Advanced Cosmetic Technologies, ACT Hair Color P3nwd, Oops, I mean Reviewed
I don’t usually waste my time with negative reviews. I think they clog my chi, and I don’t need negativity breeding itself here. I like to keep things upbeat and fun, and happy. I want you all to come here and smile, not see a bunch of posts about how crappy something is. I just generally choose not to review the stuff I don’t like.
But with this product, i really had to draw the line. It sucks. It sucks really bad. And you need to be warned and you need to warn anyone you know that might attempt to use it. ACT Hair Color. Advanced Cosmetic Technologies. Or as their website says, Actnaturals.com
I was approached quite a while ago about doing a review on their natural plant based permanent hair color. I haven’t colored my hair in years, and sort of made a silent promise to myself that I would only start to color it when I got enough gray for me to want to hide it. So this ACT formula sounded promising enough, 100% plant based combined with their “technology”. This hair dye is free of para-phenylenediamine (PPD), ammonia and resorcinol.
Yet, when I heard there was a new natural, plant based hair color that was being offered to me as a review, I was tickled.
and it sat in my bathroom, waiting for me to use it. For whatever reason, I kept putting it off and putting it off. First it was my trip to Florida. I was afraid dying it before laying in the sun would be a bad idea. then we got back and I loved my tan, and sunkissed hair, that I made more excuses. I didn’t even know they were excuses until I got my ol hindsight 20/20 going on.
Me before:
So Sunday night, I had just finished wrapping some chores up and decided I would go forth and sail away with a box of color. Mind you, I didn’t chose a drastic color, I am was a light medium brown, with carmel and a tinge of red, and this box was “light brown natural.”
So nothing to be afraid of right? ha! So I thought. I was even doing a Vlog about it so I could share the whole process with you, thinking positive thoughts, and that I was going to have fab luscious hair after wards.
First complaint, the dye is really runny. Now mind you, if the hair dye did was it was supposed to do, I would let this one slide, but since it sucks, you are going to get the whole ball of wax.
It was runny and hard to keep on my hair.
Then I had to apply heat for 35 minutes, in 5 minute intervals, So 5 minutes heat, 5 minutes rest, 5 minutes heat… so on. So I do this, but man, what a pain in the toosh. BUT again, if I liked the finishes result, I could suck it up right?
So I am finishes with the heating portion, so I hop in the shower. It literally took 25 minutes of running water to rinse my hair until it even started to look like clear water. My shower stall was a dyed black nightmare. I don’t even own bleach, and yet my grout was stained. I was even using my hand held WaterPik, but there was just so much BLACK DYE. (remember I told you I had received Light Brown Natural?) So, I found a bottle of Soft Scrub that had bleach in it, from the previous owners of this house, and scrubbed my shower for at least 30 minutes. Floor, tiles and grout. Then I thought well, I will rinse my hair again, thinking there is no way there is enough dye to stain the shower again….
Silly me! So I rinse>shampoo and rinse and rinse and rinse. I am then so mortified my jet back/blue hair, and the condition my hair was in, not just the color, but the texture that I was near tears. I slathered on conditioner, and waiting for a few minutes. Then rinsed again, for 10 minutes. Still was getting black water. Finally Craig came in and scrubbed at my hair and head for a while, as I was beat! We finally got the water to a murky gray, and called it a night. My hair felt worse then straw. it was almost sticky, and just felt so unhealthy. Mind you, I don’t hardly use styling products on my hair, and when I do they are all natural, so my hair is pretty stinkin healthy. I was mortified. I am mortified, and sad!
yes, I am totally pouting.
So Monday comes around I email the PR rep for them, and she emails me back really quickly and lets me know that the owner will be in touch either that night or the next day.
So the next day I get an email: His very non-convincing, tight lipped, “sorry, but” didn’t really come across to me as someone that wants to make their customers, and hell a reporter/writer happy. He told me it was unusual, and sometimes hair can come out a little darker, if it is more porous. Well I know that much, if you have dry dead ends, it soaks the color up, but the top of my head was BLACK, my ends were black and blue, my whole head looked like I was dressed up for halloween! Plus this wasnt just a “little bit darker” , this is a while different color!
