HerbatintPermanent Hair Dye For Women - 5C Light Ash Chestnut - For Up To 100% Gray Coverage of Resistant Gray Hair - Ammonia-Free, Alcohol-Free & Vegan - Salon Influenced Hair Color 5.75 fl oz

It's high summer here in zone 9, Central Florida, and I'm outside daily, so I do expect a bit of sun-fading over the two weeks before I color my roots again. The photo in my review is Day 1 of my fresh color. I use a combination of 6N + 6D, with just a shot of 5N + 5D to make my roots just subtly darker than the rest of my hair, and to provide a little depth to the color when I do the "drag through" the length in the last 10 minutes of total color time.I've been using Herbatint since I started going gray in high school....so....well over 40 years now, and I love how the Herbatint colors can be mixed, so one can achieve the most "natural" looking tone and base color at any age, and any "season," so that one's hair color compliments one's skin tone, whether in a "tan" time of year or a more "faded," sun-deprived "winter" skin tone.Our highly chlorinated municipal water can really fade any color, and may sometimes cause tint changes that can make the "tone" of the color more "red" or "orange." Should that occur, I always keep some "C" (Ash) tone colors, for example "6C" or "5C" on hand, in case I decide to add a shot of the "C" tone to mellow out any "too red" or "brassy" tones. This doesn't happen often, especially now that we have chlorine filters on all of our shower heads and wands, but I thought you'd want to know how even "golden" or "warm" colored hair that might get "too red" can be corrected back to what YOU want the color to look like for your skin tone.The older I get the more "sensitive" I've become to many, many shampoos, conditioners, and colors, and Herbatint COLOR has NEVER given me any allergic response (no burning, no bumps), however I cannot use the Herbatint after-color conditioner that they provide in the box; I am highly allergic to their conditioner.I'm highly allergic to MOST conditioners, even the "fragrance free" ones. Even the vanicream free and clear conditioner gives me a little itchy scalp, but so far, vanicream free and clear is the LEAST itchy, most tolerable conditioner I've found. But....it's not a great conditioner (see picture: this is day 1 of my Herbatint 6N 6D color, washed with vanicream free and clear shampoo, and conditioned with vanicream free and clear conditioner.Herbatint provides excellent coverage of white / gray roots (I always mix an "N" Natural Series Herbatint color with the desired tint color - like the Golden "D" colors) just to make sure I cover my white roots well and quickly (I process for about 25 minutes before a 10 minute "drag through" or for about 30 to 35 minutes when I'm just doing my roots).It's a bit expensive, but I only use a partial bottle of each color each time I color (because I'm mixing colors), so for me 1 box of each color lasts at least through 2 colorings.

