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The best at-home blonde dyes, tested on 300 women
Whether it’s Barbie, platinum, or ashy blonde, get your perfect shade with these GHI Approved dyes
Tested by Denny DailyFormer Beauty and Grooming Tester
Back in the day, we probably would have been wary of advising people to use home dye kits to achieve the perfect blonde from the comfort of their own bathroom. Too many things can go wrong – and definitely did.
If you’re looking to transform your hair from dark to platinum, then it’s still best to leave it to the pros. However, for anyone looking to brighten their blonde or lighten their golden brown a little, the latest blonde box dyes can be a quick, easy and cost-efficient option.
To find the best on the market, the Good Housekeeping Institute put a range of different brands to the test with the help of over 300 women. Here’s a handy list of our top product recommendations, but read on for our experts’ take on all things home hair dye.
Best blonde hair dyes 2024
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Best non-drip blonde box dye
John Frieda Precision Foam Colour 10N Sheer Blonde Extra Light Natural Blonde
Read review - 5
Is box dye bad for your hair?
Any dye or bleach will come with some level of damage to your hair because you're chemically altering it. That's why aftercare is just as important as the dyeing process itself. Hair glosses and repair treatments are handy at-home remedies to use alongside your favoured dye to help boost hair health, and we've included more maintenance tips below.
The other thing to note with box dyes is that they're developed to work on anyone's hair, thick or thin, coarse or fine, so the results will be less tailored to you. They're best used when you want to brighten the tone, cover a small amount of greys or go a shade lighter; save the dramatic transformations for your hairdresser.
Can box dye give me salon quality results?
It will take some extra care and effort during application, but with the right colour, you should be able to achieve your desired shade at home.
“The actual dye is often not that different [from salon formulations],” explains celebrity hair stylist Michael Douglas. “If you just want a block dye like Barbie (all one colour, rather than highlights or multi-toned), you don’t have to go to the salon, if you’re confident you can give yourself the right coverage.”
“It’s crucial to follow the instructions to a tee if you're attempting an at-home dye job,” adds Jordanna Cobella, creative director at Cobella salon.
“If the box tells you to leave the root coverage on for 20 minutes before pulling the dye through the lengths, then listen. It’s also crucial to treat different areas of the hair according to their colour and proximity to your scalp. The closer hair is to the root, the warmer the tone will be due to the heat from your head – it means it develops quicker than the lengths.”
She also recommends getting a friend to check you’ve covered your whole head properly, especially at the back, to avoid any unintentional Cruella-esque colourways. If you’re not sure, here’s a handy guide on how to dye your hair at home.
How do I maintain my blonde at home?
It’s no secret that blonde is high maintenance, but with the right products, you can keep your colour bright and healthy without the need for a salon trip.
“Heat protectors, bond-building treatments and purple shampoos are the perfect trio for topping up your tone and keeping hair soft,” Cobella explains. Purple shampoos will stop your blonde looking brassy, while heat protector and conditioning treatments will work to keep bleached hair healthy.
“After bleaching, you should avoid wearing hair bands that pull on your strands or brushing with fine bristles when your hair’s still wet — use a wide-toothed comb or soft-fibre brush instead to avoid excess breakage,” Cobella adds.
How we test
With the help of over 300 panel members, we put a range of market-leading blonde box dyes to the test over four weeks. We asked testers to give us feedback on the packaging design, ease of use, instructions, and performance of each home dye kit.
They assessed how easy the instructions were to follow for patch testing and bleaching and analysed key performance aspects, such as colour development and hair feel after dyeing.
Back at the GHI, our experts carried out dry combing tests using the Dia-Stron machine to evaluate any hair damage or breakage after bleaching. They conducted visual checks for grey coverage and performed wash and dry cycles to assess any colour fade.
Panel members also submitted images of their hair before and after using the hair dye, so our experts could assess any improvements.
L'Oreal Paris Excellence 01 Supreme Lightest Natural Blonde
Pros
- Hydrating
- Leaves hair feeling soft
- Over 30 shades available
Cons
- Some testers needed to use an additional toner after application
- Some would have liked the shade to be lighter
Score: 82/100
One of our three joint winners, this dye comes with everything you need for a three-step colour care routine, including a pro-keratin enriched colour cream, a post colour gentle scalp shampoo, and a post-colour conditioning mask – the perfect combination for creating a healthy blonde. Our testers said it left hair feeling “hydrated and smooth” and in great condition after use.
The colour itself also impressed, with one tester noting it left their hair “nicely highlighted”, rather than being one block colour. One for those who like a natural, sun-kissed finish.
Key specifications
| No. boxes required | 1 |
|---|---|
| Suitable for grey hair | Yes |
| Ammonia-free | Yes |
Pros
- Caused minimal damage and breakage according to our lab tests
- Affordable
Cons
- 2 boxes were required for most
- Only a small amount of post-dye conditioner is provided
Score: 82/100
“A colour equal to a professional salon”, was how one tester described the results from this at-home option. And not only does it look good, but our lab results also found there was minimal breakage and damage to the hair during dyeing, easing any concerns you may have about bleaching at home.
This dye also scored highest with our testers for boosting shine, which can be hard to achieve with dyed blonde hair.
Key specifications
| No. boxes required | 2 |
|---|---|
| Suitable for grey hair | Yes |
| Ammonia-free | Yes |
Pros
- Easy application
- The scent is subtle
Cons
- Colour appears more golden than shown on the box
Score: 82/100
There’s a reason why Clairol named this dye “Nice ‘n’ Easy” – with most of our testers agreeing it was straightforward to use, we can confirm it lives up to its name. Testers also praised the lovely blend of tones the dye achieved.
