The best hair colorations in the UK 2023

Hair coloring is a popular choice these days. Camouflaging gray hair and trying a new look are among the most common reasons. Best of all, hair coloring is less expensive than a haircut. But how do you find the best shade? Does it really work? Focus on the best hair colors of the moment.

Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11
9/10

Best value for your money

Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11

The best hair color in 2021

Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11 Permanent Haircolor comes in a 60ml tube and provides perfect coverage for white hair. In addition to its ability to retain color, it also offers the ultimate in shine and intensity.

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Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11 is distinguished by its soft tone that can enhance your skin tone. The wide range of available shades remains as true to the color chart as possible. So you don't have to worry about the effectiveness of the product. In addition, it is particularly respectful of the hair fiber and has a very pleasant smell thanks to its ammonia-free composition.

In addition, Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11 is easy to apply to the scalp. Its foam formula allows the hair to breathe during application. Regardless of your initial color, this color will give you a brighter, more even and vibrant shade. Note that it contains collagen, siliamina and pro-aging complex to give you extra care.

Garnier Olia 5.5
6/10

Best value for your money

Garnier Olia 5.5

The best entry-level hair color

This permanent hair color is particularly appreciated for its ammonia-free formula. This composition makes it less aggressive for the hair. It is composed of 60% natural flower oils.

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Garnier Olia 5.5 Haircolor dramatically improves the quality of your hair. It's 100% coverage, giving you ultra-shiny, vibrant, long-lasting color. Its formula is rich in natural oils that penetrate and nourish every fiber while leaving a delicious floral scent. Your hair will become more supple and stay perfectly hydrated. Looking for a special color? The range will meet your expectations thanks to its thirty shades.

Your hair will become softer with each application and even shinier. There's no risk of dulling or drying out. Garnier Olia 5.5 is easy to apply and takes no more than 60 minutes. Delivery includes an after-coloring treatment.

Naturtint 4G Châtain Doré
8/10

Best value for your money

Naturtint 4G Châtain Doré

The best high-end hair color

Ideal for those with long hair or who wish to repeat the application, Naturtint 4G Golden Chestnut is sold in packs of 3. This ammonia-free hair color provides a natural and permanent color.

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L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss
7/10

Excellent selection

L'Oréal Paris Casting Cream Gloss

The best semi-permanent hair color

L'Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss is for women who want to take their first step into the world of hair color. For a satisfying result, the tone-on-tone color prevents you from making mistakes.

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Want color, but don't want to keep it for long? L'Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss hair color will satisfy you. Its creamy texture guarantees relatively easy application. Its greatest asset is its non-permanent quality. It will fade over time up to 28 shampoos.

It has a harmonious and very soft fragrance thanks to the absence of ammonia and can cover up to 70% of white hair. The nourishing treatment provided will reveal more beautiful hair and incomparable suppleness. The applicator bottle used as a container for the developer milk allows for optimal precision.

Buying guide • November 2023

Best hair coloring

Any specific needs?

The best hair color in 2021

The best entry-level hair color

The best high-end hair color

The best semi-permanent hair color

Your guide : Samuel

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Comparison table of the best hair colorations

TOP OF THE LINE CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE EXCELLENT
Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11
9/10
Garnier Olia 5.5
6/10
Naturtint 4G Châtain Doré
8/10
L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss
7/10
OUR SELECTION
Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11
Garnier Olia 5.5
Naturtint 4G Châtain Doré
L'Oréal Paris Casting Cream Gloss
Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11 Permanent Haircolor comes in a 60ml tube and provides perfect coverage for white hair. In addition to its ability to retain color, it also offers the ultimate in shine and intensity.
This permanent hair color is particularly appreciated for its ammonia-free formula. This composition makes it less aggressive for the hair. It is composed of 60% natural flower oils.
Ideal for those with long hair or who wish to repeat the application, Naturtint 4G Golden Chestnut is sold in packs of 3. This ammonia-free hair color provides a natural and permanent color.
L'Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss is for women who want to take their first step into the world of hair color. For a satisfying result, the tone-on-tone color prevents you from making mistakes.
Type
Permanent
Perm
Perm
Semi-permanent
White hair coverage
Up to 100%
100%
100%
Up to 70%
Format
Creamy
Cream
Gel
Cream
Colors available
Over 120 shades
33 different shades
30 shades
25 shades
Recommended break time
35 min
30 min
20 to 30 min
20 min

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Buying guide - hair coloring

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How to choose your hair coloring

choisir coloration cheveux

#1 - The formulation

A good permanent hair color can be recognized above all by the quality of its formulation. While some ingredients are often wrongly labelled as risky chemical compounds, others should be banned from the formula without hesitation. Whether you choose a hair color with or without ammonia, remember that ammonia is the main catalyst for improving the penetration of pigments into the hair.

Often, so-called "ammonia-free" colorations simply use a derivative of ammonia, which only slightly alters the results obtained. On the other hand, there are other, more chemical compounds that have a harmful effect on the scalp and on health in general. It is therefore important to choose products that do not contain PPD or resorcinol. They are known to cause allergenic reactions and even be carcinogenic.

