You‘ve likely seen the ads popping up for eSalon‘s personalized at-home hair color. This innovative brand promises salon-quality results tailored exactly to your hair type and desired shade – with the convenience of coloring right in your bathroom.
But does the reality actually live up to all the marketing claims of expert color formulations and foolproof application for beginners?
As someone who has now tried eSalon custom dye three separate times over the past year, I want to give you an unbiased, comprehensive first-hand review. Read on for everything you need to know from my experience becoming a hair color pro with this customized box kit!
Overview: eSalon‘s Unique Approach to DIY Hair Coloring
Launched in 2010, eSalon pioneered a direct-to-consumer model focused on complete personalization. They offer a true custom hair color option compared to the limited one-size-fits-all drugstore boxes.
Here‘s how it works:
- Fill out a detailed profile and hair history for their colorists
- In 1 business day or less, receive a tailored hair dye formula and instructions
- Color your hair with their professional guidance and support
But what sets eSalon apart goes far beyond just entering some basic information and getting a random box.
I was blown away by the level of customization during my consultation – it felt like I was right in the stylist‘s chair!
The in-depth questions covered everything from my natural shade, previous coloring, unwanted tones, current condition, processing time and results from other brands.
I even submitted multiple photos so their team could assess my exact "coloring canvas" from all angles. Finally, I picked my goal shades from a wide color spectrum.
Within 12 hours, my personal colorist Maeve crafted a recipe unique to my hair needs and desires along with a step-by-step coloring guide. No more guessing which box might work closest off the shelf!
When I went to apply the rich, velvety dye I felt empowered by the expertise infused into each component.
Now I want to share an inside look into my experiences, from unboxing these customized kits to the final reveals, to help you decide if eSalon offers superior home hair color compared to the old school options.
State of At-Home Hair Color: Why Customization is Key
In 2021, the global hair color industry raked in over $78 billion. Analysts forecast the market expanding another 7.14% by 2028.
With rising costs of living, demand has boomed for affordable and convenient do-it-yourself options over salon services. However, shoppers felt constrained by the cookie-cutter box kit experience.
pre-mixed formulas using generic instructions couldn‘t deliver the nuanced toning, blending and adjustments needed for complex coloring jobs.
That‘s why customization has become the new must-have feature as more startups disrupt the status quo. Consumers want control over the process instead of settling for whatever shade sort of resembles their goals.
eSalon recognized this early on.
While leading competitors like Madison Reed now offer some level of personalization like oliplex hair treatments, eSalon‘s decade of specialization perfecting made-to-order kits sets them apart.
Their master colorists and proprietary dye technology truly cream the competition when it comes to versatility accommodating all hair types.
Inside the Customization Process: My Consultations
Curious to experience this custom process firsthand, I scheduled my initial color profile session. eSalon offers many convenient ways to connect with their colorists:
- Direct messaging
- Phone call
- Zoom video chat
I decided to do a quick video call on my lunch break. My assigned colorist, Maeve, felt like an old friend instantly while guiding me through questions to determine my ideal formulations.
We covered everything from my natural hair background to past coloring attempts, frustrating issues like quick fading or brassy tones, to my dream aesthetic visions.
I showed Maeve examples of blond and brown dimensional balayage looks I admired. She studied my hair‘s current texture and exact tone to advise on viability of dramatic lightening.
In just 20 minutes, I felt fully heard and seen as a client. Maeve gained incredible insight into my relationship with hair color. I valued her transparency on achievable goals based on my history and hair health.
Ultimately we decided starting subtly with an all-over rich chocolately brown would condition my strands for more adventurous coloring later on.
I was thrilled when my first custom box arrived containing chocolatey dye, customized developer volume and prep treatments to achieve maximum shine and minimize damage.
The kit felt like receiving a backstage pass to hair transformation tailored just for me!
When it came time to apply at home, I had unlimited access to my colorist. We scheduled follow-ups so I could share photos of my results and ask questions during the process.
