Milano as a "dark chocolate brown," but the actual box clearly says Dark Auburn. I'm mostly okay with that as I love red, but I was actually aiming for a browner brown. While there aren't highlights in this formula, it does have some vibrancy and shine to keep it from being mousy. It is, at least on me, definitely a dark red brown. The kit is a very good and complete kit. I love that it has 2 pairs of gloves, a barrier and wipe to keep you from dying your skin and there's plenty of dye for a full application. I don't know how I feel about the shower cap as I did start to feel a little warm in it. It achieved a full color application, though, so I'm pleased. My hair feels a little textured after dying it, but it doesn't look dry or damaged in any way. It's honestly like I used I volumizing spray or mousse, but I didn't. Maybe there is something like that in the conditioner because my hair does look fuller. I have very fine, straight hair so it looks very good to me after the complete process. That whole process, for a full head application on hair that hasn't been dyed in months, took me a little over an hour start to finish. Every step was easy to complete for someone used to dying their own hair and the instructions are clear for any level of experience. I worried a little that the price meant it might be too advanced for me, but it's like all the other kits that I've tried with a few nice extras. The price and difficulty finding my right shade are why this gets 4 stars instead of the full 5. The kit is a 5 star and then some kind of kit, but not being able to tell if you're picking the right shade is a big problem when buying online. $30 for something I've never tried before when I'm used to paying around $3 for Revlon ColorSilk was a risk. I wanted something different, though, and this absolutely delivered. I'm very likely to try it again in the future. I'll be looking at a different shade and hoping for a sale.Adele S

I used this hair color religiously for 2 years, thinking it was a safer option than other box dyes. The color is good, it's easy enough to use, and the amount per kit was fine, even for my super long hair. However, I would notice more hair loss after coloring, and over the course of 2 years, I would have several episodes of hair loss. I thought it was due to stress, hormones, etc. But I researched and came across other reviewers and encounters of hair loss like mine from various Madison Reed color kit users. Madison Reed claims to be free of the traditional "harsh chemicals" found in hair dye, but fail to mention they simply replaced the usual suspects with harsh alternatives: ammonia is subbed out with ethanolamine, which is known to cause skin irritation and can also cause hair loss!!! There is a new class action lawsuit against Madison Reed for this very reason, as per Feb 2022 (NY), and I am certain there will be many more. My advice: think twice before using this product.Chemically Blonde

I'm 49 so hair overall has changed. I've been using this color for a couple of years now. It's overpriced, and the last 3 times I've colored my hair within less than 2 weeks grays are shining! After 5-6 washes I am still having grayish black colored water. I can't attribute this to one specific thing but I purchased about 6-8 boxes when it was BOGO these are all from the same timeframe. I only color it every 6 weeks if I can help it but it honestly needs it after 2.5-3 weeks. I have a few boxes left but unfortunately I won't be using it. I went back to mixing my own. The black doesn't seem like real black either… it's like a reddish tint after a few washes. I don't mind that so much, BUT I do mind seeing color wash out after 5-6 washes literally up until I color again I am still washing out color. It's been very drying as well. It just seems the entire formula has changed since the first time I used it.Fkpe1973

Pictures with blue shirt are before. Others are after under the same lighting 1 hour apart. First off, I want to say I chose this product over other hair dyes because it is a vegan formula and cruelty free approved which means (hopefully) animals were not used or harmed for these ingredients. I purchased two boxes since my hair is medium to long length, and I was surprised that one box was enough to saturate my entire hair with product left over. The product is rather runny so it stretches a LOT which i found to be great but messy. It smells great and not like traditional hair dyes which is a huge bonus for me. The only time I noticed a weird odor was when using the After Color Conditioner, but it’s not too bad. This is the SOFTEST I have ever felt my hair after using a box dye. It is shocking how smooth and healthy it feels after this. I will say- the conditioner does leave your hair pretty greasy after washing and drying, but I plan to leave it like this all day so the color truly sticks and then use my regular color-safe shampoos before bed so I don’t stain my pillows. The color: Truly, I don’t believe the color advertised on the box is accurately represented. The picture shows a cool black with undertones of purple. For me, already having dark brown hair with red undertones, the result was a warm black with brown undertones so much so that it actually looks very natural as if I was born with black hair. I would consider this like a “soft black” dye. Though I’m not sure what they mean by “platinum black” it is definitely not leaning towards a Jet black. All in all: I am VERY satisfied with this product- being that it’s only the first day I don’t know how it will do overtime with fading, but the price point is perfect as I tend to stay away from box dyes that are under $7 due to quality. I also feel like it just did a beautiful job coloring the hair and leaving it shiny and healthy. Although the color May not have been extremely accurate, I am definitely going to stick with this brands Olía line and move more towards a deeper cool “Jet black” knowing that this one just looks like a regular normal black- which is perfect for someone wanting a natural simple tint!Laso5959

