Hair dye without damage (not natural either)

[Rini]

I want to post this in the hope that it might help some people who are not willing to give up the dye, but don't want damage and don't want to use henna/indigo for various reasons.

There ARE alternatives you can use, some are permanent and some are semi-permanent, that will NOT damage your hair. These are the direct dyes, or non-oxidative dyes and there are many brands out there to try. They are all characterized by the fact that you don't mix them with anything, just apply straight to your head. There is no ammonia or peroxide and they act as a stain which sticks to your hair. Most of the time they gradually wash out leaving no demarcation line. Some of them will stick around longer than others (many factors such as hair's porosity, method of application, dye formulation and chosen shade will determine the longevity).

These dyes are great for people who want to keep dyeing without damage or want to try a different colour in their hair without commitment and the dreaded grow-out.

I have found several brands to list here. Some of them I have personal experience with, others I have read many reviews and researched on the web. I welcome any other brand suggestions to add to the list!

Goldwell Elumen: there is a big thread about this dye here (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=5594&highlight=elumen). I have personally used this several times. The first time I used it on blonde hair. I dyed it a bright copper red. The colour was vibrant and covered my grey/silver (of which there is a lot!) 100%. It lasted without fading at all for 2 weeks, after which I removed it with their "return" product. My hair was left in great condition. There is a big range of colours, including vivid shades which you can mix together for more possibilities.

Wella Color Fresh: this range also includes 3 shades of "silver" for toning blonde or silver hair. I currently have one of the toners on order, so I will update after use. Supposed to give great shine and be quite long lasting.

Clairol Beautiful collection: conditioning and shine enhancing. They also have an Advanced Gray Solutions line which is supposed to cover gray hair better and last longer, although there are limited shades in that line.

Clairol Loving Care: May be discontinued, but is a drug store product with a wide range of natural colours - 13 shades in fact. Lasts 6-12 shampoos, but reviews on the time it stays in your hair vary widely.

Clairol Jazzing: similar to the beautiful collection, but the shades seem a bit bolder. I probably wouldn't try it over light blonde or white hair. Would be good for adding depth or reflect to dark hair I think.

Pravana Silk Degrees Botanical hair colour: Pravana say that these last up to 12 shampoos and are great conditioners. There are only 6 shades, but they have "toning" shades included and they can all be mixed. Read more here (http://pravana.com/v2/vis/products/silk_degrees_hair_color.php) and here (http://www.pravana.com/v2/pro/sd-mixing-chart.php)

Pravana Chromasilk Vivids: This comes in 9 BRIGHT shades and is said to be quite permanent....ie it won't fade out of your hair. The silver shade looks really intriguing to me and I'm tempted to try it on the old dyed parts of my hair to make them silver to match my virgin hair!

Sebastian Cellophanes: I had heard that this line was discontinued, but it is still on the Sebastian website (http://www.sebastianprofessional.com/en_US/products/salon_services/index.jsp) so I don't know :shrug: Anyway, you can still get it on ebay. This product is supposed to overlay a translucent colour (like cellophane does!) on your hair as well as adding condition and much shine. There are 10 shades including a clear one.

Surya henna cream: I've included this product here as it is not really henna, just has a "henna extract" in it and uses direct dyes to colour your hair. This comes in 15 shades including one called "silver fox" which really interests me :D

Antica Herbavita Vegetal Color: Natural product which comes in a range of natural shades. Does not claim to cover grey, but I have read one review on iherb which said that it did cover all the grey for this one person.

Naturtint Reflex Color Rinse: Comes with a shampoo and a serum in the box too. Is supposed to last for 1 month and cover small amounts of grey hair. 10 natural shades.

Schwarzkopf Live Colour: I'm not sure if this is only in Australia, but I've not found it in other countries I've been to. They only cost about $4 to buy and come in a little sachet. It was the first colour I ever used because Mum wouldn't let me use anything permanent when I was a kid. You stick the colour on your hair, wait, rinse out and then enjoy the results. I found them to be very short lived in the hair and the toner (silver) does a pretty poor job. Still, good for a boring saturday afternoon.

Framesi FramColor Passion: Comes in natural and bright shades. Smells like delicious fruits.

Roux Fanci-full Rinse: very temporary - ie only lasts until next wash. You put it in your hair after you've washed it and leave it in. Natural colours as well as "toners"

Revlon Nutri Color Creme: A conditioning treatment with pigment to refresh coloured hair. Not sure if it would work on virgin hair, but am willing to play :D


Color Mousses
These are the easy to use colors in mousse form. Don't last very long at all in my experience. I have personally used Schwarzkopf and Goldwell as toners. You need to leave them in a long time and apply heat to get some more permanence out of them, even so they only last a week at best.

Schwarzkopf Igora
Goldwell Colorance Color mousse
Loreal Color Pulse


Semi permanent BRIGHT colours:
Putting these under a seperate heading. Elumen and Pravana also have bright shades, but I listed them above as they are more permanent. The following are definitely temporary*:

Manic Panic
Stargazer
La Riche Directions
Punky by Jerome Russell
Special Effects
Paul Mitchell Inkworks

*OK, maybe they're not all temporary! Some of these (especially Atomic Pink in the Special Effects line) have been reported to be pretty permanent.


Hopefully these products will be helpful for people who are looking for this sort of solution! Just google and look for reviews to help you before you buy. Have fun :D

[burns_erin]

L'Oreal Color Pulse Mousse is great too :( But they appear to have discontinued the line. However, you can still get them on Amazon.

I'll also second the Clairol Beautiful Collection. I use it on my parents hair.

[Rini]

burns erin: thanks for the suggestion! Can you tell me a bit about the color Pulse mousse? ie, your experience with it?

[Gabriel]

This is nice of you to gather all this in one place! :)

What about the more temporary colors? Do you want folks to add their experiences to this thread too? Or is this for the permanent, demi and semi's only?

Maybe the Manic Panic and other vegetable dye users will stop by and add their suggestions to the list.

I haven't used any of those in ages though, but figured I'd throw in a mention of them.

[Rini]

For sure Gabriel! I was thinking that Manic Panic, Stargazer and such should be included too as they serve a similar role as Pravana Vivids and I have that listed (although the PV is permanent). I would love to hear experiences or any info about them. I'll add them to the first post based on responses. Thanks :D

I think it is useful to have them all in one place as I had a really hard time finding TRUE semi permanent colours (ie not colours that say they are semi and then you have to mix it with a developer anyway!!).

I welcome suggestions and experiences with said product suggestions :flowers:

[Neneka]

There is also La Riche Directions. I tried it a week ago. I made a small streak to test the colour. I left it in for three hours. It's funny how it doesn't smell at all. :) I liked the colour. It just washed away quickly because my hair is virgin and very slippery but it's still fun to experiment. I don't want to damage my hair or have a permanent colour. I just grew out henna and permanent dye so I am very careful.

[Rini]

Thanks Neneka. I edited the first post to include the "bright" ranges separately too!

[spidermom]

Under brights along with Manic Panic would be the Punky by Jerome Russell brand. It lasts much longer than Manic Panic in my experience but does gradually fade away. I would classify it as "conditioning" instead of "damaging".

[Rini]

Thanks spidermom!! Added to list :D (and may I say how nice it looks in your hair too)

[Unofficial_Rose]

Would like to say I found Manic Panic in Vampire Red so hard to get out that I resorted to colour remover (ColourB4 - UK version of Colorfix).

