Box Dye vs Salon Colour: Which is Better?

Debating whether to DIY your hair colour or leave it to the professional? Before you make your decision, consider factors like quality, customisation and overall experience. Below, Laura Elliott, head of education at Neäl & Wølf shares her thoughts on the box dye vs salon colour debate.

Quality

Your hair deserves the best, so quality is a key consideration. Box dye often contains harsh chemicals that can leave your hair dry and damaged. While these have improved over the years, they aren’t salon-grade in quality. Salon colour contains higher quality, gentle ingredients that are designed to be much kinder on your hair. This reduces the risk of damage, allowing you to prioritise the health of your locks.

Customisation

The freedom to choose can be another important factor. Box dyes generally offer a broad variety of options, but their premixed shades do have a one-size-fits-all approach. This can make achieving your dream precise shade or complex dying techniques, like balayage or highlights, tricky. Salon colourists have the resources to create a custom blend tailored to you, creating a style that realises your hair vision. For this reason, we’d recommend bringing a photograph or a reference piece to your hair appointment!

Expertise

The expertise of the person applying your colour makes all the difference! Although box dyes come with instructions, they can be difficult to follow, and the dye can be tricky to self-apply. In comparison, a salon colourist has extensive knowledge of hair structure, application techniques and colour theory. Their training means that they understand what is best for your hair, giving you the confidence that you’ll leave the salon with gorgeous healthy-looking hair.

Experience

Although dying your hair at home is convenient, it doesn’t give you the experience you deserve. The process can be messy, time-consuming and even stressful. If something goes wrong, you can only visit a website, send an email or use a chatbot for advice. In a salon, you’re speaking to a real person who can offer you suggestions and tips on caring for your hair. Visiting a salon can also leave you feeling relaxed, pampered and looked after knowing you’re in good hands. Sit back, relax and chat away with your colourist!

Affordability

If you’re looking to save money you may be tempted to go for a box dye. But long term they might not be as budget friendly as you think. If you don’t like the results of your box dye, you might end up spending more on corrections and treatments to improve damaged hair. Investing in professional colour can save you money in the long run as it’s unlikely you’ll need costly repairs or any other corrections.

While box dyes are convenient and budget friendly, salon colour offers higher quality, enhanced customisation, access to expertise and a more enjoyable experience. We believe that healthy, vibrant hair is always an investment worth making.

Find your Neäl & Wølf salon today and view our colour chart for inspo: Hair Colour Chart & Numbering System