The very best home hair dye for glossy, vibrant colour, and how to apply it like a pro
Do you have the itch? You know, the one where you throw caution to the wind and upgrade your hair with a fabulous new vibrant colour. Or, enhance it with a deliciously rich shade. Either way.
If you're considering DIY box dyes, you're in good company. Unsurprisingly, sales of home hair colour reached an all-time high during lockdown, with even the most dedicated refuseniks giving it a spin.
Ans since salons have re-opened, sales (whilst dipping slightly) are still higher than pre-pandemic. People have gained confidence in their own abilities having experimented while WFH. And there's plenty of others who favour the convenience and autonomy of keeping their hair colour in-house.
The good news is that the science behind at-home formulas has come a long way in recent years. This means (with a little research) it's easier than ever to achieve glossy, vibrant colour for a fraction of the cost of an in-salon appointment.
Whether you're new to the game, or you're in the market to switch formulas, we've rounded up the best home hair colours to upgrade your strands.
Before you do though, we asked the experts some of the things you should bear in mind. Remember, botched home colour can be a headache to correct, so it's always a good idea to proceed with caution and follow professional advice. We caught up with Josh Wood, celebrity colourist and founder of Josh Wood Colour and Atelier, to reveal the three most important home hair dye tips.
1. Get the best consultation you can
First up, before you even consider adding a box dye to your basket, get some expert help. Our hairstylists aren't able to get into work at the moment, and are itching for something to do. If you have a friendly relationship, get in contact with your usual colourist and ask if they'd be happy to guide you through the process. You can support them by paying for a consultation and they can support you by ensuring you choose the right colour and formula for your hair. They can also advise on the best application method, which can change depending on whether or not you've dyed your hair before and what dye was used.
If you don’t feel comfortable seeking advice in the salon, there are online options too. “Self-selecting in the home hair colour aisle can leave people confused. I was really keen to change that with the Josh Wood Colour expert online consultation,” reveals Josh whose haircare range includes professional at home hair dye. It gives you the choice of an instant consultation (via quiz questions), or a free personal video appointment with one of their colourists.
2. Don’t overdo it
If you’re looking for a whole new look, leave it to the professionals. Josh warns: “Complex techniques like highlights and balayage simply won’t work at home because they require skills and expertise.” And, if you're thinking of carrying out a drastic colour change, such as revamping your dark hair into a platinum blonde, it might be best to hold fire. Playing with bleach when you don't know what you're doing can mean irreversible damage on hair. We've seen enough gummy strands on TikTok to know it's not worth the risk. Instead stick to enhancing and touching up the colour you currently have.
If you you already have a blonde base, that will give you more freedom to play around with bright colours as they'll show up better. However, even semi-permanent dyes can be difficult to remove completely if you want to switch back, and may require some professional toning to reinstate.
3. Aftercare is crucial
While salon colour changes usually come hand-in-hand with aftercare treatments, when it’s just you and a box of colour, it’s super important to change your haircare regime accordingly. “Use a shampoo and conditioner that is suited to the colour and texture of your hair and to the tone that you want to protect from fading,” says Josh.
We've compiled an edit of the best at-home hair dyes (tried and tested, of course) for you to shop now, from Bleach's Super Cool Colour for a dramatic colour change to Josh Wood Colour's Permanent Hair Colour for salon-grade results.
If you're looking for some hair colour inspo to inspire your at-home dye job, check out our round up of celebrities sporting rainbow hues. Or, if you're looking for a home hair dye remover, we've put together some pro tips.
Best bright home hair dyes
Bleach Super Cool Colour, £6.50, Cult Beauty
Bold brand Bleach is your go-to for a dramatic colour switch, whether full on rainbow balayage or a block-out bleached look.
Save when you shop for best home hair dyes with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best home hair dye for platinum blonde
Garnier Nutrisse Permanent Hair Dye, £5.79, LookFantastic
Despite what we may think, even the celebs take care of their colour at home. Holly Willoughby admitted that nine times out of 10, she dyes her hair herself. She owes her platinum strands to Garnier Nutrisse in the shade 10.01.
Save when you shop for the best at-home hair dye with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best at-home hair dye glossing treatment
Rita Hazan True Colour Ultimate Shine Gloss, £21, Selfridges
Extend the life of your in-salon colour with NYC celebrity colourist Rita Hazan's glossing treatment. The formula, which comes in five shades, nourishes each strand, enhancing the colour and boosting shine.
Save when you shop for the best at-home hair dye with these Selfridges discount codes.
Best professional at home hair dye
Josh Wood Colour Permanent Hair Colour, £14, Boots
Josh Wood's client list reads like a Who's Who of all the most sought-after celebrities. Luckily for us, he's formulated an at-home dye kit that delivers the same contemporary, salon-grade colour as his in-salon service. The ammonia-free, kind-to-hair formula comes in 12 hues ranging from the deepest brown to lightest blonde. And, now, the brand has amped up its offering with the addition of the Miracle Shot (only available alongside Josh Wood permanent colour), a treatment booster added to your dye mixture before you apply to strengthen hair, curb breakage and even help hair cling on to colour for longer, for a salon-worthy finish.
Save when you shop for the best at-home hair dye with these Boots discount codes.
Best temporary tint
Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage Tint, £14.50, Flannels
Want a whirlwind romance with a cray-cray shade? This is your gal. Lime Crime's intensely pigmented Unicorn Hair tints give incredibly vibrant colour, then fade out over time.
Best home hair dye for roots
Clairol Permanent Root Touch-Up, £5.99, Boots
There are tons of shades to choose from and a brush applicator to aid with applying it along your partings. Plus it takes 10 minutes.
Save when you shop for the best at-home hair dye with these Boots discount codes.
Best at-home hair dye shade range
Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Dye, £5.25, Amazon
Powered by 60% conditioning oils, Olia hair colour is free from ammonia to ensure vivid colour and glossy hair, no matter which of the 30 trend-led shades you choose.
Best at-home hair dye for precise application
L'Oréal Paris Colorista Permanent Hair Paint, £5.99, Superdrug
Release your inner artist with painterly at-home colour kit L'Oréal Paris Colorista Permanent Hair Paint. The clever angled brush allows optimum precision, while the jelly-cream formula promises maximum colour payoff.
Save when you shop for the best at-home hair dye with these Superdrug discount codes.
Best home hair dye for blondes
Schwarzkopf Live Intense Lightener Absolute Platinum, £5.79, Boots
Be your best blonde with Schwarzkopf Live's innovative lightening system that's guaranteed to lift your hair shade up to eight levels.
Save when you shop for the best at-home hair dye with these Boots discount codes.
Best home hair dye for dark hair
Utilising cutting-edge technology and the best botanical ingredients, Phyto Color's heavenly formula is able to provide long-lasting, vibrant colour while respecting the hair and scalp.
Best at home hair dry for a bespoke finish
eSalon Custom Hair Colour Set, from £20, eSalon
eSalon's custom hair colour system is completely personalised to give you the best colour for your hair possible. Before landing on the shade, you fill out a quiz which covers the type of dye you already have in your hair (important, as this can affect how the new colour will turn out), the length of your hair, whether you need grey coverage, your hair's texture and thickness and finally, your desired colour (down to the specific tone in your wider shade range). Once you've filled out your online consultation, a pro colourist will blend your perfect shade before it's sent out to you with specific instructions for the application.
