Hair Color: Reviews

Best permanent hair color

*Est. $13

Estimated Price

Reviewers recommend Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10, a permanent hair-coloring kit, because of its easy application process that colors hair in the promised 10 minutes. Users like the selection of shades (26 are available), and most say this Clairol hair dye doesn't smell as bad as others (though all permanent hair color has a strong odor). The package comes with two types of applicators, a comb and a bottle with a tip. Some users like the comb, and others don't. Altogether, Perfect 10 easily emerges as the top-rated permanent hair color in reviews; if you want a gentler and less permanent hair dye, consider Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care, a semipermanent hair color that gradually washes out.

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Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care

Best semipermanent hair color

*Est. $5

Estimated Price

Because it's a temporary hair color that gradually washes out, experts say that Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care is much gentler on the hair than permanent hair dye. This is because it mostly stays in the top layers (the cuticle) of the hair, and it contains no ammonia or peroxide. That also makes Loving Care a good choice if you're experimenting with hair color and don't want to commit to something permanent. The downside, of course, is that to keep up your color, you'll need to re-apply it every month or so. Another consideration is that most users say Loving Care doesn't do a good job of covering gray hair. Those who are more than 10 percent gray or want a more dramatic change should consider a permanent hair color. Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care comes in 13 shades.

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Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up

Best for root touch-ups

*Est. $7

Estimated Price

Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up is recommended by experts for extending the time between hair colorings. This permanent hair dye covers roots, and users say that it blends in flawlessly with color-treated hair. It can also be a quick fix for covering gray roots, even if your hair is not colored. Reviewers say the comb-in hair color is easy to apply. It is available in 20 shades and can match colors from any brand. Clairol also provides an online tool that helps you match Root Touch-Up shades to the colors of other leading brands.

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Revlon Frost & Glow

Best hair-highlighting kit

*Est. $9

Estimated Price

It's more difficult and time-consuming to add highlights to your hair than it is to go with an overall color, and many experts recommend that if you want dramatic highlights, it's better to go to a salon. However, if you have a good base color and simply want to brighten your look with subtle highlights, experts say the Revlon Frost & Glow highlighting kit is the way to go. Users say that the included cap makes it pretty foolproof. The cap is covered with holes that allow you to pull through strands of hair with the included plastic hook to space highlights evenly. Reviewers warn that the process is time-consuming, taking from 15 to 60 minutes, but say the results are good (and cost far less than what you'd pay at a salon). Frost & Glow is available in three shades.

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