'Dyeing' to look young again ! (Superdrugs Effects Temporary Hair Colour)

Member Name: Averilla

Product:	Superdrugs Effects Temporary Hair Colour
Date:	23/05/06 (2455 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Sleek shiny hair

Disadvantages: Does not cover grey

I always swore I was going to grow old gracefully, not for me 'Botox' injections, never would I put my 'Boobs' under a surgeon's knife, not in a million years would I resort to a 'Bum' lift and I was going to go grey in a distinguished way!!!!! Sadly the reality is that the wrinkles are rapidly appearing, my boobs are shrinking, my bum is heading south and those niggly little grey strands are poking through and NOT looking very distinguished at all!

Thankfully we don't HAVE to resort to drastic measures to correct these imperfections. After all we can use a good foundation to cover those wrinkles, a decent bra filled with those fun squidgy chicken fillet things can sort out your boobs and they now make special tights and knickers that are supposed to lift and shape your buttocks…mmmmmm lovely..so long as you don't have to undress in front of your loved ones with the light on! As for those grey bits…well…provided it's the grey hairs on your head your worried about, it can be easily remedied.

I am not a fan of permanent hair dyes, and knowing me something is bound to go wrong, like turning my hair green or something. So I decide to try a wash in wash out one and found a bargain in Superdrug the other day. For just 99p I purchased a bottle of their 'Rich Red' colour effects wash in wash out colour and trotted off home, eager to get going. I chose the rich red because I have a warm red tint to my hair and wanted to stay as natural as possible.There are several shades to choose from for both blondes and brunettes. So let's see what it can do.

The first thing I noticed about this bottle was that it was almost impossible to read the tiny instructions on the back unless you have 20/20 vision, which I don't. Even with my glasses on I was squinting, So I didn't bother reading the whole of the blurb on the bottle, just the application instructions. A plastic, 'Throwaway'.and dare I say Rather large…pair of gloves is provided for the application, and, unless you want to end up with rusty stains on your hands that refuse to budge for weeks, I would recommend you use them….Right , next step..Wet your hair and then work in as much colour effects as you need, depending on how long your hair is this can be anything from a ten pence piece round blob to a ping pong ball sized amount! In my case, having had my hair all chopped off recently, I only needed a small amount. Next step is to leave it for 5 minutes! Blow that….5 minutes doesn't sound nearly long enough…I decided on 20 minutes..should do the trick. At this point I should advise you that you put an old towel around your shoulders to prevent any staining, also it is a good idea to smear some Vaseline around your hairline, again this will stop the dye running and staining bits that you don't want dyed..like your eyebrows , or moustache hair, for example ! Last step is to rinse until the water runs clear…this turned out to be no mean feat as the water seemed to stay a rusty sort of colour, no matter how much I tried I couldn't seem to rise it all out…Oh well it was almost clear and I decide that it would only really be a potential problem if it rained on me…thank goodness for umbrellas!

Ok, now to see if it actually worked. It was impossible to see whilst wet so under the dryer I went. I have to say the scent it leaves on your hair is lovely, and as I dried it I could see it really starting to shine ..so far so good. Once totally dried I was impressed…initially!! My hair shone like it hadn't shone for a long time, it really seemed to have boosted its condition, it smelt absolutely gorgeous and, considering how long I had actually left the colour in for, the colour was natural looking and subtle……..BUT…..I hadn't read all the instructions properly had I??? Remember….well….the grey strands were still there, only they were a sort of gold colour now..Oooops. I then picked up the bottle, squinted hard and..yep right down there at the bottom was the warning…'Do Not Use on Grey hair'. I think I was actually quite lucky…at least it hadn't turned it green, and I only really have a few barely noticeable strands anyway. Needless to say , I shall read the instructions properly next time.

As far as value for money goes, this is quite exceptional, I have enough left for another 3 applications, although I shan't use it myself , I shall probably give it away. It is very good if you don't have any grey hair, although I recommend leaving for slightly more than the recommended 5 minutes. Obviously as with all dye products you should be careful not to get any in your eyes and wash immediately should you do so. Also you should not use if your scalp has any cuts or abrasions, nor should you use on bleached hair.

Ok, so how long does it actually last. Well normally wash in wash out shampoos last anything from 10 to 20 washes. So far I have washed my hair 10 times and the colour is almost all gone. I would recommend a top up at this stage. Personally I am going to have to make sure it is all washed out before I go hunting for one that actually does cover grey..I am also going to have to remember to take my glasses with me !!

Right, now I've got the bra, bought the tights, got my concealer, have the hair dye…I only have one small problem left…. It's actually another grey area, one in which I don't think they advise using hair dye…. Phew thank god for shavers!!!

Summary: Leaves your hair shiny and in good condition but does not cover grey.