I've always gotten my hair professionally done, so it always looked good, but recently, I started experimenting with the cheap hair colors from L'Oreal and Garnier Fructis, and NOTHING shows up on my hair. I've tried dying my hair red like... 4 times in the past few months (I know, it's not good for my hair) and the only thing that happens is that it glows a little bit red in full sunlight.

Anybody know a product that works? I'd prefer NOT to bleach my hair before dying it.

Try leaving the products longer in your hair, or using a lighter/bolder color so it will show. I use Shiseido and its really nice. I'm not sure if they have it in the USA though..?

Don't buy bottle-dye. Go to a beauty supply store, such as Sallys. Buy a BOX color that you like, and a developer(30-40 volume, would probably work. but you may want to ask one of the workers).
That is the stuff they use in salons, and you can buy a bottle applicator for it.

Hm, come to think of it, Sally's is the first place I should've looked. I'm going to go try that. How much is it, usually?

Boxed color is about... $5-$6ish, or atleast here it is.
And the developer isn't very expensive, about $3 depending on the size of the bottle. And the applicator bottle is like $2.
But with the applicator bottle, you can reuse it. Just wash it out. So its a good price.

Make sure you have gloves too. =]
Most of the time, the box colors don't come with gloves.

None of it works because you have dark hair, obviously. You need to get a slightly more expensive kind that is aimed at people with dark hair, or you'll need to bleach your hair before you dye it any other color.

^ Well, that isn't entirely true. She can get a higher level red (maybe like a 7 or so, depending on the tone she wants) and a 40 volume developer, and it will lift without her having to use bleach.
I've lifted my moms hair at school with 9N and a 40 vol, from a dark brown. No bleach used.

^ Yeah, that's what I meant when I said "You need to get a slightly more expensive kind that is aimed at people with dark hair", because I have dyed my hair red before using some drug store brand hair-dye, and it turned out just fine without having to bleach it.

Ahh, okay. Gotcha.

What you guys said is not expensive at all. o_o

It is slightly more expensive, which is what Michelle said:

Store bought ones are pretty cheap. Cheaper than buying color, developer, an applicator bottle, and gloves.

No, I get that, I really do. I bought the $11-15 kind that's specifically for dark brown to black hair and even had a "before and after" hair sample picture.

My hair didn't change to the "after" picture at all.

You should try a more asian brand adding to what Michelle said to find one that is aimed toward people with dark hair.