He did tell me I could use vinegar to release the color. Craig being the doll he is, went out and bought some for me. I used a whole gallon that night. poured it, rubbed it in, let it set, then rinse, repeat etc. Every time I was getting happier and happier seeing all the dye running down the drain.
Then I look in the mirror? No not green, still JET BLACK. apparently all it stripped out some of the excess color, a portion of what was making my hair feel so sticky. So Tuesday I wake up, wash my hair, condition it, when I am smoothing the conditioner through, I realize it is black. So wash again, and condition again. (out of vinegar)
**I emailed the owner to let him know that the vinegar was not working and asked for a suggestion…. I even sent a before pic and and after pic. That was at approximately noon Tuesday. Here it is Wednesday morning, and I never heard back.
I am going to keep at the vinegar for a bit to see if it loosens any more. I hope it will. I know my hair will never be as healthy as it was prior, and I know it will never be back to light brown, at least until this shit called color gets cut out. I may call myself “Prissy” but I truly don’t get bent out of shape over things like this. What I am most bent out of shape with, customer service. Shame on Jeff Greaves for not calling me, for not making sure the vinegar worked.
Part of this post is vent, and the greater majority is WARNING against using this product, be very wary of what you might be getting your hair into. This product did in fact ruin the color of my hair, changed it from light brown to black, and severely damaged the healthy of my mane too. I am devestated and should have known better. I mean afterall, Jeff Greaves doesn’t know shit about hair…. what he does besides make bad hair products? works in the food industry with…? natural dyes and food flavoring.
So today, I decided, to make the best of it, continue to rinse it out, bash warn of his crappy product to anyone that wants to listen. So I got some really bitchin make-up, and decided to play with it, and feel pretty for the first time in a few days! Still hate the color of my hair, but hey, what can I do a this point? If I was resourceful enough, i would go to a salon and have them strip it, and condition it, but I can’t afford that!
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I had the same thing happen, went through washing, after washing, etc….Then remembered something a hairdresser told me, perms will strip out color…..My god it worked and got rid of the nasty sticky texture. I’m blond, wanted to slightly darken with a rinse to medium blonde…was black when I finished coloring. After perm went to light brown. Hope that helps. if you don’t want curls, they sell 2 inch rods…or why use rods at all.
I have to confirm the use of this product, and so sorry for the hair “happen.”
KEEP IN MIND, this doesnt mean all natural color products are bad.
I aslways suggest professional color, when going the “safe ing” route. Many companies, have false advertising.
I Educate hairstylists about the dangers of the color lines they use on a daily basis and the healthier alternatives available. “The future is now, and it’s high time hair salons start using healthier options for themselves as well their clients”
I WAS just about to buy ACT NATURALS online but thought, well before I do I better check for reviews. Yours is the first review I have read and it is more than enough to put me right off.
I feel so sorry for you having to go through all that! Act Naturals should compensate you for all the distress it has caused.
Mind you, I must say, with a pretty face like yours hun, you wear it well and manage to make it look like a complete success.
I use Naturtint permanent. It’s lovely, no bad smell and end result is always good BUT it DOES contain PPD’s which is why I’m wanting to change.
I *just* used this product today, and I had *zero* results. As in, the dark chocolate mahogany color I was putting onto my light/medium brown hair didn’t even take. I left it on my hair for an hour, did the hairdryer routine, etc, and when I rinsed it out, NADA.
A waste of 30 dollars, but at least my scalp isn’t reacting the way it would with ‘normal’ haircolor. :/
Wow, wow, wow is all I can say, and more wow, wow, wow! Your review/warning is compelling and scary on so many levels! You look beautiful no matter what you hair color is, because you are a natural beauty, but lordy, what you went through, no one deserves that and I am so thankful for your warning! Holy smokes, this product sounds like a nightmare and the customer service equally awful. But, you still look naturally fab girl!
I wish I would have read this 40 minutes ago. I too JUST had a horrible experience with this same hair color. I’ll be blogging about it tomorrow when the shock wears off. Geez! I can’t even get a comb through my hair.
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I missed this when it happened. I would be mortified! I tried to color my hair red once and it turned brown and I freaked out…I can’t imagine.
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[...] my hair disaster? Of course you do! My Dad keeps calling me Morticia. ha ha Dad. =) But 3 weeks after the [...]
