Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)1. It is an orange based color, not pink. Most reds on the market (in the semi-perm category) are pink based - this includes pretty much every Manic Panic shade. If you want it to fade into a more pink color, stay away from this, as it's going to fade orange (unless you had pink on beneath it).
2. If you don't bleach your hair before using this, you're probably going to be disappointed. If you're looking for a deep red to add a shimmer of red in the sunlight, you're probably better off with Manic Panic's Vampire Red. If you DO bleach your hair before using this, this is one of the most forgiving dyes out there. You only need to bleach to a light orange, if bleaching freaks you out.
3. While bleaching does, in fact, damage the hair, vegetable based dyes (Manic Panic, Special Effects, many others) actually help the hair. You can leave it on for hours and hours and it will not harm your hair. The dye contains no harmful chemicals, and when used on hair that has been bleached or is dry, can be very beneficial. I find that as it fades, a month or so after dyeing, my hair starts to feel dry and brittle. As soon as I put some more of this dye on my hair and let it sit for a few hours, my hair is silky, smooth and fantastic. Some people put the dye on and keep it on overnight. Some people apply heat while it's on, to open the hair shaft so the dye can be absorbed more thoroughly. However you decide to do it, just know that these dyes are NOT damaging, and you can leave them on as long as you want. Also, make sure you do NOT condition your hair before using this, as the conditioner will make the application uneven. Wash your hair with a PH balanced shampoo (a lot of people use dandruff shampoo) and then let it dry. No conditioner. Some dyes have instructions telling you that you can go ahead and apply the dye after your hair is towel dried. Don't do this. Your hair should be bone dry, otherwise application can be uneven. After you rinse it out, only use conditioner on your hair. Your hair should already be clean.
4. This is a BRIGHT color. Expect that :)
5. I find Special Effects dye to be a lot less runny than others, say Manic Panic. This makes a huge difference when trying to keep it from getting on your counters, shoulders, clothing, skin... I definitely recommend keeping a towel just for dyeing your hair - drape that over whatever counter space you're using.
6. If you're considering trying a "safer" boxed dye to get a stunning red, you should avoid that at all costs. You will not achieve the bright red you want, and you'll damage your hair trying to get there. Better to bleach your own hair and then use this.
7. This bleeds a lot when you take a shower. Don't be alarmed. When you shampoo your hair, your suds will be bright red. This will fade a little every time you take a shower - and can fade even more if your hair is hardly damaged or is very damaged. When you bleach your hair, it makes the hair porous - or, it puts holes in your hair shaft. When you dye with a vegetable dye, like this one, the dye soaks into those holes. So, if you put this on virgin hair, this dye has little to no holes to soak into, and will probably rinse out pretty quickly. If you've bleached the heck out of your hair (like I have), it will probably rinse out more quickly, as your hair is TOO porous and allows the dye to seep out when you wash. A lot of people who keep their hair colored with dyes like this wash their hair only a few times a week. Some of them once a week. I feel that life is too short to have dirty hair. Some people also use cold water to wash and rinse their hair, as cold water closes the hair shaft (heat opens it) and keeps the dye from leaking out as much. Again, I feel that life is too short to take cold showers. Ways to combat this: Don't wash your hair with VERY hot water. Make it as cool as you can without being uncomfortable. Also, you can mix the hair dye with your conditioner, which will deposit color in your hair after you wash. Some people only mix a few tablespoons of their dye into their conditioner - I mix almost a half bottle in. My hair stays vibrant for a long time.
8. You'll read that you should rinse the dye out until the water runs clear. This absolutely will not happen. Ever. You could rinse it for 45 minutes, and there would still be dye running out of it. That's how it works. It's not like a boxed dye. Try to rinse it until the color in the tub water is very light, but not clear. I'm sure that I have come out of the shower before with quite a bit of dye still in my hair - but, don't worry about that. Some people rinse their hair with vinegar after they rinse out the dye, to seal the color in. I don't do this...well, I go back to life being too short. Life is too short to pour vinegar on my head. I'd rather retouch my dye more often than do that.
9. That leads me to talking about how the dye WILL run if it gets wet. This includes rain, pools, anything involving water. The running will be worse just after you dye. If you jump into a pool, not only will your hair leak out all over the place, but the chemicals in the pool will probably strip it further. Overall, not a good idea.
I have been dyeing my hair in crazy colors for well over a decade. I've been every shade of every color on the market. If you're looking for bright, extremely vibrant red hair, this is a great dye to use. Probably the best on the market.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Special Effects Hair Dye -Nuclear Red #13
Click here for more information about Special Effects Hair Dye -Nuclear Red #13
