Garnier Belle Color Root Touch-Up in R2

Fast and easy way to touch up your roots between colourings, in 10 minutes. Blends with any permanent haircolour brand. 

Our patented formula blends with any permanent haircolour brand and provides natural-looking, impeccable results. To choose your shade, refer to the colour chart on the side of the box.

I don't know if I already talked about this on my blog but I like to have a backup of hair dyes in my closet. The reason why is that I hate to have to rush to the drugstore to have to pay full-price for a box of hair dye when I really have to do my hair - which rarely happens because I don't really mind my roots - and I like to collect coupons and combine them with sales, which scores me pretty good deals.

Think about it - an average box of hair dye costs around $10, not multiply this by 12 months (if you dye your hair once a month, like me) and there you have it: $120. It adds up pretty quickly, huh? You don't have to pay that - that's when coupons and sales come in handy!

I think I went a little crazy with all those coupons and sales though. Yes my HG hair dye may be Clairol Nice 'n Easy, but hey, how could I not pick up that box of Garnier Belle Color Root Touch-Up that is on sale for $3? I just can't stop experimenting with hair colors and the results is that I currently have 6 boxes hidden in my closet and I need to use them before I turn to cruelty-free alternatives.

I haven't used root touch-up kits very often because I was always afraid I would end up with lighter roots and darker hair, but I must say I'm incredibly impressed with this one.

I chose the shade R2 which is said to blend with all darkest browns to blacks. Because I purchased this hair dye such a long time ago, I can't remember the choice of shade, but if I look up the Garnier website, this range doesn't seem to exist! I do see the Belle Color ColorEase Crème but not the root touch-up kits... maybe it has been discontinued?

This kit is perfect for you if you are currently wearing one of the following shades:

Bascially, all darkest browns to blacks shades

In these type of kits, you get a smaller quantity of product, as it's designed to be applied only at the roots - it is not recommended to apply the dye to hair that have already been dyed.

The Precision-Colour brush did require some getting used at first me because I usually use only my hands when I dye my hair, but I actually really enjoyed it, it makes things much more easier. I have even washed it and I plan to re-use it the next time I do my hair.

The instructions are slightly different from regular hair dye 

My main problem with hair dye is finding a dark brown that looks very dark - almost black - and that won't fade. My wish was granted with Clairol Nice 'n Easy hair colors but I still have hopes to find something similar with other hair dyes. I was amazed at the results with this one!

The last time I dyed my hair, I used L'Oréal Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Color in 40 Espresso (Natural Deeply Brown) which is the darkest brown I could find in this collection, but still, it didn't turn out to be as dark as I would have liked it to be. In fact, after a few washes, my blonde roots were already peeking through...?! Look at the difference!

Garnier Belle Color Root Touch-Up R2 gave me super dark - almost black - hair, exactly what I was expecting! I really wish I could find a cruelty-free alternative to this root touch-up kit as I do think these types of hair dye are less damaging to the hair because you only do the roots. Any suggestions ladies?

* Product tested on animals. You may (or may not) be aware that Gaby's Beauty Blog recently went cruelty-free. However, I hope it's understandable that I can't simply throw away the products I have previously purchased that have unfortunately been tested on animals - believe me, I wouldn't hesitate if I were rich! My goal is to use up those products but not repurchase them in the future. Also, Gaby's Beauty Blog will no longer accept for review purposes products that have been tested on animals.

L'Oréal Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Color in 40 Espresso (Natural Deeply Brown)

Féria absolutely masters the art of shimmering prismatic colour. Its advanced Silk & Shimmers Deep Conditiong hydrates and conditions week after week. Plus, an aromatic scent for a pleasant colouring experience. 

Inspired by cutting-edge fashion, Féria's prismatic colour spectrum is custom blended by L'Oréal master colorists to make every shade shimer with X3 highlights. 

After my bad experience with L'Oréal Féria Power Reds, I decided to make a complain to L'Oréal and they sent me a coupon for a free box of hair dye of my choice. I kept hearing great things about L'Oréal Féria range in general but I never purchased a box because they are rarely on sale, so I decided to give the "natural" color a chance, and I opted for the darkest brown I could find, 40 Espresso, also called Natural Deeply Brown.

I don't remember the last hair dye I used to conceal the red (I forgot to post about it), but I remember I was in a rush, hence the poor results - I forgot to coat some of the hair in my bangs in the dye, so they were left an ugly orangey-blonde that only got worst when I spent my days in the sun. Not to mention that my roots were paler than the rest of my hair, despite me choosing the darkest brown I could find, as usual.

At first I thought the color was not as dark as I usually like it to be, but I think it has grown on me because now I quite like it. You can see in the "after" picture that the dye did cover my orangey-blonde bangs, but you can still see some red shines through, and it only gets worst in the sun. If you look closely, my roots seem lighter than the rest of my hair, and this time, it's not because I messed up! Maybe I should have opted for Midnight Sky, which is a natural soft black... Anyway, it doesn't bother me that much though as I think the result looks pretty natural, even on my pale skintone.