This may please some people though. Lie-Locks (purple) disappears off bleached hair rather quickly though. So permanency seems to depend on shade chosen.

[kwaniesiam]

Add Special Effects under the bright colors. Also Paul Mitchell InkWorks under the brights too and Framesi FramColor Passion comes in a few natural shades. It is mixed with the Milky Mask "Developer" but is not a peroxide based dye. Goldwell also has a temporary color foam mousse that lasts much less than the Elumen.

Great list!

[turtlelover]

I don't color anymore, but when I did, I was a HUGE fan of Robert Craig. No damage or brassiness, and NO SMELL or mess when applying. Highly recommended!

[Rini]

Thanks for your experience Unofficial Rose :)

Thanks kwaniesiam, I actually forgot about the mousse colours! There is Goldwell, Schwarzkopf and lots of others.

turtlelover: Robert Craig is a bit controversial as to whether it's non damaging as you have to mix it with water. There are other colours like this (such as Atlantis water colours) and I have read that they release a small amount of peroxide when water is added. The list I have is only about the hair colours that you don't mix with anything at all.

[Anje]

For truly temporary colors, there are also those Fanciful rinses. They're only supposed to last til the next wash.

[knoxkatie]

What a great thread! Thanks for posting it :flower:

[Rini]

Thanks Anje, that's still a semi colour, so I'll include it :D

You're welcome knoxkatie. I was looking for a long time for somewhere that could list/recommend true semi colours. I could not find anything, so I thought it would be useful to have a list here!

[maborosi]

I like this thread a lot!

I've been using Natural Instincts because it makes my hair feel really nice (I've used a lot of box dyes and Sally's brand dye, and I've never had such soft hair after coloring...and the conditioner is amazing, too) and it doesn't seem to cause much damage. Would you happen to know if it has a low level of peroxide?

I ask 'cause my hair is growing so fast right now that I might have to start coloring every 2 weeks rather than once a month, which is why I've kinda been looking into direct deposit dyes. If I'm going to be coloring that often, I think looking for something that doesn't lift the cuticle at all might be a smarter option than what I use now, but I don't know. I'm really looking into Clariol's "Loving Care" dyes, because it'd be easy to match my shade ^^

~maborosi~

[Evie]

Wonderful thread! I have been looking for a way to avoid damage, grow out my henndigo, and (in the long run) go back to my natural hair, and I so wanted a way to do so without damage and avoiding the worst of the 2-tone look! Some of these dyes (Elumen in particular) look great for this, and I will certainly be reading up on them in more detail! Rini you are a :Star:

[Rini]

maborosi, I'm glad you're getting good results from Natural Instincts. As you know, it's not a true semi (in that it is mixed with a developer and does contain peroxide and/or ammonia in some amounts) which is why I have not included it here. If you are considering dyeing your hair quite often, then I would strongly recommend finding a good semi (ie direct dye). Repeatedly dyeing your hair with any dye that requires a developer (no matter how gentle or nice it makes your hair feel) is doing damage to your hair.

Evie: aww...shucks :o Have fun researching. There are many good reviews to read out there (makeupalley, amazon, iherb, ciao, behindthechair....)

[Babyfine]

Clairol Loving Care-but I don't know if you can get it outside of the States.
Also, it's been discontinued. I used it years and years ago-it's a semi-permanent non damaging dye. I think the professional counterpart is the Clairol Beautiful collection as you first mentioned. Loving Care you can get for $5.00 in a drugstore.

[Rini]

Thanks Babyfine! I just googled it. It is still on the clairol site, but I read on makeupalley that it has been discontinued. It's not available in Australia or Europe, so I had not heard of it before but it looks really good! I will add it to the list :D

[KittyLost]

La Riche Directions and Punky Colours by Jerome Russel are the same :) just different names for different places.

There is also a brand called Crazy Colour which is the same as the veggie unnatural colours.

ETA: the veggie bright colours last longer on hair that is more porous, different shades and brands have different times of washing out but it is essentially down to the individuals hair. So generally speaking blues, blue based purples, greens and light pastel shades don't last long but reds, oranges, pinks and pink based purples can last longer than expected. I use Directions which is supposed to last 8washes but find it lasts longer that. In terms of longevity it generally goes (longest lasting first) Special Effects SFX, Manic Panic, Directions, Stargazer, Crazy Colour. But again it can vary from person to person. Beware of Special Effects (SFX) Atomic Pink, it has proven to be very permanent on hair, with drastic cases of heavy bleaching or growing it out to remove the colour completely.

[ladylovecraft]

I have to chime in that Special Effects dyes have never been "temporary" on me. I currently use special effects to dye my hair and though it bleeds a LOT, it doesn't fade a noticable amount. And I COULD NOT BLEACH their Atomic Pink out of my hair, and I know a LOT of other dyed-hairs who can't get it out. It even peeks through black hair dye.

[Rini]

Thanks KittyLost and ladylovecraft! I have updated the first post to include info about permanency of those brighter colours.

[Revontuletar]

Wow what a great thread! So much information :D I had no idea all this was out there. I have been trying to give up dye but all this makes me want to rethink! I always thought it was only the temporary ones that wash out it a couple of washes that were non-damaging. I have been using the bad permanent ones for so long x.x

[Evie]

So on the basis of this thread, I have just purchased a bottle of Clairol Beautiful in medium ash brown, to see if it works for toning my roots. I got it for £3.75 on Amazon, so if it lasts for a month ish, it is a real bargain! Here's hoping :D I will report back, naturally....

[Rini]

Revontuletar, yes I too used the bad permanent ones for way too long! Hope this list helps you :)

Evie...I am very much looking forward to your report!

I am making this info into an article where it can be helpful to all :D

[Rini]

OK...article can be found here (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=215)

[Molster]

I can thoroughly recommend the Surya temporary dyes. I've had to use their Dark Brown (large size ready made temp dye) and it's been brilliant. I've had to dye down my blond hair for 3 dark haired roles and obviously needed something gentle but effective, but not permanent. The result was superb - excellent coverage and my hair has been loving it.

It's been on for 3 weeks now (I only hair-wash once a week) and the blond is just starting to come through again.

TBH I'm loving the darker colour - the only person who doesn't like it is my partner, who misses his blond girl!

[Rini]

Good to know Molster! I've read good things about the Surya. I was put off at first, but have since found out that the henna is just an extract (how could they have a shade called "silver fox" if it DID have real henna in it?) :D Do you have pics?

[Evie]

I can thoroughly recommend the Surya temporary dyes. I've had to use their Dark Brown (large size ready made temp dye) and it's been brilliant. I've had to dye down my blond hair for 3 dark haired roles and obviously needed something gentle but effective, but not permanent. The result was superb - excellent coverage and my hair has been loving it.

It's been on for 3 weeks now (I only hair-wash once a week) and the blond is just starting to come through again.

TBH I'm loving the darker colour - the only person who doesn't like it is my partner, who misses his blond girl!

Hi Molster, that sounds like another good product to think about whilst I'm growing out my henndigo....where do you buy it, I'm in the UK too? :)

[Revontuletar]

Which one would you recommend for a nice blonde colour? I'm in Australia so it would have to be readily available online or in stores here.

