Herbatint Permanent Hair Color Gel Review

Purchased (Affiliate Links)

For many years I used drugstore brand at-home hair dyes, but the last couple of times that I did I noticed that my scalp became dry and irritated. I decided to try something a little different, and I kept seeing Herbatint Permanent Hair Color Gel, and I decided to try it. This Italian brand, founded in 1970, is cruelty-free, vegan and it has a wide range of colors from which to choose. I have naturally curly dark brown hair that naturally lightens up in the summer, and therefore during the cooler months I tried their Light Chestnut 5N, and for the summer I tried their Light Golden Chestnut 5D, and both are stunning shades.

When I used Light Chestnut 5N, I mixed the hair color gel and the developer until it became a thick gel that was uniform in color. I carefully brushed it from roots to tips and then left it on for 40 minutes. This formula was tested on sensitive skin, and it definitely did not irritate, burn or tingle my scalp. I rinsed it out after 40 minutes and then applied their wonderful Royal Cream Conditioner– which comes with the hair color. This conditioner is lightweight and yet incredibly emollient and moisturizing. When I was done my hair was uniformly a gorgeous chestnut shade, but it was darker than on the box since my hair was quite dark to start with. 

The next time I colored my hair, I used their Light Golden Chestnut 5D, and this lighter shade is a perfect fit for my hair during the summer. This adds a bit more depth of color, but with a slightly lighter hue with a very faint golden sensibility. 

This formula neither dries out my scalp, nor my hair, and the color lasts for a few months before I need a touch up.

Herbatint encourages mixing shades to customize your hair color, and they also suggest that you can mix up just a small amount if you only need to do root-touch up. Whether you have any grey hair you seek to cover, or just roots that differ from the rest of your color, then just doing a root touch-up makes a lot of sense. I don't have much grey hair, but there are some strands here and there, and this does an excellent job of covering them.

About Herbatint,

Herbatint, the main brand of Antica Erboristeria, was founded in 1970 following a brilliant intuition of its founder, the herbalist Michele Albergo, who focused his research on a coloring formula that could combine product efficacy with hair and skin health. Thanks to his outstanding knowledge of medicinal herbs, starting from formulations based on herbal extracts, he progressively reduced the percentage of chemical ingredients, including hydrogen peroxide.

 

Michele Albergo was strongly influenced by the Swiss herbalist with whom he had carried out his apprenticeship when he was young. He applied the knowledge gained, which had been passed down from generation to generation, in the production of Herbatint’s formulas. Thus, in a sector dominated by large multinational companies producing ammonia-based hair coloring, aimed only at product performance, Antica Erboristeria introduced a totally innovative formula: a permanent hair coloring containing herbal extracts without the use of ammonia and with a very low percentage of hydrogen peroxide. 

About the N and D Shades:

The N (Natural) Series shades color your hair while creating a natural, even color. Thanks to a consistent and odorless formula, Herbatint Permanent Hair Color Gel is easy to mix and apply, proving perfect results in just 40 minutes, every time! Herbatint’s gentle formula allows you to lighten your natural hair color up to a maximum of 2 shades.

The D (Golden) shade offers golden blond or brown highlights, depending on the degree of shade choice. Choose it for an intense, bright and natural result. Thanks to a consistent and odorless formula, Herbatint Haircolor Gel is easy to mix and apply, providing perfect results in just 40 minutes, every time! Herbatint’s gentle formula allows you to lighten your natural hair color up to a maximum of 2 shades.

Features:

• Dermatologically tested for sensitive skin.
• Gentle formula without ammonia, parabens and alcohol fragrance free.
• 8 Organic herbal extracts.
• A gel formula, easy to apply.
• 36 Mixable shades – can be mixed to create customized colors.
• Color gel and developer (unmixed) can be saved and reused allowing for additonal applications.

CONTENTS:

• 1 bottle of hair color gel
• 1 bottle of developer
• 1 sample of Royal Cream Conditioner
• *Gloves and instructions also included. Application kit sold separately.

Before coloring your hair do the following:

Sensitvity Test: Since the product may cause skin irritation on certain individuals, a preliminary sensitivity test should be performed. Click here to learn how to take a sensitivity test at home.

Color Strand Test: Herbatint recommends that you test the color on a part of your hair that contains the colors you want to cover. By doing a color strand test, it ensures you get that you get the first look of your desired color. 

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Since Herbatint uses the most gentle formula possible, our product will only lift about one shade.  Herbatint is not capable of lifting multiple shades, so it is important to choose a color within one shade of your normal color, when going lighter.

Directions: To mix Herbatint Gel and Developer, use the Herbatint measuring cup found in the Herbatint Application Kit to mix equal parts of color and developer. The quantity you use depends on the length and volume of your hair. Note: If you don’t own an Application Kit, you can use a plastic or glass measuring cup, but NEVER use a metal measuring device.

Mix with a brush until you obtain a gel-like consistency. Starting at the root, apply the gel to dry, unwashed hair. Tilt your head back while you rinse so that the gel does not get into your eyes.

Once processed, rinse hair thoroughly until the water runs clear. Rinse by tilting head back (Do NOT use shampoo for 48 hours).

Ingredients for Light Chestnut 5N:

Available Shades:

Overall Assessment: I am so happy that I tried Herbatint Permanent Hair Color Gel, and it is definitely the nicest home hair color that I have tried. I already purchased 3 more boxes in Light Golden Chestnut 5D when I found them on sale! A+

$16.99 from Herbatint, Amazon, iHerb, Walmart and Swanson (Affiliate Links). Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own.

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