clairol natural instincts

I have to admit, it's been a while since I've colored my hair at home.

Mainly for two reasons.

One, I'm hella messy with the application process. Not to say that the applicators they provide aren't great...they are...I'm just ridiculously and bizarrely sloppy when I apply and tend to get drops everywhere.

Two, I've been highlighting my hair lately and would never trust myself to do that at home. Never.

Anyway, that's not to say that I wouldn't ever try coloring at home again.

The ability to avoid making an appointment and getting it done in a salon is very tempting and the amount of money saved is a no-brainer.

I mean if Big L ever found out how much it really cost to maintain the fabulosity of my color, he'd freak.

One of my fave color-at-home products is Clairol Natural Instincts demi-permanent haircolor.

It contains no ammonia and it gradually washes out in about 28 shampoos. It also gives my hair a little more body and makes it feel crazy soft.

That said, here's a couple of tips from the pros at Clairol on how to save money with at-home color through color extension.

*Once you color your hair, make sure you keep it looking fresh by shampooing every other day, or every third day even! When you do shampoo, use products specially formulated for color-treated hair.

My take: Some of my faves are from Kerastase and Pureology...but there are some great drugstore brands by L'Oreal and others that really can maintain the life of your color.

*To save some money and extend your hair color, try a product like Natural Instincts. It is incredibly easy to use and low maintenance because it is non-permanent and you won’t see a visible root line. It’s a great way to boost your hair color in between appointments and blend new growth into your hair color.

If you're starting to notice some gray hairs...ahem, like moi...here's also some gray hair myths and truths that you might find interesting...

Ever wonder if the “myths” you’ve heard about gray hair are really true? Believe it or not, these “facts” are generally false. For starters, gray hair isn’t actually gray at all! When you start to go “gray,” your body is telling your hair follicle to stop producing melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. These strands are actually colorless or transparent and may look gray, white, silver or even yellow to the eye.

Gray hair is a sign of old age

Fiction: First grays can appear at any age, but on average, women begin going gray at age 34.

Coloring your hair makes it more gray

Fiction: Coloring your hair does not cause additional gray hairs. Hair color will blend or fully cover the grays you currently have. Natural Instincts provides a healthier way to blend away your grays and gives beautiful, natural looking color and shine.

All gray hair grows in coarse and wiry

Fiction: When you notice that first gray, it is most likely a coarse, wiry hair sticking out of your head. It just happens to be the gray hair you see first because it’s so different. In reality your hair grows at all different thickness.

Your hair can return to its natural color even after going gray

Fiction: Once a strand loses its color, it will never return.

If you pluck one gray hair, two more will grow in its place.

Fiction: Your body grows gray hairs one by one. If you pull one gray hair it will be replaced by a gray hair in the exact same spot.

A shocking or stressful event can cause you to go gray.

Fact: While there are many conflicting arguments over this, high stress or shocking events have been known to cause hair to change to gray.


Thanks to the team at Clairol for these tips and gray hair myths! Although I am dying a little inside with every gray hair I find...it's reassuring to know that I can just cover those suckers up with some demi-permanent color.

For more info on Clairol's Natural Instincts, head on over to clairol.com/naturalinstincts. You can also find it at any Target, Walmart, CVS, and local grocery stores.


Jennifer