I Tried the $12 Hair Dye That's All Over Instagram, and the Results Were Red Hot

Published on 4/26/2021 at 12:45 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Lauren Harano

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There comes a time when the highlights, lowlights, babylights, and balayage just aren't enough but when bangs, bobs, and buzz cuts are too much. So where's the sweet spot for someone who wants to do something different with their hair? Red-hot temporary hair dye.

As someone who has had the same cut and color for years, the thought of making a permanent change was too daunting. That's why, when I saw that Good Dye Young's collection of hair makeup was super affordable (I'm talking $12), I knew it was a sign. Dyeing my hair red has never been on the top of my list of things to do, but with remote work still in effect and a desire to add some spice to my life, I knew it was now or never.

A few fast facts about the product: Good Dye Young's hair makeup is vegan and cruelty-free, comes in five shades (rose gold, gray, periwinkle, purple, and red), and features hydrating ingredients like soy protein and aloe vera. The serum combines salon-grade pigments with a conditioning formula that deposits a semitemporary color that comes out in two to six washes. Just a note that three of the colors are meant for blondes (rose gold, gray, and periwinkle) while two are meant for darker shades (purple and red), and the brand recommends you use the appropriate dye for the appropriate hair color because the pigment load varies depending. (Translation: if you use the red hue that I used and you have light hair, it'll take way longer for the pigment to wash out.)

Check out the step-by-step process of how to use the hair makeup and a review of the product, and see the results for yourself.

My Hair Before the Good Dye Young Hair Makeup

I just got highlights a couple weeks ago, so my hair is lighter than it has been in months. My hair usually ranges between this color and darker brown depending on the season, and while highlights for spring are not exactly groundbreaking, I still love them.

How I Sectioned My Hair Before Applying the Good Dye Young Hair Makeup

Since I wasn't sure how dark the dye would be, I decided to only do the under layers of my hair just in case it was too much. Remember, I don't often stray too far from my usual midlength highlighted brown hair.

Before applying the dye, I wet the section I wanted to color, then towel-dried it. (You can't totally tell here, but my hair is damp.)

How to Apply the Good Dye Young Hair Makeup

Since this is a semipermanent dye, it's advised to use gloves for application. The formula has a liquidy, serum-like consistency and absorbs right into hair on contact. Even with my damp, towel-dried hair, I could already see the red color forming.

My Hair After the Good Dye Young Hair Makeup

Once the hair serum was applied to my desired sections, I blow-dried my hair and styled it as usual. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but the pigment was red. Since it was my first time using the dye, I missed a couple sections (the bottom right side of my hair), so note to self: be more attentive next time. I could have applied more color to the pieces I missed, but since the red was already pretty red, I decided to leave as is.

My Hair After the Good Dye Young Hair Dye

I mixed in the sections of my hair that I didn't dye with the sections that I did, and this was the end result. As you can see, the red color is really bright and has a rich hue even against my brown hair.

Pro tip: if the color is too bright for you, do a quick wash in the shower after you apply the dye. The color will still be there, but it won't be as bold.

My Hair After 4 Washes

Ultimately, I think I'll stick to my brown hair. While the red was fun for a while, I don't know if I can really pull it off. Luckily, it only took a couple washes to tone down the color, meaning I still had some red to work with but not enough for my friends to continue saying I looked like I was going to a rave (because, yes, they said that).

Moral of the story? I would recommend the Good Dye Young I'm Bored Hair Makeup ($12) to someone who wants to try something new without the commitment (hey, some of us have commitment issues). The product is super affordable and fun to experiment with and only lasts a couple of days. I would note that the color really does stick, so make sure to not miss any areas.

If you're looking for a dye that'll give you that new-hair-who-this feeling, this is the one for you.

Rating:

★★★☆

Good Dye Young I'm Bored Hair Makeup

From

$12