Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Dye, 8G Medium Golden Blonde Hair Color, Pack of 1

I am 51 and I have strands of gray in my hair. I really don’t want to have to do a full permanent dye job because I think it will affect the texture of my healthy hair. So I’ve been experimenting with different options. I have spent $300-400 a pop to get a haircut and color at a professional place more than once. And I really don’t think it looks that great and it’s very expensive. So I started experimenting at home and I love this stuff. It’s amazing. It won’t cover your gray completely, but it will revive your hair significantly. So this is what I’ve been doing. My natural color is light brown. I take a dollar store permanent brown dye and I just take a little teeny bit in my finger and I actually paint the individual hairs that are gray that I hate. (The ones I really don’t want to show.) Then a few few days later, I apply one of these demi-permanent dyes all over my head. Keep in mind these dyes will not lift color. So it’s going to go on top of whatever color you are. I buy the blonde shades because if I get a brown shade and put it on my light brown hair, it actually makes my hair too dark. So I have tried medium blonde, and medium golden blond. The pictures here show medium golden blonde over light brown hair. The medium blonde itself made my hair a little more brown, but still light brown. If you are starting with blonde hair, you’re going to get a very different color. The dye washes out over the course of about a month and a half. I use hot water and shampoo my hair almost every day and it lasted a month and a half with me doing that. If you don’t want to damage your hair, but you need to refresh your color every six weeks and cover some gray, this is definitely the way to go.

...you can leave this on longer so it will cover gray better. This is less damaging than permanent color. I use the dark ash blond for my light brown and blond and grey hair. I like the gentler smell of this color. I am sensitive to scents and this is very tolerable. It will appear a bit dark at first, but to get better coverage I have to leave on for 45 minutes. If you don't want that, go with permanent color like perfect 10. Their dark blond is warmer, but I like that formula and can tolerate the scent. I recommend natural instincts if you have never colored your hair before. Go a shade lighter or a shade very close to your hair color and follow the directions. If this works for you, great. But to cover my very white gray I have to leave it on longer. The color is very good for me. Do not be afraid to try it. Don't go too dark, err on the side of being too light, you can go darker next time if you wish. The color is very natural and so pretty. Limit the use of heat tools for longer lasting color. Shampoo less often if you can. Otherwise plan to use often to cover those roots. You do not want yellow or orange roots. A color is too warm if this happens. And we all know what white roots look like! With a hair color like this, you can get that youthful hair color back. I only use only at front hairline and the crown of my head to blend in with previously colored hair. I use a wide-toothed comb to ensure color is getting down to the root. Use as much as you and, don't skimp where you are applying it to saturate each strand. I also make sure my hair is free of hairspray, mousse, gel, etc. for best results. You don't have to, but it is best. Please do not stop making this. I also have sensitive skin and make sure to rinse it well. Do not color when you are in a hurry. I also use a microfiber towel on my hair. Save your best white towels for your body or your guests. I cannot emphasize how easy it is to use this color. When you color your hair regularly, you will get very good at it. Wipe up spilled hair color immediately. Don't get it on clothing, walls, bath rugs, etc. I sit in bathroom and play games on my phone to pass the time. I have no stress about it, it is just part of my routine. Good luck.

My hair had been damaged by using a strong permanent hair dye that contained a bleaching agent. I also sit out in the sun a lot so that didn't help my hair any. I decided to try this demi-permanent hair dye in the medium blonde shade. This is truly my natural hair color. Since I needed all-over coverage due to too much lightening, I followed the directions for all-over coverage, not just the roots. First, it was very easy to mix. Just gave the bottle (with the dye mixed in) a good shake. Used the enclosed gloves. Then I applied it. It was a bit gloppy so wear an old towel around your shoulders and make sure you wipe up any spills. I had to use my own hair covering (a disposable food bowl cover does the trick!) I did not shampoo as it said to do afterwards. I just used the conditioner it comes with. Now for the result: slightly darker than I expected. More like a dark blonde. After a week though, it lightened to more of a honey blonde with some highlights. After two weeks it was more like the color I wanted. Now it is almost five weeks and I am due to using this dye once again, as it faded considerably. Note that I do shampoo and condition my hair every day. I bought this demi-permanent in medium blonde again as it did make my hair look healthier and didn't damage it at all. At this time, I don't want to go a shade lighter than this.