I’m 33 and I have a ton of gray around the crown of my head. I went from having a salad balayage, to dyeing my hair very dark brown because I couldn’t afford a trip to the salon. I tried my best to keep my balayage highlights intact, but it ended up dyeing over all of them. Every ‘medium’ brown I touch, turns my hair practically black. So I let the last color fade out over a few months, and decided to try this color. When I first washed it out I was a little nervous I had ‘hot roots’, because they looked very red. My hair likes to go red with any dye period, but they looked kind of orange, so I was a little scared. Once I finished drying my hair, I was pretty happy with the results. Not only did it lighten my hair significantly, but it brought back the balayage highlights that were unfortunately dyed dark. My hair does have kind of a ‘chestnut’ tone to it, but I’m over all satisfied that it lightened my hair, covered my grays, and didn’t go so dark that I lost color dimension.Alex k

Olia hair color in Dark Rose Quartz left my hair feeling silky smooth and soft! I love that it doesn't have the harshness of ammonia, which makes it smell a lot better than most hair dyes out there. I was happy with the way the color came out, but I would consider it more of a tint than a traditional dye, which is why I took a star off (I have medium brown hair with blonde balayage). If I was hoping for the color on the box, I don't know that I would have been as happy. Dark Rose Quartz is a fun and subtle shade for someone who wants to shake up their hair color without getting too crazy! I received a free product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.Jene4424

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.

My seven year old really wanted to color her hair but she is too young. So I found this and was like it sounds great! Washes out in one wash and is a simple spray. Well she looks super cute with the pink in her hair, however she also looked like a pink smurf! It got all over her face, neck, clothes and anything she laid on or touched with her hair! I ca!d home from work and we washed it out in 2 shampoo washes she was extremely upset but understood why. Plus in spraying her hair it got all over my gloves and not in a good way. I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone!Nic

Just used this product yesterday, so I can't speak to how long it will last, but I've seen many negative reviews about it not coming out – I hope they're right! I was hoping for a dramatic change, but since I have medium-dark brown hair, I didn't get my hopes up too much. My hair is long-ish, so normally, it takes 3 boxes of dye, but one box of this one did the trick, which was a pleasant surprise. After applying and keeping it on for about 35-40 minutes (box recommends 30, but I was worried it wouldn't take), I washed it out. I couldn't see any difference in my wet hair at first and I was sure the only thing that ended up dyed was my scalp… However, after it dried, it looked AMAZING. It has this really cool effect where it can look totally different based on how the light hits it. It ranges from a natural dark brown with a hint of red in normal indoor lighting, to a deep and vibrant red/purple in the sunlight. Plus, my hair felt great after using it! I am very happy with this product. However, I absolutely would NOT recommend it for kids or someone who just wants a "one day" thing… semi-permanent is still not temporary!Karina

I'm not quite sure how other people are using this dye with light hair, but I have natural white/platinum hair and these colorista dyes are great. I use them on clean DRY hair that's washed at least a day previously with no conditioner as conditioner forms a barrier for dye absorption, and dry hair I find absorbs better than wet. I use a dye brush and often blend different colours for slight multi tonal effect and leave for at least 30 mins with a bag over hair. The colour is always great and lasts for weeks and leaves hair lovely and conditioned. The colour fades the more it's washed and I don't use conditioner when washing either as that fades the dye quicker. Using straighteners seals the colour in more too. And that's how my colour takes really well and lasts. I've noticed these dyes are getting a little harder to get hold of so i'm hoping L'Oreal isn't phasing them out.Tina54

