Everyone is using box hair dyes again. Here are the best ones to try.

In some very good news for your bank account, box dyes are making a comeback and they're not like the ones you used to use.

According to the trend bible that is The Digital Fairy, box dyes are trendy again — and there's some next generation formulas out there that have refreshed the DIY hair dye game. 

"These days we're seeing more salon-driven products that mean you can create the same thing at home, with more accurate results," Digital Fairy said in a TikTok video. 

"And with everything being DIY, now is the perfect time for brands to push box dyes even more and to make salon culture more accessible at home."

Watch: Speaking of hair - here are six facts about body hair that will surprise you. Post continues below.

And judging by the comments, in 2024 the people are very much into DIY box dye.

Someone wrote, "Not to mention that salons have started to really price out regular people and we’re seeing more people just learning how to do it at home too versus spending $300 plus."

"They aren’t trendy we are just poor," someone else said.

Fact.

In an article by Allure, a survey found that post-lockdown, nearly 67 per cent of people planned to continue colouring their hair at home, with 32 per cent planning to stick exclusively to at-home colour. 

Meaning? Brands and formulas have evolved alongside this shift, and there are a bunch of next-generation formulas that make at-home hair dye easy and nasty chemicals and hair damage a thing of the past.

So. What are the best options out there right now? Well, glad you asked. Because I decided to trawl through the You Beauty Facebook group looking for reviews on the best next-generation box dyes getting around. 

The best part? You can grab most of them in the chemist or at the supermarket. How good!

L'Oréal Casting Creme Gloss, $19.99.

Image: Chemist Warehouse/Canva.

"In my mad 10 minute dash in Woolies this morning (I was pretending I was on Supermarket Sweep) the siren call of the box dye lured me in. I went with a semi-permanent because my hairdresser would absolutely kill me if I went for the 'forever' option. I know we have more important things to worry about right now but my pre-schoolers keep on asking why my hair is sparkling like Elsa." - Jane.

"I just did the L'Oréal Creme Semi in Amber and I love it. I have naturally light brown hair with some blonde highlights. It was really gentle on my hair and I love the colour. It's an auburn colour that's not too dark. It's nice and soft, [and I experienced] little to no damage." - Arietta.

The Shade Colour Kit, $26.95 

Image: The Salon/Canva.

"The Shade subscription service is so good! I've been using them for years. My hair is in fantastic condition and they just send out a new one as frequently as you choose." - Johanna.

"I've been using The Shade for a year. Super happy. My subscription comes every six weeks and it's under $30. You can send a couple of pics of your hair and they will colour match." - Elise.

"I've recently started getting my hair colour from The Shade online and doing it myself while I have a break from blonde. So much cheaper than going to the salon for my roots every three to four weeks! And it's salon grade colour, so hopefully is easy enough to lighten out when I do want to go back blonde." - Shontelle.

"I have the online subscription with The Shade and have never looked back." - Kareena.

MIIROKO Hair Colour Starter Kit, $60.

Image: Murriko/Canva.

"I'm about to try this brand, MIIROKO. It's a salon hair dye for at home. The great thing is you mix it up yourself so you can do touch-ups. It has fantastic Google reviews. It came in this gorgeous box and has been beautifully designed to all fit together in a storage wrap." - Rachel.

"MIIROKO is fantastic!" - Parissa.

Garnier Nutrisse Permanent Hair Colour, $16.99.

Image: Chemist Warehouse/Canva.

"I've been box dying my hair for 25 years and always get compliments on how healthy my hair looks. I just switched over to Garnier Nutrisse as I find this has better grey coverage and lasts longer." - Tania.

"Garnier Nutrisse is super rich and glossy. Love it!" - Melanie.

Fudge Paintbox Creative Semi Permanent Colour, $40.95.

Image: Cosmetics Now/Canva.

"Go to Price Attack and buy Fudge Paint Box Colour and use 1.5 activator. They are a professional hairdresser colour. Doing semi-permanent will be better on your hair." - Alice.

Clairol Nice N Easy Root Touch Up Permanent Hair Colour, $16.50.

Image: Chemist Warehouse/Canva.

"This is more of a root touch-up situation as opposed to a full box dye, but these next-generation formulas are miles better than the stuff I used to use years ago! One of my favourites is this one from Clairol. The colour always matches beautifully — it always blends in really nicely with my hair and gives a lovely even colour. So good for when you don't have time to get your roots touched up but have something on in between salon visits!"

L'Oréal Excellence Creme, $26.99.

Image: Chemist Warehouse/Canva.

"The cost of living is rapidly increasing. Some people will prioritise their hairdresser expenses and some people will not be able to do this. Box dyes are, on balance, very effective. They do the job, cover the greys and will save you a lot of money. It isn’t the same as going to the hairdresser but that has become a luxury that many simply can no longer afford. I have used L'Oréal Excellence for years. Go one shade lighter than you would expect to use as they often come out darker than expected. The conditioner that comes with it is lovely and will leave your hair feeling very soft." - Julia.

"L'Oréal Excellence works the best for me. I would suggest trying a lighter shade of the colour you want first. They’re always in sale somewhere. I've been box dyeing for most of my life." - Vesna.

Desert Shadow Henna Hair Dye, $28.50.

Image: Desert Shadow/Canva.

"I have been using Desert Shadow henna hair dye for years now and love it! I use a deep auburn colour on my mousy brown hair and it looks great and makes it more soft and shiny." - Shereen.

Vitality V Colour Developer, $5.19.

Image: Chemist Warehouse/Canva.

"You can get Vitality Colour and Developer from Chemist Warehouse — it's better than box dye! You only need to squeeze out and mix what you need for your regrowth." - Grace.

Naturtint Permanent Hair Colour, $22.95

Image: Natural Health Organics/Canva.

"I was using Naturtint from the health food shop. Made my hair look beautiful." - Kerry.

Garnier Olia 2P Permanent Hair Colour No Ammonia, $21.99.

Image: Garnier/Canva.

"I love Garnier Olia. It covers greys so well! I buy it when it’s half price, so it’s $10! Bargain." - Naomi.

What are your thoughts? Are you a fan of box dyes? Share your favourite in the comment section below.

Feature Image: Digital Fairy/TikTok.

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