Clairol • Natural Instincts in 35 Ebony Mocha (Brown/Black) • Hair Color

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realmakeovers on 4/1/2013 1:49:00 AM more reviews by realmakeovers

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I have been using Clairol Natural Instincts for many years. I LOVE it a lot!! I used to use #28 Nutmeg or #32 Egyptian Plum. My natural hair color is dark brown so, I wanted a color closer to my natural hair color. I couldn't find any color that was dark brown with some red in it. I called the Clairol toll-free # and the rep suggested I mix 2 different colors. The first time I mixed 1/2 of #35 Ebony Mocha & 1/2 #28 Nutmeg. It was nice but, I still wanted it darker. So, the next time I mixed 75 percent of #35 & 25 percent of #28. I definitely will continue using Natural Instincts because it is gentle on my hair. I always buy it when Walgreens or CVS has a sale. Plus, I usually combine the purchase with a coupon. :)

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selkie67 on 7/3/2012 4:27:00 PM more reviews by selkie67

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this shade because I have very dark hair that is not quite a true black. I was afraid that pure black was getting a little harsh on me. Unfortunately this shade lightens rapidly to a medium/light brown, which was even more noticeable than my white roots. It gave the rest of my hair a dull-brown cast. It doesn't last either. I know it's a demipermanent shade and you can't expect it to last very long, but it lasted barely 2.5 weeks. I definitely did not wash my hair 28 times; more like 5 (I have very dry hair and don't wash it every day.) Will not repurchase.

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Pandora7 on 10/14/2011 5:48:00 PM more reviews by Pandora7

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Love this, but only complaint was that my chin length hair is so thick, I should have used 1 1/2 boxes instead of just one. I don't think it evenly saturated at the tips! For root touch up, one box ought to do me

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thewidowpicard on 9/13/2011 11:40:00 AM more reviews by thewidowpicard

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

This color is as close to black without actually being black. Perfect. Shiny, healthy hair. Natural Instincts as always lasts a long time too.

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Eliana78 on 3/14/2011 5:08:00 PM more reviews by Eliana78

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Absolutely love this hair dye color. My natural color is a very dark reddish brown but I've dyed my hair for years either very dark neutral brown or jet black. So for me this color is perfect. I have naturally curly hair so color damage to my curls is a big concern for me. With this product I noticed absolutely no limp results to my curls and no straw like feeling either. The only difference when I am finished is that my curls look like a very rich deep dark brown/black color but they look, feel, and act exactly as they did before the dye. That is a BIG plus for me! For me, as this color washes out it fades into a very interesting medium brown color that isn't bad at all. My main objective is coloring the few stray gray hairs that I have at my hair line. And this works like a charm. I like that it has no ammonia and seemingly just enough peroxide to do the trick without leaving me with hair that looks and feels as dry as a haystack.This color lasts in my hair with about a month of washings. I do not use the conditioner that comes with this dye because it contains silicones as I don't use conditioners that contain silicones. So even without the use of cones and using a sulfate free shampoo and silicone free natural conditioner I get a month's wear out of the color and I'm very pleased with the results. The color is just beautiful.

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emgb on 11/10/2010 5:00:00 PM more reviews by emgb

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

This color is amazing! I'm even a little sad to read in other reviews that it develops into more of a dark brown as you wash it. I knew that would be the case since it is semi-permanent, but I had no idea I would love the shade it is right after coloring this much. :) But it will help for it to be toned down as time goes on. On first glance it's ink black, at another angle a shiny brown with black undertones and in sunlight, a deep brown with a hint of gold tones. It's kinda crazy but very pretty! It's the most severe, dark color I've ever tried and I definitely love it. I agree with the other person who wishes there was more product included. It's a pretty meager amount of dye and developer. The conditioner is a good size, but I did need two boxes to cover all of my hair, and my hair is only shoulder-length. Otherwise, I love this formula!

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*TOP REVIEWER* amaiaisabella on 9/23/2010 4:40:00 PM more reviews by amaiaisabella

Age: Unknown   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Beautiful, beautiful color. I left this on a little longer than I should have, almost 20 minutes, so it was practically ink black at first. A few good washings later, and it's right where I want it to be: a deep chocolate brown, black in some lights, with a bit of reddish tint that is probably from my previous light brown red color. I had to use two boxes to cover all my hair, and it's pretty fine and only to my armpits, so that's a negative. I would definitely recommend more product in the package. Try to wait for a coupon and it's not so bad a price. Would purchase again should it fade too much.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Tina68 on 9/7/2010 1:48:00 PM more reviews by Tina68

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I get my hair coloured professionally, but I had some grey coming in and couldn't get into see my stylist so I picked this up at the drugstore to try. The colour is pretty bang on to what I get at the salon. Lots of shine and my hair feels soft and looks healthy. The instructions are clear and consise and the gloves are pretty good too. It says to apply to damp hair, my hair was dry. It's easier for me to see the grey on dry hair. Processing time is about 20 minutes, I left it on longer. Most of the grey is coloured, but I can still see some whites that have a brownish cast to them and aren't fully coloured. No big deal. This will get me through to my next appointment.

