Best Hair Color Home Kits: Salon-Style Results From a Box

Feeling the need to change things up a bit in the hair department? It’s amazing how we can feel like a whole new person with just a change of hair color. And it’s no wonder: the right hair color can really transform your look – it enlivens your skin tone, hides random grays and can make the color of your eyes stand out. Luckily, for a quick color change, we don’t need to go to an expensive salon. All those endless rows of hair color home kits make DIY dye jobs more simple and professional-looking than ever. The technology has really come a long way since the introduction of the first dye box. Not only are the dyes less damaging, but most of them contain haircare ingredients and the color results are richer and shinier.

Choosing the right hair color home kit

Here’s the most important tip when dyeing your hair using a hair color home kit: the final shade you’ll end up with depends on your current hair color, not on what you see on the front of the box. Turn to the back of the box, as this is where you’ll find swatches showing the result you can expect based on your current shade.

[ How to Color Your Hair at Home Like a Pro ]

Another important tip is to pay attention to your skin tone. If you are cool-toned or your skin seems dull, pick a shade that has warm tones, as this will liven up your complexion. Cool hair color tones work well on fair skin and look really good on people with warm skin tones. Also, don’t forget your brows – if you have really thick, dark brows, try to avoid platinum blonde shades, as the overall look can be obviously unnatural. Eye color can also play a part: red and copper shades look fantastic with green or blue eyes, for instance. Now that you know how to find the right hair color, it’s time to choose your box kit. Whether you’re in the market for a natural-toned hair color, something bold and bright, or simply wish to add some highlights or touch up your roots, click through the gallery for the top-rated, user-loved hair color home kits that will bring out the new you.

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11 hair color home kits

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Thinking of changing up your hair color? Try one of these top-rated hair color home kits for salon-like results from a box.
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L'Oréal Paris Excellence Créme, $7.99 at Amazon

When it comes to hair color kits, L'Oréal was one of the first brands to set standards. This non-drip formula is a cream and is available in 38 shades. When it comes to care, these permanent colors feature a triple protection system infused with ceramide, pro-keratine complex and collagen, which means your hair will be protected even after coloring.
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Clairol Perfect 10, $13.49 at Ulta

Here is a permanent hair color home kit that provides high gloss results at high speed – in just 10 minutes. It's great for covering gray hair and users love the natural look it gives.
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John Frieda Precision Foam Colour, $12.99 at Ulta

John Frieda rarely disappoints. This non-drip foam formula covers every strand perfectly, so you are guaranteed shiny, natural-looking results. Quick and easy application is what users love about this product: no more begging your BFF for help! It comes with a nourishing post-treatment conditioner to seal in color while keeping hair soft and silky.
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Schwarzkopf Keratin Color Anti-Age Hair Color, $9.97 at Amazon

This hair color home kit is tailor-made for mature or brittle hair that needs extra care. It uses a unique collagen care complex and skin-flattering pigments to deliver younger, fuller hair in just 30 minutes. If your hair has been highly processed or damaged, this kit acts as a treatment to help repair hair with less breakage.
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L'Oréal Paris Superior Preference, $9.99 at Ulta

Another hair color home kit by L'Oréal makes our list of user-favorites. What makes this one stand out is its unique fade-defying color and shine system. For color that has depth and dimension, choose from over 50 luminous shades.
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Vidal Sassoon Salonist Hair Colour, $14.99 at Amazon

This is a two-step coloring system that aims to give seamlessly blended hair color as if you went to a pricey salon. It treats your roots and lengths separately because newly grown and previously dyed strands take in color differently. The result is hair color with depth and tone.
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Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Crème, $7.69 at Amazon

This at-home hair color kit gives rich, radiant color and silky, shiny hair. The triple nourishment system enriched with avocado, olive, and shea oils cares for the hair and, as a result, color looks better. This color also promises 100% gray coverage.
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Arctic Fox Hair Color, $16.99 at Amazon

If you are looking for a less than permanent option or you simply wish to experiment with really bold colors, here is a dye that is semi permanent and made only with safe, high-quality vegan ingredients. Made non-alkaline and peroxide free, it's gentle enough for frequent use. You can rock your emerald green tresses and feel double-good about yourself because Arctic Fox donates 15% to help animals in need and to fight against animal cruelty.
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L'Oréal Paris Couleur Experte, $11.24 at Amazon

If you are looking for multi-dimensional highlights, this kit can lighten or deepen your base color while evenly covering grays. Follow up with the highlight applicator, which makes highlighting quick, easy, and precise. You can expect naturally radiant highlights with dimension and shine.
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Revlon Luxurious Colorsilk Buttercream, $25 at Amazon

This is a luxurious cream dye designed to give long-lasting and deep color while nourishing and conditioning hair to keep it healthy and extra shiny. It features Revlon's exclusive triple butter complex with anti-oxidants: shea, mango and coconut butters care for your strands while helping to prevent damage. The end result: healthy looking hair and rich color results.