I would highly recommend this product.
The newest version of Water Colour is our best gentle hair dye yet.
You'll enjoy deep, natural colour, better grey coverage, easier application and quicker results - safe in the knowledge that its gentle formula is still free from harsh chemicals like PPD, ammonia and bleaching agents.
Water Colour Gel is free from harsh chemicals so won't lighten your hair. This gentle hair dye is ideal for grey coverage or for darkening light hair. The hair colour samples below are the approximate shade when applied to white hair.
Water Colour Gel is our newest 'just add water' hair dye. You'll receive a small bottle of powder which, when mixed with water, forms a thick, easy to apply hair dye gel. Kind to your hair, it boasts excellent grey coverage and gives rich, natural looking hair colours.
Free from ammonia, PPD, alcohol, resorcinol, perfume and bleaching agents, you can enjoy beautiful natural hair colours without the need for harsh chemicals.
We'll send you a free tint brush with your first order which will last for years to come. This is the only piece of specialist equipment you need. Usage instructions are enclosed with every order, and we also include plastic hats and gloves. You can opt out of these after checkout if you have your own reusable ones.
As with all our gentle hair colours, Water Colour Gel can only be used to cover greys or darken your existing colour. Since it is free from bleaching agents, it will not lighten your hair.
For the best grey coverage, we'd recommend selecting a base shade (shades that end in /0) and applying for the full 30 minutes.
The only special item you will need is the free reusable tint brush that you'll receive with your first order.
The hair colour gel can be mixed in any non-metallic bowl, and a measuring cup or jug is also useful to ensure the correct amount of water (90ml) is used. You'll probably be able to find these items in your kitchen, or we sell plastic and plastic-free tint bowls from £3.25.
Water Colour Gel can be used as a Demi or Quasi-Permanent hair dye. It should be applied to dry hair, with timings as follows:
Quasi-Permanent
When applied for just 30 minutes, you'll enjoy hair colour lasting up to 18+ washes and providing up to 100% grey coverage.
Demi-Permanent
When applied for only 20 minutes, your hair colour will last up to 12 washes and provide subtle grey coverage.
The above is a guide only – the results may be affected by the condition of your hair
Water Colour Gel should be applied to dry hair following our simple 4 step application process.
Step 1 – Mix
Step 2 – Apply
Step 3 – Wait
Step 4 – Rinse
Full Head Application
Use for first-time colouring, or when there’s no marked difference between roots and ends.
Regrowth Application
Use to cover root regrowth when the rest of your hair is already coloured.
Water Colour Gel produces rich colour in record time - twice as fast as Water Colour! Choose the permanency of your colour by adjusting the timing:
20 minutes – Demi-Permanent
For colour that lasts up to 12 washes, and provides subtle grey coverage.
30 minutes – Quasi-permanent
For colour that lasts up to 18+ washes, giving up to 100% grey coverage.
Whilst mixing in a bowl and then applying with a brush is the optimum way of applying Water Colour Gel, we have tested applying with a mixer bottle from our original Water Colour, and the technique does still work.
If you wish to do this, please note two key points:
1. The fill line on our old bottles is too low for Water Colour Gel, so please measure 90ml hand hot water.
2. Water Colour Gel forms a thick gel, so it does need a really good shake when mixed in the bottle. Shake vigorously until mixed, leave for two minutes and then shake again before applying.
We cannot give you an exact answer as this will always depend on how long or thick your hair is.
If your hair is of average thickness and about shoulder length, you will usually need 1 vial of Water Colour Gel. For longer or thicker hair you may need 2 or even 3 vials.
If you are applying to your roots only, you may even get 2 applications from the same vial of hair colour gel. You will need to split the powder carefully and reduce the water volume. Ensure any powder you are not using right away remains totally dry and is tightly re-sealed in the vial.
Water Colour Gel uses a water-based formula that preserves your hair's natural structure. It does not contain harsh chemicals such as PPD, ammonia, alcohol, peroxide, resorcinol or bleaching agents.
The following ingredients are found in all shades of Water Colour Gel hair colour:
Sodium Sulfate
Sodium Percarbonate
Xanthan Gum
Methyl Ethyl Cellulose
Silicia Dioxide
Sodium Laurol Sarcosinate
Mineral Oil
Sodium Metasilicate
Depending on the shade you choose, your hair dye will also contain a combination of the following:
P-Toluenediamine Sulfate
P-Aminophenol
M-Aminophenol Sulfate
1,5-Dihydroxynaphthlene
P-Amino-O- Cresol
4-Amino-M- Cresol
2-Amino-6- Chloro-Nitrophenol
1-Hydroxyethyl 4.5- Diamino
Pyrazole Sulfate
HC Yellow 2
It is essential to patch test before every hair dye gel application, even if it is a product you have used before.
Patch testing with Water Colour Gel is a simple 3-step process:
1. Mix Test Solution
Take a small pinch of Water Colour Gel powder and mix it with a drop of warm water. Be careful to reseal the cap securely on the remaining dye to keep it dry.
2. Apply Test
Clean a small area inside your elbow and apply the solution with a cotton bud. Allow it to dry and leave on for a minimum of 48 hours.
3. Monitor for Reactions
If irritation, redness, itching, swelling, or burning occurs, wash off immediately and do not use the product. If symptoms persist seek medical advice.
When stored correctly, Water Colour Gel powder can be stored for many years. However, it is best to use within two years of purchase if you can to minimise the chance of it spoiling.
It is important to store them somewhere dry, and ideally also cool and dark like a drawer or cupboard (do not store in the bathroom). Check the lids are on tight as this will help to prevent moisture getting in.
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See the difference right away, with the deepest and most vibrant shades in our range.
With better coverage than our original Water Colour, we're confident Water Colour Gel will tackle even resistant grey hair, allowing you to continue to choose a gentle approach even as grey hair increases.
As with our original formula, you can combine shades to create your own custom colours, as well as adjusting processing times to adapt the grey coverage / permanancy.
Water Colour Gel needs just 20 or 30 minutes processing time, giving you great results in quicker than ever.
Which time to choose? It depends on the permanancy you'd like.
Choose 30 minutes for quasi-permanent colour, which will last up to 18+ washes with up to 100% grey coverage.
Demi-permanent colour needs just 20 minutes, and will last up to 12 washes. This will give a more subtle grey coverage, useful for blending rather than hiding greys.
Gentle Hair Dye isn't just our name - it's our mission. You can rest assured that just like our original Water Colour, Water Colour Gel is:
Not only that, but it gives you even better results in half the time. What's not to like?
Water colour gel is easy to mix and apply. You can use any non-metallic bowl.
Simply measure 90ml of hand-hot water (around 38°C) into the bowl of your choice. Gradually add the powder from the vial, stirring constantly with your free, reusable tint brush until the water and powder are fully mixed and a gel is beginning to form.
Leave to stand for 2 minutes to allow the gel to thicken, then stir again before beginning your application.
By shipping without water, we're not only saving over 100g in weight per colour, we're also able to use super small bottles that fit in small packages. All of this gives a lower carbon footprint and uses less plastic and other packaging material.
Unlike our original Water Colour, you no longer need a mixer bottle - any non-metallic bowl is fine, which helps reduce plastic waste even further.
Hats and gloves? We still include single use ones free of charge, but rest assured if you don't need them, you can tick a box after check out and we'll leave them out of your order.