Madison Reed is an online hair color company that has taken the internet by storm since they were founded in 2013. In addition to at-home hair color kits, Madison Reed offers a full system of hair care products, from shampoo and conditioner to barrier cream and color reviving gloss, that are designed to work together with professional grade results. Their subscription service, the Madison Reed membership program, allows you to choose the color you want on the delivery schedule that works for you for at least 15% off compared to one-time boxes. Have long hair? You can add an extra tube to your subscription order, too.
Madison Reed Reviews
Is Madison Reed Right For You?
Updated December 18, 2024 | Verified Since 2024
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Madison Reed Overview
About the Brand
What It’s Like to Subscribe to Madison Reed
How Madison Reed Works
When you start your journey on Madison Reed’s store, the first thing they have you do is fill out a style quiz to learn more about your hair and what color you want your hair to look like after treatment.
They will recommend colors based on your input and you can browse through their options and compare different colors to find the one you like. If you aren’t sure, they also have consultants available to chat and help you talk through the different options.
Once you’ve decided, check out and choose either a one-time shipment or subscribe to get a discount, bonus items, and full support.
When your box arrives, it comes with everything you need to color your hair yourself, with plenty of resources and guides to make sure you get it right.
Keep your hair vibrant and colorful with regular dye shipments on whatever schedule suits you best. If you’re not sure you need another box just yet, you can skip a shipment, or cancel anytime.
Madison Reed Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very easy to use quizzes or consultants to find your right color and DIY
- Sends you plenty of product, even for long and thick hair
- Comes with everything you need
- Effective, natural colors that last
Cons
- Requires you to color yourself, so if you’re not confident you can do it it might be risky. Madison Reed’s new in-person color bars might suit better.
- You won’t find many bolder, un-natural colors
What Else You Should Know About Madison Reed
Madison Reed recently started moving off the internet and into the real world with Hair Color Bars in some locations. They have a subscription for that, too, called the Unlimited Roots Membership, which lets you go into one of their locations to get your roots colored any time you want, plus other fringe benefits.
Coloring your hair is messy. The longer your hair, the messier things can get. Make sure your bathroom is ready for color splashing everywhere, and be sure to clean up ASAP if you don’t want anything to stain.
Is Madison Reed Worth It?
Madison Reed is trusted by many online to keep their hair looking colorful and healthy, and based on our evaluations we think anyone who is comfortable doing their own color at home can use Madison Reed and get great value out of it. Plus, even if you don’t think you can do it at home, the new Madison Reed color bar subscription is a great alternative if there’s one in your area.
For those with very short hair, it may be cheaper to buy kits in-store if only because you need far less product.
For those who think they will struggle to find enough time to do it themselves, you may find your stockpile of product growing after a few months, and it might be better to buy product only as needed.
For those looking to do more dramatic changes to their hair color, you will probably not find at-home kits to be worth it and will likely end up needing professional assistance anyway.
How Madison Reed Compares to Other Top Beauty Subscriptions
Madison Reed VS Color & Co: Both of these subscriptions offer you a membership to dye your hair and consult with stylists to make sure you order the right dye for what you’re looking for. Madison Reed offers a money back guarantee if you can’t find the right color after working with a stylist. With a subscription discount, each brand costs $22 per color treatment.
Madison Reed VS Prose: Madison Reed offers the full range of products from color to care, whereas Prose specializes only in hair-care for natural or colored hair.
Madison Reed VS Function of Beauty: Similarly, Function of Beauty offers a lot of special shampoos designed to maintain and enhance the color of your hair, but does not offer products to dye your hair.
Madison Reed FAQ
I’ve never bought a home color kit online. How do I find my perfect shade?
