I've been a brunette all my life and never experimented too much with my hair colour. I only like to dye it with different shades of brown and auburn that would give me some nice reflects or a bit more shine, as I find my natural colour too boring.

I've stuck with Casting Creme Gloss for a while now as it comes cheaper than going to the hairdresser's and you can decide whenever you want to do it (no need to book an appointment!). It is ammonia-free, which is hair-friendly. Keep in mind, though, that it is a semi-permanent dye, so you can't really expect the same long-lasting result as the dye you would get at the hairdresser's!

I use the shade Chocolate 535, as this is the one that seems to suit my skin tone. I must admit it is a bit darker than expected the first week, but as you wash your hair the excess of dye goes down the drain and the real colour appears after about a week.

The only thing I find annoying is the fact that the colour fades away pretty quickly. I don't mind because I actually like the colour once it has faded away, and I can't find any other brand giving the same result with a permanent dye!

I like the fact that it leaves my hair shiny and glossy, and it also feels "plumper" or thicker, which gives me a bit of volume - giving that I have thin hair, it's definitely a plus! It smells really nice and is very easy to apply. I have mid-long hair and there is more than enough product to cover my whole head, though you might need 2 boxes if you have long thick hair.

THE APPLICATION BIT

They provide the gloves, and mixing the colourant cream with the developer cream couldn't be easier: you screw them together, so no drip and no fuss! Mix well and you are nearly ready to go! I like the fact that they make a hole in the box for you to place the bottle in, so you don't take the risk to stain your furniture or anything else that would come to contact with the bottle. It is quite easy to wash off your face and ears as well. Make sure you wear an old bath towel over your shoulders, even if the non-drip applicator does its job properly - I never had any drop staining my clothes, but one can never be too careful!

You only need to leave it on for 20 minutes, but make sure you blend it well through your hair ( I tend to put all of the product onto my hair and work it like I was washing it with shampoo to make sure every piece of hair is covered). Then, simply rinse thoroughly until the water is crystal clear. I usually wash it with shampoo at this stage - not sure it is good though - because otherwise the excess of dye runs on my pillow at night. Needless to say it doesn't go in the wash...

After that, I apply the conditioner provided, which smells divine (apricot I would say) and it leaves my hair shiny and sleek.

I tend to only use this brand and always the same shade, as it leaves my hair shiny and thicker, with nice reflects, and it does cover grey hair (can't find the dreadful 3 from before the dye - yayyy!).

I would recommend this product to someone who would like to add a bit of shine or reflects to their colour, without wanting to drastically change it. It is semi permanent so expect to be back to your natural colour after about 2 months (or 28 shampoos), but I'm not sure it would be suitable if you are looking for a permanent colour or a complete change. It is a nice product and is definitely value for money, as a box usually comes to less than £7.