Thanks hun, I really do appreciate your advice. I’m so pleased I’m not alone in dealing with this awful fiasco!
Vinegar it is then and hopefully farewell to my unwanted Goth look!
-X-
Sorry Karrisa. I’m not able to access my hotmail account at the moment. Are you able to re-send your original email to the email address I have inputed on this post?
Thank you very much. I appreciate you taking the time to respond =D
Clare
[...] had that problem with every other shine enhancer, and serum that I have have since my hair dye fiasco. My hair being dark, and applying those shine sprays and serums, made me look like I had just [...]
emailed you.
I’m soooo frustrated!!
I dyed my hair 5 days ago with what was supposed to me a dark natural brown dye by Advanced Cosmetics and it turned out black/blue also!!!
I work in a corporate environment and I just look ridiculous!! Fortunately my manager is used to her teenage daughter dying her hair blue, so actually paid me a compliment saying it looked lovely and shiny. But I DID NOT SET OUT TO HAVE BLUE/BLACK HAIR!!!
My scalp is flaking blue specks all over the place and itching too… ugh! =(
I have washed and washed and washed the bonce, but nothing is changing. Even my ears are blue!!!
And I went through a bottle of bleach having to clean the bathroom afterwards and I’m not a messy person by nature… sheeeesh!
Can anyone please advise how I tone the colour down ASAP??
Thank you!
This is horrible!!! I would just die if my hair was dyed black when I wanted light brown. My hair color is about the same as yours (in the first picture). I can’t believe he wasn’t interested in helping you more.
I really, really hope he will see your post and at least apologize. That is did that to your grout and shower too, says quite a bit.
sending you an email Catherine!
Hi,I too have used this very colour today andmy scalp is burning like acid has been poured onto it. I have washed it 5 times now with baby shampoo and cannot get it to stop burning.
Someone help please.
and the colour is gross and feels all sticky no matter how many times i have washed it.
thank you for your help
c
Oh no! I am sending you an email hon.
The Advanced Cosmetic technologies natural hair tint DID NOT WORK well for me. The color (dark natural brown 4N) actually turned out a flat grey. But the worst was the mess it made. It also completely absorbed into my scalp, and even 5 days later after 6+ shampoos, my scalp is still grey from the tint. As the cells from my scalp flake off, the tint comes off and leaves a mess of black flakes in the bathtub. I have to wear my bangs down on my forehead so no one will notice all the tint on my scalp. What a fiasco.
[...] is gentle, I can use it all the way down to my ends (which for black and blue reasons is important right now). It is a remarkable shampoo for every other day use, and my hair is [...]
OMG! I had no idea, I’m sorry I missed this post! I’m also sorry this happened to you but thank you for sharing. I mean what is the point of having a blog and writing about products if we can’t share the good bad and ugly. I hope you’re doing better…was this resolved? I guess I should read more.
I’d hope for the company to pay the salon bill to get your hair professionally stripped, but that’s just me!
[...] Sorry about the bright sun shining in, it was a self portrait. See how flawless my make up looks? I was so impressed! This was the first application. and this was the Tuesday, or Monday after my Blue Hair Incident. [...]
Try coating your hair with coconut oil, and leaving it on for an hour or two. Make sure every bit is REALLY coated. You can wrap your hair in plastic and heat it with a blow-dyer every so often to make sure it sinks in.
Then mix some clarifying shampoo with some baking soda and shampoo away.
If you do this a few times, it should certainly lighten.
Folks who color their hair with henna and indigo do this to lighten their results if they come out too dark.
Good luck!
Wow, I am so mad for you!!! I’ve always gone to salons and trusted the pros. Is there a salon near you that offers natural products? Best of luck to you, that company is awful but you are lovely no matter what color your hair is.
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OH my gosh! I can’t believe that happened to you! I would die…just die if that happened to me. Don’t take that wrong…it doesn’t look bad on your, it’s just nothing like you wanted. I would have been in tears.
I agree…go get it fixed and send them the bill! AND also send them a bill to fix your shower!!
I’m sorry you had such an awful experience. Thanks for the warning, though. I was actually tempted to try this product. But now, I don’t think so!
WOW. First off you are gorgeous. So dont worry about that.