I‘ll never color my hair without this expert guidance again. Later on once I was ready to go lighter, Maeve adjusted my formulation to gently lift while toning.
Now I continually tweak my recipes with her help as my hair health goals change. I can confidently make dramatic or subtle shade tweaks knowing each eSalon box comes scientifically calibrated for my needs.
Key Benefits of Customization
Here‘s why you shouldn‘t settle for basic box dyes and instead explore your unique hair coloring potential with eSalon:
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No surprises or mistakes: Their experts identify your most flattering shades and create foolproof application processes. No more box dye mishaps or mismatched tones!
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Control your looks: Like playing hair mad scientist, you get to experiment with different colors, techniques and intensities unavailable in stores.
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Adaptivity: Customize your formula every order to create subtle root touch-ups or completely transform your hue. Adjust strength based on your hair‘s current condition.
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Maintain quality: Proprietary mixes nourish hair better than store brands, preventing dryness or damage. Notice the difference in texture and shine!
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Financial savings: One kit coloring at home costs just $30 compared to $150+ per salon visit. Subscribe and save 20% plus free shipping.
Using my custom kits, I achieve flawless, dimensional color melting like I spent hundreds. Meanwhile I save money and skip awkward small talk with stylists. It‘s a win-win!
My Hair Makeovers Courtesy of eSalon Customization
Here‘s a look at the different fun shades and techniques I‘ve achieved thanks to eSalon‘s made-to-order color mastery:
Dimensional Chocolate Brown All-Over
My first custom formulation felt like a mini spa treatment bringing out warm, nutty dimensions in my natural brunette base. The semi-permanent demi-gloss formula boosted shine while keeping my hair in excellent condition.
Sun-Kissed Chestnut Babylights
For summer, I worked with my colorist to gradually introduce buttery highlighted accents around my face. The balayage finish looked straight off a Pinterest inspo board! We carefully calibrated the perfect peroxide volume to lift my strands without brassiness or damage.
Creamy Cappuccino with Frosted Tips
In early 2023, I felt adventurous and dreamed of frosty espresso brown locks with milky latte highlights. I can‘t believe the dimension my colorist achieved with my custom formulation, gently applying variated tones using their professional video tutorials.
Cons of At-Home Box Dyes
Having explored all the advantages of personalization with eSalon, I‘ll never settle for a one-size-fits-all kit again. Here‘s why:
Limited Options: Rigid shade ranges barely capture all hair color possibilities, preventing you from stand-out options.
Damage Risk: They don‘t account for your unique hair background and use harsher formulas prone to drying/frying delicate stands.
Inconsistent Results: Without customization, box dye rarely perfectly matches your hopes making for an unpleasant surprise.
Trial and Error: No expert guidance means you might sacrifice hair integrity through correction attempts trying to achieve your goals.
Impersonal Experience: You feel like just another number without caring consultants invested in formulating the best plan for you.
Key Takeaways: Who Should Try Customized Hair Color?
eSalonDisrupts the status quo of limited at-home dyes by revolutionizing the boxes themselves. Their made-to-order hair transformations merge professional expertise with DIY convenience.
I recommend it to:
- Anyone unsatisfied by the restrictive options at Sally‘s or Walgreens
- Folks desiring adventurous colors hard to self-execute safely
- Perfectionists aiming for salon-caliber dimension minus the damage
- New and seasoned colorists alike needing guidance on their journey
With flexibility to subtly enhance your natural beauty or completely switch up your shade, eSalon unlocks hair creativity once out of everyday reach.
Thanks to my fantastic colorist Maeve, I‘ve achieved depth, shine and vibrant transformations I didn‘t consider possible coloring from home. I can‘t wait to continue this journey toward every variation of my best hair yet!
What are you waiting for? It‘s time to take the custom hair quizzes and get those made-to-order dyes ordered. Your most stunning locks ever await – I promise you won‘t regret it!
