Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Product Review: Clairol Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution

I've been using the regular Beautiful Collection semi-permanent colors off and on for years. I've seen the gray solution for the past year, but for some reason, I've been hesitant to try it. My stylist told me that it works pretty well, even if I just want to use it in the front, where most of my gray hairs are. I was in the beauty supply store yesterday, so I decided to try it. I bought the Light Golden Chestnut color. When I colored my hair a few weeks ago, I used Toasted Chestnut by Jazzing, so I wanted to use something similar.


Product Description
Cover more gray, longer with Beautiful Collection Advance Gray Solution. Clairol Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution Semi-permanent Color gives relaxed hair intense gray coverage, while adding back moisture and shine. The gentle, semi-permanent haircolor leaves hair feeling silky soft and looking beautiful.Professional Features:-All tones are excellent for refreshing color treated hair -Gentle no ammonia formula allows use immediately after relaxers -Formulated to cover more gray -Covers more gray for up to twice as long -Penetrating, saturating color that leaves hair feeling moisturized and full of shine -No peroxide. Advanced Gray Solution shades cover up to 50% gray.

Advanced Gray Solution’s breakthrough SynAIRgy technology contains an oxidative dye that uses oxygen in the air as a color developer to form a large dye molecule, eliminating the need to use a product with hydrogen peroxide for longer-lasting coverage.

Directions
Apply directly from bottle generously and thoroughly to shampooed and towel-dried hair. Can be used immediately following a relaxer. Be sure hair is thoroughly rinsed and shampooed per relaxer directions before applying any Beautiful Collection shade. All Advanced Gray Solution shades are intermixable for custom colors. Intermixing with Beautiful Collection Moisturizing Color is not recommended. No developer is used with Beautiful Collection shades. Process up to 25 minutes at room temperature. Use of heat is not recommended. Rinse well, do not shampoo.

Ingredients
Water, Oleic Acid , Toluene-2 , Ascorbic Acid, Undeceth-3, Cetearyl Alcohol, 5-Diamine Sulfate, 2-Methylresorcinol, Alcohol Denat., Glycol Distearate, Fragrance, 2-Amino-6-Chloro-4-Nitrophenol, Ethanolamine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Resorcinol, Disodium Edta, Hydroxyethyl-2-Nitro-P-Touidine, Basic Blue 99, HC Red No. 3, M-Aminophenol

My Experience
I'm glad I read the directions, because they said not to use heat and not to shampoo it out- both things I do when I apply a semi-permanent color. I noticed that this product is a lot thicker than the regular Beautiful Collections colors, or any other color I've used. I thought this was a good sign, because maybe there is more conditioner in it. I applied it to my whole head, not because I had a lot of gray to cover, but because I wanted to see how much it would moisturize and condition my hair. I put a plastic cap over my hair and let it sit for 25-30 minutes. I rinsed it out, and deep conditioned with Aubrey Organics White Camellia conditioner. I then used diluted Infusium leave-in conditioner and roller set my hair. When my hair was dry, it was shiny and bouncy. My grays in the front were covered, and looked pretty dark, considering I used a light color.

I liked this product, but I'm not sure if I'll use it again. Today, my scalp is a itchy, which makes me think that there is something in it I'm allergic to, because my scalp never itches. I'll also have to see how long the color lasts. If it doesn't last long, I might as well use the other colors I've been using.

12/16/10 Update: Okay, I couldn't take the itching (and a little burning) yesterday, so I washed my hair last night. I also didn't want to cause any damage to my scalp. I'm not sure what ingredient I'm allergic to, but I will not be using this product again. Even after I used a clarifying shampoo and conditioner, my nape still itches/burns a little!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I tried this over a year ago when it first came out and had to throw my bottle out. I'm allergic to it as well. Used it 2xs before realizing what was itching and burning me so badly. I don't use perm color b/c of my allergy to PPD but never thought this would bother me. I also used Bigen for a long time and suddenly after having my daughter, I had an allergic reaction to it as well. I've just been sticking to the original Beautiful Collection.

Anonymous said...

The Advanced Gray product has toluene, which is a milder chemical relative of ppd. Ppd causes some people to have a bad allergic reaction. Toluene can also cause (lesser than ppd) allergic reactions such as itching and irritation. Toluene is in Clairol's other non-permanent (lasting up to 28 shampoos)hair color, Natural Instincts. Some people who are allergic to ppd can tolerate toluene, others cannot do either.

The regular Beautiful Collection in the brown bottle does not have toluene or ppd so it is safe.