But i would be PISSED. You should put this on the MD community site too!! I have been so screwed by color before that this would just infuriate me. Black takes forever to get out. I had a place do that to my hair once and turned it GREEN. My hair was so damaged that i had to cut it to my ears. I told them they ruined my wedding (LOL) and they sent down someone from the company to fix it and gave me free products for a year.
I had to get hair extensions.
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I woman’s hair is her glory and I would be pissed! I pride myself on keeping my hair healthy so, when I use something that changes the texture or makes it yucky, it makes me angry.
Girl make a 125 x 125 for your side bar with a skull and cross bones over the name of this product! =)
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I have had the same black hair nightmare with TEMPORARY color that never washed out. I paid a lovely price to bring it back to my natural color. I was mad and think I even cried. I’m so sorry you have to deal with that, but you are model gorgeous and it does look good. I know that doesn’t really help, but I thought I’d throw in my 2 cents.
Yoikes! What lousy customer service- and it sounds like a very annoying, messy, time-consuming application process- egads! It reminds me of my high school henna days!
Except that was crumbly mud… but also messy.
You might really consider going to see a professional colorist to help transition you back to your natural color, so you don’t end up with goth kid skunk stripe for several months. It will be expensive & I’m sure that we can try to help same ACT into paying for the service!
This is especially a bad experience for someone with gorgeous “virgin” hair untouched by chemical colorants.
Unfortunately it’s very easy to visit a drugstore or beauty supply store & make your problem worse. You should be able to call, make an appointment then get a color consultation locally at a respected salon. They may be able to give you a few options as to how to grow this out gracefully & to accurately predict the kind of fade you can expect.
Good luck! Nothing like a hair nightmare.
I think ACT will live to regret not being more accomodating, heh.
I would be furious if that happened to me. BUT I have to say you do look great with dark hair.
As a person who obviously colors my hair, I would be furious. There is NO reason your hair should have turned that color even if it was porous. Thanks for the heads up! I won’t be using their product anytime soon.
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Ack! That is dreadful. I can’t believe their only suggestion was vinegar and washing. You would think they would care more. I know nothing about hair but I remember this post from a message board I belong to that might help you out some. Hair Color Help!. You could also try the girls at MakeUpAlley.com
Good luck and I hope you can get this toned down some.
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Karissa,
I’m so sorry this happened to you. What an awful product, and an even awful-er man!
But I have to agree, the blue/black looks pretty good on you!
I’m really sorry you’ve had to go through this. BUT, I agree with the others in that the last photo of you is very pretty.
I do appreciate a negative review once in a while. Especially when it is regarding something as drastic as this. You’re saving quite a few others the heartache of dealing with this company AND many women probably wouldn’t be able to pull off the darker hair as well as you are doing.
Good luck on getting some kind of “owning up” from them.
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I am so sorry. I would be so stinkin mad. I agree they should pay for your salon trip and repairs. Thanks for sharing this with us. Down with ACT hair color.
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Oh man Karissa that sucks! I do think you still look gorgeous though. But their lack of response to you is totally unacceptable. I think they should pay for you to go to a natural salon to have our hair fixed.
Thanks for the warning, I’ll be sure to stay away and will pass along the information
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Holy cow! I am so sorry! That is just awful! When I hear about crappy customer service it steers me clear of the company let alone CRAPtastic results! That is totally unacceptable! I hope the oils help!
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This is why I only go to the salon. I will swallow $140 so that my hair doesn’t turn orange…it did once before. Thanks for warning us all of this shitass product and shithead owner!!
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That sounds HORRID! I’m so sorry and THANK YOU for letting us know!!!
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That really was bad, but the final photo actually looks a lot better.
You can always use a dye remover to get out a color you don’t like. Try Color Fix by Jheri Redding designed to remove unwanted permanent hair color, and controlled usage allows color correction to specific areas, either full or slight color corrections.
Loreal Color Zap gently washes away all permanent haircolor. Ideal for color correction, removal of dark shades, muddy, uneven results or color build up. Leaves hair ready for immediate re-coloring. Loreal Effasol Color Remover washes away permanent haircolor, leaving hair ready for recoloring. Can be used with water or developer
Holy cow! That is just crazy! That is nowhere near a natural brown color. I would be so mad. I do agree with the others, however, that you still look super cute.
