12 Best Box Hair Dyes You Can Buy In 2022
Image Source/Getty Images By Reecha Kulkarni/Nov. 28, 2022 2:13 pm EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The upcoming winter may dictate our moods, routines, and the number of hours we sit in front of a SAD lamp. But there’s another element of nature that inevitably finds its way into our psyche: the trend cycle. Every click on our online shopping carts, smudge on our smoky liner, and tear in our denim is the insidious (but often, welcome) influence of runways, designers, and the TikTok algorithm.
And it’s no different for hair. Hair is an integral part of the runway production, and a lot of those styles and colors predict our next salon appointment. For example, renowned hairstylist Guido Palau explained his work on the Marc Jacobs Spring 2019 show, where he colored the hair of 35 models. “That show is a pure fantasy about colour; antique colours. Peaches, greys, and wrung out blues and greens. … They’re more like old lady colours, things, not from a past but, somewhere where they look very modern as well,” Palau told Dazed. Soon, pastels became the trending colors for 2020 (via PopSugar). For the fall and winter of 2022, expert colorists predict that we’re gravitating towards darker and deeper tones — a lot of copper, reds, and “mushroom colors” (via The Zoe Report). The good news is a lot of these looks are achievable without the hefty price tag of a salon. Find some of the best box hair dyes below to participate.
Best splurge
eSalon
Yes, a splurge-worthy box dye may feel like an oxymoron, but we believe eSalon can convince you otherwise. The custom hair dye brand has won the Allure “Best of Beauty” award and “Reader’s Choice” award six times, attesting to its popularity amongst beauty enthusiasts and editors alike. The brand’s tech-driven approach to hair color is its unique selling point; a color mixing machine dubbed Pollychrome finds colors in and out of your imagination to create the perfect, personalized formula for your hair. Expert colorists are also available to guide you through the entire process, to make sure you get the results you were Pinterested in.
Over 96,000 reviewers gave the custom hair color brand 4.2 out of 5 stars. “The coloring process was simple with the custom instructions and everything I needed in one package. The color came out so consistent and radiant! It combined the colors I was looking to combine perfectly. I have been dyeing my hair for two and a half years now, and I have never have had such results with an at-home dye. Absolutely incredible,” one reviewer said on the brand’s website. Another said, “I love my custom color! It’s shiny and just the color I had envisioned …The results are so good, who needs to spend $200 at the salon!!” Price: Get the eSalon Custom Hair Color Set for $32.50 at eSalon. Type: Permanent, Demi-permanent available
Ingredients: Ammonia-free options available
12 Best Box Hair Dyes You Can Buy In 2022
Image Source/Getty Images
By Reecha Kulkarni/Nov. 28, 2022 2:13 pm EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The upcoming winter may dictate our moods, routines, and the number of hours we sit in front of a SAD lamp. But there’s another element of nature that inevitably finds its way into our psyche: the trend cycle. Every click on our online shopping carts, smudge on our smoky liner, and tear in our denim is the insidious (but often, welcome) influence of runways, designers, and the TikTok algorithm.
And it’s no different for hair. Hair is an integral part of the runway production, and a lot of those styles and colors predict our next salon appointment. For example, renowned hairstylist Guido Palau explained his work on the Marc Jacobs Spring 2019 show, where he colored the hair of 35 models. “That show is a pure fantasy about colour; antique colours. Peaches, greys, and wrung out blues and greens. … They’re more like old lady colours, things, not from a past but, somewhere where they look very modern as well,” Palau told Dazed. Soon, pastels became the trending colors for 2020 (via PopSugar). For the fall and winter of 2022, expert colorists predict that we’re gravitating towards darker and deeper tones — a lot of copper, reds, and “mushroom colors” (via The Zoe Report). The good news is a lot of these looks are achievable without the hefty price tag of a salon. Find some of the best box hair dyes below to participate.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
And it’s no different for hair. Hair is an integral part of the runway production, and a lot of those styles and colors predict our next salon appointment. For example, renowned hairstylist Guido Palau explained his work on the Marc Jacobs Spring 2019 show, where he colored the hair of 35 models. “That show is a pure fantasy about colour; antique colours. Peaches, greys, and wrung out blues and greens. … They’re more like old lady colours, things, not from a past but, somewhere where they look very modern as well,” Palau told Dazed. Soon, pastels became the trending colors for 2020 (via PopSugar).
For the fall and winter of 2022, expert colorists predict that we’re gravitating towards darker and deeper tones — a lot of copper, reds, and “mushroom colors” (via The Zoe Report). The good news is a lot of these looks are achievable without the hefty price tag of a salon. Find some of the best box hair dyes below to participate.
How we selected products
Gpointstudio/Getty Images
Best overall
It’s no wonder that the color’s still popular since winning the Allure Best of Beauty award in 2013. “This is a breakthrough for women who do their own color because this technology is far gentler, reduces fading, and is odorless,” cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer told the publication.
