- Whether you want to go for a bold makeover, stay subtle, or just cover up your gray, L'Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Hair Color gives you at-home hair color that looks just as good as anything you'd get at the salon.
I've always been of the philosophy that it's good to have fun with your hair. After all, you can always cut it short, grow it out long, style it in a different way, or change the color if you don't like it or grow tired of it.
My hair has been long, short, straight, and curly over the years, along with everything in between. And when it comes to color, I've tried just about all of them: every shade of brown, reds from subtle auburn to fire engine bright, dark blonde, black, burgundy - you name it. Currently, my hair is its natural dark brown towards the back, but a bright blue reminiscent of Marge Simpson in the front.
I've been dying it since my teen years, which were more decades ago than I like to admit, and in those many years, I've learned a few things about at-home hair color, including the fact that while you don't have to spend a bundle, the super-cheapies can be rough on your hair, and if your hair is longer than your shoulders, you need two boxes to cover it thoroughly.
Other things to keep in mind when considering coloring your hair at home:
You can maintain your current color, go darker, or cover up gray with permanent hair color. What you cannot do is lighten your hair with hair color alone. To go lighter, you'll first need to bleach out the existing color in your hair.
The picture on the box is just a guideline - it's not the exact shade you'll get when using the product. Your actual results will vary based on your starting color, whether or not your hair is already chemically processed, how often you color your hair, and your technique when applying the dye.
Hair color is a messy business. While you can usually wipe away color from glazed porcelain surfaces, such as your sink bowl, forget about removing permanent hair color from paint, wallpaper, unglazed tile, carpet, or any other fabric surface. Wrapping an old towel around your shoulders before applying color helps greatly to reduce drips and drops on the floor.
If you're a hair-color virgin, you might be overwhelmed when you get your first look at the at-home dye section of your discount store, beauty supply shop, or even the supermarket. There are a lot of brands and product lines out there, all claiming to be the best.
That's why, in the name of beauty, we decided to assemble our list of the best at-home hair dyes currently available. And while we really like $4, you should also check out the other hair products on our list, along with our reasons for choosing them.
Here are the best hair color kits to buy in 2019:
- Best at-home hair color overall: $4
- Best semi-permanent hair color: $4
- Best 10-minute application: $4
- Best root touch-up color: $4
- Best bright hair color for at-home use: $4
- Best natural hair color: $4
Updated 10/22/19 by Jada Wong: Updated prices, formatting, and links.
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