Brass Free Brunettes

10 Reviews

1. 

   offendedPiglet1

   Reply

   I’ve read some bad reviews here, and felt it was completely unfair that so many people blame hair color for at-home “hairdressing” mistakes. This hair dye is great, but it isn’t a colorist in the bottle- it isn’t meant to fix all previous coloring mistakes and isn’t meant to produce the same result on all hair. Any box dye shows and promises certain results on virgin hair of average medium structure. If hair has been previously chemically treated or is fine, porous, very thick, the results will vary. No hair color, especially demi-permanent, will remove brass from hair that has previously been colored red, orange, mahogany- it is critical to remove the pigment first, and only then tone it, otherwise the old hair dye molecules are likely to participate in the chemical reaction with the developer in the new dye. The only color that might do the trick is significantly darker permanent dye, but unless you are a colorist who knows what she is doing, the results can STILL be unpredictable.
   Also, demi-permanent dye is not likely to color all grays, especially on medium to thick hair. Although, they might get blended a bit.
   Hair that has previously been bleached or partially colored is likely to get uneven coverage, again, with most hair dyes- color will grab on to more porous texture, hence need to consider in which order color will be applied.
   I think this hair color is pretty great. I have messed my hair a bit by removing dye that was too dark on me, and, naturally, ended up with more orange than I cared for. I got myself 6C shade, and it really did a beautiful job toning down the unwanted orange and red. Yes, some warmer shades still peek through a bit in certain light, but overall, the color is beautiful and rich brown with a lot of shine and zero dryness. The hair is very bouncy and healthy-looking, despite all that I put it through. I have a few grays that are generally very resistant, so I kept the dye on for close to 30 minutes, and most got blended quite well- look more like very subtle highlights. Definitely less noticeable. The color is lasting quite well so far too, even if there is some fading, it is so subtle and natural looking that it isn’t noticeable, better than some permanent dyes.
   I found the smell pleasant, didn’t have any scalp irritation. The dye is quite liquidy+ it needs to be applied to damp hair, so it is actually very economical. I have rather thick hair that is below my shoulders, and I could totally just mix half of the provided color+ developer, and still have even application and coverage- very economical in that sense. And you get a pretty big tube of nice conditioner.
   I definitely recommend this hair color to all those who want a gentle demi-permanent, but well lasting hair color.
   If your hair/hair color is really messed up, better to just go to a professional to get it fixed, this is no miracle in a bottle.

2. 

   gloomyWidgeon0

   Reply

   I used to like this product, and used it every few months to tone down red. I have been using Natural Instincts Medium COOL Brown for some time now. I switched to COOL tones because I HATE red tones, which are in the warm shades. I think they changed the formula of the Brass Free Brunettes, because in past it did a wonderful job of eliminating red tones. Likely around the time they added that HORRID Color Refresh packet, which you MUST NEVER USE unless you want to have clown orange hair. ONLY if they adjust this formula I will reconsider using it again. Otherwise, I get great results with 2 boxes of 5A Medium Cool Brown, which I leave on my mid back length relaxed, porous hair a few minutes longer than suggested and the result is a rich medium-dark brown.

3. 

   soreGnu9

   Reply

   ***new- this does not cover gray. Sad face. Will not reuse.

   I colored my hair for the second time with this yesterday. I also used it one month ago. It faded some from my last color, but not a lot. My goal in coloring is to cover grays. I used a different color last time, this time I used Brass Free for Brunettes in 6C light brown. I don’t like the brassiness that occurs after months of using boxed permanent hair color! That is why I’m using the demi-permanent color in the first place and why I tried this particular color. I like the color; it’s a medium-light brown.

   But, I’m disappointed in the gray coverage. It covered about 65% of my grays, and left some untouched. I’ve been using the L’oreal root cover up spray between coloring to hide grays. Now I’m using it the day after a color!

   I went to box color last month to lessen my trips to the salon. But, gray cover up is part of my life now, so coloring is essential in some form every 4-5 weeks. So far, I have canceled 2 hair appointments and have instead used this demi-permanent color and the root cover up spray (the spray is HG status) to conceal the grays. So, it’s definitely a win for my time and money!! It’s not salon coverage results, but I’m trying to be realistic about expectations, so I’m not going to give this a harsh review.

   If anyone has any tips on getting great gray coverage with this, please share!!! I would love to continue using this because it’s affordable vs the salon, less time consuming and overall a much easier experience for me. (My fave salon is a 40 min drive one way :/ )

   I used permanent at home color (L’oreal excellence cream) for about 2 years a few years ago. That covered the gray; but it also left my whole head brassy and dry! My ends are lighter because of that and for the past year and half I have only gotten my roots done at the salon and left my ends to keep getting lighter and lighter. It looked cool. But, I decided to take this brass free color throughout my entire length to see how well it would cover, get a true sense of color and really see how long it would last. It looks great. It definitely darkened my ends, but it’s very subtle. I’m loving it.