Type: Permanent
Ingredients: Ammonia-free, natural flower oils
Best splurge
eSalon
Yes, a splurge-worthy box dye may feel like an oxymoron, but we believe eSalon can convince you otherwise. The custom hair dye brand has won the Allure “Best of Beauty” award and “Reader’s Choice” award six times, attesting to its popularity amongst beauty enthusiasts and editors alike. The brand’s tech-driven approach to hair color is its unique selling point; a color mixing machine dubbed Pollychrome finds colors in and out of your imagination to create the perfect, personalized formula for your hair. Expert colorists are also available to guide you through the entire process, to make sure you get the results you were Pinterested in.
Over 96,000 reviewers gave the custom hair color brand 4.2 out of 5 stars. “The coloring process was simple with the custom instructions and everything I needed in one package. The color came out so consistent and radiant! It combined the colors I was looking to combine perfectly. I have been dyeing my hair for two and a half years now, and I have never have had such results with an at-home dye. Absolutely incredible,” one reviewer said on the brand’s website. Another said, “I love my custom color! It’s shiny and just the color I had envisioned …The results are so good, who needs to spend $200 at the salon!!” Price: Get the eSalon Custom Hair Color Set for $32.50 at eSalon. Type: Permanent, Demi-permanent available
Ingredients: Ammonia-free options available
Over 96,000 reviewers gave the custom hair color brand 4.2 out of 5 stars. “The coloring process was simple with the custom instructions and everything I needed in one package. The color came out so consistent and radiant! It combined the colors I was looking to combine perfectly. I have been dyeing my hair for two and a half years now, and I have never have had such results with an at-home dye. Absolutely incredible,” one reviewer said on the brand’s website. Another said, “I love my custom color! It’s shiny and just the color I had envisioned …The results are so good, who needs to spend $200 at the salon!!”
Price: Get the eSalon Custom Hair Color Set for $32.50 at eSalon.
Type: Permanent, Demi-permanent available
Ingredients: Ammonia-free options available
Best brunette
Ingredients: Not ammonia-free
Best black
Best blonde
Of course, a dark-to-blonde transformation would require more than a box dye. But if you’re hoping to touch up or add undertones to your already light hair, the Garnier Nutrisse gives you results that are long-lasting and nourishing. The crème based formula has shea, avocado, and olive oils to moisturize your strands and hold onto the color. Over 14,000 ratings have given the box dye 4.5 out of 5, with one reviewer saying, “I love 111 Extra-Light Ash Blonde. Everyone thinks it is my natural color and it is easy to use and the odor is not as bad as some others. Color looks natural and my hair is soft and shiny after coloring. I highly recommend for use if you have light to dark blonde hair.”
Best red
The Revlon ColorSilk box dye ranges from Burgundy to Vibrant Red, tapping into every kind of merlot, rosé, and orange wine. The ammonia-free color is infused with keratin and amino acids so that your reds aren’t going to look like actual, stiff copper. One reviewer calls it “my reliable box color for that warm, coppery shade of red that nobody else has matched.” They continue to explain their experience: “No lie, it’s bright when freshly colored and in natural light (as shown). But it still looks great, and the long fadeout is perfect and natural looking.”
Ingredients: Ammonia-free, has keratin
Best colorful
Type: Semi-permanent
Ingredients: Ammonia-free, vegan
Best demi-permanent
Type: Demi-permanent
Best for highlights
Ingredients: With ammonia
Best for damaged hair
And while it’s impossible to find a hair dye that doesn’t damage your hair at all (the science won’t allow it), Schwarzkopf’s Simply Color box dye might be the next best affordable thing. The permanent formula is made with 0% ammonia and alcohol. It’s also infused with nourishing oat milk, soy protein, and argan oil to soothe the scalp and rehydrate your hair. A reviewer with scalp psoriasis attested to it’s gentle formula, “This stuff ROCKS. It lasts for me like 2 months, it smells wonderful, and my hair feels healthy after using it. I never have to worry about it aggravating my psoriasis or making my hair fall out. Perfect stuff.”
Ingredients: Ammonia-free, oat milk, argan oil
Best for hair dye allergies
Madison Reed’s Radiant Hair Color Kit is not only free of PPD and ammonia but also parabens and resorcinol, which are strong irritants. The cream-based formula also includes keratin and argan oil to condition your hair while it undergoes its transformation. It’s also super convenient since it comes with everything you need to color your hair, including gloves, a cap, and shampoo and conditioner. The kit’s won Allure’s Best of Beauty award for a reason. A customer lists a few, “I decided to try Madison Reed and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at the result. My hair feels healthy and has the shine I’ve been missing. It smells great!”
Ingredients: Ammonia-free, PPD-free, argan oil