If you want to color your own hair with Madison Reed products, you’ll start by taking a quick color quiz. You’ll indicate whether you’d like to explore full color, cover roots, or other options. You’ll also indicate your hair texture, your hair type, your hair goals, and your experience level with DIY hair coloring. Additionally, you’ll choose your approximate skin tone from several ranges, your eye color, and whether your hair currently has its natural color or is treated. Next you’ll be shown some hair color swatches and be asked to match your root color, to let Madison Reed know where you stand on gray hairs, and what color direction you’re hoping to go in. From there, they’ll suggest a color match for you!
How will my hair feel after using Madison Reed products?
Madison Reed’s home dyes are full of ingredients that hair loves, like keratin, argan oil, and ginseng root extract. The dyeing process also conditions your hair, so you’ll be left with healthy hair that’s shiny and smooth. If you want to go bigger, you can add on a Pro Boost for $5, which locks in color, and fills your hair with antioxidants, nourishment, and protection.
How does the Madison Reed subscription work?
Subscribing to receive Madison Reed hair coloring kits on a regular schedule means you’ll always have the hair color you need to feel your best. You get to choose your own auto-delivery schedule, you can expect a birthday gift, and you get 15% or more off every box as a subscriber.
Does Madison Reed sell temporary hair color in addition to permanent dye?
Yes, among other hair coloring offerings—Madison Reed carries permanent, semi-permanent, demi-permanent, and temporary hair dyes. They recommend using the temporary hair color solution when you’re between permanent hair color applications or stylist visits.
What’s the difference between permanent, semi-permanent, demi-permanent, and temporary hair colors?
Madison Reed’s permanent hair dye offers 100% gray coverage and is meant to be long-lasting—basically, until your roots grow in. It’s what most people are referring to when they talk about “hair dye.”
Their demi-permanent hair color option can be expected to last up to 2 weeks. It’s a great solution for shade maintenance or darkening hair (it does not lighten hair), and can help you extend the time needed between visits to the salon. It’s meant to cover your roots between permanent hair color applications. It is also rain-proof, sweat-proof, and pillow-proof, meaning it will stay put until your next wash.
Madison Reed’s semi-permanent hair dye or hair gloss can be used to refresh or temporarily change your hair tone. It isn’t meant to cover grays, or even lighten or darken your hair; it just adds shine and dimension. If you’re trying to decide whether to dye your hair a totally different color, a semi-permanent dye is a great way to test it out first.
Finally, they carry temporary hair color, which comes in the form of liquid, chalk, powder, or from a mascara-style wand. You’ll see the color immediately as it’s added to your hair, and can be washed out when you’re ready. It’s a great option for last-minute gray coverage or to try something new short-term!
Can men use Madison Reed hair color?
Madison Reed actually has a line of hair coloring products specifically for men! Madison Reed Mr.™ Hair Color for Men products are intended to fade after 2-3 weeks (when hair is washed every day) so as to avoid any visible hairline regrowth as hair grows out.
Can women use Madison Reed Mr.™ Hair Color for Men?
Anyone can use Madison Reed’s men’s hair coloring products! It is specifically marketed to men because they have heard feedback that women generally wish for 100% gray coverage, whereas men tend to seek gray reduction. Anyone who’s interested in a hair color product that reduces grays, but doesn’t fully eliminate them, can use this line.
What if I’m unhappy with my results after using Madison Reed hair coloring?
If your hair turned out differently than how you’d hoped, Madison Reed encourages reaching out to their customer service team so that a licensed professional colorist can advise you on next steps. If, together, you’re unable to find a solution, your first box will be refunded. The Madison Reed customer service team can be contacted at 1-866-817-0814.
What is the Hair Color Bar Unlimited Roots Membership?
For those who live near a physical Madison Reed Hair Color Bar location, you can join the Hair Color Bar Unlimited Roots Membership for $60 per month. With your membership dues you’ll gain access to basic roots service whenever you want! In addition to regular root touch ups, you’ll benefit from 20% off any additional hair service, 10% off hair products purchased in-store or online, a welcome gift, additional discounts and product promotions, and a free gloss and blowout upon becoming a member.
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