[Zenity]

Sebastian cellophanes, direct color and gloss:
http://www.sebastianprofessional.com/en_US/products/salon_services/product.jsp?id=100060

Revlon nutricolor hair masks:
http://www.revlonnutricolorcreme.com/

[Revontuletar]

I managed to pick up a satchet of Schwarzkopf live colour in champagne, as that was all that I could find on my shopping trip yesterday. I am interested to see how it will turn out, as I have never used this before. We will see.

[Buddaphlyy]

Have any of you tried Color Jamz from Sally's? I'm very interested in trying this. Also, do you think temporary colors affect black hair much? I have virgin black hair and would mostly like a rinse/gloss type of color on my hair. Would any of these products work?

[BelleBot]

On black hair you'll get a coloured sheen in the sunlight, but generally none of these dyes will affect your colour, only in the light will you be able to tell. I have a friend with naturally black hair who likes to use blue dye on it so she has a blue sheen in the light, it looks beautiful. :)

[Celebrian]

Sorry, party pooper here! I have at least 50% grey and have had the same thoughts as you Rini - but only tried Clairols Loving Care, and Surya Henna Cream - at least three consecutive attempts with each. They didn't fully cover the grey: in fact they barely had any effect. Perhaps I have resistant greys?

I tried 'em on freshly washed hair (towel blotted), and in dry clean hair - as well as dry dirty hair!

I love the idea though. :D

[Evie]

So, my report on Clairol Beautiful.....I'm afraid it is not so good :(

I applied as directed, and rinsed, no dryness or damage I will confess. But not much colour either, which is sad. And what there was washed out so fast I couldn't believe it, it was probably not there for more than a week. Now, other folks have had much better success than me (the reviews on Amazon show that) but I just did not find it that good....at the moment I'm back to chemicals, not ideal I know, but still looking for something that will work out.....

[Revontuletar]

After trying the Schwarzkopf live I can report that it did nothing whatsoever :( My hair colour looks exactly the same and I literally cannot tell that I even used it at all. Oh well, it WAS only $5

[Buddaphlyy]

On black hair you'll get a coloured sheen in the sunlight, but generally none of these dyes will affect your colour, only in the light will you be able to tell. I have a friend with naturally black hair who likes to use blue dye on it so she has a blue sheen in the light, it looks beautiful. :)


Thank you. That is the effect I am going for. I can't use any lightening products on my hair (experience has taught me that peroxide and ammonia are not my hair's friend) but I would like the unexpected pop of color in the light. Do you know what brand/color your friend uses? I was thinking of using blue on my hair also.

[BelleBot]

I'm not sure what shade she uses, but it's probably Directions, anything like that or Manic Panic will work :)

[Neneka]

I don't know where to post this but I have a need of posting this somewhere. :o I dyed my hair with Directions Tangerine. I love it! I didn't bleach my hair and I kept the dye on my hair 4 hours and this is the result: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=7561&pictureid=110133

If this doesn't wash away too fast I might think about trying to maintain this colour.

[Rini]

Awesome colour Neneka!! It looks like henna! How's it washing?

Celebrian, sorry to hear you couldn't get any good coverage with those two. Try Wella Colorfresh....took beautifully to my silvers!

Evie and Revontuletar, what shades did you use? I think darker shades have reported better results. Evie, don't give up, there are lots of different DDs to try!

[Evie]

Hi Rini

I used a dark brown....maybe I should have just left it on longer, I don't have a heat cap either so that might help?

What has helped me though is a realisation that I suit dark hair. So I'm very tempted to go back to henndigo, actually :o

[Neneka]

Rini, thanks! Yes, this is what I tried to accomplish with henna but henna just turned my hair brown. I haven't washed this yet. I try to wash as little as I can.

[RockyChristine]

I've used Naturtint in Ebony Black, which is about a shade darker than my natural color. It was honestly the single worst dye I've ever used- horribly drying and more damaging than even some of the fire-reds that I've used in the past. It didn't even last long, and I've redyed with my usual chemicals to keep my hair black.

Has anyone had success with Manic Panic over unbleached hair? I'm considering in the future using Raven or Vampire Red, but I've had a brief enough encounter with bleach to know I don't want to touch it again.

[julliams]

Neneka, that looks so great. How did you decide between the Tangerine and Flame - they look almost the same to me... What is your natural colour?

[Neneka]

Neneka, that looks so great. How did you decide between the Tangerine and Flame - they look almost the same to me... What is your natural colour?

I picked Tangerine because it was on sale. :o Next time I order I will get more different shades of red just to try them. My natural colour is dark ash blonde (or light brown, not really sure). There is some pics of it in my album.

[Rosetta]

Has anyone had success with Manic Panic over unbleached hair? I'm considering in the future using Raven or Vampire Red, but I've had a brief enough encounter with bleach to know I don't want to touch it again.
Several people (also longhairs) have used e.g. Manic Panic Vampire Red on natural/unbleached hair, with fabulous results -
http://www.manicpanic.com/besthaircolor/vampirered.html Now that's what I call thud-worthy hair (esp. Barb and Gemma)!! :)


What a great & informative thread this is, Rini! I was just wondering if the products list in the first post is maybe a bit Australia-specific, as I've never heard of e.g. Clairol Beautiful, Pravana, Antica, Framesi or Roux..? And I've lived in Finland and UK so I know hair products in both countries quite well :) Also what you mentioned about Schwarzkopf Live Colour coming in a sachet, seems it's not the same one we have here in Europe -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SCHWARZKOPF-LIVE-TONER-HAIR-COLOUR-CREAM-RED-VIOLET-887-/250321594020

Some deposit-only dyes I've found in the UK not listed here are e.g. Harmony (in a small triangular package), Wella Shaders & Toners (in a sachet), and Wella Viva colour mousse (which until now has also been sold in Finland). (Any UK people please chime in if these have meanwhile been discontinued, as it's almost 3 yrs since I left UK ;))

The situation in this country, though, is getting from bad to worse as regards deposit-only dyes - lately the only ones sold in shops have been Wella Viva mousse & Schwarzkopf Live Duo Intense Toner (in the link above), but now it seems even they have disappeared from the shops :( (Not sure if discontinued or the shops here have just stopped selling them...) It's weird because there are shelf-rows of hair dyes but they are all permanent (except Casting Color Gloss, which is not deposit-only either)! I wonder why there's this trend favouring permanent dyes, when they damage hair and have more dangerous chemicals as well... :confused:


Neneka, what lovely results you had with Directions! :) I've so far steered clear of "shock dyes" like Manic Panic or Directions (not that they could be found here either, but I could buy from ebay.uk etc.), as I really don't want pink, bright red, green or blue hair ;), but the pictures on Manic Panic website and your results have made me realize that one can still use them on unbleached hair and get more natural-looking results :)

[Revontuletar]

Rini, I used the schwarzkopf live in Champagne, which is a medium blonde colour. So yeah, maybe it is the dark colours that work. Seems like the lighter colours don't really do anything.

[Sookie]

Very helpfull thanks for posting!

[Melon Collie]

I just wanted to let members know that if anyone is using Color Jamz - Bubblehead Pink that it contains sodium hydroxcide which is lye and caustic soda.

I bought a bottle yesterday, read the ingredients and looked up each ingredient to make sure they were non-damaging to my hair. So back to Manic Panic I go.

[Lady Malys]

For what it is worth .... I used Manic Panic Purple Haze (on naturally medium brown hair) and it didn't last very long at all (not even 2 weeks). Obviously there are a range of experiences, but wanted to share what I had found.

