How To Dye Hair with L'Oréal Excellence Crème

Achieving a professional-looking transformation at home is simpler than you might expect. Learning how to dye hair with L'Oréal Excellence Crème allows you to refresh your look and cover grays from the comfort of your own bathroom. Using this formula ensures you get rich, radiant results without a salon visit. These coloring creams provide 100% gray coverage and a non-drip texture that stays exactly where you apply it. This makes your at-home application smooth, controlled, and completely mess-free.

We are here to walk you through everything you need to know about using our creme hair color to transform your tresses. This permanent creme hair color dye process is designed for ease and accessibility for every skill level. Simply gather your supplies and follow along to achieve a flawless DIY hair color experience.

Now, remember, while the core steps remain consistent, specific instructions may vary slightly by kit, so always follow the directions in your individual box.

What Is Creme Hair Color Dye?

Creme hair color refers to a type of hair dye with a creamy, rather than liquid or gel, consistency. Because of their thicker texture, these formulas apply easily without dripping or splattering, unlike runnier liquid hair dyes. Coloring creams are very easy to spread throughout your tresses, thanks to their consistency, which helps you achieve an even application without patchiness or missed spots.

You can find both permanent and demi-permanent creme color hair dye options. With permanent formulas, you only need to touch up your color periodically to blend new growth and grays. Demi-permanent colors, by contrast, generally fade over the course of a month or so. They are ideal for those looking for a low-commitment way to try on a new hue.

Creme hair color dyes are commonly paired with 20-volume developers in permanent kits. This developer strength provides the necessary lift to open the hair cuticle while simultaneously depositing rich pigment into the hair shaft. This balanced combination ensures that the final result is both vibrant and long-lasting, especially when working with stubborn gray strands.

Our Best Hair Colors for Gray Coverage

Gray coverage is typically easiest to achieve with a permanent creme formula designed to fully saturate the hair. Results can vary based on your starting color, hair condition, and how much gray you have, so choose your shade with that in mind.

Here are our two favorite options if you want to learn how to dye hair with L'Oréal Excellence Crème:

L’Oréal Paris Excellence Crème Permanent Triple Care Hair Color

Turn to this at-home coloring cream if you are looking to transform your tresses. The L’Oréal Paris Excellence Crème Permanent Triple Care Hair Color comes in a variety of natural-looking shades, from pale blonde to deep, rich dark brown. Each shade provides up to 100% gray hair coverage.

This at-home kit is designed to help care for hair before, during, and after coloring. The caring formula is infused with a Pro-Keratine complex to help protect hair as it colors. In addition to the permanent cream hair color, this kit includes a salon-inspired shampoo and a caring deep-conditioning treatment to help keep strands softer after rinsing.

L’Oréal Paris Excellence Crème Universal Nudes

For those who prefer ammonia-free hair color, we suggest trying the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Crème Universal Nudes. This permanent creme color hair dye provides the same vibrancy and intensity as traditional permanent hair colors but is made without ammonia. It is a gentle yet effective solution for sensitive scalps.

The formula is suitable for all types and textures. Each neutral tone in the lineup provides up to 100% gray coverage for a gorgeous, natural-looking hair color. These neutral reflectors are designed to flatter multiple skin undertones seamlessly.

Things to Know Before Using Permanent Creme Hair Color

Before getting familiar with how to dye hair with L'Oréal Excellence Crème and starting your application, consider the maintenance required for your chosen shade:

• Plan for upkeep: Permanent color grows out, so you’ll likely need touch-ups over time, especially around the hairline and part.
• Set shade expectations: Your starting shade, porosity, and percentage of gray can affect how your final color looks, especially if your hair has highlights or previously applied color.
• Consider your maintenance level: High-contrast changes can look bold, but they may require more frequent root touch-ups than a shade closer to your natural color.
• Do a strand check if you’re unsure: If you’re between shades or coloring for the first time, following your kit’s guidance for a small test section can help you feel more confident.
• Follow safety directions: Always read the instructions in your kit and complete the allergy alert test 48 hours before each application, as directed.

If you’re not sure which shade to choose or how often you’ll need to retouch, the Hair Color Concierge can help you think through options based on your goal. Staying within one to two shades of your natural color is often the simplest path to a seamless grow-out, while bigger changes may look best with more frequent maintenance.

How To Use Creme Hair Color Dye

Before you begin to dye your hair, you need to settle on your ideal shade. For natural-looking results, you should select a shade that complements both your skin tone and undertones. As a general rule, warmer hair colors, such as copper and golden brown, are best suited for those with warm skin.

Those with cooler complexions fare better with cooler, ashier shades, like mushroom brown or ash blonde. If you need help finding a shade, we suggest consulting our Hair Color Concierge. You could also take ourhair color quiz for help narrowing down the best hue for you.

Once you have selected your shade, you are ready to start coloring. Ensure your hair is dry, unwashed, and detangled before beginning the application. Always perform an allergy test 48 hours prior to coloring.

