Chocolates Come in Boxes; Hair Color Shouldn't.

Let’s get real, how many of you have gone into Wal-mart and purchased a box of hair color? Were you happy with the result? Some might answer yes; some may say no. There are multiple reasons as to why hairdressers about die (R.I.P.) when our client says, “I put box color on it the last time I colored it.” I could tell you horror stories about awful box color mishaps and such– you know like the classic, “I turned my hair green,” but that’s not even why I and all the other hairdressers of the world are bothered by the box. Forrest Gump only told half the story. It wasn’t just life that was like a box of chocolates; it was box color, too….. you never know what you’re gonna get.

You may be sensing that I absolutely loathe the box and here’s why:

Timing. How perfect would this world be if you could achieve that perfect shade of blonde in 20 minutes or less? What that color is doing in 20 minutes is where the first problem lies. Professional hair color takes 30-45 minutes to process, depending on the brand, and there is a reason for that. The color has to oxidize in order to open your cuticle to deposit the color. After having professional color on for about 15 minutes, the color begins to make a chemical change to your hair; for box color it only takes about 5 minutes. Question: Have you ever witnessed an explosion? That is essentially what that box color is doing to your cuticle!
Unpredictable results. A lot of people believe that when they see a color on the front of a box that no matter what is on their hair, it will be the color that is advertised. WRONG! You’re more than likely not going to get that Light Auburn, but more of a mixture between orange and pink. Why? Because you can not defy the law of color. The color wheel never changes and understanding it is key. Guess who understands the color wheel? Your stylist. Not to mention, box color pretends to be great for all hair types, but it’s not. It will have a different reaction to coarse hair than fine hair, gray hair to blonde hair, and porous hair to healthy hair.
It says it’s “Dimensional.” Listen, it takes me every bit of an hour and a half to apply the perfect highlight-to-lowlight-to-base color ratio. You cannot tell me that you can do it with ONE bottle of hair color. That’s not even possible!
Where you can purchase the color. I never really understood this concept, other than the fact that it is convenient. Tell me why we purchase hair care and make-up where we buy our groceries and toilet paper? That would be like making a lady appointment at Sam’s Club simply because it saves you time… uh, no thanks!
Metal. Oh, you didn’t know? There is metal in that hair color. That’s why most stylists will absolutely refuse to put lightener on the hair after a box color application. It could have a chemical reaction and break off the hair or begin smoking! Warning:Please avoid contact with refrigerator magnets.
Cost. Sure, it may seem nice picking up a $6-$10 box of hair color to do your own hair because you feel like your stylist is ripping you off. But what are you going to say to him/her when you do the walk of shame into the salon and your $10 color turns into a $300 correction that takes months to reverse? Not to mention, the damage and the possibility of taking length off. Fun Fact: Once, I had a client who thought she was Macklemore and purchased her hair color from a thrift shop… what, what, what, what?
THE PASTELS– the grays, the pinks, the purples. There is one box in particular that comes to mind, but I don’t say the “F” word (Feria…excuse my french). If someone comes into the salon and I talk to them about their hair color and they admit that have used box color in the past, I have to know what brand. If they say the “F” word, I instantly get terrified. Why? This color has been known to literally catch on fire because of the chemical reaction of the lightener and color. People’s hair began melting and falling out after trying to take this color out. Don’t believe me? Research it.
The Home-bre. Like every other stylist, I had to attend multiple classes on how to get the perfect blend for Ombre-ing and Balayaging. It seriously took so much practice to perfect the skills to do this. A box of color + a bad idea (no experience whatsoever) = ? If you answered “Home-bre” you are correct! Who said you wouldn’t use algebra while doing hair? (Ashley loves when I tell her how I use math daily!)

Look, the last thing I want to do is insult anyone who has had success with the box. I have plenty of clients who have found that one box that they love and refuse to stop using– and that’s fine. I just want you to know that most hairdressers aren’t out to get you (keyword: most). They aren’t just trying to tell you the box is bad because they want you to spend hundreds of dollars a year in the salon. I do want to tell you that your stylist is worth it. They go through years of education and continuing education, have studied and learned the law of color, have spent thousands of dollars on their initial education, and spend hundreds of dollars every year to learn new skills. They use the best products on your hair, which come from a company who studies the science of hair. They choose the color for you based on your hair type, natural color, and porosity. They discuss maintenance and upkeep, provide recommendations, and will aim to please to the best of their ability. They apply the color correctly and evenly, and time it exactly– all things that a $10 box of hair color can’t give you.

Still want to reach for the box?

xo,
Er