L’Oreal Paris’s Excellence Creme is easy to apply and covers grays really well, according to Korab. Plus, it comes with a pre-treatment serum that protects your ends from damage.
If you don’t have grays, try Garnier’s Nutrisse Nourishing Color Crème. “Formulated with avocado oil, this is a good choice for full-head coloring with rich tones and added moisture,” Korab says.
Best root touch-ups
Just looking to touch up your roots—gray or otherwise? You have a few options. If you’re already using a permanent dye and want to match your roots to it as they grow out, try Clairol’s Root Touch-Up. It’s permanent, so you don’t have to worry about it washing out, and it comes with a brush that makes it easier to precisely place the color.
For a temporary solution, reach for L’Oreal Paris’s Magic Root Cover Up or Rita Hazan’s Root Concealer Spray. These tinted sprays provide a quick hit of color that shampoos out. “Both products are easy to use, fast-drying, and great for quick fixes between coloring sessions,” Korab says. Finding the right color match is key—good thing both come in a range of shades.
Best bleach
While it’s a little risky, Korab says you can bleach your hair at home. The process is easiest if you have light-colored or virgin hair (meaning you’ve never chemically altered it by using a dye or texture treatment before). “If your hair is dark, previously colored, or damaged, consult a professional first,” she suggests.
Ready to go for it? Korab recommends picking up Arctic Fox’s Bleach Please Hair Lightening Kit, which lifts up to eight levels—meaning it can take your hair from medium brown to light blond, for example. “It includes everything you need in the package and has a violet base, which will help tone out brass as it’s lifting,” she says. A few of her pro tips to keep in mind: “Always work in sections, avoid overlapping on previously lightened areas, and monitor closely every five to 10 minutes.”
Post-bleaching, Korab recommends using Olaplex’s No. 3 Hair Perfector. It’s designed to repair broken hair bonds using bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, a chemical compound patented by Olaplex, and moisturize your strands with glycerin, aloe vera, panthenol, jojoba seed oil, and vitamin E.
How we chose the best at-home hair color products
The SELF team has tested dozens of hair products as part of our Healthy Beauty Awards. But for this story, we wanted insight from a professional who’s been around the block (and seen some DIY hair disasters). Korab shared her expert advice with us about how to do your own color at home quickly and easily. Our final list of tried-and-true products comes with her stamp of approval.
Frequently asked questions about at-home hair color
Which at-home hair color lasts the longest?
Permanent dye—it might fade over time, but it never fully washes out. Just remember that you’ll need to touch up your roots every four to six weeks if you want them to match.
Looking for dye that’ll wash out? Demi-permanent is the next longest-lasting option. It takes 20 to 28 shampoos to fade, according to Korab.
Should you bleach your hair at home?
You can—but, as Korab says, it’ll be a smoother process if you have light-colored or virgin hair. Darker or processed hair might be resistant to lifting. In that case, it’s a good idea to visit a stylist, who can monitor your hair’s progress during the bleaching process and get you to your desired result safely (while causing minimal dryness and breakage).
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