I tried one years ago....had to go to a salon to get the orange result corrected.

Never again.

I have only used boxed for decades! Used the same color/brand all those years....until they decided to discontinue that color!!!! Grrr Have finally figured out to mix 2 colors to get my 'old color'. The gal that cuts my hair suggested I try that!

I always use the box....have for years...sometimes it is just a little dark...but in a couple of washes it's where I want it to be.

I've been really gray...(not just salt and pepper) since I was in my 30's...that was 30 years ago...

patti

When I did color my hair, I always did it myself. The instructions on the box are easy to follow. I guess the hardest part is getting the color or shade you want. It might take a little experimenting. When I did color my hair, I actually lightened it, using Nuetrese (sp?) brand and it gently lightened and colored it all in one step. I would get the biggest kick out of getting a coupon for $2.50 off, and the drugstore where I bought it had double coupons on Mondays, so I would get the stuff for $5.00 off. It ended up costing me about 42.00. You can't get a color job at a salon for thet.LOL Dottie

I've been using the Garnier Nutrisse for years. If you are blonde you might want to choose a 'ash' color so you can avoid the brassy or orange.

The Nutrisse is thick and doesn't drip like some of the others. I really like it and most people think it's my natural color.

I color about every 3 months. I think Dotmom made a mistake about the $42.00 (I think she meant $2.00).:-) It's maybe $7.00 here where I live.

I have the best deal in town. I go to a very expensive hair salon on student day. I get a double process color and highlights with a glaze for $25.00! The going price would be around $200.00.
Donna

I have used L'Oreal for years and have always gotten compliments when I go to a salon for a cut, so I figure that works for me!

Ditto what Barb wrote.

Jodi-

I've been using home dyes for at least 20 years, once per month. I've settled on Feiria's (sp?--a L'Oreal line) 'Hot Toffee' and its a great color for me. It fades out slowly over the month, and no one ever knows when it is faded or just dyed--so the color is pretty consistent. Extremely easy to use. Put it on, wait 25 minutes, rinse out. I do it for two reasons: primarily, cost ($10.00/month) and secondarily because the less time I have to spend in salons with goop on my head, the better.

I've been doing it for years b/c I got tired of paying for it and I like my results better. I was told to buy one shade lighter than you wanted it. My natural color was a medium brown, so I use the Light Brown by L'oreal. Sometimes I can find it for $8. at Wal-Mart. I usually buy 2 at a time b/c sometimes it's hard to find. If it has "ash" in the name it will have red in it. It's just perfect and what I like the most is that it gives my hair some body. I can always tell when it starts wearing off b/c the texture changes. Highly recommend L'oreal. After all, you're worth it!!!

I've never used anything but box color...

Same here as ruthie_tx. I use Preference/L'Oreal and have to mix two colors. If i miss a spot I will get it next time. Not a problem...Wal-mart for $8 something unless its on sale for $6 something :).Salena

Another L'oreal Preference Cream user for years! I always get told my hair is excellent condition when I go for a cut. They are amazed that I have been coloring for so long.

i don't mind the grey too much so use clairol natual instincts temp. i'm also careful not to use too dark a color so when the grey starts coming back, it looks natural and sort of streaked...i always feel so sorry for the ladies using black..it makes their faces look so old...

I always used "box" hair color until I became a blonde. L'Oreal Preference gave me the best results.

As a blonde, I still did my hair at home, but I bought the stuff separately at Sally Beauty because it was cheaper that way.

Now, my hair is natural gray, but if I decided I wanted to color it again, I'd do it at home.

Another L'Oreal Preference user! Love it! 5 1/2AM is MY color! It matches exactly what I used to pay mega bucks for!

I'm not really fussy. I've used Preference L'Oreal and Nice n Easy.

The only bad experience I ever had was about 15 years ago. This was before they sealed the boxes. I bought what I thought was light brown. It said light brown on the box and I didn't think to check the bottle. I dyed my hair and after about 10 minutes I realized that something was wrong. I grabbed the bottle and discovered it was jet black!!! I rinsed my hair and shampooed right away but my hair was black. i called the 1-800 number on the box and the company sent me a $50 coupon to get my hair fixed at a salon. We never found out if someone deliberately switched the bottles or if it happened during the packaging.

SamKaren
your resident DJ

Never had any luck with box hair dyes. I have stubborn grey and hair grow very fast. I have roots in 4 weeks.
When I used a box I had to different colors. My roots
always came out lighter then the rest of my hair. Since
I wear a part in my hair I had two diffrent colors which
I didn't like. So now I got to the salon to get it done.

I tried the new 10 minute color last month and was quite pleased. I think its made be nutrisse? I usually buy whichever brand is the best deal, maybe I should just pick one and stick to it.

I don't think allowing chemicals to soak on my head is a great idea. I don't color my hair.

I've used the L'Oreal 10 minute one a couple of times now and it has worked fine. Nice to be able to do it so quickly, too. I'm "8G", but the way. :)

Vannie - it's been my experience that if it says "golden" it has red in it, but not when it says "ash". Guess they're all different.

I get my hair colored professionally every six weeks, and use a boxed color (Revlon Colorsilk) in between on the roots. I much prefer the salon color, but it costs too much too color every three weeks, which is what I need.

Thanks for all your comments, I think I am going to give the "boxed" hair dyes a try. Sure will save me some money and then maybe just once in a while I will have it done professionally.

Think I will give L'Oreal a try since it was the one most mentioned.

Thanks again. Judy