The big name brands for at-home hair color come with different formulas an application sizes
by Rachel Leipzig, Viewpoints Expert Contributor
I’ve already talked about how to pick the right shade for your at-home hair color, but the next tricky decision is which brand to buy. There are a lot of choices for box hair color, but the top three drugstore brands for hair color are Clairol, L’Oreal and Revlon.
I recently did a little experiment to compare a box of hair color from each of these brands. I ordered three boxes of permanent color from each company, all a level 8 for consistency.
Clairol Nice and Easy Perfect 10 ($9.99), is rated 85 out of 100 by Viewpoints reviewers. It’s a permanent color that promises 100 percent long-lasting grey coverage in just 10 minutes of processing time.
L’Oreal Superior Preference ($9.99) is rated slightly higher at 87 out of 100, and it promises 8 weeks of fade-defying color.
And Revlon Colorsilk (3.99) is much cheaper and it claims to leave hair in better condition than before you started, but it is rated lower at 78/100.
Inside the box
All of the boxes claimed it contained one application, but each application was different. The Clairol box contained 2.43 oz. of tube color with 2.26 oz. of “activator” (presumably peroxide), giving a total of 4.69 oz. L’Oreal contained 2.4 oz. of liquid color and 2.4 oz. of “color optimizing crème” (peroxide) for a total of 4.8 oz. The Revlon contained 2 oz. of liquid color with 2 oz. of “cream color developer” for a total of 4 oz.
While each box claimed to be one application, if you are planning on pulling any color through your ends, you are going to need two boxes. With these amounts, one box would only contain enough product to touch up roots on someone with 4-6 weeks of regrowth.
None of the boxes disclosed the strength of the peroxide on the box or in the instructions, so I will assume it is 20 volume. However, I have never seen this develop in 10 minutes, so it’s anybody’s guess what the strength of the peroxide really is.
All of the kits contained gloves (thin plastic), but unless you have very large hands, you might want to invest in vinyl or latex gloves that fit you properly. These are readily available at most drugstores and online. None of the kits contained color stain remover in case you stain your hands or hairline in the process. For lighter colors this is not such a big deal but if you are using a darker shade, it is a wise investment to pick some up at a local beauty supply before you start.
All of the kits contained after-color conditioner. Both the Clairol and L’Oreal contained a 2 oz. tube, and the Revlon contained a 0.4 oz envelope. The Clairol also came with a screw-on top for the applicator bottle that looked like a little comb attachment. I’m not sure how user friendly this piece is and personally, I probably wouldn’t bother with it. It looks like a lot of work.
It seems to me that the best of the three—as far as being the closest to a professional color product—would be the Clairol, although I am skeptical of the 10 minute processing time.
L’Oreal takes second place with the Revlon in third. The Revlon contained the least amount of product, and the picture on the box looked like a level 9 or 10 blonde and not a level 8.
Using box hair color
My advice for picking at-home hair color would be to choose your hair color wisely and read the directions completely before you begin. If you have a lot of hair, you may want to pick up two boxes of hair color to make sure that you have enough on hand to finish the job. Once you mix it, you must use it or throw it out. It cannot be saved for future use.
A little preparation before you start will go a long way in making using box hair color less daunting.
Rachel Leipzig has been styling hair in Chicago for 15 years, after relocating from New York City and opening a salon on Oak Street on Chicago’s Gold Coast. She is currently working at Compagnia Della Belleza in Chicago. A specialist in makeovers, her television appearances include Oprah, ABC, and FOX. Leipzig’s work has also been featured in Allure, Chicago Social and Today’s Chicago Woman magazines.
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Filed under: Bath & Beauty, Expert Views Tagged: best hair color