will say that I don't know if I saw any healing benefits, but I've also upgraded my hair routine a lot recently so that could be why! But on to the color part… it's absolutely amazing. I bought 2 containers because of the BOGO sale, but also because I have hair that goes below my waist so I assumed I'd need that much due to experiences with other brands. Alas, I was wrong. I barely used 1/4 of one of the containers to do my whole head! To be fair, I have brown hair with a bleached streak that was a patchy purple because the last dye I used washed out in some parts but not others (plus a past split dye that caused one half of the ends of my hair to be a light brown while the other is darker), so perhaps that could be why. I applied a pretty good amount to my whole head but especially my bleached area and so a little goes on a long way! It added a red tinge to my dark brown (mahogany vibes), turned the light brown to a pretty dark red, and the bleached streak is a bright red that looks beautiful. You can't even tell that it had purple in it before. I've gotten many compliments and people can't believe it's something I did at home!Macey

Dude, this is the BEST semi permanent hair color I have ever used. In 2018, I suddenly became allergic to regular dyes (PPD and some other unknown ingredients), and was unable to use traditional dye methods. When I say allergy, I mean SEVERE reaction… swollen head, eyes, lymph nodes in my neck. Needed emergency care for the reaction. Luckily for me, I don't have an allergy to bleach (probably because there's no pigment) and was relying on the only coloring agent I didn't have an allergy to, OverTone (I tried Arctic Fox, Manic Panic, and even Henna to no avail). I saw Brad came out with his own color and wanted to give it a try. I am happy to say that I have had ZERO allergic reaction to it and the color deposits so much more beautifully than my previously used products. Minimal bleeding when rinsing as well! Super happy. I love you guys. Thank you! PS don't mind my roots. I'm giving my natural growth a break lol.Madison

I wanted to love this hair dye so much, but sadly it just didn't work for me. Based on the reviews of others, I'm guessing it has something to do with my hair..?? Anyway, here are the problems I had: 1. Despite Brad's claims, one pot was not enough for my whole head. I don't have crazy hair. It's curly, barely below my shoulders, normal thickness normal density. I got 3/4 of my head dyed before it ran out. 2. Something about the product made my hair feel almost gummy… even when dry.. weeks later. It threw off my curl pattern and my hair was not greasy but something was off. I could tell it was the product because the top 1/4 didn't get dyed so I had a good comparison haha. My hair has gone back to normal now but I had a month of bad hair days which sucked. 3. Since I ran out of product, I ordered a second pot the day I dyed my hair. By the time the second pot arrived a few days later, (never shampooed, only rinsed with water) the majority of my pink had rinsed out. 4. While parts washed out so fast, I'm left a month later with the weirdest splotches of pink throughout my hair. Like two spots above my ears… so odd. If you've used color like this before and you know it works, I bet this product is great! I wouldn't recommend it if you are new to dying your own hair or if you have natural curls.Abbey

This one a very vibrant color again I only wish they would create permanent hair dyes but this is definitely a fun experimenting color to let you know the outcome of a more permanent dye. I would continue buying from them if I come across more permanent colors, but I do love to wear these to try out and experiment colors.allison .r

I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist for years now and have tried more color lines and hair care brands than you can imagine. I love every Kenra color, but I will say I do use 6N the most! My favorite thing about Kenra is that what you see is what you get, the hair will look exactly like the swatch. The smell is just another bonus, so many permanent colors have an AWFUL and very strong smell, but just like everything else Kenra offers this color actually smells pretty darn good!? The only thing I will say is MAKE SURE you have a color key, because it’s not coming out if you don’t. 😉desirée.h

I always wanted to try to change my hair color to something different but nothing too crazy. I been following Guy Tang and he mentioned this hair color and I absolutely loved it on him. So my hair dresser went ahead and used this on my toned bleached hair. I loved it! but after my third hair wash the color just disappeared… very sad. So I am attempting to get it re applied even if it doesn't last that's how much I like the color. Wished there was a way that this hair dye lasted longer. Haven't found a solution yet even though I use a silver shampoo and conditioner and all the other advertised products to help it last as long as possible. Over all its a beautiful color!!!erenthequeen