What's the best drug store hair color?

[Momgonepostal]

I'm sorry to report I'm getting too cheap to have a stylist color my hair in a salon. The next couple of times, at least, I am on my own. Is one brand of store color better than another? I need something that will cover gray and that will not fase too much. Suggestions?

[LaraMN]

1. Feria!

Unequivocally.

[Momgonepostal]

2. Who makes that?

And have you had good experience with it?

I used Loreal Preference years ago and I liked it initially, but as time wore on my hair got lighter and lighter and redder and redder.

[LaraMN]

5. L'Oreal, I think. It's under $10.

It's got more highlights, less flat color. My hairstylist has complimented me on it in the past. I do a dark auburn color, and I've been using it for several years. I've used countless brands, and I feel it's a superior product.

[Momgonepostal]

7. That's helpful, thank you!

I like the idea of not getting a flat, blah color. That sounds perfect.

I love your daughter's quote!

[LaraMN]

10. You're welcome!

I haven't noticed a substantial change in the color result, over the last few years, either. I re-color my hair about every six weeks or so. I'd never drop the money to have it done at a salon!

[Momgonepostal]

12. I have been using a salon, but...

1) My stylist's prices went up about $15 and
2) We've had some financial crap going on lately and the expense has been tough to rationalize.

[blondeatlast]

18. If you have a lot of gray, try this before the Feria.

The Loreal lady on the phone suggested I use a shade darker color of Excellence first, then do the Feria the next day or so.

It looked fantastic--beautiful highlights that weren't blindingly bright.

[caty]

6. To keep the red

from coming out, use an "ash" color. "Ash" means that the color has no gold or red tones in it.

[Momgonepostal]

8. I always do, but have still had problems

The Preference color that gave me problems a few years ago was a medium ash brown. :shrug:

[Radio_Lady]

27. Medium Golden Brown might cover better. After that, consult with

a haircolorist. She/he can more accurately give you a formula, which should then be applied to the regrowth only, processed about 35 minutes, then applied to the rest of the hair. PM me if you have other questions.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

(I worked with the Clairol Professional Products Division, from 1983 to 1992, as a technical field consultant to 3,000 salons in New England.)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. I use Ferria too.

My hair is super short, so it's very easy for me to do a good job on it. No need to pay anyone. Just make sure to put some vaseline on your eartips and along your hairdye. No chance of dying your skin that way.

[Momgonepostal]

13. I just may try Feria, thank you!

[caty]

4. I've been using

L'Oreal light ash blond for years. Easy to use--wait 30 minutes--and rinse out. Covers grey perfectly.

[Momgonepostal]

9. Is it Preference?

Each company makes so many versions, it's tough to keep them all straight.

[caty]

15. Yes

I've never had a problem with Preference.

[Cobalt Violet]

11. What color is you natural hair and how gray are you?

[Momgonepostal]

14. It's a medium cool brown...

The color is probably somewhere in the neighborhood of Angelina Jolie's but without that "I pay my stylist more than you make all year" look. :-)

I'm mostly just gray in the front, and I don't know how much...15% maybe? And that's 15% of the sections that are gray. I have little or no gray in the back.

[Cobalt Violet]

16. Just wondering.

I color hair for a living and with a client with any gray I would always use some neutral/natural in the formulation no matter what the desired result is. The amount of N or neutral/natural I would use would depend on the amount of gray.


I don't know if you will really want to deal with mixing colors. If you do wish to you could use 1/4 neutral and 3/4 ash.
I really think that with only 15% gray you may get satisfactory results with just ash or just neutral. But since amounts of gray can change with time you may really need the neutral in you formula to avoid a greenish cast or a muddy look as your gray increases.

If you consider yourself a medium brown I would use a level 6. Some manufactures consider level 6 to be light brown, some dark blond. But to most people level 6 looks like a medium brown. If its too light you can use level 5 next time. It is hard to do the reverse, going from 5 to 6, since haircolor doesn't always lighten haircolor in a very predictable way. Too light is easier too fix than too dark.


As far as brands go,I really don't know. Just not the cheapest one they make.

[Momgonepostal]

19. Yikes, now you're ascarin' me!

I'll take you advice about not going too dark. I tend to like darker hair, but hate would hate to overdo it.

[Cobalt Violet]

21. It's mostly that damn dark brown.

It comes out looking black on most people. I see it all the time and it's hard to get out. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sure you can determine just fine what color your hair is. Go with what you feel is best. And it's not so gray that you have to worry about weird casts.

[Momgonepostal]

22. I know you didn't mean to scare me...

but you showed me how complicated this hair color stuff can be. Ideally, I love to have a professional do my hair. My stylist does a great job, but with other financial things going on right now, I just can't justify spending that kind of money on my hair.