I've suffered through a ppd reaction, then developed blotches on my face after a year of using toluene, so I'm sticking with the Beautiful Collection brown bottle. I have to use it much more often of course, but at least I'm always sure it's OK. I get good gray coverage (I'm over half gray) and it conditions my hair.

Anonymous said...

I love the product! My beautician introduced me to the Advanced Gray Solution several years ago.

I wash my hair twice a week and I probably should use the product about once every 2 months. However, sometimes I let the gray slowly show and use it about every 3 months.

Anonymous said...

I had an allergic reaction to this stuff and it made my hair hard. The regular BC works fine with no problems but doesn't cover that well. But, I'm stuck with it because I'm allergic to permanent dye.

Anonymous said...

I used this product twice to get my damaged blonde hair back to my natural color in order to let it grow out. Boy was I sorry. It not only further damaged my already damaged hair, the new hair growth over the past six months has been severely damaged also. My scalp has been itchy for 6 months. This product permanent damaged my hair follicles. I'm now wearing wigs every single day and am looking for a dermatologist to see what I can do.

Pmccuty475 said...

I tried this product as well several years ago, and also had an allergic reaction. I went back to using the beautiful collection, but have to recolor my gray often. Has anyone tried Madison Reed? It's ammonia free, no parabens,phthalates, resorsinol, gluten or PPD. It's crafted in Italy and is a permanent color. I have never uses permanent but am planning on trying since it said to be non drying and allergen free.

Pmccuty475 said...

I tried this product as well several years ago, and also had an allergic reaction. I went back to using the beautiful collection, but have to recolor my gray often. Has anyone tried Madison Reed? It's ammonia free, no parabens,phthalates, resorsinol, gluten or PPD. It's crafted in Italy and is a permanent color. I have never uses permanent but am planning on trying since it said to be non drying and allergen free.

Pmccuty475 said...

Update on Madison Reed the product does contain para toulene diamine.

Unknown said...

Hi. I've been using this product and it does cover up the grays pretty well. Since I relax my hair every 6 months, i can't use permanent colors as it damaged my hair badly. I just wanted to know what the "LEVELS" in the color mean. I noticed some are Level 1, Level 2 etc.. does angone know what this means? Thanks!! Jay

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expertshelp said...

Beauty products are always very nice and good to go with, although at times we fear due to the claims that some of them could be toxic. Am glad that you have in extent explained about your products, i am sure that many more people just like me can now see that beauty products can be good to use. Use a U-Shaped Glass Floating Shelf to make your house elegant and also have your easily misplaced items well kept.

Sharon K said...

Just used the advance gray and had a reaction to it. I have used the Beautiful Collection in the brown bottle with no problem but I have a lot of gray hair and thought this product would be great. I was wrong. Guess I will be going back to the brown bottle even though it turns my hair purple after a few weeks. Guess I’ll just use it more frequently.

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Unknown said...

Your are probably allergic to the aminophenol. Be very, very careful in future. Reaction will get worse.

Unknown said...

A caution: aminophenol, very bad chemical if you are sensitive. No matter how little is in product.

Unknown said...

I bet it has aminophenol. BAD.

Anonymous said...


The Advanced Gray Solution of the Beautiful Collection causes allergic reactions too frequently. A reaction can be anywhere from the itchy scalp with bumps up to swollen eyes and forehead. That happened to me. I am done with that product and it warrants an investigation by FDA.

Unknown said...

I ended up in the emergency room after using this product a month ago. My head, face, neck and eyes were so swollen I thought I was going to die!! They pumped me with steroids and benedryl which I had to take for 10 days..what a nightmare!!

Anonymous said...

I used this product for the first time on Saturday October 2,2021 right after perming. I cannot use permanent dyes so I read this product and it said it was semi-permanent. It sting a little before the process ended around the edges of my hairline. I rinsed it well and the next day i got intense itch. Two days later it continued and when I woke up day three I had facial swelling, eye swelling and went to the emergency room. I was given steroid injection, Pepcid and told to take BENADRYL. tHIS PRODUCT IS DEFINITELY permanent no matter what the bottle states. BEWARE!

Anonymous said...

I should have check this review before trying. Like others, I usually use the brown bottle BC but because my gray hairs are becoming more profound, I thought this would be a good alternative. The next day after apply, I developed facial and head swelling. I had this same reaction to Bigen permanent hair dye and in the middle of the night, the sensation of the reaction woke me up. I took Benedryl immediately. That seemed to help and then later in the day, I got a steroid pack. Hoping to see results soon. Beware if you have had allergic reactions to hair dye.