In short, this is another winning product that provides salon quality results, with one panellist saying they’d been asked where they got their hair done – a little spot called “over the bathroom sink”, do you know it?
Key specifications
| No. boxes required | 1 |
|---|---|
| Grey coverage | Yes |
| Ammonia-free | No |
John Frieda Precision Foam Colour 10N Sheer Blonde Extra Light Natural Blonde
Pros
- Good grey coverage
- Adds shine
Cons
- No conditioner provided
- The foam means it’s trickier to see where you’ve already applied product
Score: 81/100
Instead of the usual cream texture, John Frieda has developed a foam dye with ease of use and even distribution in mind, and it definitely delivered. While box dyes are traditionally quite messy, the foam formulation means there’s no risk of dripping onto your white bathroom tiles here.
Our panel praised the “lovely resulting colour”, and “soft, sleek” finish from this blonde dye. So, if you’re looking for a natural blonde shade, this one won’t disappoint.
Key specifications
| No. boxes required | 1 |
|---|---|
| Suitable for grey hair | Yes |
| Ammonia-free | No |
Schwarzkopf LIVE 00B Max Blonde Permanent Hair Dye
Pros
- Clear instructions
- Rinses out easily
- Good colour uplift
Cons
- Slightly dry feel to hair after application
Score: 77/100
When you’re applying bleach to hair, it’s easy for it to start appearing dull. Schwarzkopf has taken this on board and developed a dye with a built-in brightening oil booster to create a pure blonde that fights any unwanted yellow tones.
It’s clearly paid off, as our panel members scored it the highest for delivering brighter, more vibrant results. It’s worth noting that some of our testers experienced dryness after application (which isn’t uncommon for bleach), but found applying a hair mask remedied this.
Key specifications
| No. boxes required | 2 |
|---|---|
| Suitable for grey hair | Yes |
| Ammonia-free | No |
Pros
- Nice scent
- Formula includes nourishing shea butter
Cons
- Runny consistency
- Awkward to scoop out of the container
Score: 77/100
If you’re looking for a dye that effectively covers grey, Garnier has got you (and them) covered. This dye scored the highest in our tests for covering grey hairs, although some found it a little lighter than they expected.
This dye boasts a 90% naturally derived formula, with no ammonia, and the nourishing addition of shea butter, claiming to leave your freshly coloured hair looking rejuvenated and nourished. Happily, the claim rang true, with one of our testers telling us it left their hair “really soft and in good condition”.
Key specifications
| Ammonia-free | Yes |
|---|---|
| Suitable for grey coverage | Yes |
L'Oreal Preference 9L Extreme Platinum Blonde Permanent Bleach Hair Dye
Pros
- Good for achieving an icy blonde shade
- Easy to rinse out
Cons
- Fiddly to mix
- Quite drying on the hair, so extra conditioning treatments are advised
Score: 73/100
If you’re looking to go icy blonde for summer, then this extreme platinum blonde bleach will have you looking like a Malfoy in no time (well, within the recommended 15 minutes).
It will depend on what colour you start with, but this option scored highest in our tests for producing the most intense colour lift. Although we should flag that a few of our testers did need to use a toner afterwards to achieve the desired cooler tones, so you may need to factor this in.
Key specifications
| No. boxes required | 1 |
|---|---|
| Suitable for grey hair | Yes |
| Ammonia-free | No |
Pros
- Straightforward application process
- Toner was a nice addition
- Left no residue in the shower
Cons
- Complicated instructions
- Time-consuming to mix
Score: 70/100
As a vegan and PETA-approved dye that’s suitable for all hair textures, Bleach had inclusivity in mind when it developed this product.
The dye is formulated with bond-building ingredients that work to reduce damage and claim to lift your colour by up to seven levels. Our panel said their hair was left in good condition after using this one, although some found that the instructions were rather confusing, so it may take a few reads through to feel comfortable enough for application. Once past this, our testers praised the “nice colour” it gave.
| No. boxes required | 1-3 |
|---|---|
| Suitable for grey hair | Yes |
| Ammonia-free | No |
The verdict on blonde hair dyes
Achieve natural highlights with our winning dye from Clairol – it’s nice ‘n’ easy to apply, too. For minimal mess, we recommend this non-drip foam box dye from John Frieda, which will leave your hair (and bathroom) looking fresh and bright.
If your natural hair is on the darker side, and you’re worried about roots, then we suggest keeping a box of Schwarzkopf LIVE in the cupboard. It also comes with a built-in oil booster to tackle brassiness, making it great value for money.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
We’ve been testing products at the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 100 years, and we use specialist machines in our beauty lab to analyse skincare and haircare products against their claims.
Our beauty and grooming tester Denny Daily has extensive experience in the beauty industry. She collated feedback on each hair dye from our at-home testers, as well as conducting visual tests in the lab assessing coverage and any colour fade over time.
Our writers are also experts in the field. Madeleine Evans, our lifestyle writer, turns the test results into easy-to-follow reviews and writes across all things skincare, makeup and haircare.
Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and Health & Wellness products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.
When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.
Denny our Former Beauty and Grooming Tester has an in-depth knowledge and background in beauty and PR. She has spoken on panels with Cosmetics Executive Women (CEW) and has worked with many beauty brands as a commercial model. Since joining in October 2022, she has worked on numerous testing categories including over 18 different brands for vitamin C serums, scalp scrubs, shampoos for dry hair and many more. She has over 20k followers on TikTok where she shares beauty and fashion tips otherwise better known as Denny Daily.
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