Back in November, while on my clean beauty quest, I wanted to find a less toxic option for coloring my hair at home. It was then that I stumbled upon Madison Reed and I haven’t looked back since. First, I went to one of their color bars to get in-person color advice and coloring by a stylist. Since then, I’ve been using their at-home hair color kits for a few months. So, today I’m ready to give you all the full scoop along with a $15 off code and some at-home hair coloring tips.

Since so many people can’t go to their hair salon right now, I figured some of you may be interested in trying a hair color kit for the first time. Before we get into the overview of Madison Reed and my hair coloring tips, I just want to stress that for all-over color, dying your hair at home is quite easy! I’ve been doing it for years and even when I was a newbie I found it difficult to “mess up” so I just want to give that reassurance, if this is something you’re tempted to try.

The Scoop on Madison Reed

Madison Reed is a hair color company with salon locations across the U.S. and a delivery service for at-home hair color. Their salons are in California, Texas, Georgia, New York and the D.C. area.

Perhaps the best thing about Madison Reed is that their color formula is free of the harsh ingredients that are found in most store-bought hair color kits. Specifically, the formula is free of ammonia, parabens resorcinol, phthalates, gluten, paraphenylenediamine (PPD) and titatnium dioxide. Instead, Madison Reed added hair-loving nutrients to their formula, including keratin, argan oil, and ginseng root extract to protect and pamper your hair.

Madison Reed is also a cruelty-free company, certified by Leaping Bunny, a coalition of animal protection groups that have created an internationally recognized standard for identifying animal-friendly products.

Highlights of Madison Reed Hair Color Kits:

• PRICE: One hair color kit costs $26.50.
  • With a subscription, the cost is $22.
• COLOR OPTIONS: 50+ shades to choose from. You can see them all here and check out the color advisor to find the best shade for your skin tone and hair type.
  • The color I use is Capri Blonde – 9NGV.
• HAIR COLOR KIT INCLUDES:
  • Conditioning Color Activator, squeeze Radiant Cream Color, Barrier Cream, cleansing wipes, Shampoo sample, Conditioner sample, gloves and a hair net.
• SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS:
  • You can set your subscription to arrive every 2-8 weeks.
  • You can also pause your subscription and change your color at any time.
  • You aren’t required to subscribe if you want to try out a hair color kit.
• PROS:
  • The formula! After coloring, my hair feels SO healthy. I can tell the formula doesn’t dry out my hair like other store-bought products I have tried.
  • Less toxic beauty products in my life!
  • I love the flexibility with ordering. If I’m traveling or just don’t get around to coloring my hair for a week, I can easily push back the next scheduled delivery.
  • I love the color! It has not turned brassy over time and it came out very similar to the pictured results.
  • With the subscription feature, I have a few less things to think about! Don’t have to keep track of the timing for when I last colored my hair and I don’t have to remember to pick it up. It just comes when it’s supposed to.
• CONS:
  • The price is more expensive than most drugstore kits.
  • While it’s much safer than most hair color products, the formula isn’t 100% clean. There some sulfates in the color activator and cream color.

Touching Up Roots

In addition to their hair color kits, Madison Reed also has a color gloss, root touch up and a root reboot product. The touch-up powder looks like a great solution for masking dark roots (rain & sweat proof!), if you want to wait until you can color your home at a salon.

Get $15 off your first Madison Reed purchase here!

Tips for At-Home Hair Coloring

• Choose a color that is a shade or two lighter or darker than your normal hair color. Anything color change greater than two shades should be handled by a colorist.
• Color your hair the day after you wash it. Next-day hair is best!
• Before you start:
  • put on an old t-shirt
  • check that you have everything you need in front of you — a comb, hair clips or hair ties, an old hand towel
  • Separate your hair into 2 sections — half up, half down. Put the lower half in a clip or hair tie. Then part your hair down the middle.
  • To prevent staining on your skin, apply a barrier cream on your forehead, ears and neck. This is included in Madison Reed’s kits.
• Coloring Tips:
  • Once your hair color is mixed, start by coloring the top half of your head. Use a comb to part your hair in rows about a quarter inch apart. You’ll squeeze and drag the bottle along your hair for each row until you are done with a section.
  • Use a handheld mirror to see the back of your head.
  • To color the back of your head, feel for the part in your hair. Then, drag your finger along the part and let the nozzle of the bottle follow behind.
• A good comb is key for easily parting your hair throughout the coloring process!
• For helpful visuals, check out the tutorials here.

So, that’s a wrap on this overview of the at-home hair color kit I am using and my tips for coloring your hair at home. I have been really happy with the quality of Madison Reed so I was very excited to share this with you. If you have any questions or additional tips about coloring your hair at home, please share! I’d love to hear if you try Madison Reed hair color too.

Cheers!