Reaching the ideal shade of cold, dark hair can be difficult, particularly if you have undesired red tones in your hair. Even if we’re going for a cool, dark look, many of us have been frustrated when our hair turns out warmer than expected. The good news is that you can achieve the desired shade and reduce the red undertones with the appropriate products and application methods.
I’ve experimented with a number of professional and store-bought hair dyes in my quest for the ideal cold-toned dark hair. Estel Essex and Schwarzkopf Igora were two notable brands. Both provide dependable ways to balance redness, and I’ve been able to get the desired cool tones using them. In addition, I tested a few well-known mass-market paints, which produced varying outcomes but might be a decent choice for those on a tight budget.
I’ll discuss my own experiences with these products in this post, along with what worked and what didn’t, as well as maintenance advice for that sleek, dark color. This may be the answer you’ve been searching for if you’re having trouble with warmth and redness in your hair.
| Product | Experience |
| Schwarzkopf Igora | To achieve a cold dark shade and neutralize unwanted red tones, I used Schwarzkopf Igora. It offers strong pigmentation and mixes well with blue or green correctors to counteract the redness. The results were long-lasting with a natural cool finish. |
| Estel Essex | Estel Essex worked effectively to darken the hair and remove the warm, red undertones. It provides good coverage, and adding an ash-tone corrector helped to keep the color on the cooler side without any brassiness. |
| Mass Market Paints | While more affordable, popular mass market brands often require more frequent touch-ups. The coverage was decent, but I found the need to add purple or blue shampoo after to maintain a cooler dark shade and avoid red tones reappearing. |
How to achieve a cold and noble shade of hair
I have been thinking about this for a few years now. The truth is that I have golden brown hair, blue eyes, and white skin. The stunning beauty of Dita von Tiz and Amy Lee from the EvanesCens group, who are naturally fair-haired and prefer cold, dark hues, is my ideal girl.
The most uncomfortable thing is that, after a few rampant of the head, an ash tint that was obtained as a result of hair coloring frequently starts to treacherously turn red or even red, from which it is very difficult to remove. This post will describe my experience dying my hair in cold tones using both professional and non-professional mass-market dyes. It will also include a photo of the finished product and a discussion of the pros and cons of this challenging topic.
Garnier Olia 5.0
One of the well-known and widely used hair dyes, which is sold practically everywhere, caught my eye because of its natural, serene shade that doesn’t have any hints of red or golden tint, its composition doesn’t contain ammonia, and it’s reasonably priced (about 250 rubles per pack). The outcome of using Garnier Olia 5.0 for dying:
I was initially pleased with the color and the hair’s quality remained intact. However, the original shade vanished completely in just two weeks; the dye not only started to fade into a brown-red color, but also entirely removed my light brown roots. It is most definitely not something I would suggest because of how poorly the dye holds up over time.
Selecting the appropriate hair dyes and techniques is crucial to getting rid of unwanted redness and achieving a cold, dark shade of hair. Professional lines like Estel Essex and Schwarzkopf Igora, in my experience, work well to balance out red tones and produce a cool, dark finish. Popular mass-market paints, however, can also function, though they might need extra toning or purple shampoo to prevent reddish hues. The color must be applied and maintained correctly to stay cool and rich without fading into warmer tones.
Schwarzkopf Nectra Color 568
I also experimented with two other well-known amateur dyes during that time: Schwarzkopf Nectra Color and Loreal Casting. Both dyes have a gorgeous dark shade range and don’t contain ammonia. I can see that the hair looks smooth and alive after coloring, and the color is incredibly vibrant and saturated. The hair also shines beautifully in the sun. The outcome of using Schwarzkopf Nectra Color 568 for dying:
Why did I decide to stop using amateur dyes that don’t contain ammonia? In my view, these dyes work best on girls who wish to bring back the vibrancy and life to their natural hair color. They are not recommended for people who frequently dye their hair and end up with a "mix" of different colors all over their head. I tried several mass-market dyes, but they were all too weak to effectively reduce unwanted redness, and the original shade quickly washed off.
Estel Essex 5.71
I have nothing but positive things to say about the Estel brand; their products are of high caliber and reasonably priced. After experimenting with amateur dyes, I turned to the Estel Essex series in shade 5.71 to fix the embarrassment that was on my head. The outcome of using Estel Essex 5 paint for dying. 71.
The color turned out to be unrealistically gorgeous, bright, and saturated; I can compare the final hair color to dark chocolate. The hair quality did not degrade, but rather improved; after coloring, there was no trace of overdried length or "killed" ends. However, this color still falls into the chocolate rather than the ash category, so eventually, it also started to wash out into brown-red.
It can be difficult to get a cold, dark hair tone without redness or unwelcome warmth, but the correct tools and methods help. Professional dyes like Estel Essex and Schwarzkopf Igora, in my opinion, provide excellent control over color tones and consistently produce results. I was able to achieve a cool, rich dark shade that seemed smooth and natural thanks to these brands.
Popular brands can also be effective for people who prefer mass-market options, though they may need extra work to balance out red undertones. Toners and color-correcting shampoos can help keep the cool shade in place for extended periods.
Maintaining a consistent hair care regimen is essential. Your dark shade won’t fade into warmer tones if you regularly refresh the color and use products made especially to keep hair cool-toned.