   I’ll post an update if I have any new developments. 🙂

4. 

   joyfulThrushe5

   Reply

   I love this product!!! Ok, let me start by saying that it’s all about expectations vs. reality when it comes to at home haircolor. It seems that a lot of people use this after bleaching or lightening their hair and are pissed when it comes out darker. That is going to happen with ANY color! When you lift color out of hair, you literally lift the cuticle surrounding the hair shaft, leaving it open. Color molocules have a much easier time adhering to the hair shaft, thus, if you color after bleaching or lightening, expect to end up with a shade much darker than what you select. Tone, instead. That said, I was a recent victim of at home lightening. Even as a seasoned at home hair pro with many hairdresser friends/relatives, I had some difficulty lifting my dark espresso brown hair to it’s natural ash blonde state (think going from a level 7/8 to 5/6) I ended up with a light to medium caramel brown – in good light. As the days passed, my hair became increasingly red and brassy. Fortunately I had babied my roots so I had no hot roots, but I had a lot of mixed colors through the length-brown, red, and dark blonde. Not a good look (unless one is a tabby cat).

   I tried coloring my hair twice with a level 5 dark ash blonde in an attempt to remove the red tones, to no avail. I even tried adding green food coloring to my shampoo to neutralize the pesky red. No bueno. So, I decided to give up my blonde ambitions and go back to brunette.

   Now, I realized that by bleaching and subsequently lifting twice, I was going to have to treat lightly. I chose the Natural Instincts Brass Free Brunettes in medium brown because I wanted a deposit only color. Remember – my hair cuticles were lifted and I knew I needed to avoid any permanent/dark brown color lest I end up with super saturated black, inky hair. In regards to that color refresh packet – I just tossed it. Those type of things almost always deposit reddish pigments, which is was I was trying to avoid.

   I saturated my hair with the dye and left it on a total of 20 minutes, even though the package says 10. I didn’t want to risk coming out red again, and wanted the color to really deposit. After rinsing well, using the conditioner that comes with the package, blow drying and styling – hel-LO beautiful hair! My hair is silky, shiny, and super soft. It doesn’t smell at all and best of all, the color is phenomenal. Even toned, rich medium brown without a hint of brassiness. There are some warm tones peeking through here and there, and they are very flattering – almost like a caramel lowlight effect. I can’t believe how well this product works!

   So, if you need something deposit only that will deepen your hair color, even out a hair color mistake, or just leave you with richer tones, try this. If you have lightened your hair and are expecting this to leave you with light/medium brown hair, think again. Overall – excellent product and I will absolutely use it again when I start fading!

5. 

   finickyMoth8

   Reply

   I used this to help fix a botched coloring at the salon. I have medium brown hair, but wanted to go lighter, but my stylist turned me orange. This helped restore my natural hair color without the brassy tones.

6. 

   pitifulBoars1

   Reply

   I bought and used 6.5 (Lightest Brown) as an at home corrective measure. I used a brand I never had before (Nice n’ Easy) and ended up with the dreaded “hot roots” and an overall brassy tone. I went to a colorist who said this likely happened because I did not leave the color on long enough so the developer (peroxide) lifted slightly but the color did not deposit fully. He did an expensive demi fix on me but it was still warmer (and darker) than I like.

   I waited a month for things to settle down and purchased this color. I REALLY like the results! Granted my hair was pretty darn brassy to begin with, this toned it down quite a bit to a more believable, warm light brown. I did use Ardell Un Red drops (20) so I cannot be certain if it was all the color or the combination. I am thinking it is MORE the color because even though the Un Red DID turn the color mixture dark, it did NOT darken the results, like others using Un Red with success have experienced. The color was very easy to apply and I had plenty to cover all my hair (I have lower back length, fine but copious hair). I left on for 15 minutes and rinsed. The rinsing went a lot easier than most other colors and the conditioner is THE BOMB!! Seriously, I wish they sold it on its own. As for the color refresher, I am NOT going to take any chances by using it. I have heard it is RED. As soon as I opened the box, I threw it out.

   My hair is not dried out at all (and I have semi and demi perm.ed in the last two months) and the conditioner makes my hair SO silky. I have sworn off at home hair color for a while but if I do decide to color again, I will use this!

7. 

   cautiousSardines7

   Reply

   Tried this in 6C yesterday, I left it on 15 minutes because my medium brown hair was going towards a lot of brassy, orangy red tones, it made my hair medium brown and it took some of the brass but the color is not see thru, it’s all a solid color which I hate, no dimension to it and it’s very dry at the moment with lots of frizz even though I left the conditioner on for 30 minutes.
   Hopefully it will fade as I wash it.
   Frizzy, dry, ugly hair, never, ever again!!!

8. 

   fondCoconut9

   Reply

   This made my hair orange. It does not do what it is supposed to. Awful. Even worse it dried out my hair. Do not buy if you want truly brass-free hair.

9. 

   pitifulHare8

   Reply

   Bought this because I do not like the new formula of the regular Clairol Natural Instincts. I had used a Japanese hair dye that was not ammonia free and ended up with brassy roots! I let it grow out and hoped that it would wash out. Most of it did, but it was becoming noticeable as my darker roots grew out. It looks like a brass halo!
   So I bought this in light brown and it completely took it out! My hair is now all one color now.

10. 

    empathicPlover7

    Reply

    I agree with many others here saying they would never use Natural Instincts “Brass-Free” color again. I used the Brass Free Brunettes color in medium brown. After my hair dried, I noticed a bright gold halo affect all on the outside of my hair. Odd I thought. Well the next day, the color had turned a bright, sparkly ORANGE red. That the exact opposite of what I wanted to happen.

    So I feel better knowing it’s not just me, but I agree with a lot of others here. It can do the opposite of what you want it to do.