#2 - The product

There are two fairly common ways to get and achieve permanent hair color. First, there are hair coloring kits. These are quite complete boxes presenting all the elements necessary for the preparation as well as the realization of the coloring. It is especially ideal to carry out yourself the coloring at home without too much difficulty.

However, the choice of color can sometimes be complicated, because it often happens that the result obtained does not correspond to the color indicated on the kit. Next are the professional products. They allow you to choose and mix different colors in order to obtain a much more nuanced and personalized result. On the other hand, each element necessary for the coloring is sold separately, which can sometimes be more expensive than for a complete kit.

#3 - The care

Permanent coloring is known to damage the hair, due to its chemical nature. However, there are care products integrated in some colorations that allow to limit the aggression of the hair. Thus, it is preferable to choose kits or products with nourishing care based on vegetable oils, ceramides or vegetable proteins. These prevent the hair from drying out too much after coloring, and give it a more supple and better nourished appearance.

How to apply hair color?


The method of application of hair coloring varies according to the type of hair, the product used and especially the desired result. However, there are important rules to follow in all cases for a better application. First of all, it is essential to wear protective gloves. It is also important to avoid contact with the eyes, as this can cause serious pain or allergic reactions.

When applying red dyes, it is not advisable to use acidic balsam, as it could damage them. Before coloring, you should check the ingredients of the product, as some ingredients may cause allergies. Ammonia, for example, can cause burning and irritation.

Before coloring, it is also strongly recommended to apply a greasy moisturizer to the area where your hair is implanted on the temples and forehead. This will be a great help when cleaning your skin afterwards, especially if you are a bit overworked.

The first step of the application is to prepare the mixture of the coloring cream and the oxidizing product. Once the mixture is smooth, always start with the roots. Then continue with the lengths and ends. Please distribute the entire product on the lengths and tips. Leave it on for the specified time.

Then, rinse the coloring product well with lukewarm water for about three minutes until the water is clear. Then, apply a special colored hair shampoo to finish. After applying the coloring to the hair, it is advisable to rub your forehead and hands with half a lemon to easily wipe off the coloring.

Powder or cream hair color?

Powdered hair coloring

Characterized by the presence of natural ingredients, a powdered hair coloring can heal the hair. It can be made from a henna powder that is often mixed with other plants to obtain different colors. Applying this type of dye makes your hair stronger, because it coats the hair and fills in the rough areas of a frayed cuticle. It also makes the hair fibers silkier and softer to the touch.

The potential benefit of powdered hair color is that it generally does not contain chemicals. Chemicals can cause scalp burns. The disadvantage is that it requires frequent application. Indeed, naturally obtained dyes tend to fade more quickly with each hair wash. In addition, its application takes time to fully act on the hair fibers. Mixing its powders and applying it is also messy.

Cream hair coloring

Composed of oil, water, fatty alcohol, emulsifying agents and surfactants, a cream-based coloring is the easiest to apply. It works by depositing the colored pigments on the inner part of the hair. Opting for cream hair color is practically more interesting, as it comes in a wide range of colors. In addition, it covers white hair well and gives it a thicker appearance.

Cream hair color will suit those with thinner hair. Despite its obvious advantages, it does have its drawbacks. Some ingredients in cream hair color weaken the hair fiber. In other words, it may contain chemicals that break down the proteins in the hair. As a result, your scalp will not retain moisture as well as it does in its natural state. It will become more fragile with a higher risk of breakage as well.

Verdict

It is better to choose a powder-based hair color made from natural ingredients with which you can be sure to color your hair without any side effects. However, choose cream-based hair color without ammonia if you want to have an effective and resistant color.

Why buy hair color?

A wide choice of colors

Permanent hair coloring offers the opportunity to choose from a wide range of colors. There are countless coloring options available on the market today, giving you the freedom to choose what you want. If you choose to have your hair colored in a professional salon, you can even have a more personalized shade, thanks to the expertise of the hairdresser.

Long-lasting color

The greatest advantage of permanent hair color is its longevity. It allows you to have perfectly colored hair for months. Unlike other types of hair color, permanent hair color does not fade with each shampoo. The only way to get rid of permanent hair color is to let it grow out and slowly reveal the roots and natural color of the hair.

The best brands of hair colorations

In our opinion, the best brands of hair colorations in 2022 are :

Schwarzkopf
Garnier
Naturtint
L'Oréal Paris
Syoss

The Schwarzkopf brand is a hair cosmetics brand that has stood for quality, expertise and innovation for over 120 years. Schwarzkopf stands for innovation, reliability, quality, trust and competence. These are the foundations on which the company builds its product design and production.

Garnier is a consumer cosmetics brand of the French cosmetics company founded in 1904 and now part of the L'Oréal group. It manufactures hair care and skin care products. This brand is very famous, and offers mid to high-end products.