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weddingdoll on 4/11/2010 1:55:00 PM more reviews by weddingdoll

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I was so skeptical on trying these semi permz, but I'm so glad I did! The gal on the box looks like Kim Kardashian and the color you get actually matches up to the model on the box, which rarely happens. I absolutely LOVE this hair color. I bought like 10 boxes because not all stores carry this shade. I hope they never discontinue because with my luck, everything I love gets discontinued. This shade is a perfect DARK DARK brown shade with a hint of golden undertone.

The negatives, well I can't think of any, except it washes out a little faster than the other shades. I used nutmeg before this, but I love the RICH color pay off that ebony mocha gives! I will repurchase over and over! My hair has never been SO healthy. I can't rave enough about this product.

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batipilla on 2/20/2010 10:15:00 PM more reviews by batipilla

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Black    

I purchased this product after some research online. My natural hair color is dark ash brown but ever since I remember I color it black (most shades of black, from blue black, jet black, brilliant black, orchid black, etc). I relax my hair which is very thin and depending on weather may get frizzy, too. At the time of using this product I wasn't coloring for about 3 months and was looking for something new to add color and shine without damaging my hair. I was using Sebastian Colourshines before but wanted to try something different without ammonia or harsh chemicals, and of course more affordable and easy to find. Please make sure to read the entire instructions before using this products (no complaints if you don't) and remember this is a temporary color treatment; not for someone trying to go for a drastic color change. It is very easy to apply and there was barely any dripping during this process. I got no mess at all in my skin or anywhere around me. After 10 minutes, I rinsed out the color as per the directions and applied the conditioner included in the box but I combined it with my own conditioner since for some reason aloe vera doesn't agree with my hair texture. At the end I got the exact brown black shade shown in the box and I couldn't be happier with the results. My hair feels softer, and more manageable, and I even noticed more body not mentioning that I just love the clairol's "just colored" scent on my hair. I got compliments about my hair as soon as I headed out of the door and I am very happy to find this product and shade. Hope this helps!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

stcxtc on 1/16/2010 8:13:00 PM more reviews by stcxtc

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Warning to all who process their hair to a lighter shade! I am Asian with fine, long layered hair. I usually keep golden brown and/or very dark blonde highlights in my hair. I decided to deepen/enhance my color with Ebony Mocha for the holidays and my hair turned JET BLACK. No mocha effect. No bronzy effect. Any highlights I had were completely erased. In fact, my hair looked wet/greasy 24/7 for about 2 weeks and it was so slippery it wouldn't hold a style. I held out for a month hoping it would wash out but it was still JET BLACK. I went to the salon to have corrective color done to soften the black.... my stylist told me b/c my hair was so porous, it sucked up the BLACK and wouldn't fade.... Now I'm a chestnut brown and much happier!

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rosetta1123 on 1/16/2010 4:37:00 PM more reviews by rosetta1123

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Gorgeous color & so easy! I have fine, thin, black Asian hair. My natural color is a dark brown/black. However, it has recently turned brassy after going on a sunny vacation. I wanted it back to my natural black color without paying an arm & leg for a salon color.

I followed the directions and the result was basically my natural color - very dark brown that is extremely close to being black without the red or blue undertones. It is a beautiful warm hue which makes my brown eyes pop. Be warned that as other reviewers have stated - it is darker than the picture on the box.

After coloring, my hair is so shiny and soft. My hair is chin length and thin so one box was enough. If you have thick hair or longer hair, you may need more than one box to do the job. I definitely will keep this product in my hair arsenal.

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ABB on 12/14/2009 3:24:00 PM more reviews by ABB

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy   Eyes: Green    

This semi-permanent hair color really gives my naturally- dark- brown-almost-black hair a noticeable boost in richness and shine. I wanted to avoid the tell-tale red tones that often come along with using a dark hair dye so this shade is exactly what I was looking for as it does give a golden glow in sunlight like my natural hair color does. My hair is bra strap length and is wavy/curly, therefore it does damage easier than straight hair does. I've used the product twice (spaced three months apart as that's when I notice the shine fading) and have experienced no dryness or splitting because of it. I did subtract a star because of its inability to cover my 5 grey hairs! But that isn't a big issue for me so I just pluck those guys out!
I will say the color looks jet black right after you rinse it the first time. It does take a couple of washings to tone down the blackness of the color and for the deep brown tones to come through. As far as fading evenly, I can't really speak to that because the color is already so close to my natural color. Since the ends of my hair were lighter than the roots before I started coloring, I haven't noticed any weird or uneven fading there, so I assume it would fade evenly if you were coloring a couple of shades darker than your natural color.
The conditioner that accompanies this is very moisturizing and has good slip. It probably lasts me about 4 weeks after coloring. Overall, I'm very pleased with this product as it does exactly what I wanted it to do. However, when I start getting more greys, I'll probably have to move on to something else.

One more thing: I noticed other reviewers mentioning how quickly the color and shine fades. I haven't had that problem because I use sulfate-free shampoos and I think that greatly extends the life of the color.

