Clairol ColorStrong Permanent Hair Dye 8.1 Medium Ash Blonde (Key West) — Ammonia‑Free, 100% Gray Coverage with Bonding System

Clairol ColorStrong Permanent in 8.1 Medium Ash Blonde (Key West) is an ammonia-free, PPD-free home hair color kit that delivers 100% gray coverage and a three-step color + bonding system to strengthen and add multidimensional tone.

Clairol ColorStrong combines reflective pigments with an integrated bonding system to refresh shade and reinforce hair integrity. The kit includes a Bonding Primer, Permanent Color Cream formulated without ammonia, an Activator, and a Bonding Treatment — each step contains AHA to support hair structure while depositing color. This pack gives you a single at-home application aimed at rich, multidimensional ash-blonde results and full gray coverage.

What makes the Color + Bonding system different from regular permanent dyes?

The ColorStrong system is built around a three-step approach: prime, color, and seal. Each component contains AHA to help the formula interact with hair differently than standard dyes, designed to add dimension while fortifying strands during the process.

• Bonding Primer prepares and evens the hair surface for uniform uptake.
• Permanent Color deposits ash-blonde pigments that create depth and multidimensional tone.
• Bonding Treatment seals color and provides a reinforcing finish to the hair shaft.

How will this shade look on my hair and cover gray?

Shade 8.1 Medium Ash Blonde (Key West) leans toward a cooler, neutral-ash blonde with subtle depth for natural-looking dimension. The permanent cream is formulated to deliver complete gray coverage, helping blend or fully hide grays depending on your starting color and hair condition.

• Designed for medium blonde results with ash tones and visible tonal layering.
• 100% gray coverage when applied according to directions and processing time.
• Results vary by natural hair color, porosity, and previous chemical treatments.

Is this product gentle on hair and free of harsh ingredients?

ColorStrong removes ammonia from its permanent formula and is free of PPD/PTD and parabens, aiming to be a gentler option among permanent dyes. Despite the absence of ammonia, it uses an activator to open the cuticle enough for effective color deposit while the AHA-containing bonding steps work to reinforce structure.

• No ammonia and formulated without parabens and PPD/PTD.*
• Includes Bonding Primer and Treatment with AHA to support hair structure.
• Follow safety instructions; do not use if you have a known PPD/PTD allergy due to risk of severe reaction.

What comes in the box and how easy is it to use at home?

This single-application kit contains everything needed for one permanent color service: Bonding Primer, Permanent Color Cream, Activator, Bonding Treatment, gloves, and an instruction leaflet. The steps follow a straightforward order: prime, mix and apply color, process, and finish with the sealing treatment.

• Complete one-application kit with clear, step-by-step instructions.
• Gloves included and precise mixing ratios printed on the leaflet for simple at-home use.
• Processing times and aftercare recommendations provided to optimize color and bond results.

Who is this product for? Clairol ColorStrong 8.1 Medium Ash Blonde is aimed at anyone seeking an ammonia-free permanent color that offers full gray coverage with an emphasis on dimension and hair reinforcement. It suits users who want a cooler, ash-toned blonde result and prefer a kit with built-in bonding steps to help protect hair during coloring. If you have a known sensitivity to PPD/PTD chemicals, avoid use. For best outcomes, match the shade to your natural level and follow the included directions and safety patch test.

Ingredients

BONDING PRIMER: AQUA/WATER/EAU, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, QUATERNIUM-80, SODIUM DIETHYLENETRIAMINE PENTAMETHYLENE PHOSPHONATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, MALIC ACID, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, DISODIUM EDTA, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, POLYSORBATE 60, SODIUM PHOSPHATE PERMANENT COLOR CREAM: AQUA/WATER/EAU, ETHANOLAMINE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM DIETHYLENETRIAMINE PENTAMETHYLENE PHOSPHONATE, SODIUM SULFITE, DICETYL PHOSPHATE, 2-METHOXYMETHYL-P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE, ASCORBIC ACID, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, CETETH-10 PHOSPHATE, STEARETH-200, RESORCINOL, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE, XANTHAN GUM, DISODIUM EDTA, 2-METHYLRESORCINOL, SODIUM METASILICATE, 2,4-DIAMINOPHENOXYETHANOL HCL, P-AMINOPHENOL, 2-METHYL-5-HYDROXYETHYLAMINOPHENOL, M-AMINOPHENOL, 1-NAPHTHOL. ACTIVATOR: AQUA/WATER/EAU, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETEARETH-25, SALICYLIC ACID, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, PHOSPHORIC ACID, DISODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM STANNATE, ETIDRONIC ACID BONDING TREATMENT: AQUA/WATER/EAU, BIS-HYDROXY/METHOXY AMODIMETHICONE, STEARYL ALCOHOL, CETYL ALCOHOL, STEARAMIDOPROPYL DIMETHYLAMINE, MALIC ACID, GLUTAMIC ACID, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, BENZYL BENZOATE, EDTA, HISTIDINE, COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL, SODIUM CHLORIDE, HEXAMETHYLINDANOPYRAN, HEXYL CINNAMAL, LINALOOL, MAGNESIUM NITRATE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE, ASCORBIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, SODIUM SULFITE