We’ve all had one of those days when we wake up, look in the mirror and feel our locks need a lift – or even a whole new shade! Applying a box dye can seem like an instant fix, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a hairdresser that agrees. Some boxed hair colours can cause […]
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We’ve all had one of those days when we wake up, look in the mirror and feel our locks need a lift – or even a whole new shade! Applying a box dye can seem like an instant fix, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a hairdresser that agrees.
Some boxed hair colours can cause so much damage to your strands that an urge to be spontaneous might become a long-lasting nightmare! That’s why our experts are here to shed light on why the hairdressers you meet will often hate box dye, and how to avoid colour catastrophes in the future.
Once we’ve convinced you not to take the risk – and when you do get the feeling you need a colour boost – find your nearest Rush salon and book an appointment for a luxurious, professional treatment.
In this blog:
What’s the difference between box dyes and salon dyes?
Box dyes are premade, generic formulas for all hair types (which often means they’re particularly concentrated), whereas salon dyes are custom-made to match the individual characteristics of your hair.
Do box dyes damage your hair?
They might do. The main reason some hairdressers hate box dyes is because particular formulas might be too harsh for your hair, but also because the application of hair colour by anyone other than a professional has its own issues.
You might find yourself saying goodbye to shiny, sleek locks and saying hello to a mane with split ends and lifeless texture.
So what are the risks of using box dye?
1. They’re progressive dyes
Boxed hair colours are usually progressive dyes, which means every application layers over the previous one. This might result in much darker tresses than expected, mismatched roots, and your follicles being exposed to excessive impurities.
Plus, breaking through layers of boxed hair colour isn’t easy and in certain cases, if boxed dye has been used repeatedly on the same hair, it might not be possible to fully lift your ends until the all the colour has grown out.
2. One hair colour can’t suit everyone
As we mentioned earlier, box dyes aren’t mixed to match the unique personality of your tresses; they’re mass-produced to create a colour that anyone can apply, whatever type of hair you have.
So, although you might want an instant transformation from sunny blonde to sultry brunette, a box dye is unlikely to give you the shade you want. Worst case scenario is (depending on your dye history), you’ll end up with dreaded green or orange hues, which are the stuff of nightmares!
3. You could have an allergic reaction
The chemicals and ingredients that make up some box dyes can be harsh on your hair and skin.
Salon products cost more because they are better quality. Hairdressers will also assess your hair type, condition, and colour history to ensure the right type of dye is applied, for the right period of time and to the right areas of your hair.
4. Box dyes don’t give your hair any depth
Another reason hairdressers might hate box dyes is because they usually won’t give your tresses any definition. They eliminate swish-ability by giving your mane one flat shade.
Hair stylists avoid this by consulting with you, to learn what you want from your colour service and then apply the colour artistically, to stop you losing any depth or dimension.
How do you fix box dyed hair?
Hair that has been coloured with a box dye can thankfully be fixed and the most effective treatment is hair colour correction.
By taking into consideration your natural ‘do, colour correction is able to give your hair the TLC it needs, while avoiding further damage.
Keep in mind though that colour correction isn’t always a quick fix to your boxed dye-lemmas. Be patient with a hair stylist you trust, and they’ll be able to work their magic over one long or several salon sessions. This is the healthiest way to get locks you’ll love.
Now while some hairdressers hate box dyes, our stylists love giving you expert tips, like Sophie Chandler from our fantastic Creative Workshop Team. Sophie shares how you can curl your hair with your straighteners for a true A-list look.
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