It's very easy (Clairol Nice 'n' Easy)

Member Name: Madge11

Product:	Clairol Nice 'n' Easy
Date:	05/10/06 (4219 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: the colour looks natural

Disadvantages: it's messy to apply

BACKGROUND
I have been dying my hair for about 12 years. I was talking to someone I new slightly and she let slip that she dyed her hair at home. I was starting to get a little grey, so I thought "if she can do it, so can I". Going grey early is a family trait. My cousin was completely grey at 21, I was luckier. I didn't start going grey until my late 20s.

I have tried lots of different brands, but the one I keep coming back to is Nice n Easy.

THE PRODUCT
Nice n Easy comes in white box, with a picture on the top of the colour you can expect to get from the dye.
There are three types of dye:
Level 1 lasts 6-8 shampoos
Level 2 up to 24 shampoos
Level 3 is a permanent colour.
Each one comes in a range of 36 shades from blonde though brown and red to black. The one I use is a level 3, shade 118c, natural medium chestnut brown. I find it's a nice natural looking shade, brown with a hint of red and doesn't have that obvious purple ("Hey everyone! I've just dyed my hair") tinge.

These dyes are not suitable for previously bleached or highlighted hair. Although they are suitable for grey hair, they can be used just to enhance your natural colour.

Inside the box you will find a the instruction sheet, a pair of rubber gloves in a cardboard packet, bottle of colour formula, a bottle of activating crème and a tube of ColourSeal Gloss conditioner.

THE COST
In Boots they are £4.17 each, but on offer at 2 for £7 at the moment.
In Sainsburys they are £4.29 each, and funnily enough, also on offer at 2 for £7.

BEFORE YOU DYE…
48 hours before colouring you should do a strand test, to determine your final shade, and also an allergy test.
The allergy test involves mixing a small amount of the colour activating crème and the colour formula in a plastic bowl and using cotton wool (or similar) dab about 1cm square in the bend of your elbow. This area shouldn't be washed for 48 hours - it can be covered with a plaster when washing! This test should be carried out every time you dye (although I confess I rarely do it these days). If any rash, redness, burning or itching occurs then you are probably allergic and shouldn't use this product.
For the strand test, cut ¼" strand from the darkest or greyest part of your hair close to the scalp. Cover the hair with the mixture left over from the allergy test and start timing. Check it after 15 minutes. If you want a darker shade, you can leave it longer, but make of note of the time it takes to reach your desired shade.
It's best to shampoo 12-24 hours before colouring with a level 1 or 2 product and 24 hours before using a level 3. You generally shouldn't shampoo immediately before colouring as this will remove the natural oils which protect your scalp during the colouring process.
If your hair is below shoulder length or very thick, you may need 2 boxes to fully saturate the hair. Also, the ends of long hair tend to absorb more colour so the timing may be different for the ends.

TAKE PRECAUTIONS!
Once you've splattered permanent dye all over your clothes and the bathroom, it's very difficult to remove.
Always wear old clothes - I have a special T shirt which shows bears not only remnants of a 100 hair dyes, but also the many emulsion paint colours used around our house!
Keep an old towel just for dying. No matter how careful you are, some of it will always get on the towel.
If it splatters around the basin or bath it's not the end of the world as long as you wash it off immediately, but it can be more difficult to get it off the grout between the tiles (I speak from experience!).
Another handy tip is to apply moisturizer around your hairline and especially behind your ears, as this will stop the dye staining your skin. Do it carefully though, as if it gets on your hair it will stop the dye taking.

DIRECTIONS
The dye should be applied to dry hair.
Put on the gloves, then unscrew the cap form the colour activating crème, take the lid off the bottle of colour formula and pour it into the colour activating crème. Put the lid back on and give the bottle a really good shake to mix the two together. Remove the cap on the bottle and start applying it immediately.
Use the nozzle to part your hair and start applying it to the roots first, then cover the rest of your hair.
Start timing when you've finished applying the dye, not when you start.
Leave it to develop for 25 minutes, or the time you decided after doing the strand test. To cover resistant grey or extra light blonde shades it can be left on for up to 45 minutes.
While you're waiting for it to develop, log on to Ciao and read and rate some reviews!
When the time is up, put the gloves back on and quickly run the shower over your head to dampen it and then massage your hair to work up a lather. It can help if you can get someone else to do this for you. I do this hanging over the side of the bath, as it's extremely messy. Then rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear.
Next apply the Colourseal Gloss conditioner, leave it on for two minutes (time to clean off all the blobs of dye that landed in the bath while you were rinsing) and then wash this off with warm water.
Now you can style as usual.

THE COLOURSEAL GLOSS CONDITIONER
This conditioner has been specially developed to work with coloured hair to give long lasting colour, correct your hair's PH and help to seal in colour and shine for up to six weeks. It should be used after the initial application, then again after three weeks, and again after five weeks. It works by lying across the cuticles of the hair to smooth and flatten them and delivering essential moisture to the hair shaft which helps boost protection where the hair may have become damaged by blow drying, brushing, etc.

HAIR DYE AND CANCER
Now you're keen to colour your hair, here's the downside. Chemicals in hair dyes have been linked with bladder cancer and leukaemia. There have been a number of studies, some showing a link, others not. However, according to Cancer UK, there is unlikely to be a link between the two. Twice as many men contract bladder cancer, which is not what would be expected if hair dye posed a significant risk. A lot of hair dyes that were made before 1980 were known to have caused cancer in mice, but all the chemicals involved have now been withdrawn. Provided hair dyes are used as directed they are safe to use. It's really a personal decision as to whether you are willing to take the risk.


HOW LONG DOES THE COLOUR LAST?
Level 3 dyes don't need to be re applied until the roots show, which could be 4 - 8 weeks. Permanent dye shouldn't be applied more than once a month as it can dry the hair and make the colour uneven.

HOW LONG DOES THE DYE LAST?
If it's unopened the dye will last up to three years. However, once the bottles have been opened they have a life of about six weeks, BUT once the two solutions are mixed together they should be used immediately, or thrown away.

HOLIDAY HINTS
After swimming in chlorine or salt water you should shampoo or rinse your hair as deposits left in the hair can accelerate fading.
Avoid exposing your hair to the sun as it's a natural hair lightener and it will make your hair colour fade.

CONCLUSION
This shade looks really natural. I'm confident that anyone who doesn't see me with my roots showing wouldn't know I wasn't born with hair this colour. I have very fine hair and I find that after I've coloured it, it looks much fuller and more shiny. I always have good hair days after colouring! It feels like it's in really good condition.

CONTACT
The Clairol Colour Experts are available on Free phone 0800 181 184

Summary: I really like this product