Simple, Easy, Almost Non-Toxic Conventional Way to Dye Gray Hair:Loving Care Hair Color for Permanent Coverage

My Before Pictures:

another view - before Clairol Loving Care application

4 week roots show after previous Clairol Loving Care application

(NOTE: in 2011, Clairol Loving Care Haircolor has been DISCONTINUED! Please now refer to my article on Clairol Beautiful Hair Color What Can I Use Now that Clairol Loving Care is Discontinued? for updated information.)

The latest way I’ve been coloring my hair is with Clairol Loving Care Haircolor. Loving Care has no PPD (the chemical p-phenylenediamine) in it, no harsh ammonia and even no peroxide. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) has rated Loving Care Lotion as a 5 rating out of 10, which is pretty darn good when compared to many other conventional hair dye products out there.

Loving Care is
a lot easier to use than the Henna method or the Sage method. It comes already premixed in an applicator bottle. Because I know I have stubborn gray hairs, I leave the mix on for 45 minutes, as is recommended in the instructions. It is reputed to only last through 6-12 washings, but I wash my hair three times a week and it lasts for me for 4-6 weeks and then I see about a 1/4 inch of roots showing.

One drawback is that the color choices are slim, however you can mix the colors to increase their color palette, as long as you mix them well. I have grown to like reddish-brown hair on myself, so I mix a 50/50 solution of “Dark Brown” and “Auburn”. I have a hair color mixing bottle and I pour into it half of the Dark Brown (1 1/2 ounces) and half of the Auburn(1 1/2 ounces) to make a 3 ounce solution. I shake the bottle well for at least 3 minutes - (if it’s not mixed well your hair could have sections of auburn and sections of dark brown). I also save the other halves of the bottles for the next month’s dye job.


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Application

Note: Peolple can still be allergic to this hair dyes (especially if you already had an allergic reaction to PPD) – so you should always do the allergy tests indicated on the product before using it.

It’s easy to apply:

1. Put on the plastic gloves.


2. Apply the mix to dry hair starting at the roots in the front of your head, and work it toward the back.


3. Work it like shampoo onto all of your hair.


4. Pile your hair up on your head and cover with the plastic bag that is also supplied and wait for 45 minutes.


5. Rinse your hair until the water runs clean,


6. Then apply the supplied conditioner and leave it on for 2 minutes.

Because you leave it on for 45 minutes, you will see roots after 4-6 weeks - that’s proof that it does last! Next moth, when you do your subsequent re-application, the best thing is to just do a root application. This is because the ends of your hair (this could be around 2-4 inches) tend to pick up more of the hair dye, resulting in a much darker color there.

Easy Root Application

hair color root application - not an exact science

For subsequent applications when you want to cover mainly just the re-growth:

1. Apply the mixture to cover your root area - don’t worry about overlapping existing colored hair - you don’t need to be exact.


2. Use your fingers to spread it through your hair close to your scalp and roots.


3. Apply the plastic bag and wait 40 minutes (instead of 45), take the bag off and apply the remaining mix to the rest of your hair and massage it through to the ends.


4. Place the bag back on and wait just 5 minutes, then rinse until clear and apply conditioner as usual.

Results

I find the hair color is great!!! What happens is my gray hair turns dark reddish and because Loving Care will not lighten hair, the brown hair turns a nice dark brown - a great highlighting effect!!

See my After Pics:

after Clairol Loving Care application - in the sun

after Clairol Loving Care application - in the shade