Packet hair dye vs a salon job: what’s the difference?

We love hair dye. Sure, natural hair is nice, but when there are so many colours to experiment with, the temptation to try out a new shade is often too strong to ignore. That’s why we’re grateful that these days, it’s so easy to dye your hair, whether that means doing a DIY job, or getting it professionally done at a salon.

No matter which hair dying method you go with, the results are marginally the same- or so it would appear. But actually, there can be quite a difference between a quick at-home hair dying sesh with an extended salon treatment. Multiple differences, to be exact. Read on if you want to know what they are…

Hair health

If your hair health is important to you, it may be worth considering that packet hair dyes are often far worse for your hair than salon colouring. PPD, a harsh chemical found in many permanent home dyes, causes toxicity to the hair, and peroxide, used in many blonde dye kits, can cause damage to the hair if you use the incorrect level- which, as a DIY hair-dyer, you probably will.

At a salon, you can relax in the knowledge that you’re letting a professional mix up your hair dye formula for you. Your hairdresser should know exactly which ingredients are in which hair dyes, and how much of them to use, in order to achieve the safest (and more attractive) results. They can use specifically-designed chemicals to achieve a more dramatic colour change without negatively affecting hair.

Lasting length

Many home dyes, especially the cheaper ones, do not last for longer than a month, maybe two months, if you are lucky. After this time, the colour will begin to fade, which means even if you do a root touch-up with the same colour dye, the majority of your hair may look muted in comparison.

Salon hair colour tends to be a stronger formulation, helping the colour to stay bold and vivid for a longer period of time. While your roots will start to show after about 4-6 weeks, you should be able to return for a root touch-up that won’t look noticeably bolder than the rest of your hair.

Cost

Here is why perhaps so many people are put off going to the hairdresser’s for a professional dye job: it costs a whole lot more than a packet dye. However, you get what you pay for. Packet dyes are by no means useless, but they won’t produce results anywhere near as promising as a salon colour can.

When you’re looking for salons to have your hair dyed at, make sure to do your research and read the reviews. Beware of salons that offer too-good-to-be-true low-priced dye jobs. Most likely, there’s a reason for the drop in cost- a lack of training amongst staff, or cheap ingredients for the job. It’s usually better to pay a little bit more for an excellent job from a reliable professional.

Colour accuracy

There is so much secret insider hairdressing knowledge that, as a non-hairdressing human being, you simply won’t have the access to. A lot of this knowledge involves hair colour- namely, the science behind the different shades, and how exactly to achieve a colour on all hair types.

When you buy a packet hair dye, chances are, your hair isn’t going to look anything like the colour on the box. This is because hair dye really isn’t a one-solution-suits-all: our natural hair colour very much determines the outcome of the dye job. Hair dyes often end up being a shade darker in real life than they are on the packet, so most likely, you’re not going to end up with the colour you wanted.

There is certainly more convenience in going to your local salon to have your hair dyed, too. Your hairdresser can make sure your whole head is coloured evenly, which is quite hard to do yourself at home, with only the help of a couple of mirrors. They can also tailor to your specific requirements, such as if you want highlights, and offer professional advice or recommendations based on what you’re after.

The Verdict

While there is nothing horrifyingly wrong with packet hair dyes, it’s clear that parting with a bit more cash for a better job at a hair salon is the winner out of the two. No matter which option you go for, just remember to do a patch test beforehand (your hairdresser should provide this anyway), and look after your hair with plenty of conditioner and colour-specific shampoos in the months following your colour change.