[Revontuletar]

I have always wondered about those bright, crazy-coloured dyes. I have had a bit of an itch to dye my hair green that comes and goes, and I would really love to do it if it was easily reversible and the colour didn't hang around in my hair looking faded for too long, and, of course, if it didn't further damage my hair. I would be very interested in seeing some of the results from some of you people who have experimented with them and how long it took for your hair to go back to its completely normal colour.

[Lianna]

Thank you for posting this, it's very interesting to me. I've used the Surya Cream (I live in Brazil) in golden brown, but as stated, leaves copper highlights (which are lovely), like a henna gloss. My hair doesn't like henna very much, so it's a great choice for me.

[DarleneH]

Have you all heard of mixing color and developer with conditioner, then applying to hair? It's supposed to still dye it without the damage.

[Silverdragn7385]

For what it is worth .... I used Manic Panic Purple Haze (on naturally medium brown hair) and it didn't last very long at all (not even 2 weeks). Obviously there are a range of experiences, but wanted to share what I had found.

I also have medium brown hair and wanting to dye mine purple temporarily. Does it leave any weird faded color for a while before it all comes out? Or does it wash out pretty nicely after a few weeks?

[kiwiipop]

I used Clairol Beautiful Collections semi-perm color yesterday and I have to say, I really love it! I used Dark Warm Brown to cover some previously covered lightened parts that were fading. Left it on for 30 minutes (bottle suggests 25), rinsed with cold water, then let air dry. I think it came out great- the color is perfect. Was a bit tangled afterwards but I combed and braided after it dried and it's silky and smooth at the moment!

The one thing that gave me pause was that the bottle mentions "perfect for coloring immediately after relaxing" (said it a few times, actually!) and as that isn't something I do to my hair nor my hair type, I made sure to do some research and lots of people who don't relax do use it. :)

I haven't washed yet so I'm unsure of it's lasting power but if anyone turns out to be interested, i'll let you know asap!

[luxepiggy]

Just stumbled across this thread and I wanted to add the Adore (http://creativeimagesystems.com/adore/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=60) brand of semi-permanent/deposit-only colour - easy to use, smells pleasant, doesn't stain my skin, and leaves my hair quite shiny afterwards. They have a veryextensive colour selection compared to other semi-perm brands, including both natural & bright/fashion shades (swatches on the linked website).

You apply the product straight from the bottle without developer, so there's no damage to the hair unless you choose to use heat for more vibrant results. It works fine without the heat, IPHO - just leave it on for a bit longer instead, making sure it's covered so the dye doesn't dry out on the hair. I redye new growth as needed, but I only do the full length every other month. I also mix a bit of the dye into my conditioner and CO-wash every 3-4 days. The colour fades much faster if you use shampoo. I used to use Special Effects Blue Velvet, but I find the Adore leaves my hair softer & shinier.

Ingredients list included in my review (http://reviews.longhaircommunity.com/showproduct.php/product/747/cat/4)! (^(oo)^)v

[uglypug]

I've created my own little La Riche Directions gloss. I used to use these when I was a teenager (a long time ago now:D) and loved them. You don't get much in a pot and they're about £5 each but the colours are beautiful. I mixed a few different reds with lots of conditioner to try and make them go further and left it on my hair for about an hour. The colour was gorgeous and lasted about 2 weeks I would say (my hair is hennaed and previously chemically dyed). Some colours seem much more staining than others and they can be tricky to get off the bath :). Don't think I can add pictures yet but will when I can if anyone is interested.

[theodora]

I second using Directions and other veggie dyes. Also because they're conditioning and don't contain ammonia/peroxide, they can be left on for however long you like (even a whole night). Finishing with a vinegar rinse also helps with making the colour last longer.

[Rini]

Thanks piggy! I have added it to the article :D

[luxepiggy]

Thanks piggy! I have added it to the article :D

You might also want to add Fudge Paintbox (http://www.fudge.com/fudge/colour.php) and Joico K-Pak Color Intensity (http://www.joico.com/mediaroom/press/id/158) to the brights list. Both are fairly popular salon brands, though they're not as long-lasting as Pravana's Vivids. Fudge washes out the fastest, and often will be gone in less than a month.

[MischiefsMuse]

I've been using the brand Raw Color in Twisted Teal. The color holds beautifully in the last 8 inches of my hair but the newest hair is virgin and spooooild! For the last two years I've been using CO twice a week, no heat, no brushes or combs and plopping in a t-shirt instead of using a towel. The light brown color of my hair starts peeking through as more of a forest green in that growth. Last night as an experiment leading up to recoloring I combed a bunch of lime juice into my hair and then dumped it all over my scalp. I had barely any water in it. Plopped it in a t-shirt for maybe 10 minutes and then rinsed it in the shower. I expected my hair to be rough and tangly because of the acid so imagine my shock when it was super soft/slick! Of course that turned to literally squeaky clean when I followed up with laundry detergent (trying to minimally damage my new growth so the color will bond and also need to remove the oils temporarily). My hair is incredibly glossy today and still super soft despite the attempted abuse. I've since figured out that some hair likes acid rinses- go figure! And that those same acid rinses help seal the cuticle which will not help my dye efforts one bit.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1986&pictureid=120579

[girlcat36]

MischiefsMuse--your hair looks beautiful!! And I haven't seen you around here much lately. Good to see you back! Your hair looks like it has thickened up.

[Bianca]

I've created my own little La Riche Directions gloss. I used to use these when I was a teenager (a long time ago now:D) and loved them. You don't get much in a pot and they're about £5 each but the colours are beautiful. I mixed a few different reds with lots of conditioner to try and make them go further and left it on my hair for about an hour. The colour was gorgeous and lasted about 2 weeks I would say (my hair is hennaed and previously chemically dyed). Some colours seem much more staining than others and they can be tricky to get off the bath :). Don't think I can add pictures yet but will when I can if anyone is interested.

I would love to see :)

[MischiefsMuse]

Hey Girlcat36! You're right I have been seriously MIA around here for quite a while. I just get so sucked in that I don't get much done ;) Thanks for the hair compliments- it's not any thicker but the sock curls give LOTS of volume. I mist my dry hair with aloe juice and then roll it up in socks for a few hours.

Thought I'd share a quick note about cleanup- instead of bleach, I now use a product called Synthrapol developed for use with dyeing fabrics. I buy it from DharmaTrading.com. They have apparently developed a less expensive and more eco friendly version as well (I haven't tried it yet) http://www.dharmatrading.com/products/ptd.html. I put a few caps full in a spray bottle with water and spray down my bathtub and shower walls. I also filled up my kitchen sink with hot water and some of the synthrapol while we were applying color so that dye covered hair clips and combs could be dropped into the water and solution was ready for instant clean up.

I reapplied the teal last night but a different brand. This time I used N'Rage color in Twisted Teal after washing my hair with Arm & Hammer sensitive skin liquid laundry detergent that morning. The color took amazingly well though my scalp is quite blue for the moment :P

[luxepiggy]

Thought I'd share a quick note about cleanup- instead of bleach, I now use a product called Synthrapol developed for use with dyeing fabrics. I buy it from DharmaTrading.com. They have apparently developed a less expensive and more eco friendly version as well (I haven't tried it yet) http://www.dharmatrading.com/products/ptd.html. I put a few caps full in a spray bottle with water and spray down my bathtub and shower walls. I also filled up my kitchen sink with hot water and some of the synthrapol while we were applying color so that dye covered hair clips and combs could be dropped into the water and solution was ready for instant clean up.


