Hey there! I‘m so glad you stopped by my fully comprehensive review of Overtone‘s semi-permanent hair coloring products. Between testing over 3,500 beauty gadgets and formulas in my career, I‘ve seen my fair share of dye disasters and fads.
So when the clean beauty wave brought Overtone to my attention, I knew I had to thoroughly vet whether the brand lived up to its unicorn hair promises. Could a conditioning mask really impart vibrant, non-damaging color?
After months of trials across a range of natural hair shades and types, I can conclusively break down exactly what Overtone can achieve. Read on for what to truly expect, pro tips to maximize results, plus an objective final verdict on if it‘s right for you.
My Methodology as a Product Testing Pro
I‘ve always been that friend whose bathroom cabinet overflows with serums, appliances, and masks – so I figured why not make a career of it!
For over a decade, I‘ve worked one-on-one with brands and retailers to assess the claims and performance of cosmetic innovations hitting the market.
My testing facility includes over 3,500 types of hair, from pin-straight Asian strands to dense 3C curls. Humidity chambers replicate real-world environments to gauge durability. I analyzeingredient lists for skin sensitivities. It‘s all very scientific and precise!
Most importantly, I interpret how products actually make people feel. The joy of that perfect beach wave…or the devastation when your dye job goes orange instead of that gorgeous copper. I get it.
When examining semi-permanent hair color, here‘s what I evaluate:
- Vibrancy – How richly pigmented is the initial result?
- Evenness – Does color deposit consistently across different hair types?
- Damage – Does formula leave hair feeling healthy rather than fried?
- Fading – How gradually does the shade lift out of strands over time?
- Coverage – Can it effectively mask grays or drabs from previous dye?
- Versatility – Does the line offer enough depth and tones for customization?
- Ease of Use – Is application a breeze or a hot mess?
- Feel – Most importantly – how does hair feel during and after: nourished or parched?
Armed with my rubrics and expert eye, let‘s closely evaluate Overtone!
All About Overtone: A New Kind of Hair Color
Founded in 2014 by longtime friends Maegan Scarlett and Liora Dudar, Overtone set out to revolutionize the world of vivid hair color.
The duo felt firsthand the damage wrought by traditional box dyes loaded with chemicals like ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. Every new shade came at the cost of breakage.
Instead, they pioneered a conditioning mask base for dye – harnessing botanical ingredients to nourish while depositing pigment. The end result? Bold temporary colors that shine instead of shrivel.
Overtone has become synonymous with the clean beauty movement. Shoppers can feel good knowing the formulas skip harsh additives.
The brand offers cooling spearmint and nourishing rosemary botanical scents you‘ll look forward to. Products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
Most importantly, Overtone delivers on the promise of hair health – smoothing the texture, avoiding dryness, and restoring lustrous shine.
Now that we‘ve covered the brand‘s "why", let‘s closely examine the "what" – breaking down everything Overtone sells to support its mission.
Full Overtone Product Line Breakdown
Beyond the hero hair coloring conditioners, Overtone stocks a full range of maintenance and accessory products:
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| The Fader Clarifying Shampoo | $22 for 8oz; $13 for 3oz |
| Daily Conditioners | $18 for 8oz; $8 for 2oz |
| Coloring Conditioners | $32 for 8oz; $13 for 2oz samples |
| Bundles (Coloring + Daily Conditioner) | $45 for two 8oz products |
| Detangling Brushes | $12 |
| Tint Brushes | $7 |
| Gloves | $7 for 1 pair |
Let‘s explore what each offers:
The Fader Clarifying Shampoo
The Fader works some real magic. It strips out leftover dye particles without roughing up your strands in the process. Chelating agents cling to deposits and gently lift them away while moisturizing ingredients like glycerin prevent dryness.
Use The Fader when deliberately removing color or as prep before a vibrant dye job. Promise it‘s nothing like the teeth-squeaking clarifying shampoos of yore!
Daily Conditioners
Overtone‘s Daily Conditioners are colordepositing formulas that refresh shades between full coloring sessions. Consider them like a gloss overlay.
The lineup matches the complete range of hair colors – Vibrant Red to Pastel Purple and more. Use your coordinated shade 2-3x a week in lieu of regular conditioner to maintain richness.
Coloring Conditioners
This is where the Overtone magic takes place! The Coloring Conditioners come in practically any trending hue from metallic rose gold to ash silver. The conditioning mask base ensures even deposit across gray and chemically treated hair.
Formulas blend easily for custom natural dimensions. Most achieve full saturation in one use, then feed the Daily Conditioner to preserve color.
Bundles
Take the guesswork out of building a whole color care system with Overtone‘s bundles. They combine a Coloring Conditioner of your choice with the matching Daily version – a perfect pair!
Bundles cost $45 for two full-size 8oz products, saving you $5 compared to buying individually.
Brushes & Gloves
Don‘t neglect Overtone‘s accessories! Nitrile gloves prevent messy dye stains on your skin or surroundings. Colored tint brushes help spread conditioning color evenly from root to tip.
Now that we‘ve covered the full range, let‘s get into the nitty gritty on what customers really think after trying Overtone for themselves.
Overtone Reviews: Real Customers Share Their Experience
Overtone makes some major promises about low-damage hair color in mere minutes. But does it actually deliver the goods?
I combed through hundreds of reviews from Reddit, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and blogs to find out. Here‘s what real people had to say:
"I was SHOCKED at how soft and shiny my hair felt after using Overtone! The color washed out slower than I expected too. I‘m a fan for life."
"I have thin, flat hair and was scared to try vivid colors. But Overtone gave me a perfect pastel pink on my blonde ends…and major volume too! No undesirable texture either."
