Hair Color: Reviews

Updated October 2010

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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 (26 are… expandavailable), 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. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 is included in ConsumerReports.org's test of 13 home hair color kits.

Good Housekeeping: Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 is listed as a runner-up for the best coloring product for red hair.

InStyle: Editors of InStyle magazine call Clairol Perfect 10 the best at-home hair color kit for brown hair for their 2009 annual beauty awards.

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.

MakeupAlley.com: Nearly 250 users at MakeupAlley.com give Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 a slightly above-average rating and say it produces nice color, but a few say it fades too quickly.

TotalBeauty.com: More than 100 members of TotalBeauty.com give Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 above-average ratings.

Good Housekeeping: Testers at Good Housekeeping 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 expected.

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

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 reviews.

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

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Best semipermanent hair color

Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care

*Est. $5 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 dye. This is because it mostly stays in the top layers… expand(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. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Shape magazine: Shape magazine recommends semipermanent hair colors, including Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care, for those who want more shine or have damaged hair.

Good Housekeeping: Good Housekeeping recommends experimenting with temporary hair-color products, such as Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care, in case you don't like the color.

MakeupAlley.com: About three dozen users give Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care above average ratings and say it is gentle on their hair and gives them their desired color.

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

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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 dye covers roots, and users say that it blends in flawlessly with color-treated hair. It can… expandalso 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. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests 13 hair color kits for efficacy in coloring gray hair.

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

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 applicator is easy to use and that the hair dye covers gray hair well.

InStyle: Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up is chosen as the Best At-Home Touch-Up Product of 2010 for InStyle magazine's annual beauty awards.

Allure: Editors of Allure give Clairol Nice 'n Easy Root Touch-Up a Best of Beauty award for root coverage.

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

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

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

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Best hair-highlighting kit

Revlon Frost & Glow

*Est. $9 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… expandhave 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. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

MakeupAlley.com: More than 250 reviewers at MakeUpAlley.com give above-average ratings to Revlon Frost & Glow and praise it for lifting color well.

TotalBeauty.com: Nearly two dozen users at TotalBeauty.com give Revlon Frost & Glow a high overall rating.

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

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