Whether you’re looking to conceal a few pesky grey hairs popping through, lighten up darker roots thanks to outgrown highlights, or simply revive dulled color, it’s never been easier to touch up your color at home when you just can’t make it into the salon in time or don’t want to drop the big bucks to see a professional. Now, I am most certainly not suggesting that it’s a safe move to make any drastic hair changes without consulting with a professional colorist (i.e. please do not bleach your hair at home or attempt a pastel shade out of boredom) however if you’re looking to simply soften the line of demarcation from grow out or make a subtle change, there are actually some easy and user-friendly options to get you by when you’re in a bit of a beauty bind.

Most hair colorists would probably agree that using a box dye on your own for the first time (and without the help of someone who knows that they’re doing) is bound to lead to a disaster, but there are simple and advanced solutions to help you make it through without compromising your locks and winding up with the need for an expensive, in-salon color correction (trust me, I’ve been there.) As another precaution, attempting to go blonde via DIY and at-home box dyes if you’re already dark—generally, anything level higher than a seven (dark blonde) is not advised because it could lead the hair brassy and orange rather than bright and blonde (don’t judge a box by its cover, guys.) While they may not be a salon in a bottle, if you’re willing to dare the world of at-home hair coloring, we’ve rounded up a few foolproof products that will help you prevent a potentially irreversible disaster and help hold you off until the next appointment.

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