Naturtint is a brand of Laboratorios Phergal, a Madrid-based company, one of the leading European producers of health and beauty products. It creates products using only the highest quality ingredients and with the most ethical and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices. This brand has been around for 25 years.

The L'Oréal Paris brand is a beauty care company that combines the latest technologies with the highest quality to offer a wide range of effective and efficient products. The brand was established in 1909 and is now one of the largest and best known brands in the cosmetics world.

The latest brand in the Beauty Care division of the Henkel Group, SYOSS has already received several awards in the European market, including the prestigious Best New Brand Award (2010) from the German Marketing Association. It can compete perfectly with the biggest brands, such as Garnier, or even Schwarzkopf.

What is the price for a hair coloring

The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).

However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.

We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.

Entry-level
3 £ to 8 £
Mid-range
8 £ to 20 £
High-end
more than 20 £
Price range diagram

Tips

Make sure you're not allergic to the dye.

Before applying permanent hair dye, make sure you are not allergic to it. Do a quick test by applying a small amount of the dye behind your ear. If you don't have any reactions (itching, rash, etc) after 24 hours, you can dye your hair.

Follow the instructions carefully.

It

is imperative that you follow the instructions on the package. Especially regarding the recommended application time, wearing gloves, rinsing, and especially the recommendation that says not to mix different hair products. Manufacturers do not necessarily use the same ingredients and mixing them could cause undesirable chemical reactions.

Precautions.

Don

't use dye products if you have fragile hair (split ends, brittle hair, etc.) or if your scalp gets irritated easily. Dyeing could make your problems worse.

Only use dye products on your scalp and hair.

Don

't apply it to your eyelashes, eyebrows, or other hairy parts of your body. Your skin may not be able to handle the chemical reaction, and the eyes are especially fragile.

Protect your eyes.

By the way, it's recommended to protect your eyes as much as possible while applying the dye. Do not get it in your eyes, avoid any risk of burning, swelling, etc.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. Comparative Toxic Substances in Cosmetics - Hair coloring (Hair care)Hair coloring, quechoisir.org
  2. Which hair color to choose? We guide you...Hair coloringHair coloring, loreal-paris.fr
  3. Women's hair coloring or dyeing : How to choose the right hair color ?, schwarzkopf.fr
  4. I make up my homemade vegetable hair color, elle.fr
  5. 25 best hair color ideas for 2021, easyparapharmacie.com
  6. 50 Best Hair Color Trends That Are Worth Trying in 2021, regivia.com
  7. The 60 Best Hair Color Trends of 2021, aroma-zone.com
  8. According to Stylists, thetrendspotter.net
  9. The Biggest Hair Color Trends for 2021, hadviser.com
  10. The best hair colors, goodhousekeeping.com
  11. The best hair colors, glamour.com
  12. Color by color L'Oreal: find the shade that suits you ..., loreal-paris.fr
  13. Which hair color to choose? Our tips | Schwarzkopf, schwarzkopf.fr
  14. Our hair colors - Garnier, garnier.fr
  15. Color | Bleach | Oxidizer | Additive, bleulibellule.com
  16. Permanent hair color - L'Oréal Paris, loreal-paris.fr
  17. Which hair color to choose : our test to know which ..., elle.fr
  18. Hair color : What are the color codes of the hair colors ?, regivia.com
  19. Haircolor | Haircolor | Bleu Libellule, bleulibellule.com
  20. The best hair coloring products, journaldesfemmes.fr
  21. Haircolor & hair dye | notino.fr, notino.fr
  22. Permanent Haircolor - La Boutique du Coiffeur, laboutiqueducoiffeur.com
  23. Vegetable and Organic Haircolors - Aroma-Zone, aroma-zone.com
  24. Professional Haircolor - Beauty Coiffure, beautycoiffure.com
  25. Haircolors - Comparative Toxic Substances ...., quechoisir.org
  26. Homemade hair coloring | Best homemade hair coloring ..., notino.fr
  27. Color diagnosis to choose and succeed in your hair coloring ..., laboutiqueducoiffeur.com
  28. Which hair dye to choose - Hairdressing | Hair coloring, schwarzkopf.fr
  29. Hair coloring : all our hair coloring tips ..., cosmopolitan.fr
  30. Hair coloring - Hair coloring - Hair coloring ..., doctissimo.fr
  31. Hair coloring ≡ SEPHORA, sephora.fr
  32. Hair: 5 things to know about natural hair coloring, aufeminin.com
  33. Safe products: Hair coloring ..., quechoisir.org
  34. The best hair coloring? Test, reviews and ..., jmesensmieux.com
  35. Natural hair coloring | slow cosmetics, slow-cosmetique.com
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Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

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Our selection
Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11
Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 0-11
Garnier Olia 5.5
Garnier Olia 5.5
Naturtint 4G Châtain Doré
Naturtint 4G Châtain Doré
L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss
L'Oréal Paris Casting Cream Gloss

Lecteurs

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