I’ve been coloring my hair since I was 13. My genetics blessed me with that undeniably blah hue sometimes called “dishwater blonde,” and I’ve hated it for as long as I can remember.
One summer in middle school, I pestered my parents incessantly until they finally gave in and allowed me to change up the shade. Ever since that first dye job, I’ve been hooked on coloring my hair. I’ve been blonde, chestnut, mahogany, auburn, and even candy apple red, and I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I’ve tried every single at-home hair color brand available at my local drugstore. Some are better than others, but I’ve struggled to find the one that’s right for me. I recently tried Madison Reed, and it’s been a total game-changer.
Here’s why I’m never going back to drugstore color ever again:
Professional Color At Home
The Madison Reed experience is light years away from your typical at-home dye job. It’s salon-quality color along with everything you need to achieve that “pampered in the salon” feeling. In case you’re new to at-home color, let me tell you what the average box contains: dye, developer, gloves, and conditioner. That’s it.
With Madison Reed, you’ll also get barrier cream (to keep the dye off your forehead), a cleansing wipe (to clean up any spills), and a cap to cover your head while the color is developing. You also get shampoo and conditioner designed to help lock in your color.
Fun fact: Madison Reed’s shampoo smells AMAZING.
You’re Not On Your Own
Need a little extra hands-on support? With Madison Reed, you can book a free video consult with a licensed colorist to get some one-on-one help. Never colored your hair at home before? Not sure which products to add to your cart? You can chat with a licensed colorist from the comfort of your own home. Sessions typically last 15 minutes, and they’re absolutely free.
As someone who has DEFINITELY selected the wrong shade in the past (I once had to book an emergency salon appointment because I ended up with unintentionally orange locks), I greatly appreciate this feature. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stood under the fluorescent lighting in the drugstore hair aisle, debating between two shades and wondering which would look better on my head. I relied on one of the Madison Reed colorists to help me select the right color, and I couldn’t be more pleased. You can decide for yourself (my before and after photos are below), but I think the Madison Reed colorist nailed it. Firenze, the medium warm brown shade they selected for me, looks like the color I should have been born with.
New Color Right When You Need It
So here’s the thing: I’m not always great about keeping on top of my color. I’ve been known to stretchhhhhhh the recommended 4-6 week root touch ups to two months or more simply because I keep forgetting to pick up a box of dye from the drugstore. With Madison Reed, I don’t have to remember. At sign up, I was able to easily set up recurring shipments so my perfect shade turns up at my doorstep right when it’s time to color.
Grays? What Grays?
I recently turned 40, but I don’t want to look like I’m 40. Ashy, gray roots are no bueno. As you can see in my before pic, I started with some noticeable roots.
After coloring with Madison Reed, there are no grays to be found! (Note that even though I colored my hair at home, I still made the trip to the salon for a professional haircut.)
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Applying the color was a breeze, and I’m thrilled with the coverage I was able to achieve. Madison Reed’s cream color is easy to apply and it doesn’t drip, which makes it one of the best (and least messy!) products I’ve ever tried.
I’ve been coloring my hair at home for 27 years now, and I can honestly say no other brand has come so close to making at-home coloring feel so much like a salon experience. From the support I received up front to the easy-to-use product to the incredible multidimensional results…I couldn’t be happier. It’s official: I’m breaking up with the drugstore and going steady with Madison Reed.
