Earlier this week I did something I thought I would never do, color my hair myself. Well, it wasn't exactly by myself, but it was out of a box. Courtesy of Clairol Natural Instincts Week 2 Color Refresher, I was invited to the Marie Robinson salon to experience the new product. What I love about this at-home hair color is that in addition to the regular hair color, it contains a two week refresher pouch.

As anyone woman knows, whether you're coloring your hair at home or at the salon, the two to three week mark is when colored hair can start to lose it's shine.

Ready to try it yourself? Here's what I learned from Robinson:

• To pick a hair color, go by the before and after photos on the back of the box, not the photo of the model on the front. I was surprised and more than a bit nervous when Robinson selected a golden blonde shade for me. But because my base color was darker and red, it worked to brighten my hue and cover my roots and grays.
• Don't wash your hair before you color it--preferably not more than 48 hours. Your scalp's natural oils are the best protection against irritation from dyes.
• When applying the color, start with the face-framing pieces first, then work your way to the back.
• If your hair is long like mine, you should buy two boxes of color to ensure you'll have enough product for even coverage.

I personally couldn't be more thrilled with the results, and thanks to the Week 2 Color Refresher, I know I'll get to enjoy them for longer.