But I totally get what you are saying. I am picky about my hair too- it’s my pride and joy, and to have something like that happen? Yeah, I would be one unhappy mamma!
I really hope this company has the integrity to contact you and make this right.
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You guys are all so fantastic!
and the thing about the oil is actually making sense. I used that shampoo bar yesterday (made from oils) and it took a lot more color out, then my old school neutrogena build up shampoo!
thank you all for being you!
But you still look beautiful even if the color is bad
I’M SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT AND STILL NOT GET WHAT YOU NEEDED.
BUT SINCE YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL IT WILL BE A LOT LESS OF STRAIN THAN IT WOULD FOR OTHERS.FOR INSTANCE THE TIME I SWITCHED FROM BROWN TO ONE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO PUT COPPER HIGHLIGHTS IN IT. CAN YOU SAY “NEON RED HALLOWEEN WIG” WITH A STRAIGHT FACE? sometimes our disasters is the basis for our laughter.
Oh man, Karissa, I’m sorry! That looks nothing like light natural brown. What a huge disappointment – the product and the customer service.
If it’s any consolation, you look great! Can’t wait to read more about that make up.
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Oh no! I’m so sorry for this horrible experience!!! And thanks so much for the warning!
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Im glad to finally hear a negative review of something, Im so sorry it came at your expense though! I figure that most bloggers just wont say anything if they dont like a product so it was refreshing to see that you actually posted a negative review. I read online that Applying hot extra virgin olive oil, or store-bought hot oil treatments will help to strip the color treatment, because of the high acidic ingredients. Also using Hot water is supposed to fade the color faster than warm water. I really hope this fades/washes out soon!
OMG. I have my hair professionally colored every 5 weeks but often times, I can’t afford the pros so I do it myself with Nice ‘n Easy or various other products and NEVER have I had an experience like yours.
WTH is in that stuff?
I hope you took photos of your shower? And all the black dye stains?
Can you have your hair professionally fixed and then send him the bill? That really is outrageous. The product itself but more so, the lack of a response from the company. That is appalling. I’m so sorry this happened to you.
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That is so absolutely horrible, I can’t even believe that you’ve stayed this low key about it. LOL
On the bright side, you’re beautiful, so you can carry the jet black/blue hair better than most, and you do still look great.
And secondly, how great to hear a bad review when warranted. I always trusted the information on your site anyway, but now I know that you’ll tell it like it is when you have to, to save us from trying ridiculously bad products.
Thanks and hugs, it will eventually come out. And two things I’ve heard that are great for conditioning hair are olive oil and avocados.
I know it wasn’t what you wanted, and I think you have every right to be annoyed at their (haha) “customer service”…but I gotta say your new dark hair – with AND without the gorgeous make-up – looks really, really great on you!! When (if?) you get over the shock, try to have fun and enjoy it – I bet you’d never do something so radical with your hair on purpose! : )
Holy Crap, that is a TERRIBLE experience. Thanks for the warning. I color my hair every 3-4 months and like to try new stuff but will never try their products. I’m sure it’s hard when you hair is so long too. Do you have a beauty school nearby that you could go get a conditioning pack done at? They are usually really cheap and my hair always feels great after I get one done. Or go to a beauty supply house, get a pack yourself, put in on and leave it on for a few hours. ((HUGS)) I am so sorry! I would be embarrassed if I were the company. I will warn anyone I know NOT to use their products.
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Cat your hair looks fantastic!
and yes melissa, you are so right! it is so aggravating, I do reviews, I know I am going to come across a few bad eggs at times, but for those rotten eggs to blow up in my face really stinks! lol
Tuula, I am emailing you now! you are so sweet!
Is your hair is still dry and you feel it is damaged? I will send you some argan oil and tamanu oil (both unrefined) with all the original scent and nutrition intact. You can try to see if old fashioned oil treatments help out. Your hair actually looked pretty nice dark too. Sorry this happened to you.
I’m so sorry that this happened! I know how aggravating it can be when a product doesn’t perform as advertised, and especially when you can’t simply undo its effects.
What the hell is wrong with those people? I looked at their “color chart” and that looks NOTHING like the Light Natural brown. Hun, I’m so sorry this happened to you. You should get that stripped out and make them pay for the repairs.
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