Cheapo clarifying shampoo works really well for cleanup also. I dump some on a sponge and wipe down the shower while it's still damp, then rinse. No scrubbing required (^(oo)^)v

[dollface]

I love veggie dyes! Right now keeping my hair colored with veggie dyes is the only thing keeping me from cutting or bleaching.

I used to bleach my hair before the veggie dyes for a brighter result but the damage is too hard to live with and whenever I finally reached a decent length the damage control wasn't worth the length. So I got a chin length bob and now I'm back to growing without bleaching.

I've noticed more growth since I stopped the bleaching and my hair is lighter than I remembered so the veggie dyes take nicely.

My all time favorite is manic panic but that's mostly due to the ease of aquiring it. Right now I'm using hot hot pink and vampire red mixed and it lasts for about a month before looking faded and by that time I have to do roots so it works out nicely.

Veggie dyes, all the fun of dyeing your hair without all the heartbreak of damage!

@MischiefsMuse, I love the green!

[luxepiggy]

Random question: why the heck are they called veggie dyes?? I don't see any vegetables in the ingredients list . . . ? Inquiring piggies want to know! (^(oo)^)

[Rini]

Maybe the dye that they use in the formulas is derived from veggies originally? Good question!

[dollface]

@luxepiggy, wish i knew....

to all the veggie dye ppl, manic panic (http://www.manicpanic.biz/)is having a discount sell at 4oz. bottles for $5.00. thought it would be good to share here since it's good to stock up when the prices are nice. i went a bit crazy and bought $70 worth but it means i'll have color for nearly the whole coming year.

[Finnenna]

Question about Manic Panic - How do I put it in? The website directions seem a bit odd - they say to use a tinting brush half an inch away from the roots. I just want to cover my whole head until I have time to get some henna going.

So, is it like henna/normal dye - you just put it in all over, rub with your hands and let it sit?

Also- the website says to lighten one's hair and out it in for 15 minutes and 1/2 hour if one's hair is resistant. I'm not lightening my hair before I put it on, so should I just do the half hour?

[Heatherzilla]

@luxepiggy, wish i knew....

to all the veggie dye ppl, manic panic (http://www.manicpanic.biz/)is having a discount sell at 4oz. bottles for $5.00. thought it would be good to share here since it's good to stock up when the prices are nice. i went a bit crazy and bought $70 worth but it means i'll have color for nearly the whole coming year.

Spent half an hour looking at all the pretty colours, and then went to calculate shipping costs. $30 shipping for $25 worth of hair dye is ridiculous. =[ I hate living in Australia sometimes.

[dollface]

@Finnenna, They say to apply it away from your roots because it will stain your scalp, since I don't care about that I normally just pour it all on my head without even using a tint brush. If you are wanting any lasting color at least a hour would be the best but you can get by with 30 minutes if you use a blowdryer to help the dye absorb. If you have any detailed questions i would be happy to help you further ^^

@Heatherzilla, First of all awesome username, I'm biased since I'm a Heather myself but it still earn awesome points. To avoid the expensive shipping I just bought enough to qualify for free shipping but I'm not sure if Australia is included in the promotion. Sorry about the expensive shipping, what a bummer.

[MommaRalph]

When I asked at the salon, she said they use Matrix Prizms http://www.matrix.com/products/professional_haircolor/prizms_plus.aspx as a demi-permanent color. The next step up is Matrix ColorSync - still very gentle with only vol 10 developer but covers grey better http://www.matrix.com/products/professional_haircolor/colorsync.aspx

Investigating...

[Heatherzilla]

@Finnenna, They say to apply it away from your roots because it will stain your scalp, since I don't care about that I normally just pour it all on my head without even using a tint brush. If you are wanting any lasting color at least a hour would be the best but you can get by with 30 minutes if you use a blowdryer to help the dye absorb. If you have any detailed questions i would be happy to help you further ^^

@Heatherzilla, First of all awesome username, I'm biased since I'm a Heather myself but it still earn awesome points. To avoid the expensive shipping I just bought enough to qualify for free shipping but I'm not sure if Australia is included in the promotion. Sorry about the expensive shipping, what a bummer.

Australia doesn't get free shipping, but it appears that the shipping is flat rate so I can just order a ton more stuff and still pay the same shipping price. =D I consider this a good excuse to buy lotsa colourful stuff.

[dollface]

@Heatherzilla, Good plan ^^

[GlennaGirl]

Anyone have an opinion on Garnier Herbashine?

[Sheryl]

I'm going to chime in here and add a fun thing to use: bingo dabbers from the dollar store for temporary colour streaks. All kinds of colours too!

[gothicchick]

i use goldwell elumen for the bright blue streaks in my hair :) it lasts well i find, although some does come out when i wash it, it's still really vibrant. I haven't noticed any damage with it. i love the colour!

[UP Lisa]

These products are great, if they really don't cause any damage. Of course you would still have the usual risks that dyes can cause to your health.

[Tia2010]

Just stumbled across this thread and I wanted to add the Adore (http://creativeimagesystems.com/adore/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=60) brand of semi-permanent/deposit-only colour - easy to use, smells pleasant, doesn't stain my skin, and leaves my hair quite shiny afterwards. They have a veryextensive colour selection compared to other semi-perm brands, including both natural & bright/fashion shades (swatches on the linked website).

You apply the product straight from the bottle without developer, so there's no damage to the hair unless you choose to use heat for more vibrant results. It works fine without the heat, IPHO - just leave it on for a bit longer instead, making sure it's covered so the dye doesn't dry out on the hair. I redye new growth as needed, but I only do the full length every other month. I also mix a bit of the dye into my conditioner and CO-wash every 3-4 days. The colour fades much faster if you use shampoo. I used to use Special Effects Blue Velvet, but I find the Adore leaves my hair softer & shinier.

Ingredients list included in my review (http://reviews.longhaircommunity.com/showproduct.php/product/747/cat/4)! (^(oo)^)v


Thank you for that link piggy! I love the dark color choices! I haven't been able to find what I liked in Manic Panic and the like, and I didn't see myself mixing colors to get the right shade. Don't get me wrong I LOVE the bright colors but I can't see myself doing that at work!

I will be looking into these! Lots of dark and rich colors to choose from! :cheese: and hey I still haven't given up my dream of Manic Panic Vampire red or pink...it will just have to wait till vacation.

[wicked kisses]

These products are great, if they really don't cause any damage. Of course you would still have the usual risks that dyes can cause to your health.

I;ve used a lot of these, not now, but in the past, and I had no reaction or change in my health. In fact, I noticed that I was in *better* health while using them.
But then, I believe our health is directly related to our base mood.

[sfgirl]

I always use Wella after I lighten my hair, and I love it. If anyone here DOES bleach their hair, this will make it seem more full, and thicker, after you tone it with this. The smell is really strong though, so try to do it in a more ventilated area. This is my experience at least.

[dollface]

I've been using manic panic reds and pinks on my damaged multi-color hair and since I've used up all my red and pink color it's off to try blue, and then to my final destination, green!

Sadly I don't think the manic panic blues I used will be strong enough to color my hair, but I'll post a picture if it turns out well.

[2vette2camaro]

great list! I love Special Effects and now trying Pravana Vivids and I agree- they are WAY less damaging than regular colors!

