Clairol Natural Instincts Egyptian Plum Review

It's been approximately seven weeks since I colored my hair with the Natural Instincts Midnight shade, and though most of it has held nicely, I wanted to touch up my roots and experiment with a burgundy hint. Plus, I had a coupon for $2 off!

The most interesting shade in the whole line (in my opinion) is Clairol Natural Instincts Egyptian Plum, and the box says it is ideal for dark brown to black hair. Perfect for me. Whenever using a new color, I always remind myself that the end result will most likely not be identical to the box, so I prepared myself for lighter, darker, brassier, or more "purply" hair. 

Again, I was pleased with the gel's mild botanical scent. No dizzying chemical fumes. It took five minutes to saturate my hair with the mixture and clip it up. The directions say to let it sit for at least 10 minutes, but I let it sit for 20 to ensure it will come out very dark. The color takes awhile to rinse out completely, but I do have thick long hair so that was no surprise. I shampooed my hair (instructions advise not to shampoo immediately after, only condition), because I did it last time and the color still lasted brilliantly. The Color Treat conditioner that Natural Instincts provides is divine. Just a few drops of it coats my hair and turns it slippery. 

When my hair dried I couldn't see the "plum" effects of the color. It was darker, but that was it. The next morning while getting into my car a neighbor commented on the way my color radiated in the sun. The purple was quite evident then. Egyptian Plum is faint, and obvious at the right time, but not an overbearing shade.