Hair Color: Reviews

Updated April 2009

April 22nd:
Taking Hair Color Into Their Own Hands
From: The New York Times

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Best permanent hair color

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 (24 are… available), and most say this Clairol hair color 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 special comb and a bottle with a tip. Some users like the comb, while 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 color, consider Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care, a semi-permanent hair color that gradually washes out.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Shape magazine: Shape magazine editors say that Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 is easy to use, even for those new to coloring their own hair. It ...

MakeupAlley.com: Nearly 125 users at MakeupAlley.com give Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 a slightly above-average rating and claim that it ...

TotalBeauty.com: More than 50 members of TotalBeauty.com give Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 above average ratings. Some reviewers complain about ...

Good Housekeeping: Testers at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute find that Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 colors hair as quickly as promised. ...

Flare: Editors at Flare magazine say that Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 gives salon-quality color and that it lasts longer than ...

Prevention.com: Prevention magazine lists three rules for coloring hair at home, as well as tips to get a professional look. Five hair-color ...

iVillage.com: This slideshow recommends particular shades in various brands to help readers accomplish the same hair color as some of their ...

Buzzillions.com: Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 is listed on this website in a number of shades, including dark brown, which is reviewed by a ...

Amazon.com: There are a lot of Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 hair-color shades listed for sale at Amazon.com, but they don't have a lot of ...

MakeUpLovesMe.com: This anonymous blogger shares her experience with Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 hair color and even shows before and after ...

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Best semi-permanent hair color

Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care

*Est. $6 Compare Prices

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 color. 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 more permanent hair color. Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care comes in 13 shades.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Shape magazine: Shape magazine recommends semi-permanent hair colors, including Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care, for those who want more ...

Good Housekeeping: Good Housekeeping recommends experimenting with temporary hair-color products, such as Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care, in ...

MakeupAlley.com: More than 25 consumers at MakeupAlley.com give Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care above average ratings and say it is gentle ...

Buzzillions.com: Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care is listed at Buzzillions.com in a number of shades. A handful of reviews collected from ...

TotalBeauty.com: About a dozen members of TotalBeauty.com give Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care below average ratings. A couple of users say ...

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Best for root touch-ups

Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up

*Est. $7 Compare Prices

Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up is recommended by experts for extending the time between hair colorings. This permanent hair color 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 16 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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Expert & User Review Sources:

MakeupAlley.com: More than 100 reviewers at MakeupAlley.com give a slightly above-average rating to Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up. Users ...

TotalBeauty.com: Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up earns above-average ratings from more than 100 users at TotalBeauty.com, who say that the comb ...

Allure: Editors of Allure give Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up a Best of Beauty award for root coverage. They say that it blends in ...

About.com: Julyne Derrick, About.com's beauty guide, recommends using Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up in between salon visits. She ...

Shape magazine: Mary Rose Almasi likes Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up, saying it can give you an extra three weeks between hair colorings.

Buzzillions.com: Buzzillions.com collects reviews from sites such as Drugstore.com. Many shades of Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up are ...

Amazon.com: Most of the shades of Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up are offered at Amazon.com, but few have any reviews. One reviewer writes ...

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Best hair-highlighting kit

Revlon Frost & Glow

*Est. $10 Compare Prices

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 that 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 strategically and evenly space highlights. Reviewers warn that the process is time-consuming, taking from 15 to 60 minutes, but claim that the results are good (and cost far less than the $100 you'd pay at a salon). Frost & Glow is available in three shades.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

MakeupAlley.com: More than 200 reviewers at MakeUpAlley.com give well above-average ratings to Revlon Frost & Glow and praise it for lifting color ...

TotalBeauty.com: Over two dozen users at TotalBeauty.com say that Revlon Frost & Glow provides salon-quality color at an affordable price. A few ...

Prevention.com: Prevention magazine says that Revlon Frost & Glow is a gentler option for highlights, since it doesn't contain any ammonia. The ...

Buzzillions.com: Over a half-dozen reviewers, mostly from Drugstore.com, give the Revlon Frost & Glow highlighting kit for medium to dark brown ...

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Amazon Marketplace

for $7.00

Best glaze

John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze

*Est. $10 Compare Prices

Reviewers love the extra shine and color boost they get from John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze. The glaze contains a small amount of semi-permanent color designed to add life and shine to your hair. It can be applied… directly in the shower as a once-a-week treatment. The product doesn't contain ammonia, but users still say that it smells horrible. Some reviewers report that it contains silicones, which may weigh down fine hair. While many users praise the added shine they get, several say it left their hair feeling greasy. Luminous Color Glaze comes in five shades or a clear formula that matches any hair color.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Allure: Allure lists John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze as the best hair glaze in its annual beauty awards. Editors say that it makes hair ...

Shape magazine: Shape editors say that John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze gives incredible shine and a boost of color to both color-treated and ...

Flare: Editors of the Canadian magazine Flare list John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze as a winner of the 2008 I Recommend Beauty Awards, ...

MakeupAlley.com: More than 350 users at MakeUpAlley.com give John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze a below-average rating. While many say that it did ...

TotalBeauty.com: The TotalBeauty.com editorial team gives John Frieda Sheer Blonde Luminous Color Glaze a slightly above-average rating, saying ...

Buzzillions.com: A handful of reviewers at Buzzillions.com (all from Walgreens) give John Frieda Clear Shine Luminous Color Glaze mixed reviews. ...

Amazon.com: John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze Clear Shine gets average ratings from a small handful of users at Amazon.com. (Some say they ...

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Fekkai Salon Color *Est. $30

6 picks by top review sites.

Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Crème *Est. $8

3 picks by top review sites.

Clairol Natural Instincts *Est. $9.50

3 picks by top review sites.

L'Oréal Natural Match *Est. $10

2 picks by top review sites.

L'Oréal Superior Preference Dream Blonde Color and Care System *Est. $15

2 picks by top review sites.

L'Oréal Paris Excellence Crème *Est. $8.50

2 picks by top review sites.

Just for Men *Est. $8

2 picks by top review sites.

L'Oréal Paris Couleur Experte Express with Easy-Glide Highlighter *Est. $15

2 picks by top review sites.

L'Oréal ColorSpa Moisture Actif *Est. $7

2 picks by top review sites.


	Frederic Fekkai Salon Color 1 ea from Amazon.com Average Customer Review:


	Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme, 111 Extra-Light Ash Blonde (White Chocolate) - Kit from Amazon.com New: $7.49 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Natural Instincts By Clairol, Haircolor, Suede (Light B from Amazon.com New: $9.17 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	L'Oreal Natural Match No-Ammonia Color-Calibrated Creme, Medium Brown, 5N Natural from Amazon.com New: $8.19 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	l'oreal superior preference dream blonde complete color care system dark blonde 1 ea from Amazon.com New: $8.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Just For Men Touch of Gray Hair Color, Black Gray # 4138 - 1 Kit from Amazon.com New: $6.57 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	L'Oreal Couleur Experte Multi-Tonal Color System, Permanent Color, Medium Golden Blonde/Warm 8.3 from Amazon.com Average Customer Review:


	LOreal ColorSpa Moisture Actif Hair Color - #34 Light Golden Brown - 1 Ea from Amazon.com New: $6.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:

Hair Color: Reviews

Best permanent hair color

Best semi-permanent hair color

Best for root touch-ups

Best hair-highlighting kit

Best glaze

Hair Color by Price Range