Review: Clairol Nice and Easy Colorblend Foam

Clairol recently out with a new haircolor product, 'Nice and Easy Colorblend Foam' and gave away a ton of these (in coupons) on Facebook, I managed to get one. A little background on my hair, I typically only dye it at home since it's so expensive at salons. My hair is long, so I use two bottles normally, but used one this time. My hair is medium brown, but has some greys (found my first grey when I was 15). I dye it to liven up the color more and cover greys. Plus I like the softness and glossiness that hair dye gives my dry hair. My regular hair dye is Clairol's Natural Instincts, it's a semi permanent dye with no ammonia. I don't normally opt for permanent dye (like this foam) because I am always worried I won't like the colour.

Here is what you get in the package, standard stuff here, except one main difference, the hair dye comes with a nozzle instead of the typical liquid pour bottle. The gloves that they apply you (in small square package) ripped as soon as I put them on, which made for a messy application.

I got it in the colour., 5 Medium Brown. I aim for a shade close to my natural color, I don't like red undertones and usually opt for "cool" tones. This range does not offer varying shades, it's mostly just standard ones, there is a lighter brown and darker brown available close to this.

Here are the directions, put on the gloves, shake the developer and dye up, but the nozzle on the bottle, apply it, etc. You know how it works. And you leave it on for 25 minutes, and 10 minutes longer if you have persistent greys. Eek that's a long time.

What surprised me about this dye is that the nozzle does not pump, when you shake the bottle (to mix up the dye) it foams on it's own and then you just squeeze the bottle to get it out. I thought the nozzle would turn it into a foam. Notice how foamy it is in the bottle already?

And here is the foam, notice how the color is not consistent all the way through? I think this is a major con of the product, I don't feel like it gives even application because of this.

When I first heard about this product, I thought the foam aspect was really neat, but having used it now I think the foam makes for uneven application and the entire process takes longer. And another main con, this stuff stinks of strong ammonia! Does all permanent hairdye smell of ammonia? It was like putting cat pee all over my head, I hated it, I stood out on my balcony for the majority of the 25 minutes because it was so strong. And I threw the bag with the garbage out right away, in fear that my cats would start peeing in my bathroom. I would not purchase this again because of the smell.

As for the shade, I picked one that turned out to be too dark for me, it's almost black (with a red tint eww). I would say this is my own fault, but it was the only shade that interested me. Also, I got staining on my scalp and along my forehead hairline, I assume this will come out after repeated washing. I hope this hairdye tones down as I wash it too.

Have you tried the Clairol Colorblend Foam? What your favourite hair dye?