Can you see the annoying reddish tones where the sun hits my hair?

I didn't notice anything different from the previous hair dyes I have tried, not to mention the scent was still strongly chemical despite the Aromatic Shimmer Serum.  I also wish they had a proper dark brown color. I would say it's a good hair dye, but not enough to justify its steep price for my tight student budget.

Other Féria shades:

And the winner of my Glymm Box giveaway is...

Halifax! Congrats!

L'Oréal Féria Power Reds in R37 Rich Burgundy

Remember my last attempt with red hair dye? Looks like I haven't learned my lesson yet...

This is the first time I see so many things in one box of hair dye!

Before:

During the process:

After:

OMG! The exact same result as Garnier Nutrisse Intense Red! Again, the red only showed up on my blonde roots. At first, I was really mad, because it was clearly stated on the box that this hair dye is recommended on medium brown to black haircolour. BUT, after reading the back of the box for the third time, I found the catch:

As French is my mother tongue, of course I'll read the instructions in French first! And in Frnech, it's not mentioned that it's recommended on medium brown to black natural haircolor! It only says medium brown to black! That's a little stupid, don't you think? Let's say I couldn't read English, how would I have known this hair dye is recommended on natural haircolor only?

It's not a complete mess, I kind of like the look of my hair now, but still, that's not what I was expecting, and I'm a little angry at L'Oréal!

Revlon ColorSilk in Brown Black 20

Wow, I skipped a month of hair dye without even noticing! Well, when my roots start to show, I always tell myself that it's no big deal and that it can way another week (because I'm so lazy). But you know how fast the days past with school? So I forgot about it... and then, while browsing my older posts, I realized that my last hair dye was on... October 6! I skipped a whole month LOL. And the results are not pretty:

 See that patch of hair near my forehead that is lighter than the rest of my hair? I missed this spot the last time I dyed my hair black LOL.

 It's worst than I thought! Yuck X_X

I realized that I really needed to color my hair when I was taking pictures for my upcoming review of Alberto Weather Resistant Hairspray.

I decided to give Revlon Colorsilk a try. It's not available where I live, but I picked up this box when I was in Wildwood two years ago because it was only around $3.

Onto the results:

This hair dye is ammonia-free and it's claimed to leave your hair in better condition. I can't tell as I always find that my hair looks so siny and healthy right after a coloration.

You can also notice that I'm already bored of my straight bangs (or fringe?)... I've started parting in on the side again LOL. I can't help it, it gets greasy just so quickly and it's so annoying to always have something on my face! Plus, I believe it makes me look younger x=

Clair Nice 'n Easy 131 Rich Dark Brown + Incoco teaser + new family member + books

I finally dyed my hair Thursday after having skipped a month, because my roots weren't that obvious (I noticed, but not others).

So here's my hair before:

Even after 2 months, you can't see my roots that much. Maybe I will start skipping a month - it can only be good for my hair.

Clair Nice 'n Easy 131 Rich Dark Brown

I never realized, but this shade is actually designed for dark hair. I wish they would make a purple-burgundy hair dye designed for dark hair, because that color just won't show up on my hair - except if I bleach it, which causes it to turn orange in two weeks -_-

Waiting time (around 25 minutes):

I look like a goblin xD

I like to twist my hair up so that the dye doesn't stain my tee or neck. I also try to not put dye on my ends to prevent them from frying.

Final result:

excuse my swollen eye, I think I have allergies or something -_-

It looks almost black when I'm inside, but the sun makes it appear more brown.

 

Balou looked at me during the whole process (=

♥

In my last post, I showed you the package I received as a member of the Super Shimz Program from MyShimmer.com (you can read more on how to become a Super Shimz here). I have applied the French Manicure appliqués, and I wanted to share with you a teaser picture of my upcoming review:

I want to test drive them to see if they really last up to 14 days (which I highly doubt because I can already see some chips), so it's a little too soon to write an honest review. I will have to keep you waiting a little longer =P

♥

I went to the pet store yesterday and I came home with this little one:

I was looking for a rat similar to Dorothé (white and beige fur) but there wasn't any so I went for this cute guy with white and grey fur. He is super cute with his big ears! He is around 4 months old. 

This picture was taken when he arrived home - I meant to not activate the flash to not scare him even more, but I actived it by mistake -_- You can see that he is all tense from the car trip... poor little thing. At least he doesn't always hide in his box, but he is still a little nervous when we are around.

♥

I went to the library with my mother today because I nearly ran out of books. I'm already at the half of the last of the three Vampire Diaires book, so I needed some backup!

Here is what I picked up:

• If I Stay, by Gayle Forman
• Mes amis, mes amours, mais encore?, by Agathe Hochberg
• Shining, by Stephen King
• Lipstick Jungle, Candace Bushnell
• Scarlet, si possible, by Katheinre Pancol
• Shopaholic and Sister, by Sophie Kinsella
• Size 14 Is Not Fat Either, by Meg Cabot