If you’ve ever tried dying your hair at home, you know just how difficult it can be.
And, frankly, nothing’s changed for years. No matter the brand, you’re still buying a box of plastic and chemicals, dying your forehead and neck a different color, and turning your hair an auburn red when what you really wanted was a chestnut brown. (Video via YouTube / Alexa Bowen)
Enter Madison Reed, a company aiming to "revolutionize every aspect of the hair care industry."
They do that with hair care products free of ammonia, gluten, and lesser-known chemicals like resorcinol and PPD.
In fact, Madison Reed’s hair color formula actually contains ingredients that improve the health of your hair, including argan oil, keratin and ginseng root.
The company also includes a barrier cream, protective cap, two sets of gloves and a cleansing wipe to make sure your skin keeps its natural color during the hair coloring process.
And Madison Reed’s improvements upon the hair-coloring process don’t stop there. Its smartphone app makes for a simpler, more-accurate coloring experience.
The company found "one of the primary pain points cited by women who color their hair at home is the lack of direction [or] instruction provided in the leaflet."
And its award-winning app fixes this problem. You can get detailed, step-by-step instructions without using your hands.
That’s right, we did say without using your hands. Madison Reed’s color assistant app uses voice control so you don’t accidentally give your iPad or iPhone a root touch up while you’re giving yourself one. Just say “Go Forward,” or “Go Back” to control the app while you follow along with the instructions.
The Color Assistant has instructions sets for various color treatments. Whether you need to cover your grays, change to a lighter shade, cover up your current highlights or touch up your roots, the app can guide you through the process.
Not exactly sure what color is right for you? No worries, just snap a selfie. The app lets you upload a photo of your hair, which is then shared with a Madison Reed expert colorist. The colorist will help you choose the perfect dye.
You can also use the app to shop for color treatments, hair care products and accessories, and — if you live in the San Francisco Bay area — set up an in-home, full-service color appointment.
It’s a new and improved option for in-home hair color. Madison Reed’s CEO told the San Francisco Business Times she wanted the company’s coloring experience to be better than the box you find at the drugstore, but more cost-effective than the $300 trip to the salon.
To learn more about Madison Reed, you can visit the company’s website or download the Madison Reed app for iOS.
This video includes an image from Orin Zebest / CC BY 2.0 and music from Brenticus / CC BY 3.0.
