Do you use Clairol Hair color?

LuckeeLaydee

Cathlete
I have had some bad experiences with my haircolorist (not to offend any of you good stylists out there)and I just want to "do it myself".
I had gone red and then wanted to go back to brunette. My ex stylist prefers red and twice he left me much more red than I desired. I don't know if he did this on purpose or not, but when I don't get what I asked for twice in a row I am not going back.
Much of the red has faded and I now have a reddish brown color. In order to cover/diminish some of the red/brassiness I am planning on using Clairol nice & easy #118A which is Natural medium neutral brown. They do not make a medium ash brown, but this 118A is said to be a substitute for the ultress medium ash brown that they used to make. Has anyone (especially if you're trying to cover red) used this color and were you happy with the results?
thanks,
Paula
 
This is the exact color I use!:) I have red undertones in my hair and don't like them so I use this to give me more even, richer color. I love it. I tend to color about every 6 weeks or so.

Susan
 
I ALWAYS use Nice & Easy and every time I get my hair cut, my stylist compliments my color and tells me to keep doing whatever it is I am doing. I use it every 6-8 weeks. I love the stuff!
 
I use Nice & Easy, too. I mix golden blonde with reddish blonde to get my natural fake red hair color. I've also had lots of hairdressers compliment me on my hair color.

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
 
LOL honeybunch! Yeah my hubby hates red, plus it was fun but I am really better suited to brunette.
Sarah, Do you mind sharing what shade you use?
Paula
 
Paula, Sorry to tell you, I use "Light Spice" 119A. After having my kids, my hair got so dark! I grew up with some red tint and I use this shade to bring it back a little. This shade actually lightens up my color...maybe it is just the shine that makes such a difference.

I have also had luck with "Natural Lighest Golden Brown" 114A and also "Natural Light Chestnut Brown: 114C

I keep the top part of the box of color and if I like how it turns out, the top portion makes it to my purse so that I have it handy for future reference. I make notes, like "this is DH's favorite", or "my favorite", etc.
 
Thanks, I wouldn't have guessed you used the light spice, your hair looks so dark in pictures which is what I am trying to achieve. It is hard to tell tones in pictures. You probably have some beautiful red hightlights that don't show up in photos.
I have used the light spice and for me it was nice but of course, it has a red tone to it and I am trying to get away from that at the moment. I have a feeling even with the 118A I will have some red tones and that's ok. I just want less.
Paula
 
I use Nice N Easy 116 - I think. Light neutral brown and I like it. It does seem to fade quickly on me and I NEED to use it again by 5 weeks. You should probably call clairol and tell them what you are trying to do. I found them very friendly and helpful. I had my hair heavily foiled and got tired of the expense and time involved. When I called they said I really needed to have the salon color my hair back to brown and then use the nice-n-easy for the touch ups from then on (or I might end up with green or violet highlights!) Marnie
 
Paula,

I was red for about 15 years and decided to go back to my natural color which is brown. I had used Clairol Nice & Easy for all those years and everyone thought I was a natural redhead. When I tried to go back to brown, my hair turned black (gothic black, as my friend liked to call it). It looked kinda cool and I got lots of compliments on the whole dark hair, light eyes thing, but it was a nightmare trying to get it lighter. In fact, I never did. I ended up having to have highlights. It has been a long process (but kinda fun, as I enjoyed the highlights). But it's sooooooo expensive to go get my hair done that I'm going back to red b/c I never had any trouble with it and it looked natural. I figure I have to color it anyway for the gray, so why not live life on the edge! It's going to take professional coloring for about 6 months to get it back to red and then I'm taking over again and will go back to Clairol. During those 15 years I tried a couple other brands and did not like them at all!

Good luck!

Susan

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
I use Natural Instincts (I find permanent hair color far too damaging to use), light chestnut brown. I get really nice highlights from it, & decent gray coverage, although I find it lasts only about 3 weeks instead of the 4 they claim. I think it has something to do w/exercise--I probably shampoo more than the average woman since I spend so much time sweating.

I got temp hair color done at the salon & it cost me $70 (not including tip). I got the same exact results I get from Natural Instincts. Nice to spend $10 instead of $70.
 
Susan (Dogs2birds):
Do you remember what color over red gave you the "gothic" black?
Was your red a dark red to begin with or a light red?
Just curious, hoping with some information I can avoid any mistakes. Although, I would rather make a mistake dark than light. But I am afraid that any color is going to look dark on my hair. My hair tends to go that way. My ex hairdresser did my hair "brown" one time and it was pretty darn close to black! Oh well....I just had him throw in a few lighter reddish brown highlights and I was able to live with it.

Paula
 
Paula - The red I used was 110 - natural light auburn. I wish I could remember the exact color that gave me the gothic black, but it was some sort of medium brown. I didn't go with a dark brown b/c I knew it would be too dark. It was anyway. It could have been from the years of coloring and that my hair was damaged so it sucked up the color more. I just don't know. Good luck!!!

LauraMax - my hair is curly too and b/c of that it is pretty dry. I probably only shampoo it once or twice a week, but I condition it every day (since I work out and sweat every morning, I have no choice and conditioning it makes it smell clean too).

Susan

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
Susan, I tried that "conditioner wash" thing & it just didn't work for me. Because of all the styling products I use, my hair looked limp, frizzy & dirty. And my hair is not at all oily--if I didn't use the products I could probably go for days without a shampoo.

But, as things are, I have to shampoo every day. :-( So I avoid any chemicals that might be damaging to my hair, especially permanent hair color, it's like the most damaging thing you can put in your hair other than maybe gasoline. :p
 
I agree that permanent hair color (since when is 5-6 weeks permanent??) is hard on your hair. What really helps me is I use Paul Mitchell's "The Conditioner" everyday, like it is a styling gel...I use a lot of it! It is a leave in conditioner but I use about twice to three times the needed amount. It really makes a huge difference in the condition of my hair and since my hair is so curly and fine, it thickens it up, really boosts the curl and keeps damage at bay!
 

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