I know this product is not recommended for gray hair, but I like the fact that it will wash out gradually and I can recolor when I want, rather than seeing gray roots and having the difficulty of coloring my roots at home by myself. My hair is almost completely gray on the top, but underneath is mostly my natural light brown. I got the light blonde color because I was afraid of going too dark but will probably try the medium blonde next time. I only shampoo my hair twice a week so hopefully this will last more than 2 months. My hair came out very soft and manageable. Update: I would say this product lasted about 3 months, or 25 shampoos in my case. Of course, it’s difficult to say exactly how many shampoos since it gradually washes out. I still have some pieces of hair that held the color. Next time I color I will buy 2 boxes ( I have hair an inch or 2 past my shoulders ) and section my hair well. I had used one box and sort of dumped it on my head massaged it like a shampoo.

Before and after. I have naturally strawberry blonde-ish hair. The thing about non-permanent dye is that it’s gonna stick to the damaged parts differently. The ends are pinkish because I had grown out highlights. If you use this color on bleached hair it will probably end up more pink than you’re wanting. HOWEVER I am very impressed at how it covered my natural hair. Usually non-permanent dyes don’t stick well to it. This is one step above products like overtone in my opinion. This one just stuck better. I wash my hair once a week so I see this lasting a good while. This has a *slight* chemical smell but not bad at all. Left hair feeling normal.

I really like this brand of hair color. It is easy to use and leaves my hair feeling soft and manageable. The color lasts for several weeks also. I like how quickly the process is and then I can go about my day. There is no chemical smell either, which my husband appreciates! The included conditioner is used weekly so your hair can keep its color shiny and soft. I've used this brand for a while now and it's my preferred one.

From the first application, it became apparent that Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Dye was ill-equipped to conquer the relentless gray hairs at my temples. Despite diligently following the directions, it fell short in its ability to provide the coverage it advertised. The stubborn grays seemed impervious to its efforts, leaving me disheartened and frustrated. It was EASY to use, and other than the gray hair debacle, gave a beautiful shine and overall color. In a desperate attempt to salvage the situation, I decided to give the product a second chance. I purchased a second box, hoping that perhaps the first experience was a fluke. Alas, it proved to be an exercise in futility. The results were disappointingly consistent, with the gray hairs stubbornly remaining unaltered by the dye. The inability to cover stubborn gray hairs at the temples is a significant drawback. The promises it makes remain unfulfilled, leaving me yearning for a more effective solution. So, tread cautiously in the realm of Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Dye. Be prepared for the possibility of disappointment and frustration, particularly when it comes to tackling stubborn gray hairs. While it may have worked for some, it fell short in my personal experience.

I have had naturally white hair since my 40's, and back then (30 years ago) my hair was ruined by my professional colorist, so I turned to DIY with Clairol Natural Instincts, color 2, Sahara, light ASH blonde, once the damaged portions of my hair grew out. It was fantastic-- left my long white hair a very light cooler golden color, soft and shiny. I am a highly allergic person, and never had a problem with that original formula. I was very happy with the product for many years, UNTIL they changed the formula. Now the cool and warm light blonde colors have been mushed together by the clueless manufacturer as "color 9" "light blonde", which is more of a disaster every time I use it. Rather than cool light blonde hair, it yields a brassier blonde, that colors inconsistently and swiftly fades to white.. In its most recent formulaic iteration, the "product" has consistently failed to color most of the grey, but has left a massive freakish looking orange streak in the front. I have no idea why, as I've used the same technique for years. I understand the need to rid cosmetic products of parabens, etc, but don't see how that would have affected color results, as it has done. It seems like the manufacturer put profit over quality, cut the number of colors to cut costs, and just figured that all fair haired people, regardless of skin tone and eye color, would be just fine with using the same shade of light blonde. That strategy has failed. While whatever color "took" in most of my hair is now gone, the orange streak survives in all its horrific "glory". I suspect most blondes who prefer a cool shade will not like this color. Personally, I've simply stopped ordering the stuff, as I feel my natural white hair looks better than than the disaster this stuff has left me with recently. If they decide to go back to the original formula, I will buy again, but for now this product is a no go.