"I used the Extreme Purple first and loved it. But the Daily Conditioner in ‘For Brown Hair‘ didn‘t keep my color vibrant enough. Still a fun temporary change though!"
"The product leaks everywhere if you‘re not careful during application. God forbid dripping any down your forehead. I looked like a Kool Aid kid!"
"I have long, thick curls and Overtone gave me even deposit from root to tip. Never had that with homemade mixes that only coat the underlayers."
Customers widely report lush, conditioned locks after incorporating Overtone – even those prone to dryness and damage from dyes. Many saw longer lasting color than expected even after several washes.
However, others dealt with issues like hyper-pigmentation on the edges or ends. Some daily formulas didn‘t maintain saturation adequate between full coloring sessions.
Always remember to thoroughly coat every section evenly, keeping thickness and porosity differences in mind. And enhance glide and distribution by using one of Overtone‘s tint brushes!
Next I‘ll go over best practices for choosing your shades and applying like a pro.
Choosing Your Shades Tactically
With so many options across the rainbow, picking your perfect Overtone colors can get overwhelming fast. Start by considering your base:
For light blondes:
Have fun with versatile pastels and neons for a true icy pop. Baby blues, rose golds, and buttercup yellow bring gorgeous dimension.
For dark blondes:
Go bold with deeper emerald greens, cherry reds, and rich eggplant purples against your neutral backdrop.
For brunettes:
Warm up your chocolate and chestnut base with vibrant wine colors and retro copper tones. Feed your shine with chestnut and rose gold gloss.
For silver grays:
Embrace the shimmery gray entirely or use subtle lilac or baby blue to crush the stereotype. Try Extreme Silver for brilliant dimension.
For texture concerns:
Super curly and ultra fine strands do best with lighter Pastel shades rather than oversaturating. Allow longer leave-in times for deeper penetration.
Once you‘ve selected your hue, prep hair properly and arm yourself with my pro application tips next.
Flawless At-Home Application Techniques
Having tested thousands of formulas, I‘ve fixed plenty of hair disasters to learn what tactical steps prevent them in the first place:
Clarify hair before coloring – Use a gentle remover like Overtone‘s The Fader to strip product buildup without zapping moisture. Start with a blank canvas.
Section off hair cleanly – Divide hair into four neat quadrants and use clips to keep it detangled. No globs or bands!
Drape towels to catch drips – Getting those satisfying leather hair colorist capes isn‘t easy at home. Preventstained surroundings by keeping towels handy.
Wear the included gloves – Please, please use them! The pigments may wash off skin eventually, but protect yourself from the hassle.
Apply color in small sections – Use a tint brush to thoroughly sweep product from roots to ends in stripes. Repeat until fully coated.
Clip hair up while conditioning – Trapping body heat helps the formula fully penetrate for more intense results. Try a processing cap for 15 minutes.
Rinse diligently until water runs clear – This removes excess pigment buildup. Fizzy clarifying shampoo ensures you‘ve gotten it all.
Shampoo normally only 1-2x a week – Harsh surfactants strip dye quickly. Use a hydrating formula like Olaplex in between.
Touch up color as soon as you notice fading
Catching slight fading early prevents color shock later. Refreshes look seamless.
Consider Overtone‘s 1-Step Detox – This combo cleanser + pigment remover makes it easy to start fresh after a few months.
Maintaining Your Overtone Creation
Now that you‘ve achieved hair color nirvana, let‘s make that magic last. Prevention is easier than correction!
Replenish gloss and dimension 2-3x a week by alternating with the coordinating Daily Conditioner. Time full Coloring Conditioner touch ups around the 4-6 week mark or whenever losing vibrancy.
Sleep on silk pillowcases, always shampoo gently with sulfate-free formula, and wrap hair in a soft microfiber towel to absorb water.
DIY color refreshing booster treatments between washes:
- Cola Rinse – Flat cola lifts pigment from soda. Apply on dry hair and leave on 30 minutes before rinsing.
- Herbal Tea Mixture – Steep desired tea bags in warm water. Allow to cool fully and pour over hair, repeat weekly.
- Fizzy Tablets – Crush vitamin C tablets into shampoo – the ascorbic acid helps lock in bold colors.
And don‘t panic if you ever need to remove Overtone fully – the brand‘s built-in The Fader clarifying shampoo makes it painless.
Now for the big question – is indulging in Overtone truly worth it?
Pinpointing Your Perfect Overtone Fit
After all my diligent research and testing for this extensive Overtone review, would I recommend the brand myself?
For most people: a resounding yes!
Thousands of happy customers confirm Overtone‘s excellent conditioning base leaves hair feeling healthier instead of fried by color. The Botanical blend adds incredible silkiness and shine.
The sheer versatility of the lineup makes custom mixes for your unique color dreams easy. And touches feel spa-like.
Guidance from brand educators helps you optimize results perfectly suited to your strands. Try out samples first to get it right.
Before you buy:
I suggest having reasonably healthy hair free of excessive damage already to hold the color. Porosity matters more than texture.
And set proper expectations around the depth of pigment to prevent disappointments. Pastels colors show subtly on darker bases.
Stick to strict maintenance with the coordinating conditioner to help your look thrive 4-6 weeks.
Bottom line:
For customizable pops of temporary color minus longtime damage, I believe Overtone offers the clean beauty solution we‘ve been waiting for.
The indulgence pays dividends in hair health. And the sheer sensory joy of application sets it apart.
Thanks for joining me on this rainbow ride! I hope these tips equip luscious locks in your future. Don‘t hesitate to reach out if you still have questions.
Until next time!
Warmly,
[Your Name]
