Has anyone gone from salon coloring to do it yourself?

[Sandi]

I love my colorist and she does a fabulous job. I just cut back from every three weeks to every 5-6 weeks and that saves a lot. My hair grows fast. I do the root touch up in between at home and it blends in very well. My husband hated it when I colored my own hair. He says the expense of a professional is worth it and it's just part of my wardrobe for work.

 

[sylvenmaid]

I used to dye my hair at home for years. I always did a good job, but now that I'm getting older with more gray hair, I found it wasn't lasting long. So I started having my stylist color my hair and she only charges me $35. I do wait about 12 wks. She also will wash, trim, and style my hair for $20 so I pay $60 w/ tip. I'm always very happy and she even blends 2 colors for one that looks so natural. I have dark brown hair with red highlights so she captured it perfectly and it's nice being pampered. I really need some ME time with no hubby or kiddo hanging around. I don't get my nails done or pedis so this is my splurge. My dh does a fab job painting my toes and he does a much better job than most of the girls in the salons. He even clips and files for me. I love that man.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I've never had my hair dyed professionally. I started experimenting with highlighting my hair about 15 or so years ago. My hair is medium to dark brown. Once the gray starting coming in I started dyeing it as well. This year I haven't done the highlighting along with the dyeing.

I use Clairol (professional type) Color 85N. It's about $4-5 a bottle. I can usually get 3 touch ups from one bottle. Developer is pretty cheap as well.

My hair grows pretty fast I have to touch up my roots about every 2 weeks.(I get about 1/4" of growth every 2 to 2-1/2 weeks) If I had to have it done professionally that often, it would cost me a fortune, not to mention the inconvenience of going every 2 weeks.

Both my DSis do there own as well. They use boxed product. One uses Loreal and one uses Clairol.

 

[dyna]

It's much easier to color my own hair now that I've cut my hair off an keep it about an inch long. A couple months ago I found my brand my shade twin packs on clearance for 3.00 a twin pack Loreal Preference checked the date on the box they was all still good for about 18 months so I bought all they had so I set on hair color for at least a year.

 

[SamSam]

I've been coloring my own hair for years and always get compliments on the color. I use a semi-permanent 'Natural Instincts', and love it. My daughter gave me a tip she learned at a salon to make the color last longer and it really works! After applying the color, wrap your hair with saran wrap and apply heat (blow dryer) for a few minutes, then leave in the recommended time. Really works for me.

 

[lilosurf11]

The only time I go to the salon is to get my hair cut. Then I dye my hair with the Herbal Essence coloring.
I find it better to do it yourself, that way you can try to fix it if you mess up and it's usually less expensive than having it done at a salon.

 

[isla bonita]

I go to a salon and get my hair cut but do like all the posters so far and go to Sally's and DIY.

 

[Debbiebee68]

Perfect 10 by Clairol is AWESOME!! It is so easy to do and it really lives up to it's ten minute name. I got my hair done in the salon for years- not only did it cost me a fortune, it cost me a lot of time!! Also, when you get your hair colored, it does not include a blow out. I refuse to pay $$ for someone to dry my hair- especially when I am not going anywhere. I am so glad that I can do my hair now whenever I want and I am not obligated to stick to when I can get an appointment.

 

[candielips]

Perfect 10 by Clairol is AWESOME!! It is so easy to do and it really lives up to it's ten minute name. I got my hair done in the salon for years- not only did it cost me a fortune, it cost me a lot of time!! Also, when you get your hair colored, it does not include a blow out. I refuse to pay $$ for someone to dry my hair- especially when I am not going anywhere. I am so glad that I can do my hair now whenever I want and I am not obligated to stick to when I can get an appointment.

My salon used to always include a blow dry and style regardless of what I was getting done but the prices were pretty steep.

I made the switch to at home colouring shortly after I became a stay at home mom. It just didn't seem feasible anymore to be spending over $200 for my hair. I much prefer the salon results BUT not enough to pay that kind of money again.
My big problem now is finding someone to cut my hair. I'd go back to my old salon but the cut alone is $85. So after 2 yrs I still haven't found anyone I love to cut my hair.

 

[descovy]

Yes, the hard part isn't buying the color... it's doing it right!

Here's the deal... I have a friend who does my hair in a chair she rents at a salon (so she sets her own prices) I used to go in every 6 months for a full on cut/color/highlight. ($150) Then in the between time I would drugstore color... hitting sales/coupons, etc...

The LAST time I did this the plastic applicator bottle was so brittle (from sitting on the store shelf, I'm sure) that it busted down the middle, half way through me applying the haircolor. It splattered all over me and my bathroom!

I quick slapped up what I could in my hair so I could hustle to clean up the mess (which never 100% cleaned off the walls/cabinetry)

OMG my haircolor came out HORRIBLE. Straight on it looked fine... as long as I didn't pull it up.

I went back to my hairsylist friend and she was good and stern with me She said if I was going to keep telling people that she does my hair, I was going to have to stop this nonsense of the home haircolor... because it was NEVER coming out right, especially in the back.

She made me promise never to color my hair at home again. I even returned my unopened haircolor back to the store. In return, if I promised to come back every 5/6 weeks she'd cut/color/whatever I wanted for $50 each visit.

Honestly, best decision ever. She is so much better than I am at this!

Consider going to a less expensive salon? $250 sounds like a lot... even for the fancy salons in my area (Houston) Ask your friends who does their hair for rec's. Today I can proudly tell you MARY does my hair (and she no longer has to hang her head in shame!)

 

[abmitch01]

I've been using Garnier Nutrisse for years. I have short hair so it really burned me to pay for the salon to do it only to have it cut off a few weeks later. I use the natural range as the ash made it to cool colored and the golden tones always made it too brassy. With short hair, it's really easy to do at home

 

[abmitch01]

and I've also tried other brands with good results, particularly L'Oreal

 

[celestialred]

I've been using Garnier Nutrisse for years. I have short hair so it really burned me to pay for the salon to do it only to have it cut off a few weeks later. I use the natural range as the ash made it to cool colored and the golden tones always made it too brassy. With short hair, it's really easy to do at home

I use the Nutrisse as well, #94 Apricot. It's the one that works best and the red lasts longer than the other ones I tried before it all blondes out. I will occasionally have my stylist do my color (last time was over a year ago however) but I am able to do my own at home. I am bad though and only do a full-on color every 3 mos with no root touch-up in between. When I do get it cut my stylist reminds me every single time to let the root color sit before doing the rest so the final color matches better overall. She's probably cringing inside when she sees the 3" new growth a shade off from everything else .

 

[OyerB]

Wow! That's a lot money! I had my hair colored in a salon for maybe a year, and I was actually not that happy with it. I started doing it myself and I have had no problems. I've been coloring my own hair for years. I use a permanent L'Oreal product, but frankly, I think whether you'll have success with home coloring may depend on how different from your own color you are straying. My color is mostly to cover grey, and I go just a shade or two lighter than my natural hair color. I really don't end up with noticeable roots so I don't have to color every 5 or 6 weeks -- I can go longer if I want to.