If the list is current, I would like to print a copy for future reference.

[renee2day]

Random question: why the heck are they called veggie dyes?? I don't see any vegetables in the ingredients list . . . ?

One possible answer may be related to an article I read years ago about dyeing yarn. The article compared dying sheep wool and cotton wool yarn with anilyne dye vs vegetable dye (Koolade). Anilyne dye covered both types of wool very intensely. The vegetable dye (Koolade) was more of a subtle colorwash on the sheeps wool but was a happy bright on the cotton wool. The so called vegetable dye in Koolade doesn't have any vegetables in it, just artificial food coloring, artificial flavoring and citric acid.

While I don't think any of the products on this thread are anilyne dye based it does seem like these products seem to behave like Koolade. I once complimented a woman who had natural black hair with lovely burgundy red streaks. It turned out she was using Koolade which didn't effect the color of her black but it gave her gray streaks a lovely contrasting color. She thought it was very funny that I had never heard of coloring hair with Koolade. (Apparently I had been living under a rock). Anyway being blond who highlights I have successfully used Koolade Grape and or Blue berry to tone my hair. At less than a dollar a package its a cheap fix when I can't run to Salley's. I'm too chicken to try any of the berry flavors as I have no desire to risk growing out pink tinged hair. I've also heard of using Jello to dye hair but have never tried it.

I'm not sure if this helps but before artificial food colors food was colored with natural vegetable based food coloring/dyes.

[theresajensen]

Thank you so much for making the list, im really not willing to give up the dye.. not yet anyways ;)

[girlcat36]

One possible answer may be related to an article I read years ago about dyeing yarn. The article compared dying sheep wool and cotton wool yarn with anilyne dye vs vegetable dye (Koolade). Anilyne dye covered both types of wool very intensely. The vegetable dye (Koolade) was more of a subtle colorwash on the sheeps wool but was a happy bright on the cotton wool. The so called vegetable dye in Koolade doesn't have any vegetables in it, just artificial food coloring, artificial flavoring and citric acid.

While I don't think any of the products on this thread are anilyne dye based it does seem like these products seem to behave like Koolade. I once complimented a woman who had natural black hair with lovely burgundy red streaks. It turned out she was using Koolade which didn't effect the color of her black but it gave her gray streaks a lovely contrasting color. She thought it was very funny that I had never heard of coloring hair with Koolade. (Apparently I had been living under a rock). Anyway being blond who highlights I have successfully used Koolade Grape and or Blue berry to tone my hair. At less than a dollar a package its a cheap fix when I can't run to Salley's. I'm too chicken to try any of the berry flavors as I have no desire to risk growing out pink tinged hair. I've also heard of using Jello to dye hair but have never tried it.

I'm not sure if this helps but before artificial food colors food was colored with natural vegetable based food coloring/dyes.

So, I have brassiness from my semipermanent hair dye. Can I use blueberry Kool Aid to tone down the brassiness? And how would I do that?
I've tried Shimmer Lights(purply-blue) shampoo and conditioner, but it was too harsh for my hair.

[dollface]

So, I have brassiness from my semipermanent hair dye. Can I use blueberry Kool Aid to tone down the brassiness? And how would I do that?
I've tried Shimmer Lights(purply-blue) shampoo and conditioner, but it was too harsh for my hair.

I would just mix the blue with some conditioner, and let it set soak in for about 30 minutes. I don't know how the Kool Aid would behave but the mixture wouldn't harm your hair at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I put the blue over my hair and instead of blue it came out an inky blue-black. It's nice but since I've officially caught the crazy color hair bug again I've made an appointment to have my hair bleached (did a strand test and passed with flying colors, my hair is strong again :cheese:) and colored blue and green. It will take longer to grow out my hair but I'll be less likely to chop and since I totally ruined my hair a few months back I now know what NOT to do. :D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A word on manic panic, the color "shocking blue" has also been re-formulated and carries the odd purple-grey tint that "aftermidnight blue" had after a formula change. Neither of them give a predictable true blue color. I'm so dissapointed that I may have to start looking for some blue color substitutes :(.

[girlcat36]

I would just mix the blue with some conditioner, and let it set soak in for about 30 minutes. I don't know how the Kool Aid would behave but the mixture wouldn't harm your hair at all.




Thank you! I'm going to have to remember to pick some up at the grocery store!

[Vanille_]

Manic Panic Vampire Red in dark brown hair. Looks dark brown still in light lights, but great in bright lights and the sun.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z252/onexmorexgirl/DSC018941-1-1.jpg

[BritHair]

I am looking for a natural hair product that will cover my gray, approximately 10-15%. My natural hair color is med-dark brown. I would like to try henna but worry about the permanence of it. I am wary of using the dark chemical dyes as of their link to cancer, ie non-hodgekin's lymphoma. I had used dark hair dye for many years as a young girl and, perhaps by coincidence, was diagnosed with non-hodgekin's lymphoma. Major bummer but am now in remission for 11 years. I would appreciate any ideas for a non pernament, non-chemical dark hair colorant to hide my grays until I am ready to show them off.

[Revontuletar]

Has anyone here had any experience with any of the green colours, I'm wanting to dye my hair green. I'm also wondering about the effectiveness of manic panics amplified formula compared to their original formula and also compared to other brands like special effects and directions. I'm still trying to decide on which brand to use!

[Bianca]

I see you have sebastians cellophanes on the list. I read over on hairmaven, that it is a polymer dye, which means its liquid plastic and chips off instead of fading like normal dye.

Can someone confirm this ? I was set on getting it, but then I read that and now I dont know...

eta: Oh, one more thing, they also said that the only way to get it out, is to wash you hair with windex :/

[Bianca]

Manic Panic Vampire Red in dark brown hair. Looks dark brown still in light lights, but great in bright lights and the sun.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z252/onexmorexgirl/DSC018941-1-1.jpg

Wow, looks great, Vanille :D

[GlennaGirl]

Manic Panic Vampire Red in dark brown hair. Looks dark brown still in light lights, but great in bright lights and the sun.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z252/onexmorexgirl/DSC018941-1-1.jpg

Ooooooooooooooo. (/fainting from the utter gorgeousness)

[Bianca]

Rini - You tried the wella fresh, right ? Can you tell me the ingredients, I cant find them anywhere :p

ETA: How long did it last, is it gentle enough to be used once a month ? It comes in such small bottles, would 2 be enough for almost bsl hair ?

[Rini]

Hi Bianca :waving: Yes, I have tried the Wella Fresh. My eyesight is not good enough to make out the ingredients, but I'm sure Wella would be able to help you out there. It is VERY gentle and I found it to be quite conditioning. I only used the light blonde shades (and the silver toner) and it did not last all that long (maybe 3 to 4 washes?). I was using it over pretty much white hair though, and that is notorious for not sticking. 1 bottle would do BSL hair, you just use it sparingly with a tint brush.

HTH! :flowers:

[Bianca]

Hi Bianca :waving: Yes, I have tried the Wella Fresh. My eyesight is not good enough to make out the ingredients, but I'm sure Wella would be able to help you out there. It is VERY gentle and I found it to be quite conditioning. I only used the light blonde shades (and the silver toner) and it did not last all that long (maybe 3 to 4 washes?). I was using it over pretty much white hair though, and that is notorious for not sticking. 1 bottle would do BSL hair, you just use it sparingly with a tint brush.

