When I was a teenager, I dreamed of transforming my natural jet-black hair color. I would spend hours flipping through magazines, admiring models’ highlighted looks, and poring over celebrity before-and-afters. At the time, sun-lightening hair sprays were the thing to use (fellow Millennials, IYKYK). My mom, however, wasn’t on board with my vision, warning me of the potential damage it could cause my youthful, healthy hair. Her advice scared me off and in the two decades that followed, I didn’t even consider coloring my hair.
Recently, when I learned of Clairol ColorStrong Permanent Hair Dyemy teenage ambitions came surging back. Formulated with innovative bonding technology and skincare-inspired ingredients like an alpha hydroxy acid, each step is designed to strengthen hair and nurture its health, not damage it. And just as the ease and convenience of the brightening sprays appealed to me as a teen, the fact that I could achieve results at home with Clairol’s three-step system also swayed me. As a busy New Yorker with my own lifestyle website, I almost always opt for simple, multitasking beauty products. Like press-on nails, using this hair dye is time-saving, affordable, and can be done on my schedule and in the comfort of my own home.
What Is Clairol ColorStrong?
Table of Contents
Clairol ColorStrong is a permanent, ammonia-free, at-home hair dye designed to deliver multidimensional color and revitalize hair from within in three steps: prime, color, and treat. Each formula step is infused with AHA bonding care to ensure hair health.
The ColorStrong line provides 100 percent gray coverage and comes in 21 destination-inspired shades, ranging from 1.0 Black – Hawaii to 10.0 Extra Light Blonde – Big Sur. So whether you want to make a low-key color refresh or a bold change, you can find the perfect shade.
How I Used Clairol ColorStrong
Honestly, I was nervous to dye my hair for the first time—it can last up to eight weeks, after all. Thoughts raced through my mind: “What if I mess up the application?” and “What if the color turns out patchy?” These fears almost made me chicken out, but knowing how much thought and innovation went into the creation of the line helped me trust the process.
I have long, thick, straight black hair that’s looked mostly the same for much of my life. Because ColorStrong would be my first foray into hair dye, I opted for a subtle change and chose 4.0 Dark Brown – Barcelona, which is a few shades lighter than my natural color—a perfect spring refresh.
To help ensure a seamless experience, I conducted an allergy patch test 48-hours before application by putting a mixture of the dye and activator on the inside of my arm (if you notice a rash, swelling, burning, or itching after a patch test, it’s a sign to avoid using the product on your hair). Once I determined I was in the clear, I wanted to make sure the Dark Brown shade was right for me, so I did a strand test by applying the dye on the underside of a small section of hair. I loved the result and felt ready to tackle my full head at long last.
Step One: Prime
The Bonding Primer acts as a base coat to prep for the color. After applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly along my hairline, ears, and neck to avoid staining, I divided my dry hair into four sections with plastic clips, and distributed primer evenly from mid-lengths to ends, skipping the roots.
Step Two: Color
I put on latex gloves and mixed the activator with the permanent color cream, shaking well. Starting at the roots, I worked the color down to the ends. To fully saturate my long hair, I used two boxes worth of dye. Once the color was evenly distributed, I let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Step Three: Treat
Finally, I applied the Bonding Treatment, leaving it on for two minutes before doing a final rinse. This seals in the color like a top coat and provides final reinforcement to the hair structure.
Tip: Use the remaining Bonding Treatment once a week after shampooing to help protect your hair health.
The Results I Experienced Using Clairol ColorStrong
At first when my hair was still wet, I didn’t notice much of a change. But after drying and styling, I was impressed by the multidimensional and completely even color I saw in the mirror. The shade truly came alive once a beam of sunlight came through the window, revealing a vibrant sheen I had never experienced with my dark, natural color.
The results are like a no-makeup makeup aesthetic—my hair looks elevated, but I don’t feel like a completely different person (for my very first dye job, this is exactly what I was going for). I was relieved that, because of the AHA bonding, ammonia-free formula, my hair didn’t feel dry or look damaged, and I felt empowered that I did it all myself.
I immediately called my mom to tell her about my hair-color adventure and to my surprise, she wasn’t disappointed; after hearing about the AHA-infused bonding care, she even showed interest in trying it herself for gray coverage.
The Bottom Line: Is Clairol ColorStrong Worth Trying?
Not only was the process simple—even for a total hair-dye novice like myself—but it was quick, and I love that the product costs less than $20 per box. Since I’m always on the go, I appreciated that I could achieve a salon-level look without spending hundreds of dollars or hours in a chair.
Since my teenage years, I’ve learned to embrace my natural hair. With this subtle ColorStrong transformation, it looks more radiant and nourished, but most importantly, I still feel like myself.
*ColorStrong full kit vs. ColorStrong color step only.