[Cobalt Violet]

28. Try to avoid your ends too.

Repeated applications to the ends of hair can cause darkening of the ends especially in brunettes. If your hair is pretty short it isn't a big problem as those ends are cut of regularly.

Good luck.

[lavenderdiva]

17. Feria!

I have used it for years, and always think its the prettiest do-it-yourself product out there. And I have tried all of them. Preference, Garnier, Clairol.... you get the idea. But when I finally got to Feria, I stopped. Its the absolute best one out there. It comes in a wide range of colors, and all the colors have very pretty highlights built into the hair color. You don't have to paint stripes or anything, it just shimmers. My grocery store puts it on sale about once every 2 months, for $4 off per box. So I get 2 boxes then, to tide me over until the next sale. I do my color about once every 6 weeks or so, as a touch-up now, and its super easy--

Try it you'll like it, I promise!

[Momgonepostal]

20. I think this settles it!

Three recommendations make me feel more confident about the product. Thank you!

[jane_pippin]

23. Feria's good but don't use it if you want to go back to a professional

after using it. Use something else in between. My stylist told me that she won't color hair that's got feria in it because apparently some of the stuff in it (minerals maybe) are a pain in the ass to work with. She made it seem like something could go awry chemical-wise, or it could take forever and a day to work with and it just wasn't worth the hassle. Now, I'm not a pro or anything so I don't know if that's just her own gripe or if others have heard that too, but she convinced me so I thought I'd pass it along as something to consider just in case it's true.

I just started using this new stuff, Loreal Natural Match, and I like it a lot. (I've also used Feria before and liked how it looked.)

Goodnight :hi:

[MaggieSwanson]

24. L'oreal Natural Match is my new fave also

...second only to Feria. My only issue with Feria is that it tends to fade out on me in the summertime, when I spend more time outdoors. I've not had that problem with Natural Match.

[Cobalt Violet]

29. Feria is made by L'oreal.

A lot of their box colors are also in their professional line too. I don't know if it is the same formular but I don't think that they would sell Feria to the public that was really much different than Feria professional. The only difference that I can tell is the way they are kitted up.

[RebelOne]

25. Revlon's colors are very inexpensive. n/t

[NewWaveChick1981]

26. L'Oreal Colour Experte. Great color and comes with a separate

highlighting kit. You can get it between $15-17. If your stylist did the color AND highlights, you'd spend over $100. Also, if you buy color and higlights separately, you'll spend more than $17, and the highlights are made to coordinate with the color. I LOVE this stuff! :D

Forgot to say: some hair color can be harsh and fry your hair, but this one does not. Be sure you look for hair color that comes with an after-treatment deep conditioner like this one does. :D

[SiobhanClancy]

30. I love this,too...

It's worth spending more for a more professional-looking result. I have to say that my Feria results were not as good as the other ones posted,but it may have been my choice of colour(cardinal). My hair was a deep burgundy/purplish shade. I loved the condtioner that came with it though:)

[Iniquitous Bunny]

37. I didn't like this stuff.

Usually, I like L'Oreal stuff a lot (still use it in fact), but the combination really dried my hair. After two years, it's finally almost grown out. It may have to do with my hair's own texture though. I have dark blonde hair that is long and thick, but also very fine (the individual strands)that I lighten about a shade or two. It just can't tolerate the two step thing.

[AwakeAtLast]

31. I am also voting for Feria

But I also like Colour Experte, too.

My husband and I picked out the Feria color from the Power Reds line. Can't remember the name, but it turned out a dark burgundy red that he fipped over.

I have also used Colour Experte in Cinnamon Stick and liked it a lot.


I've gotta get mine done again soon, he's on his way home! :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

32. I really liked Garnier Nutrisse.

Made my hair really healthy. Didn't mess it up. One step, you're done. And the color isn't flat.
Duckie

[Sanity Claws]

35. My result was disappointing

I won't use Garnier Nutrisse again. I'm very gray, maybe 50% gray. That may explain the difference in our results.

[adriennui]

33. feria

the red/browns are beautiful.

[StellaBlue]

34. FERIA seconded

The conditioner alone is worth buying the whole box.

[AlienGirl]

36. IME, Feria's too drying; Revlon Colorstay rocks!

Feria is pretty harsh and in my experience, and from what I heard from other people, many people found it dried their hair and caused brittleness. Revlon Colorstay is inexpensive, lasts well without fading, and isn't as drying.

I worked as a drugstore cosmetician, and that's just my opinion.

Tucker

[Iniquitous Bunny]

38. I think Feria is too harsh too.

I have light, fine hair and it's just too much for me. L'Oreal's Preference or Excellence is fine though.