(the best way to apply the dye is using a bowl and brush. A set with different sizes of brushes that make it easier to color smaller areas,like behind the ears. In reading the bad reviews for this I can only think the person used it on oily hair,in which case the dye stuck to oil or other hair care products (sprays,gels,leave in conditioner,conditioner/product build up which coats the hair;or hair that was unwashed/oily("dirty"). ) Other bad reviews show the person doesn't understand the product and had heavy-chemical mass produced/commercial haircolor products expectations in mind. Other bad reviews indicate they didn't allow processing time.I have used this product for over 15 years,only doing the roots to cover grey/silver that comes with being past 40. My results have been very good.This product does not lighten hair,though colors 8N and above can lighten hair. The way to get a truly lighter shade result might be to remove the color from your hair first,using a dye remover or professional hair bleach and THEN applying the dye (and subsequently doing the same process to the roots to achieve a uniform hair color;) But contacting herbatint first on using the product that way is the only thing to do. They might be able to give a better answer or a more accurate answer. I do know THE ONLY way to dramatically change hair from a darker color to a blond is to bleach your hair first,or use a dye remover from a beauty supply house if you have dyed your hair,and THEN apply the blond shade. THIS will give a true blond color. I have done this process using a commercial grade hair color,way back around 1980. I used Clairol or something as my blond hair dye.A hair coloring bowl and brush is the best way to apply the dye. There are several to choose from with a wide range of prices. If quality is part of it I suppose the brushes could be a better quality,and some sets or kits have a choice of brush sizes or include hair clips to seperate hair into sections to see and dye the roots more easily. I think the clips are awkward,myself but having the hair sectioned into seperate areas has advantages and lets you apply the dye more quickly. Small pony tail bands might be better for fine hair,which is what I have.Leaving herbatint on for the full processing time is needed. If I have a larger area to cover,instead of taking the time with a larger application,which takes longer to apply,I will do it in two applications so I don't have to worry about dye being on my hair for longer than 40 minutes,with the dye last applied being in the 35 to 40 minute time frame. The processing time being too short will be another reason grey coverage was not achieved,along with the dye washing-off if the hair was oily or coated with other hair care products when it was used. The dye will stick to the gunk or oil on the hair. Instead of being on the strands of hair themselves,the dye instead is on hair care coatings or hair oil,all of which wash off,taking the dye right along with it.Also,the dye is DARKER on the hair after being applied. And the hair stays darker for about 2 weeks. If a chestnut or lighter color was used,the hair will look much darker than anticipated,for about 2 weeks,7 to 10 washings in 14 days. It DOES lose the heavy pigmentation and lighten up after normal washing,after about 2 weeks.Possibly my good results are because I don't use the dye,at all,on anything but the roots. I don't add color to hair that has already been colored at the roots. And my hair is very natural looking. And healthy looking. Also I periodically,6 to 10 times a year,use an undiluted straight foodgrade white vinegar rinse on my hair,which removes shampoo and conditioner residue from the hair. And so when I use the dye,my hair has minimal or no hair care products build up on it. (this is just using about 16 ozs white vinegar in a large bowl). Kneeling in the bath tub I put the top of my head in the bowl. Then I use a comb and plastic 1/2 cup measuring cup to scoop the vinegar onto my hair and pour it over my hair,combing it through with a detangling comb. The half cup measuring cup is an arbitrary thing. It was what I grabbed the first time I did this so I just stuck with it. After putting the vinegar on (starting with dry,not wet or freshly washed hair),I rinse it out,thoroughly,in the shower,and then wash and condition my hair . White vinegar is a GREAT soap scum buster and removes shampoo and conditioner build up on the hair. In recommending this I have to stress,DO NOT get vinegar in your eyes. It burns like crazy. I don't think it damages them but it feels like it could be doing damage,because it burns and stings. Being Very Careful and also keeping a wet cloth nearby to wipe across the area if or when some vinegar might get in is the thing to do. Also,undiluted vinegar on the skin,face neck,back,chest and shoulder area,causes an alarming reddening of the skin. This is temporary. For people with skin problems or skin conditions,asking doctor or looking up info online is important to see if you shouldn't use undiluted white vinegar. Also it shouldn't be used where sores or broken skin can be affected by it because it would sting and burn when it entered the wound or broken skin or the irritated skin if someone has a definite skin condition that is known or diagnosed. If skin reddening concerns you,put a teaspoonful of undiluted white vinegar on your shoulder or neck ;or just put it on the inside of your forearm where allergy patch-tests are most often recommended [it is only vinegar but there are a small percentage of people who have skin conditions that could make using it a bad idea,so my cautionary note is along the lines of "don't use or immerse blow dryer while you are in the bath tub". ] If the skin reddens then the redness goes away within 10 or 20 minutes,that is normal. If you have concerns,don't use it or consult your doctor or dermatologist first. Erring on the side of caution because certain people might be adversely affected using undiluted white vinegar. But for what it does,if it doesn't bother someone in what it does under normal circumstances,it certainly is effective and worthwhile to use. And so is the herbatint N series permanent hair dye. You get good results and grey coverage and the product meets expectations as long as you use it the way the directions say to use it and don't have unrealistic expectations when using it. This,the Normalizing Shampoo and also the Royal Cream Conditioner are vegan. Not all of the herbatint products are vegan but the permanent hair color and the shampoo and conditioner mentioned here are. I'm not sure if the temporary hair color gel is or not.Hope this helps. It is a good product and does what it says it does. If what you expect differs from the product description,consulting a licensed stylist or using a product that says it does what you expect it to do is the only solution. A product can't be blamed for mistakes the consumer made or if someone expected results this product makes no claim to achieve.I think I have bought this item at amazon at least one time. If not I assume the 'verified purchase' will not show up.

Pros - Covers grays, no odors, very gentle on my hair. *5 starsCons - I apply the dye with a brush, not a bottle applicator and the recent changes to darker bottles makes it almost impossible to accurately measure correctly if you're not using the entire bottle. *2 stars