HTH! :flowers:

Thank you a lot for answering all my questions, rini :flower:

[UP Lisa]

I like your Avatar, Rini. is it new, or did I just miss it before?

[sfgirl]

I wonder if a wella silver dye would show up on dark blonde hair? It sounds like it would look really cool. :)

[luxepiggy]

I wonder if a wella silver dye would show up on dark blonde hair? It sounds like it would look really cool. :)

Pravana makes an amazing silver, but I think the hair needs to be really light for it to show up well.

[Rini]

I like your Avatar, Rini. is it new, or did I just miss it before?

Thanks :D No, it's not all that new. I just thought that people might be getting sick of looking at the back of my head :o

[sfgirl]

Pravana makes an amazing silver, but I think the hair needs to be really light for it to show up well.

I've done it on bleached hair. That was fun. But I saw on tumblr on silverhairlove, if you put it on dark blonde hair that's what produces the deep, darker silver rather than the really light one. :)

That's why I was wondering, because tumblr isn't that reliable, but it was an interesting point.

[luthein]

I just used Clairol Beautiful Collection (the grey solutions line) on my hair. I have medium ash blonde hair, and I was going for Venetian blonde. It definitely did the trick! My hair felt a little weak while rinsing out the color, but it feels normal now. I'll post a follow-up in a week.

[MischiefsMuse]

I've been dying my hair "Twisted Teal" by N'Rage since mid-November and I need to pull the green out in order to apply for jobs. Just thought I'd share that I used Color Oops to try and remove it and it didn't work. The box doesn't say anything about deposit dyes for a reason. It only works on permanent dye and maybe semi-permanent. My hair is just as green as before but despite probably a half-dozen washings it still smells of sulpher when it's wet :P If any of you have successfully removed deposit dye, I'd love to know how! Thanks :)

[MischiefsMuse]

Has anyone here had any experience with any of the green colours, I'm wanting to dye my hair green. I'm also wondering about the effectiveness of manic panics amplified formula compared to their original formula and also compared to other brands like special effects and directions. I'm still trying to decide on which brand to use!
I see you have questions about green- I've only used the teal color but I can tell you about it. The color has really 'settled in' after 3 months of dyeing every 3-5 weeks. I really love it. No damage to speak of. The color does 'fade' out not just magically disappear altogether after a month but the fading seems to look pretty ok on my hair. My natural highlights turn to teal streaks over forest green and it's quite mermaid like :)
Faded hair:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l4YBNLZv-9k/T0MlYyM6-aI/AAAAAAAAEH0/wcFYChHsoN4/s823/faded+teal.jpg

My hair always releases some dye when I wash even when it's time to dye again. When the dye job is fresh, I leave green everywhere. On the shower curtain and tile walls, on my plopping t-shirt in wild patterns and large amounts, on my pillow cases and if I sweat, well the sweat runs green. I stayed away from Manic Panic because I have a friend who has dyed her hair for years and she said it doesn't last as long or take as well. My hair responds best to the N'Rage brand from Sally's Beauty Supply. I didn't bleach beforehand, just washed with baking soda laundry detergent the night before and then dyed it while it was completely dry. This is key! If your hair is damp or wet then you have water where the dye needs to be.
Most recent freshly dyed hair:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W1V7dKiTuEI/T0MlZM9JhwI/AAAAAAAAEIA/5SKLQe4ZrtM/s544/freshteal.jpghttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y32P98UNJto/T0MlY3KCjCI/AAAAAAAAEH4/K1jpUVjDiSo/s545/tealtoss.jpg

With all of that I love my teal hair and really hate to try and give it up. I'm curious to hear reports from those of you with 'off-colored hair' who've had to job hunt? I'm afraid the green will put a lot of potential employers off...

[MauiAngel]

would love to hear more about this windex business if anyone has any info please?
I have previously used sebastian "colourshines" cellophane in a bright red over my damaged highlighted hair years and years ago and ended up just dying over it about a week later. But now I've only been using high dye content baq henna for the past 3 years. And my hair is in really great condition finally! ( although I've lost a lot of my curl) My current color is dark auburn/mahogany and I keep craving chocolate brown but am too scared to mess around with indigo again. So I just purchased the new sebastian cellophane about 3 minutes ago online. I ordered it in deep brunette hoping to add brown tones to my hennaed head with as little damage as possible. Has anyone tried to tone down their henna this way with success? Any damage? did it turn out too dark? like black??? Thanks for any responses :)

[BBdck1]

Thank you for the list. I was looking for a non-damaging hair dye to replace my current box dye. Will any of these cover dark brown (almost black) hair without pre-lighting?

Edit: I'm looking for a red

[GaJunebug]

Okay, think I need to take the dye plunge to cover maybe 5% or less gray in brownish, reddish hair.

I'm in the states, so several of these brands in the lovely made listing at the front of the thread don't sound terribly familiar to me. Granted, I haven't been hanging out in the hair dye aisle too often so I'm really a novice.

We've got well water which is considered hard water. Will this make a difference in how hair holds or takes to a color?

Just hoping to gather some insight into which box I should choose in the store. I think I'll give hair color a go tomorrow afternoon so any advice or bands would be more than welcome!

thanks in advance-

[GaJunebug]

Has anyone out there tried Garnier Herbashine? If so, what did you think of it? I'm finding online references that it is peroxide and ammonia free...

Help! Advice! Please!

[luthein]

I'd like to check in about my semi-permanent color adventure. In a prior post, I recently dyed my hair "Light Golden Chestnut" from the Clairol Beautiful Collection. It looks great.

I didn't experience observable damage (splits, breakage, etc) but my hair became frizz-laden. It differed from dryness experienced from cassia. My hair felt mushy and needed protein which has never happened before. I used a light protein conditioner. It has settled down in the last 12 days and 4 washes. I feel that it will be back to normal in another 7-10 days.

The dye also caused my scalp to smell chemical-y and feel tingly/creepy-crawly for two days. These effects have also subsided. The color and shine are showstopping, but the change in hair texture and manageability is noticeable. I do not foresee a re-dye.

[Rini]

GaJuneBug, the internet is a wonderful resource for investigating these dyes (both for user reviews and also for online purchases when you can't find them in stores). I don't think well water makes a difference, because I can still use Elumen every now and then and get the same results I did when I was on town water. HTH! :flowers:

Thanks for the update Luthein. That's so weird! I'm glad you don't seem to have any real damage though. I don't blame you for not wanting to use that particular product again.