If you’re ready to learn how to dye hair with L'Oréal Excellence Crème, follow these simple steps for the best results:

Step 1. Prep your workstation

Before coloring your hair, gather your supplies. Your L'Oréal Excellence cream kit will have most of what we need, but we also suggest grabbing a hair brush, a comb, some large clips, petroleum jelly, and a towel. We suggest wearing an old shirt or a salon cape to protect your clothing and having a towel handy that you do not mind staining during the process.

Wrap the protective towel or cape around your shoulders and brush your hair to remove any knots or tangles. Then, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the tops of your ears and the skin along your hairline. This creates a barrier to prevent the hair dye from staining your skin. Don the plastic gloves included in your kit at this stage.

Step 2. Section your hair

Proper sectioning is key when learning how to dye hair with L'Oréal Excellence Crème, as it ensures even saturation and controlled root application. After detangling your hair with a brush, use a comb to create a vertical part down the middle of your head. Keep the line as clean and straight as possible for the best results.

Next, divide the top section of hair from one ear to the other, creating two subsections. Twist each subsection and use a clip to keep them out of the way. Do the same with the bottom to create four roughly equal sections of hair. Note that thicker hair may require more, smaller sections for full coverage.

Step 3. Mix your color

Before mixing your color, carefully read the instructions on the package insert inside the hair color box. It explains how to properly mix your hair color to ensure the best possible end result. All mixing should be done immediately before application to maintain formula potency.

Ensure you are wearing your gloves and combine the color and developer exactly as instructed. Do not save any mixed color for later use, as the chemical reaction is only effective for a short window. Shaking the L'Oréal Excellence Color Crème applicator bottle vigorously ensures a smooth, creamy consistency.

Step 4. Apply the dye

Once the mixing is complete, revisit the instructions for guidance on how to dye hair with L'Oréal Excellence Crème. Some hair dyes are designed to be applied to the roots first, while others should be applied to the mid-lengths and ends before the roots. Be sure to follow the instructions exactly when applying your L'Oréal Paris hair dye.

Take your time and make sure each section of hair is completely saturated. Fully saturate gray-prone areas first to ensure the pigment takes hold. If hair is not fully coated, you may end up with a patchy or uneven color.

Step 5. Let the color process

Once you have evenly coated your hair in the color, set a timer for the time recommended in your product instructions. Resistant grays may require the full recommended processing time to achieve 100% coverage. Do not rinse the color out early or leave it in longer than specified.

This is a good time to catch up on an episode of your favorite show or give yourself a relaxing at-home facial. Consistency in timing is key to achieving the exact shade shown on the box. Keep an eye on the clock to ensure precision.

Step 6. Rinse your hair

When your timer goes off, step into the shower and rinse your hair with lukewarm water. As it gets wet, the dye should emulsify, creating a foamy lather. Rub the lather throughout your strands to ensure all residual product is loosened.

Rinse your hair until the water runs clear. Typically, you will not need to shampoo immediately after using L'Oréal Excellence hair dye, but you should consult the package instructions for clear guidance. Be sure to rinse completely to avoid color transfer onto towels or clothing.

Step 7. Post-color care

Lastly, apply a generous amount of the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Hair Color Moisture Lock Ultra Care Conditioner included in your kit. This conditioner helps seal the hair cuticle and improve the immediate feel of your tresses. You can purchase more of this specific treatment to maintain softness and hydration between coloring sessions.

Let the conditioner sit for the recommended amount of time before rinsing with lukewarm water. Gently squeeze out any excess moisture from your strands and let your hair air-dry. Once your tresses are bone-dry, you can admire your new DIY color.

Editor’s Tip for Color Longevity

Once you have colored your hair, avoid heat styling immediately after coloring to let the pigments settle, and use only color-safe haircare products to preserve your new hue. We recommend snagging the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Conditioner. This pH-balanced duo is designed to intensify shine by sealing the cuticle and protecting against color fade. Use them during every wash to maintain a salon-smooth finish and high-gloss radiance.

Follow up with the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Glossing Lamination Mask once a week to boost shine and deeply nourish your strands. This weekly treatment provides an extra layer of protection and leaves hair looking exceptionally vibrant. To shield your color from UV damage and environmental stressors, you could also use the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Conditioner. These formulas feature antioxidants and UV filters that protect your color for up to eight weeks of vibrancy.

For essential heat protection and nourishment, we suggest using the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free 21-in-1 Color Caring Spray Leave-In. This multi-benefit spray detangles, moisturizes, and provides heat protection up to 450 degrees. Simply mist it onto clean, damp hair before styling to keep your color-treated hair healthy and strong. Using a combination of these targeted treatments ensures your at-home color transformation stays rich and luminous for as long as possible.

Next Up: Types of Hair Dye and Which One Is Right for You?

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris