best buys
The best at-home hair colour 2022
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Never before have we been more desperate for hair colour that can be done at home!
So, whether you’re a first-timer or someone that has been colouring your own hair way before lockdown began, at-home hair colouring is thankfully having a bit of a moment.
Innovative formulations, well-thought out kits and pregnancy-friendly dyes are making it easy to achieve salon-results in the comfort of your home.
It will take balls and perhaps even a swig of gin, but you’ll be super proud of yourself when the job is done, and your hair will be amazingly vibrant.
Whether you’re conscious of some grey hairs sprouting, need your roots touched-up or want a complete hair colour overhaul (we all have these crazy thoughts post-birth) then read on for the best at-home hair colours that will cost a fraction of the cost of a professional treatment but will give you a good hair day every day.
Rubber gloves at the ready…
1. Josh Wood Colour Permanent Hair Dye, £14
Best for all-over colour
If you’re tempted to tint your hair, celebrity hair stylist Josh Wood has made it almost foolproof for you to do this in your bathroom. This ammonia-free hair dye kit contains just the right amount of colour for one application (it’s advised to finish the whole bottle).
All you have to do is mix the tube of colour into the colour activator, give it a good shake and you’re on your way.
The cleverly-designed nozzle at the top of the activator allows you to concentrate on your roots with ease, helping to get directly on to the scalp. Quite simply, divide your hair into four sections, two at the front, then two at the back and then cover your locks in the dye from root to ends.
Leave for 30 minutes, shampoo off and voila!
Don’t forget to put the barrier cream (also provided in the kit) around your forehead, hairline and ears where colour tends to seep.
But be careful not to apply on the actual hair (it’s a very easy mistake to make) as it will stop the dye getting to that area.
With a range of 12 colours at a very respectable price point, this gets a big thumbs up!
2. Schwarzkopf LIVE 00A Absolute Platinum Permanent Hair Dye, £5.79
Best for blondes
Although blondes may have more fun, it’s the brunettes that win when it comes to hair colouring. Lighter hair is trickier to colour as hair can easily look ashy and dull even with a fresh coat of colour. To avoid this, you need to focus on brightening your hair while also lessening the brassiness and this hair colour does exactly this.
Thanks to its brightening booster that gives up to eight levels of lift while simultaneously neutralising unwanted yellow undertones.
Hair feels super soft, beautifully bright and new. However, disappointingly this won’t work well on more than slightly grey hair and if your hair is past shoulder length you may need to use two boxes to get the full-effect on your whole head of hair.
3. John Frieda Root Blur Colour Blending Concealer, £9.99
Best for a quick cover-up
Wave goodbye to dark roots with this mineral-based pressed powder – it’s like makeup for your hair! Similar to applying your blush or bronzer, the idea is to use the brush in the same sweeping motion to cover your roots. But remember, this is just a temporary fix, the colour will only last until your next shampoo.
Simply blend both colour shades together and then brush on from root outwards, instantly extending the life of highlights and covering dark regrowth. If this is your preferred choice of hair colouring, note that you'll need quite a lot of product for a small area. But no matter how much product you use, it feels weightless on your hair. Plus, we love the built-in mirror, which allows for easy touch-ups in a flash.
4. Moroccan Color Depositing Mask, £6.85
Best for a colour refresh
A deep conditioning hair mask but not as you know it!
This dual-benefit mask gives beautiful, temporary colour, plus all the nourishing benefits of a deep conditioning treatment.
It’s combined with a temporary dye to enhance your locks while also nourishing your hair with a blend of amino acids, apricot kernel oil and the brand’s signature antioxidant-rich argan oil, that'll leave your hair feeling and looking healthier and richer than before.
If you fancy a temporary colour change or perhaps a dip-dye finish, make this your go-to. It’s super easy to use. Simply slather all over clean, wet hair, leave for five minutes and wash off to reveal beautifully toned lengths.
The only thing you will struggle with is choosing which of the seven colour ways to try. We’ve taken a particular liking to the Rose Gold shade – a fun fashion hue that makes us feel more alive (and younger) even if we’ve been up half the night breastfeeding.
A complete game-changer!
5. L'Oreal Paris Magic Retouch Instant Root Concealer Spray, £5.99
Best for in-between salon appointments
Eva Longoria swears by this stuff and with one selling every 30 seconds in the UK alone, you need to be quick to add this to your basket.
If you’re looking for a temporary option in between salon appointments, this is a great choice. Simply give the bottle a shake, hold it 12 cm away from the area you want to colour and then give it a spritz. The light spray stream and pointed nozzle allows for precise application making it completely foolproof – a sensible choice if you’re cautious about using hair colour at-home.
The super quick-drying formula (it dries within a minute) will cover roots in seconds and blends seamlessly with your own natural hair colour. So much so, it will be hard to point out where your roots begin.
With six different shades to choose from, you’ll easily find your perfect match. And if it’s good enough for Eva, who are we to argue?
Top tips for dyeing hair at home
A good starting point for home dye kits is to be sure to apply a little bit of Vaseline around your hairline and to make sure you’re either wearing a buttoned shirt or a towelling robe, so you’re not having to remove your clothes over your head before you shower the dye off.
And, don’t forget to do a patch test with any home colouring product to make sure you’re not allergic.
Follow Tamara on Instagram @blusherandbabies.
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