It's Nice and It's Easy to Use! (Clairol Nice 'n' Easy)

Member Name: tb4ms

Product:	Clairol Nice 'n' Easy
Date:	02/12/07 (463 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good grey coverage if left on for sufficient time.

Disadvantages: Needs a couple of packets to get the timing right for the needs of your hair!

Clairol produce a vast array of colouring products and it can be quite baffling when faced with them all but the box does have a Colour Result Guide on the side of it to show what result to expect depending upon your existing hair colour, a great help to us amateurs. I plumped for the Natural Medium Brown.
It shows what the resulting colour will be if you use this particular shade, depending on your existing /starting colour.

If you aren't sure or don't want to spend too long in the shop deciphering the 'bumph' on the packaging, then Clairol have quite a comprehensive website at www.clairol.co.uk.

Select the Nice 'n Easy section and you will be shown the full range of 36 shades that are available. These are divided in to 3 categories: blondes (no, chance for me!), reds & brunettes (commonly known as brown!) / blacks. I fall in to the latter category.

In one section of the website you can even download your photo and see what you will look like with different hair colours. I am yet to try this, not brave enough!

~ Price ~

I bought the most recent pack from Wilkinson's priced at just £3.78. Far cheaper than the £40 + that I was being charged at the hairdressers!

Clairol Nice 'n Easy can be found in most leading supermarkets.
Current Prices:
- Boots ~ £4.79 although some of the shades are 2 packs for £7.50.
- Tesco ~ £4.76
- Asda ~ £4.00

~ What do you get? ~

Inside the box:

- Applicator bottle containing the activating creme
- Tube of the colour formula
- Tube of Colour Seal Gloss conditioner. U contains 57ml which it is advised that you use once per week for a 6 week period to maintain the natural colour and shine for your hair
~ Pair of disposable gloves

~ Step by step guide on what to do ~

You are advised to undertake a skin allergy test 48 hours before each use.

If you get the all clear on this, i.e no itching, redness etc then undertake the following for 'all over' colour application:

1. Put the gloves on.
2. Pour the tube of colour formula in to the colour activating applicator bottle. Mix thoroughly by shaking the bottle well. You should notice that the mixture has thickened
3. Break off the tip of the applicator, which provides a very good nozzle to apply the colour without it squirting all over.
4. Apply it to your roots first, dividing the hair to get in to every section.
5. Work through the hair from root to tip to ensure full saturation but take care not to rub it in to your scalp.
6. Do not use the colour mixture after an hour as it will lose it's effectiveness.
7. Leave for 25 minutes. (I always use the oven timer as I tend to get very easily sidetracked)
8. If your grey is very stubborn, like mine! It will be necessary to leave the colour on for up to 45 minutes.

~ Rinsing off the colour ~

a) Rinse hair with warm water, massage in to a lather and rinse until the water runs clear.
b) Apply the Colour Seal conditioner, preferably for 2 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
c) Save the rest of the conditioner, do not apply all in one go and apply it once a week after shampooing in place of your usual conditioner.

Root Application

Follow steps 1 - 3 regarding mixing the colour.

1. Part your hair down the middle and apply the mixture to the roots of your hair.
2. Leave on for 20 minutes.
3. Apply the rest of the colour mixture to the rest of your hair, avoiding rubbing it in to your roots.
4. Leave on for an additional 5 - 10 minutes.
5. Rinse and condition as explained above, points a to c.

~ How easy is it to use? ~

Very, if you have someone to help you!
The step by step instruction leaflet is simple and has drawings to guide you along the way.
The mixture is non-drip but I would strongly advise that you use an OLD towel as combing it through etc is quite messy. I also put an old dustsheet over my legs just incase as this stuff really does stain. I would strongly recommend that you also ensure that the surrounding floor space is covered, a bit of a faff but not as much trouble as trying to scrub out the unwanted stains from the dye on carpets. Easily washed off tile flooring etc.

I have to admit that I thought I could go it alone but was wrong...the first time I used this I was midway through and had to ring a friend who lives 5 minutes away to come round and finish it off. So unless you have eyes in the back of your head and are very supple I would suggest that you get someone to apply the colour so that you get every last bit of grey and an even colour.

I have used this product, along with many other hair dyes and after the first time of using it, I realised that it works more effectively on my stubborn grey roots, if left on for 40 minutes and then worked through the rest of my hair for 10 - 15 minutes. It still gives an even colour throughout. If I apply it for the suggested 45 minutes for stubborn grey hairs and having worked it through the ends, the ends become too dark and unnatural looking!

This product does everything it promises to do. My grey is totally covered and my hair certainly feels very soft and smooth thanks to the conditioner provided.

The major downside of this product is it's pungent smell. However I never like the smell of the colours that the salon uses so it's no different to what the professionals use in that sense.
It certainly hits the back of your throat.

The product also stains your skin slightly but it can be rubbed off. I experience this as the majority of my grey is at the hairline on my forehead so I would rather get total grey coverage and put up with rubbing the colour off the skin afterwards. The manufacturers suggest applying a little bit of moisturiser around your hairline but I have found that this inhibits the colour getting right to the root of the problem!

The Colour Seal conditioner lasts far longer than the suggested 6 weeks, once per week and that is even when applying a very liberal helping to my shoulder length hair. This, unlike the colour solution, smells great. Smell, I know is so subjective but I really like the mixture of coconut-based smell. It works far more effectively than the other conditioners I use throughout the week, leaving my hair feeling very soft to the touch when wet and totally detangled!

This Colour Seal Conditioner can now be bought separately and I have seen it in Asda for 99p per tube, which equates to about 6 - 8 weeks, based on once per week.

~ Precautions ~

Apologies to anyone not interested in these but some may be:
~ incase of a reaction during the process like stinging or a burning sensation, rinse immediately.
~ Don't use to colour eyelashes and eyebrows
~ Use a well ventilated room (I didn't as it was too cold outside and the strong smell did linger for some time!)
~ Dont' use if your hair has a henna colour on
~ Keep out of the reach of children.
~ Don't use if you have a sensitive, itchy or damaged scalp.

~ Other Clairol Nice 'n Easy Products ~
- lasts up to 6 - 8 washes, semi-permanent.
- lasts up to 24 washes
- root touch up
- permanent. The focus of this review and a hair colourant that has recently won 'the product of the year award 2007' in the relevant category!

~ My Verdict ~

This is an effective hair colour and covers grey effectively if left on for a certain length of time that is specific to the nature of your hair and grey! It may take a couple of experimental attempts to get the correct timings but it's worth it in the end, compared to the huge cost of salons, if you aren't looking for low-lights / hi-lights etc.

Summary: An effective product and cheaper than the salon!