Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Long review, but worth reading - promise. So I hadn't lightened my blonde hair in about 6 months (I'm quite fair to begin with so roots aren't really a concern) and after a very outdoorsy summer, I was seeing a LOT of brass. I'm away for school and have yet to find a salon as good as the one I visit at home. Out of sheer desperation/boredom I discovered this product through reviews and picked up a box. I decided to do a test with an inch-wide section of hair and waited 5 minutes. No discernible difference. I let it hit the 10 minute mark. It looked a LITTLE bit ashier but no where near what I hoped to achieve. At this point I turned to Google to check out what might happen if I disobeyed the hair gods at L'Oreal and *gasp* left the product in longer than directed. Google had the answer - or rather, many, many hair/make-up bloggers had the answer - most people in the know stated what I already suspected: the 10 minute maximum is a marketing ploy to sell efficiency but this product is not a miracle-worker. At least, not a speedy one. Most people said anywhere from 30-45 minutes was ideal for anyone seeking to wipe out any yellow/red tones. If you are already blonde and sort of golden (like me) but looking for that fresh-from-the-salon ashy tone, 25 minutes should do the trick. I defied the instruction sheet (crumpled it up and tossed it in the garbage, actually) and waited for the 25 minutes to pass. Hopped in the shower, DID use a violet shampoo (what instructions?) and then applied the conditioning gloss in step 3 as directed. After blow-drying.... Gorgeous! Soft, silky, ashy blonde hair!! And without the 2 hour, $200 trek to my go-to salon at home. This is huge, ladies. Don't discount this product until you break the rules. It's not going to burn your hair out at the roots or fry it or turn it purple. Patience is a virtue and this product is a blessing in disguise.