Drugstore Hair Colors Are Not Created Equal

Garnier 100% Color Ultra-Lift Browns

Totally worth it.  This was the first hair dye I ever used for my own hair, and I was not disappointed.  Here’s what it does: it lifts dark brown hair or black hair up to four levels to a nice golden brown (although it also comes in a cool brown shade, most “cool” shades usually end up golden anyway).  Because it lifts your hair so much, some damage is to be expected, but if you trim your hair afterwards like I did, the results could be good.  My rating? 7-8. Good color, but not the best conditioning power.  Also, warning: don’t use this on color-treated hair.  It won’t lift it.

Garnier 100% Color 

I’ve used this brand of color several times.  I’ve never been disappointed, but I’ve also never been blown away.  The reviews are not-so-good, and if you’ve noticed, drugstores tend to only carry about 5 colors out of the 28 that Garnier 100% Color offers.  There is no spectacular conditioning, but the color is decent.  All and all, I wouldn’t recommend or discourage anyone from using it.  It could go either way.  My rating is a 6.

Garnier Nutrisse Creme Haircolor

A lot of people say this is the best one.  I disagree, but I do think it’s very good.  With all the nourishing avocado oil and other botanicals, it is a less damaging way to dye your hair.  However, I’ve noticed that the color either doesn’t stick, or never shows up in the first place, especially if your hair has been dyed before (see a pattern here?)  I dyed my hair with this for year, usually opting for bright red colors.  They would turn my hair dark reddish brown.  Just be careful about your expectations and you will enjoy it.  I rate it a 7.

Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Nutri-Browns

Much like the Garnier 100% Color Ultra-Lift Browns, this is made to lift dark hair to lighter shades of brown.  However, I’ve used it and I don’t think it works very well.  I used it over dyed dark hair, so perhaps that’s where I went wrong, but not only did it refuse to lift, it lifted my roots and actually darkened the rest of my hair.  Just be careful and only use this on natural hair that hasn’t been dyed (or has been dyed months and months ago).  I rate it a 6.

Herbal Essences Hair Dye

Not the best.  While it seems to boast radiant color, it really just looks like any other hair dye.  I have used this twice, once in a dark red shade, and another time in a light brown color.  The red came out well, but the brown came out too dark.  I would recommend this only if you are trying to darken your hair.  Also, I believe Herbal Essences should be avoided for the most part.  The reason all of their products smell so good is because of the heavy fragrances, which are never good for your hair.  My rating? 5.

Nice N’ Easy Hair Color

Here’s a little tip: if you want to go lighter, or if you don’t have gray hair or healthy hair, stay away.  Nice N’ Easy, despite the product name, it’s not very “nice” on your hair.  I think one of the reasons for this is that it’s aimed at women who are graying, and it penetrates very deeply to cover grays.  I used this in burgundy (above) when I was in high school, and it came out black.  It lightened up after a while, but it was dark for a long time.  However, I think this should work well on graying hair, especially Nice N’ Easy’s other gray-targeted formula, Gray Solutions.  I can’t effectively rate Nice N’ Easy, because I think it’s not for everyone, but for the specific group it targets, it works very well.  I know a woman in her fifties who uses this and has fabulous results, and women my age who use it and hate it.

L’Oreal Superior Preference Hair Color

I like this color.  I don’t really know why, but I do.  The conditioner that comes with it is fabulous, and the color it gives you is pretty consistent and luminous.  However, there’s a little issue.  This hair color only comes with a 20 volume developer.  In layman’s terms, that means it won’t lift your hair color very high.  That’s why it comes in special extra light blonde and extra light brown formulas (which I will discuss later).  This hair color has been on the market for a long time and is very popular, so it’s safe to assume it’s a legitimate purchase.  It also comes in tons of colors, so you have tons of choices.  I’d say definitely worth it.  I’d rate it an 8.

L’Oreal Superior Preference Les True Brunettes

Much like Garnier 100% Ultra-Lift Browns, this color works to lift dark hair to levels of light brown.  It has similar results to the regular Superior Preference, except it does damage your hair more because of the higher lightening.  So be careful when using this color–always use a deep conditioner first.   I’ve noticed that this even works on hair that has been dyed before (obviously not as well but it still works).  I say, go for it.  My rating is an 8.5.

L’Oreal Couleur Experte

I’ve used this about three times, and have always been satisfied with the results.  The important thing is that because it’s color and highlights in one, you really need to know how to make highlights.  If you have the patience with the highlights, then you’re good.  A lot of people probably rush through the application and end up screwing it up.  You need to be careful when applying the bleach if you don’t want big and tacky-looking chunks of blonde or caramel.  I’d give it a 9.  I also noticed there wasn’t much damage–even after highlighting!

L’Oreal Excellence Creme

I’ve used Excellence Creme three times.  I have no idea what to think.  The first time I used it, I darkened my hair to a beautiful, rich chocolate brown and I loved it.  Then, I later used medium golden brown and ended up (somehow) with black hair.  I later used light golden brown (mixed with light reddish blonde so it wouldn’t go too dark!) and ended up with medium ash brown hair.  A real disappointment!  Of course, these ultra-dark colors lightened up eventually, but I was shocked at the amount of damage this inflicted on my hair, even with the protecting pre-treatment.  I believe this dye penetrates so deeply and makes those seriously dark colors because it is meant to cover grays, and I don’t have any grays.  So, much like Nice N’ Easy, I’d recommend if you are going darker or are covering grays.  Because of these mixed feelings, I can’t assign just one number to this dye.

L’Oreal Feria Hair Color

Feria is not meant for older women, as you can see by the young and modern look on the box.  So because of that, you don’t find the same oddities you get with L’Oreal Excellence Creme, which is meant for covering grays.  Usually a lot of young girls use Feria to achieve wild and vibrant colors.  But that doesn’t always happen.  I have used Feria in an attempt to get red hair, and I ended up with dark burgundy.  Just realize it can’t work wonders.  It’s also not the most conditioning–I find the experience is a little drying and damaging for the hair.  However, I have to give L’Oreal some credit for the wide variety of colors within the Feria line.  I rate it a 7.

Clairol Hydrience Hair Color

Having used Hydrience three times, I can tell you that it is, in fact, moisturizing and “good” for your hair in comparison with other dyes out there.  But it’s not perfect.  Much like other dyes, it makes your hair too dark, and sometimes brings it to colors you never would have imagined.  Once, I tried to dye it light golden brown (the picture above) and I somehow ended up with dark red hair!  So if your hair is porous or recently dyed, be careful.  However, because of the moisturizing and nourishing effect (and the no-drip formula) I’ll give it a 7.5.

Revlon Colorsilk

You wouldn’t guess it, because of the tiny box, low price (usually about $4) and ho-hum design, but this is the best drugstore color out there.  With no ammonia, it colors but doesn’t damage as much as other colors would.  I have gone from brown to blonde with this color in just one application and without a ton of damage (there was some breakage, but the important part is that I didn’t end up bald).  Although this color will naturally end up showing a little darker at first, it lightens up quickly with a few shampoos.  It doesn’t have that “hair dye” smell and it works wonders.  The conditioner it comes with is also nice.  Unfortunately, it comes with really cheap and annoying gloves, but that’s a small price to pay for the great color job (people will think you got your color at a salon).  My rating is a 10!  That’s right.  People seem so weird about rating anything a “10″ but it’s the best you can find in your local CVS.

(All photos courtesy of amazon.com)