Ion Aqua Semi Permanent Hair Color Aqua

Not the easiest to use as a beginner

I have used this brand and color for at least a decade. The price keeps going up, so what else is new?! Also, the contents have been reduced from 3 ounces to two ounces which is a significant amount for this product. The packaging is deceptive because they kept the box which contains the product tube the exact same size. I had an older product from a couple years ago, so I was able to compare products. I like the product but disdain the deceptiveness. We consumers are not stupid.

I've been experimenting with bright colors for a while now, doing greens and teals in Special Effects and Splash brands. All of these washed almost completely out in under two weeks, even using recommended care instructions. I decided to try one more time using Ion and I'm blown away! The color is absolutely gorgeous, and while it's only been two weeks, it hasn't faded at all! I will update again later to report how long it lasts. Note that I was doing greens before, and this time I did blue - blues and darker colors in general last longer than greens and lighter colors, so keep that in mind if you're trying other colors. I haven't tried the green in this brand, though.This is the process I followed to do the initial dye job:1. I bleached my hair nearly white, although there was a section around the middle that didn't bleach as white.2. I shampooed (but NOT conditioned) my hair before dying.3. I used a combination of Sky Blue & Sapphire colors and applied it to damp hair. We started with a base of sky blue, then did sapphire on the ends and randomly throughout the rest to give the color more depth. Since my hair wasn't bleached as much in the middle, and my hair bleaches into yellow-tones, that blended with the blue to create a greenish blue to create a beautiful effect (see the picture!)4. I covered my head with a plastic bag and a shower cap, covered my pillow in an old towel, and left the dye in my hair OVERNIGHT.5. I washed the dye out in the morning with COLD water. If you're like me and you can't handle cold showers, try rinsing out over the sink instead of in the shower. It's much easier to handle when you don't have freezing water running down your back. The initial rinse is the most important to do in cold water - I go back to hot showers after that.6. I immediately treated the hair with Ion Color Defense After-Color Sealer, left it in for several minutes, then rinsed again in cold water.This is how I maintain the color:1. I still shower in hot water every day, however I only shampoo twice a week (I do Wednesdays and Sundays to keep track). I can't stand having oily hair, which is why I still shower every day - the water by itself strips out quite a bit of the oil.2. I use L'Oreal EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care System Smooth Shampoo, but you can use whatever brand you want as long as it's sulfate-free3. I use the Ion Color Defense again in place of conditioner, being sure to leave it in for a couple of minutes before rinsing.4. Afterward, whether or not I shampooed, I use Ion Color Defense Leave-in Protector on towel-dried hair5. After blow drying, if I didn't shampoo in the shower, I use dry shampoo to help keep the oiliness under controlUPDATE:This color never seems to fade! I died it in July, and it stayed just as bright and vibrant until October, at which point I decided to switch to a different color. I only touched up the color once in 4 months! It's amazing that it never faded at all!

I love the color, but unfortunately, it bleeds onto other parts of my hair.

I was glad this was available on Amazon because we don’t have a sally beauty supply near. It was easy to apply and the. Color stayed for a few weeks which was perfect. I would buy it again. We only did the ends of my daughter’s hair (she has a a lot of hair) and used one full tube.

So I have a few things I want to mention about this product. I read the reviews prior to purchasing and wanted to purchase anyway because I know everyone's hair is different and sometimes, let's be honest, people don't read directions.1. This is a semi permanent dye. Which means it will not last long and that's exactly what I wanted. It will only last for about 6 to 10 washes.2. You do not need developer with this product. It only deposits color; which means you cannot apply this gray/silver color to dark hair and expect it to "change" or do anything to lift color. Color does not lift color.3. Your hair has to be a high level of blonde to have good/decent results. Level 8 to 10 range.As for my rating, I feel as though 3 stars is adequate. The deposit of color was great from my level 10 hair (before and after pics) and the vibrancy was very good for being a semi permanent dye. Where the star deduction is coming from is the feel of the dye and amount that needed to be used. My hair is thin, but long. I'm 5'4 and it goes halfway down my back. I usually only need one box or tube of hair dye to cover every strand of hair; thank goodness I ordered two of these because I had to use them both. One only "covered" half of my head. The dye itself is gummy or like a very thick gel or wax. You have to really work the product into a tiny section of hair to make sure it is covered. Even then it is extremely hard to spread.It works, but just buy enough to cover your hard. Don't buy one box thinking "I usually only need one" because the consistency of this dye is NOT like other dyes. Be prepared for your arms to be sore halfway through because you have to work hard to cover each strand of hair. Have your hair prelightened to a level 8, 9, or 10 blonde before trying to achieve gray/silver hair with this product. :)

I left this color crème in my hair for over and hour and it didn’t hold at all. The crème didn’t even stain my skin in the areas it touched my skin. A total waste of money.

Love the color!

Pleased with purchase.

Need to have bleach blonde hair, turned my ash blonde !

Ich bin sehr enttäuscht. Ich hab mich so gefreut das meine Haare knallrot werden und sie sind immernoch so dunkel wie vorher. Einfach enttäuscht 😑😥

Good as a semi permanent