Permanent Hair Color

Top-rated permanent hair dyes

The vast majority of hair-color products at the drugstore are permanent level-three colorants. According to Begoun, they all work the same way with similar ingredients; all contain ammonia and peroxide, which are needed to open up the hair follicle so it can be re-colored. Choosing the right product is mostly a matter of color choice and ease of use.

Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 (*Est. $14) is a big hit with most experts because of its easy and fast application process. The color processes in just 10 minutes, and Clairol claims that it is gentle as well. Reviewers at Redbook also say that Perfect 10 smells better than traditional hair color. It has a "pleasant fruity fragrance," according to Good Housekeeping editors. Clairol includes a special comb for application, but several owner reviewers at MakeupAlley.com and TotalBeauty.com find the comb difficult to use and appreciate that Clairol includes a traditional applicator in the box as well. A few users complain that this Clairol Nice 'n Easy hair color left their hair dry and damaged, but experts say that is possible with any permanent hair color, especially if it is used on over-processed hair. At Amazon.com, a couple of users say that they need two bottles of Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 for hair that is longer than shoulder length. A few others comment that the color did not last as long as some other brands. Clairol Perfect 10 is available in 24 shades.

Fekkai Salon Color (*Est. $30), sold in Fekkai salons and high-end department stores, has also taken the market by storm. Its popularity is due, in part, to its namesake, Frederic Fekkai, whom Redbook calls "the biggest name in hair salons." One thing that sets Fekkai Salon Color apart is the way it is mixed and applied. The coloring kit includes a salon-style bowl and brush to mix the color and paint it on the hair. The manufacturer says that this makes for a more even application, but one tester at BellaSugar.com claims that the process is also a tad more difficult and nearly impossible to apply on your own. Consumers at MakeupAlley.com say the colors are wonderful and create "salon quality" results. A handful of users at Amazon.com give this permanent hair color mixed reviews. A few really like it, while others feel it is too expensive for what you get. Fekkai offers 20 shades, all selected by top colorists.

All permanent hair colors use a process that involves bleaching or lifting the current color and then adding the color that you want, all of which can dry and damage your hair. For this reason, experts suggest conditioning your hair after every shampoo and doing a deep condition once a week.

Demi-permanent hair is often misleading

Demi-permanent hair colors are the most confusing colorants at the drugstore because they are often labeled in a misleading way. As mentioned above, companies often make these products look like they are semi-permanent and will wash out. However, according to Paula Begoun, demi-permanent hair colors work much like permanent colors but with lower concentrations of both peroxide and dye, and don't contain ammonia. (The peroxide lifts existing color out of the cortex. The dye penetrates into the cortex, where it is activated by the peroxide.) Demi-permanent hair color will not wash out, but they cannot produce as great a change in color as permanent dyes. Roots are less noticeable because the color changes are subtler. Begoun says that these subtle changes also mean that you are less likely to make a mistake. Perhaps this is why these products are so well liked by consumers.

L'Oreal ColorSpa Moisture Actif (*Est. $7) scores high user reviews from TotalBeauty.com, MakeupAlley.com and Drugstore.com. Consumers at all three sites swear by this L'Oreal hair-color formula saying that it is easy to use, gentle and gives them natural color. While a few complain that ColorSpa can be a bit messy most simply wish that all of the 13 shades were easier to find in stores. A handful of users at Amazon.com give it high ratings, too. They say it is not drying and doesn't smell.

Clairol Natural Instincts (*Est. $9.50) also gets high marks at TotalBeauty.com, MakeupAlley.com and Drugstore.com. It's available in 34 shades, is ammonia-free and processes in just 10 minutes. Consumers claim that the easy-to-apply formula leaves their hair shiny and rich with natural-looking color. Many claim that the color fades gradually and several users love the included weekly conditioner, saying it is worth the cost of the box itself. Users at Amazon give this hair color above average marks, but a few report that the color that their hair turned was not the same as on the box. Natural Instincts is also easier to find than ColorSpa. Note that despite the name of this product, it does contain chemicals and is not truly a "natural" hair color.

Hair color for men

There are a handful of products that are aimed specifically at men. However, Paula Begoun says that men can also use hair products that are aimed at women. It all comes down to preference, she says. Hair dyes targeted to men, such as Just For Men (*Est. $8), are much simpler to use than traditional hair dyes. Just For Men is a shampoo-in product that take only five minutes to process. It colors the hair gradually with each successive shampoo, making changes less drastic. Users at Amazon.com say it works well, but is extremely messy, splatters all over the room and can cause indelible stains in clothes. Just for Men is available in 11 shades for the scalp and the face. Just For Men Touch of Gray (*Est. $8) is available in five shades.