[sashinka22]

I see you have questions about green- I've only used the teal color but I can tell you about it. The color has really 'settled in' after 3 months of dyeing every 3-5 weeks. I really love it. No damage to speak of. The color does 'fade' out not just magically disappear altogether after a month but the fading seems to look pretty ok on my hair. My natural highlights turn to teal streaks over forest green and it's quite mermaid like :)
Faded hair:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l4YBNLZv-9k/T0MlYyM6-aI/AAAAAAAAEH0/wcFYChHsoN4/s823/faded+teal.jpg

My hair always releases some dye when I wash even when it's time to dye again. When the dye job is fresh, I leave green everywhere. On the shower curtain and tile walls, on my plopping t-shirt in wild patterns and large amounts, on my pillow cases and if I sweat, well the sweat runs green. I stayed away from Manic Panic because I have a friend who has dyed her hair for years and she said it doesn't last as long or take as well. My hair responds best to the N'Rage brand from Sally's Beauty Supply. I didn't bleach beforehand, just washed with baking soda laundry detergent the night before and then dyed it while it was completely dry. This is key! If your hair is damp or wet then you have water where the dye needs to be.
Most recent freshly dyed hair:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W1V7dKiTuEI/T0MlZM9JhwI/AAAAAAAAEIA/5SKLQe4ZrtM/s544/freshteal.jpghttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y32P98UNJto/T0MlY3KCjCI/AAAAAAAAEH4/K1jpUVjDiSo/s545/tealtoss.jpg

With all of that I love my teal hair and really hate to try and give it up. I'm curious to hear reports from those of you with 'off-colored hair' who've had to job hunt? I'm afraid the green will put a lot of potential employers off...

wow!!!! this is gorgeous!!! and YOU! :agape:

does manic panic and directions hair dyes type really do not cause any demage at all to hair?

i used the directions once, really liked it :) i'm thinking about apply it after henna for color boost. this is amazing :)

[riceball]

Has anyone used Ion's Brights semi permanent colors? I think they are fairly new. I am scared because I used a tube of it for the first time last week and my hair feels dry and dull :(

So, can semi permanents be damaging?

[Catia]

I'd like to check in about my semi-permanent color adventure. In a prior post, I recently dyed my hair "Light Golden Chestnut" from the Clairol Beautiful Collection. It looks great.

I didn't experience observable damage (splits, breakage, etc) but my hair became frizz-laden. It differed from dryness experienced from cassia. My hair felt mushy and needed protein which has never happened before. I used a light protein conditioner. It has settled down in the last 12 days and 4 washes. I feel that it will be back to normal in another 7-10 days.

The dye also caused my scalp to smell chemical-y and feel tingly/creepy-crawly for two days. These effects have also subsided. The color and shine are showstopping, but the change in hair texture and manageability is noticeable. I do not foresee a re-dye.

luthein - Was it the one for gray coverage? (they have a few shades within that collection that are specifically for grey)


Has anyone used Ion's Brights semi permanent colors? I think they are fairly new. I am scared because I used a tube of it for the first time last week and my hair feels dry and dull :(

So, can semi permanents be damaging?


riceball - I quoted you both because my experience with the Clairol Beautiful advanced for gray coverage "semi" (<--- a misnomer btw) was that it was somewhat damaging. More damaging then a *true* semi:

"Advanced Gray Solution’s breakthrough SynAIRgy technology contains an oxidative dye that uses oxygen in the air as a color developer to form a large dye molecule, eliminating the need to use a product with hydrogen peroxide for longer-lasting coverage."

I may be wrong, but this sounds like the developers that react with oxygen to create peroxide. :shrug:

My experience with it is that while the coverage on my white hair wasn't as good as I wanted, it did permanently stain them light gold (I used dark ash brown). It also made the finer grays around my face frizz up (damage).

Now ... the damage wasn't spectacular, and certainly not as bad as higher peroxide permanent dye, but it's nowhere near as mild as a true semi. Just FYI ;) It was also really difficult to dig out this information about their "synAIRgy" technology, so it makes me a bit paranoid about other semis.

I used Clairol's Loving Care (discontinued now) A LOT as a teenager on my calf length hair and it always made my hair phenomenal at first, but with repeated use did slightly dry out the length. Nothing I would worry about too much, and nothing compared to my experience with the Beautiful Advanced Gray one ... so I don't think they're ALL suspect :)

[girlcat36]

I just cut 10" of damaged hair off. I was using Wella Color Charm semi permanent(for years I had used natural instincts--no damage).
Between the Color Charm and the sun my hair was destroyed and I had to cut to neck length. Most of the damage occured since using Color Charm.
I've decided to stop cloring and let my grays grow in.

[earthnut]

Do any of these work over DARK hair, or would I have to bleach first to see any color?

If you want to add really temporary colors, you could also list the colored gels, like Manic Panic Dye Hard. These work over the darkest hair colors and are removed with just one wash. (they're basically just paint on your hair) I've observed absolutely no damage from the one I tried.

[Rini]

Thanks earthnut. Manic Panic is listed under the temporary bright colours in the original post :)

[daeana]

Do any of these work over DARK hair, or would I have to bleach first to see any color?
it depends on your definition of "any color". ;) i dyed my hair with manic panic purple haze, and it shines distinctively purple in sunlight, but it's pretty subtle.

[riceball]

Hi Catia, thanks for the informative reply. I had a nagging feeling that there might have been something in the Ion "semi" that reacted to somehow open up the cuticle and deposit color. The color is incredibly long lasting and I love it! I just feel a little worried about the damage. I think it has gone back to normal with regular conditioning and coconut oil.

[Catia]

Hi Catia, thanks for the informative reply. I had a nagging feeling that there might have been something in the Ion "semi" that reacted to somehow open up the cuticle and deposit color. The color is incredibly long lasting and I love it! I just feel a little worried about the damage. I think it has gone back to normal with regular conditioning and coconut oil.

Oh riceball, I am sorry if my reply was confusing. :flower:

I poked around and couldn't find any evidence that your Ion Brights semi was anything other then a standard semi; no peroxide. I'm not savvy on all the ingredients, but the reviews on it bear it out. If anything people complain that it doesn't stick around past the first shampoo. Of course that was not on their brights collection, but sally's website didn't send up any red flags either.

I was more responding to your question "Can semi permanent color be damaging?" to which the answer is "Yes ... depending on what it is."

If you are happy with the Ion I personally wouldn't worry, but that's more or less just my opinion ;)

[thystle]

I came to the forum to research just this type of product. I've been wanting to dye my hair for a while, but didn't want to do permanent color again, so this thread gave me some leads. I'll be checking out Sally's, but I also found out that four stores in my town carry the Adore product, so I have choices. Yay!!!

[Amethyste]

Have any of you tried Color Jamz from Sally's? I'm very interested in trying this. Also, do you think temporary colors affect black hair much? I have virgin black hair and would mostly like a rinse/gloss type of color on my hair. Would any of these products work?

MP Vampire Red will show on your black hair. I am pretty certain! :)

[Rini]

Just wanted to add that virgin hair with a fair bit of grey (yep, like mine!) is going to be more resistant to direct dyes in general. I recommend using a longer application time and heat to help the colours stick.

[whitewonder]

Hello ,:D

This is a very informative post , Thanks ! I hadn't heard of most of the brands on this list .:)

Don't know if it counts however Superdrug (uk) have a wash in wash out - Semi Permanent colourant (superdrug effects ) it lasts for around 3 washes and has never damaged my hair ( limited success with white or grey ) .
Its like a shampoo really - I have used most of the colours , the rich red and warm copper give very noticeable results on my hair.As I'm older now , I need something more permanent , Does anyone have any experience of using a natural dye to cover only the greys ...or whites, in my case !

I only have a small amount of white coming through ( but I REALLY hate having it ) and I'm hoping to blend the whites to a blonde , My hair is dark but I do have natural golden blonde and copper highlights throughout it , so if the whites are blonde they should blend in ;)

I've tried 4 different cassia recipes, as I really wanted to keep to natural products, however the white doesn't change colour at all :(

So now I'm thinking of trying - Naturtint Permanent Hair Colourants 8G Sandy Golden Blonde - hopefully it will leave the brown and copper alone and only target the white and blonde in my hair :confused:
or back to cassia but this time with henna - really nervous about this :eek:

Thanks