[About]
50 Megumi is the drugstore line from Japan’s ROHTO made for mature hair and scalps, and has been a fixture in Japanese pharmacies for years. This seaweed colour conditioner is non-oxidative: there is no two-part mixing and no peroxide, grey hair takes on colour gradually with each use, and the hair is conditioned at the same time. 150g; expect several consecutive uses before the shade reads clearly.
[Key ingredients]
Seaweed-based conditioning ingredients alongside the colourants, in a non-oxidative format that is gentler on the hair than a conventional dye.
[Shades]
Natural Black — a deep black close to virgin hair, giving the least contrast once greys are covered. Dark Brown — a softer brown than Natural Black, for a lighter, more natural-looking result overall.
[Who it suits]
Hair that is starting to grey, for anyone who prefers to handle it at home; do not use on a scalp that is broken, red or irritated.
[Who and when]
You spot a few more greys along the parting in the mirror, there is no time for a salon appointment, and mixing a two-part dye with that sharp smell is the last thing you want. Apply it like a conditioner after washing, leave it a few minutes, and after a few goes the grey along the parting reads darker while the hair feels softer rather than squeaky and dry. A 150g tub goes a long way, so it works both for touching up at home and for bridging the gap between salon visits — pick the shade closest to your own hair.
[Texture & scent]
A thick, buttery cream with enough body to sit on wet hair without dripping, and it spreads easily down the lengths. It stays put while it develops rather than running onto the face or neck, with a light herbal scent and none of the harsh dye smell left behind after rinsing.
[How to use]
Wash hair and towel it to damp, put on gloves, work an appropriate amount from roots to ends over the greyest areas, leave 5 to 10 minutes and rinse until the water runs clear — several consecutive uses at first, then once or twice a week to keep it going. Patch test before first use (a little on the inner arm, checked after 48 hours), and keep it off clothing and out of the eyes.