How well a dye works is gonna depend on certain things: what colour your hair was before, what colour you're making it and your specific hair type. If you're reading this I'm gonna assume you know, but I'll point it out anyway: if you're going to dye your hair an unnatural colour and expect it to be as bright as my hair below, the colour needs to be going over a BLONDE. Preferably as white as possible, which is not what I always did hence uneven results.
I'm super non-picky with how a dye lasts, like I don't mind it fading in loads of places and being uneven or whatever as long as it's still there after 3 washes.
The dye I've mostly used is Directions, simply because the amount of product and the price work it out to be best value for money, and I like their colour range.
Generally, I've liked almost every dye and every colour I've used including:
Lagoon by Directions
Peacock Blue by Crazy Colour
Turquoise by Directions
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| First dyed |
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| Fading (not fully faded) |
Purple Haze (Amplified) by Manic Panic
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| First Dyed |
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| Fading (not fully faded) |
Napalm by Special Effects/FX
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| First Dyed |
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| Faded |
Plume by Stargazer
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| First dyed (it wasn't quite as dark as this but no camera would show the colour properly) |
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| Fading/Currently |
As well as a couple of different stargazer ones when I had brown hair with coloured bits
Generally, I probably like Directions best. The texture of the product isn't too watery nor too thick, I like that it's in a pot so I can get all the product out, it lasts alright, but all of the dyes are semi permanent so none are gonna last perfectly. The way it fades is also something I like, unless the blonde underneath was patchy, it fades altogether and not tooooo patchy (see faded turquoise above).
Stargazer is another favourite, the only reason I don't get it is because I don't like the packaging and there's less product in them than Directions. It lasts well but the only reason I went for it over directions with my purple this time is because I've heard it washes out of hair completely which is what I want (which so far I'm not seeing..) One thing I can say is that it remains vibrant, although my purple hair has faded, it's still bright and not as dull as purple haze by manic panic was when that faded.
Manic Panic: I've only used the amplified version which is supposed to last longer. I used purple haze, purple generally being a colour that is notorious for fading; in comparison to the stargazer purple I currently have, I don't think the "amplified" part is worth the extra money. I did/do love the colour of purple haze though, but I do feel like stargazer is lasting better. The physical consistency of manic panic is slightly more watery than directions - not to say it's runny or anything, just a tad thinner. The packaging of Manic Panic is also something I like, it's in a pot like Directions but a bigger pot - but considering in England the majority of the time you have to buy it online and it is pricey, I don't think it's better than Directions.
Crazy Colour, I found pants. The picture above shows it's already fading, I put it in before going on holiday to France for 2 weeks and it had faded by the end of the holiday - and not nicely. Dull, nasty shades of blue and bits of white everywhere. I'd understand if I went to a hot part of France, where the sun would've bleached it and it'd be understandable, but it wasn't. It was English Spring/Summer weather, not enough to cause it to be as bad as it was. But, referring to my original point, I have a friend who could not for the life of them get fish bowl by crazy colour out of their hair. It remained even, consistent and bright for them even when they bleached/stripped/shoved lemon juice in it; hair type and original colour makes a difference.
But what do you think? What are your experiences? Have I helped you in your wonderful weird hair journey?
Clara xx