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justannalisa on 8/19/2009 9:39:00 AM more reviews by justannalisa

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I had medium auburn hair, and used this dye on it. The first few days it was a great brown-black color, like its supposed to be. But it washed out rather quickly. If I color my hair I make sure I don't wash it more than 2 times a week. I washed my hair a week after I dyed it, and then another week after. So it started to fade after about 2 washes and was basically completely gone after 6 washes. The color it was the day I dyed it was nice, but didn't stay for long. At least it's not harsh on my hair, so I still give it a 2.

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*TOP REVIEWER* iberian on 6/22/2009 11:38:00 AM more reviews by iberian

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

A gorgeous colour. Very rich, very dark warm brown. A semi-permanent colour, so it doesn't dry out my hair at all and makes it really shiny - but it washes out completely within a month, especially if you wash your hair almost everyday. This one washes out MUCH faster than #36 Midnight Neutral Black, but it's warmer and slightly more flattering on me (NC25, yellow skin with naturally dark hair and eyes).

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heartsp1986 on 3/11/2009 2:03:00 AM more reviews by heartsp1986

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I went to the salon last winter wanting my hair *this* exact color, a nice dark chocolate color. I paid around $75, came home happy, and angry after it washed out in one wash.

Ever since then, I have given up on trying to acheive that color, until recently when I discovered NI ebony mocha. And what a surprise this color turned out to be.

I colored my hair with it 3 weeks ago, and decided to give it a test run before reviewing it here.

After the first application, I'd say my hair was a little too dark for my liking. But after one wash, it lightened up and the brown really shone through. I definitely have nice, two toned hair that is dark and brown both. My grays pick up the brown tones nicely. I have resistant grays around my ears and forehead. I'm on week three and my grays are still covered. Not even Revlon Colorsilk can do that.

My hair is still soft and silky. It feels and looks natural. My ends are not dried out or damaged. And it shines. On week three. Usually on week three, with Colorsilk, my hair starts looking washed out, dry, and flat. NI is still holding up rather well. I bet I won't need another application for two more weeks.

This is definitely the dark chocolate hair color I've wanted for a long time now, and this dye holds up better than the Redken they put on me a year ago.

I would definitely try this if you want a color that is not going to trash your hair. But be warned, your hair will come out dark. Not blue black, but dark. Once the color lightens up after a wash....or two, you will still have dark hair, and the brown tones with it. But that darkness will not fade off, even if the dye is not permanent. Same goes for the Clairol Loving Care line, which I have stopped using because it leaves my hair too waxy and flat.

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*TOP REVIEWER* mooshrimp on 2/27/2009 1:07:00 AM more reviews by mooshrimp

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This color is GORGEOUS. I hadn't dyed my hair in a few months and my hair was starting to get this hideous rusty brown color and had NO shine whatsoever. I usually use natural instincts in nutmeg and had been very happy with it. But seeing the reviews here I decided to try this instead and I'm really glad I did! It's a stunning rich very dark brown color and the shine is amazing! My hair gleams in the sun now and I got all sorts of compliments on the color. Even my stylist was gushing about how lovely the color was! This color also makes my warm brown eyes POP almost as well as navy eyeliner. Just a word of warning though, right when you first dye your hair it will be REALLY dark. Resist the urge to freak out and start shampooing like crazy. After the first wash it will mellow out and turn into the gorgeous color that you're looking for.

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*TOP REVIEWER* suzanneb on 1/26/2009 7:16:00 PM more reviews by suzanneb

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Oh my poor hair...I used Colorsilk in dark brown to cover some brassiness and to keep my hair a nice rich dark brown. Colorsilk started to fade and fade to an almost medium red brown so I had to recolor with ebony mocha because I wanted to be sure no red or orange was going to peek out this time. This worked really well and even though Nutmeg has been my one and true love I've found that I like Ebony Mocha even more! the color is so rich and luxurious! I will never stray from Natural Instincts, Colorsilk is raved here but my hair was so dry,dull and crunchy,NI made my hair silky again.
Edit: used this color again on 7/23, same great results as the first time, dark rich brown with no red, just like my natural color

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*TOP REVIEWER* MIJA_97 on 1/22/2009 11:20:00 AM more reviews by MIJA_97

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan, Cool   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I love this color is almost like Nutmeg - Dark Brown but this Ebony Mocha is darker with a nice warm kick of brown..is just awsome love it..!! I love Natural Insticts overall I LOVE THE SHINE AND THE SOFTNESS!!

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gina66 on 11/13/2008 9:22:00 PM more reviews by gina66

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this haircolor because I wanted to make my dark brown hair just a little darker and richer. The result is just what I wanted, but I only left the mixture on my hair for about 8 minutes since I didn't want my hair to get too dark. The best part about this brand is the way my hair looks and feels afterward - so shiny and soft. I took off 1 lippe because I got an identical color result with Nutmeg when I used it in the past. But then again I did leave Nutmeg on for the full 10 minutes. Either way, I would repurchase since I'm always very happy with the end result and I just love the way it makes my hair look so healthy.

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