CLAIROL DYES:
Herbal Essences: Color used = either Sheer Diamond or Beige Shimmer (a light neutral blonde)
RATING = 3 stars out of 5
Why = True color turned out very similar to color on box. It "zapped" my roots to light blonde very effectively. However, a relatively small amount of dye was included, probably the least of any kind I've tried. It's also pretty expensive. So if you have long and thin or medium-length thick hair, you should either try a different kind or buy two boxes. Mediocre post-coloring conditioner.
Natural Instincts: Colors used = Cinnaberry (dark reddish-brown) and Clove (very dark brown)
RATING = 5 stars out of 5
Why = *******************************************************************************
Nice 'n Easy: Colors used = Natural Medium Golden Blonde 104 and Natural Dark Blonde 106A
RATING = 5 stars out of 5
Why = This is basic dye. No fancy names for the shades, and no frills. It works like it's supposed to, and each box contains a sufficient amount of dye to fully color a head of medium-length thick hair. It's also one of the cheapest types of dye that you can find. The only thing that could be improved is the post-coloring conditioner - they include enough for one application, and it isn't very strong. But overall, you get good quality for a low price!
Ultress: Color used = a light to medium blonde
RATING = 4 stars out of 5
Why = Ultress was nothing memorable for me. Maybe it was the shade I chose. It changed the color, but didn't really have any sparkle or 'oomph' to it, although a good amount of dye was included. The post-coloring conditioner was pitiful in its quantity and effectiveness.
GARNIER DYES:
I haven't tried any of these yet.
L'OREAL DYES:
Couleur Experte: Color used = Toasted Coconut (a medium blonde)
RATING = 5 stars out of 5
Why = This stuff is awesome! There's nothing else like it outside of a salon! It is a two step process involving dyeing a base color and then painting on custom highlights. It obviously takes more work and time than regular dyes, but if you do it right, it's stunning! The post-coloring conditioner could be more effective in my opinion, however, the kit includes plenty of dye, and, for most purposes, WAY too much highlighting ingredients. Here's some important advice: this higlighting stuff is what differentiates Couleur Experte from all other dyes, so when you go to create the mixture when you're doing step two, only mix half of the bottle with half of the packet of powder. Be sure to do it carefully though - too much of either one could cause a hair color catastrophe or even severe scalp irritation. I don't know what the ingredients are - they could be harmless - but it's better to be safe than sorry! Please also note that you probably shouldn't use this dye two times in a row. You can dye your hair two to three more times with single-process (all one color) dye and still be able to see the highlights. If you try to do a double-process (two colors, one is the base, the other is the highlights) two months in a row UNLESS YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL, you can end up with stripey, very un-natural results. One more thing: inside each box of Couleur Experte is a $5 coupon toward your 'next purchase.' While this helps deflect the exorbitant price of this product (it's only downside!), I advise you to remove the coupon from the box before buying it, and use it right then and there. Please don't be mean and take coupons out of the other boxes! And if the seal on yours is already broken, be sure to check for the coupon inside, even if you're not intending to use it right away. At a Walgreens near my house, the staff was taking the coupons out and taping them to each box in the front of each row to encourage people to buy them. However, a few confused people bought a box of a more popular color of which the front box had been sold. They didn't realize that a coupon was inside every box, so they ripped the taped coupons off some of the less-popular shades, thus leaving those boxes with no coupons at all. A little confusing, but an example of how this kind of coupon conundrum can start!
Feria: Colors used = Extra Bleach Blonde 205 (a white-blonde) and Pure Diamond 100 (very light natural blonde)
RATING: 2 stars out of 5
Why = Feria is probably one of the most popular hair dyes for my age group, but I found its results disappointing. One factor might be that I was using it to go from dark blonde to very light blonde. When I used Pure Diamond the first time, my hair basically came out a light orange color. I then used Extra Bleach Blonde twice over the next couple of months. My hair never lost the orange tinge! (I now know how to avoid this - click here to read about it on my hair color tips page) My best friend used Extra Bleach Blonde AT LEAST six times in a row over several months, and her hair never got nearly as light as it shows on the box - it just sort of stayed yellow (yes, this page is supposed to be about my own experiences, but I just thought I should mention that detail). It's pretty expensive compared to other types, and the quantity of dye included is considered "generous," but definitely not enough to do a whole head of long thick hair and get passable results. Also, please note that Feria smells AWFUL while you're using it, so be SURE to have a fan on while you're dyeing. One good thing about Feria is the tube of post-coloring conditioner - I've NEVER used anything like it - it can change straw-like hair into butter in less than 30 seconds! However, my overall advice is to not waste your money on Feria, especially if you want to lighten your hair significantly.
Open: Color used = Lunar 9n (natural light blonde)
RATING = 4 stars out of 5
Why = I received my box of Open free at a local Loreal event. The ads say it's gentle, low-ammonia color that changes the shade of your hair very subtly. First off, this is a total lie. I used this color, and it totally zapped my whole head to *LIGHT* blonde, even my dark roots. If that's what you're looking for, then this is the best I've used for that purpose. However, if you are indeed looking for a subtle change, then beware! Ample dye was included to do medium-length thick or long thin hair, but I'm marking it down a star because of the high price and the mediocre post-coloring conditioner. Like with all the other non-Feria dyes on this page, I had to add some Feria conditioner to my head after coloring just so I could comb my fingers through my wet hair(except Couleur Experte - I had no Feria conditioner available, but would have used it if I had some).
REVLON DYES:
High Dimension: Color used = Medium Blonde #80
RATING = 0 out of 5 stars
Why = This is without a doubt the worst color I've ever used!!! I dyed my hair from light blonde to medium blonde using this, and the results came out a horrible muddy brown color. Mediocre conditioner, and relatively high priced. No redeeming qualities!!!!!
