L’Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Hair Color, T53

I have level 7 reddish-blonde hair and I simply pump up the copper red color with this product. I get tons of compliments daily regarding my hair color. Not a colorist, I am a chemist, I do understand how the color wheel works and what I have to do to get the color I want and this works perfectly for me. I am a level 7 reddish blonde and this is also a level 7 copper/red/blonde so it will deposit perfectly and will pump up that copper red color I like so much. Keep in mind this is a copper red and will not be a true red. This has a red/orange base and will impart red/orange color. If you are seeking a true red then pick something else. I do get a kick out of my hair syulist at Regis who asked me if people do ask me if I am a colorist. She says the color is simply flawless and not everyone can carry this off as it deposits very heavily and it is very bright. The developer in this kit is 25 volume cream peroxide.

If you want this color to last you have to use sulfate-free hair products or a line that will actually lock in the color. Products containing sulfates will make the color bleed. Personally, I use Diamond Shine by Zotos (Shampoo, Conditioner,Moisturizing or For Color Treated Hair makes no difference; and Illuminating Smoother or Shine Boost )and I never see any color bleed when I wash/condition my hair. Sadly, I find L’Oreal shampoos and conditioners to not meet their claims.

Another thing regarding hair and chemistry: Best thing I use right after coloring is a cider vinegar rinse (1/4 cup of cider vinegar to 1/4 cup of water) and that will neutralize the peroxide (base) you just used to process the color. Additionally, this will strip out all the conditioners and chemicals that weigh hair down (i.e., when hair is over conditioned). The application of a weak acid will neutralize a strong oxidizing base like peroxide and stabilizes the pH of your hair. BTW-if you cannot find this, L’Oreal MR1 (from their Mega Reds Preference line mix with 20 volume cream peroxide) is a perfect match in their Preference line and it does provide 100% grey coverage. Feria does not provide 100% grey coverage, so keep that in mind when choosing your color.

Zotos also makes Quantum Riveting Reds and I use that once a week and it keeps my color vibrant. You cannot beat the price at Sally’s on Zotos shampoos and conditioners ($7.50/32 oz sizes).Of course, you can make your own by mixing some semi-permanent color, a similar shade to what you color with, with some sulfate free shampoo and this will also boost faded/fading reds.

You have to realize that the color on the box is not what you will really get simply by applying what comes inside the box. Do be aware that L’Oreal has a line of Mega Reds (their Preference line) and that line is highly specific to what the base color of ones’ hair. they have that line for blondes and brunettes. So if you are a brunette use the formulations specific to your color level or be prepared to double process your hair and lift it to a level where a formulation intended for higher level is actually going to take/deposit/lift as it was formulated to do. If you want gorgeous color than you have to look at your hair and determine what base color you have. If you have deposited color on your hair then the best thing to do is strip it out with something like One ‘N Only Color Fix (get 2 bottles just in case, very gentle and no damage) then you are going to see what you are really starting with. Common sense would dictate that depositing color on color is a really bad way to go. Think about it: red and yellow make make orange, blue and red form violet, blue and yellow form a green base, green and yellow make blue on the cyan side…So taking all of that into consideration will indeed affect the color you get.

When I decided to go back to my natural color and make it pop I had to recognize the fact I was using 30 volume peroxide to bring my hair to a platinum blonde color. I stripped the color with One ‘N Only and then I used a filler (non-peroxide color/semi permanent color/a neutral toner for high lift blonde-a pale blonde shade mixed with 10 volume peroxide in order to deposit color into the porous cuticle, basically fill the cuticle with color and then I applied this color. If I had not done that the cuticle would never have held the color (it would have turned pink) as it was so porous due to the application of the 30 volume peroxide which is similar to bleaching. So now you can see why colorists are highly trained and really do know what they are doing. They do test strands for a reason and so should any amateur/novice.

One more thing: Always check the contents of the box before you use the product. I have had the experience where the #74 color had been swapped for Feria N37, this would have been a disaster had I not known how to fix it. Feria 37 is a deep plum color and is a level 3 (very dark). I simply removed it with One ‘N Only. Sometimes people swap things out and return them-happens.

This is the best product for hair lightening that I have found in a while . It’s difficult to get in my region so I was happy to see it on Amazon and will buy it from here from now on

If you have black hair as I do and you want to go lighter color without spending 4 hours in a hairdresser’s chair, this will do the job in 30 minutes. Love it!

Very natural colour.

Parfait

Deep Copper Shimmer:

I’ve been too afraid to use an at-home dye, so I’ve been forking over hundreds of dollars for salon color. I finally decided to try L’Oreal 74 Deep Copper Shimmer instead. It was the first time I have ever dyed my hair by myself, and it was easy! There is more than enough product for a test strand and then someone with long (though not thick) hair. My hair looks just as good as it does when I have it done in the salon and feels incredibly soft. The color is exactly what it shows on the box, even at my dark brown roots! I highly recommend this. L’Oreal–please don’t ever discontinue Copper Shimmer! The color is outstanding!

Champagne Cocktail:
NOTE: This review is for L’Oreal Feria 91: Champagne Cocktail. I am going to cover in this review what I desperately needed to find before I tried this product and couldn’t.

Hair type: Colored blonde with reddish-blonde roots from a salon; previously highlighted blonde from being dyed red. Hair is thick and goes past shoulders to the end of the shoulder blades.

When I dyed it with Feria: 5 weeks after last salon visit, on unwashed hair; 1 box of dye was all I needed.

Review: I love being a blonde but was considering going brunette to save on money and salon costs, which in the area I live are upwards of $100 at almost any salon (unless you want your hair cut by someone fresh out of beauty school–which, no offense, is too nervewracking for me personally). Then it occurred to me–perhaps I could try highlighting or coloring myself from home. I used to color my hair red (the L’Oreal Copper Shimmer) and I got so good at doing it that I did a better job than my stylist. If you’re unsure about doing it yourself, check out Youtube for Kandee Johnson’s how-to-dye-hair video. This is the video that taught me how to dye my own hair in a professional manner.

After comparing brands, I went back to L’Oreal, as I already trusted the line and it had the best reviews. I chose Champagne Cocktail based on the L’Oreal “Find my color” walkthrough; I chose a cool blonde since I have pink tones to my skin and my hair (being dyed red for so long) has a tendency to lift red. I did a strand test, even though the instructions do not say to do so. I wanted to be sure that my hair would not lift extremely red (no orange for me, though I did like being a ginger in the past.)

I left the color on my roots for 25 minutes and then covered the rest of my hair for 10 minutes. My roots are still slightly darker and redder than my lengths (roots are strawberry blonde, and lengths are very pale blonde), so I would probably leave it on longer the next time I refresh my color; I think I will strand test my roots for 25-45 minutes and see how that works out.

I am pleasantly surprised at how this dye came out; my hair is very soft after saturating with the conditioner, and I will probably use it again. However, tomorrow I think I will try the L’Oreal Brass Banisher to see if that can cut some of the strawberry blonde out of my roots. Hope this helped someone!

EDIT
The Brass Banisher cut the red out of my hair! I don’t have to go to a salon to get my roots to match, and I don’t have to bleach them. For full review, go to the Banisher product page.