Keracolor Color + Clenditioner 3-in-1 Color-Depositing Conditioner, Gently Cleanses & Conditions, Semi-Permanent Hair Color, 23 Shades, 12 Fl Oz

I have never colored my hair before, but I got even more tired of my natural color fading than I did the gray that is showing up in it. In my youth, it was new penny copper, and I miss it.So I got this stuff, which looked like the least hassle to use of the things that I looked at. First I tried just the cinnamon, and got compliments on my pink hair. Okay, next try. I got some mocha latte and mixed a little cinnamon with it. Better. I got some copper and mixed that in with the mocha latte and the cinnamon. Best. Approaching my former natural color. Now I just got to get the formula down right.As far as my statement regarding not using it as instructed: when I first pumped it out it frightened me because it was so intense. I was afraid it would stain everything it touched and make my hair look like it was painted. I do not know if that would have been the case, because I came up with the idea of mixing it with conditioner. Bingo. I don't have to do anything special at all except put on the colored conditioner and leave it a little longer than I normally would, but not more than 5 minutes because I don't have that much patience. It gives me a perfectly satisfactory color in that time, and stains absolutely nothing. Not my hands, not my scalp, not the tub, not my fiberglass tub surround. Rinses right off everything except my hair.It and the conditioner I combined it with also leave my hair really nice. Soft, and I think feeling a bit thicker. I used to have fine hair, but a lot of it. Of course the amount of hair is going to get less and less as I get older, so I'm happy to have something that leaves it feeling nice yet a bit thicker.If you haven't gathered by now, I freaking love this stuff. I've been considering coloring my hair for a while, but all the things I looked at until this seemed like way way too much trouble. I'm sure it's not exactly non-toxic, but I hope it's as close as you can get.Oh, gray coverage. It does not cover, but at least on my particular hair it minimizes. My hair is shot through with silver strands, nothing drastic, just some, and it colors those enough that they blend in better and look like something that might have been done on purpose even more than they did before. I've got one small streak at my part line and a couple of small Bride of Frankenstein things at the temples, and it also blends those in fairly well. I think that makes the whole thing look more natural, so I'm happy with it.YMMV, of course. This review is based on former copper hair faded to mousy brown, with a little silver hair throughout and a couple of small clumps at the front.