eSalon Hair Color Review: Custom At-Home Color That Rivals the Salon
If you‘ve ever colored your hair at home, you know the struggles of finding that perfect shade to match your vision. Drugstore box dyes can be a gamble, while frequent trips to the salon for professional color can quickly add up. eSalon aims to change all that by offering custom-blended, made-to-order hair color shipped right to your door—no salon appointment necessary.
As a beauty enthusiast always eager to try the latest innovations, I couldn‘t wait to put eSalon to the test. Is this personalized home hair color system really as game-changing as it claims? Keep reading for my in-depth eSalon hair color review, from the ordering process to the final results.
What Is eSalon and How Does It Work?
Founded in 2010, eSalon is reinventing the way we color our hair at home. The idea is simple: rather than choosing from a limited selection of premade box dyes, you fill out a detailed questionnaire about your hair history, type, and color goals. Then, expert colorists blend a one-of-a-kind formula tailored to your exact specifications.
Every custom color order includes:
- Your personalized color
- Developer
- 2 pairs of non-latex gloves
- Tint brush and bowl
- Stain guard
- Classic Color Care shampoo and conditioner packets
- Custom instructions
To get started, I logged onto eSalon.com and created a profile. The color quiz asked for info like:
- Current color and percentage of gray
- Natural color and texture
- Preferred color (you can choose from swatches or upload inspiration photos)
- Desired tone (golden, neutral, ash, etc.)
- Skin tone and eye color
- Previous dye and chemical treatment history
- Photos of your current color
The whole process took about 10 minutes. I had recently dyed my hair an ashy light brown but wanted to warm it up with some golden hues for summer. I uploaded a few photo examples and submitted my order.
Within 24 hours, I received an email from my personal colorist, Jessica. She explained her formulation and sent a preview swatch of my color, plus instructions tailored to my hair‘s porosity and condition. I confirmed the shade and my kit arrived 4 days later.
Applying eSalon Custom Hair Color
I‘ll admit, coloring your own hair can be intimidating, especially if it‘s your first time. But eSalon makes it incredibly easy with its custom instructions and professional tools. Here are the steps:
-
Do a strand test to check color and timing. Apply color to a small hidden section and process for the time specified in your instructions. Rinse, dry, and assess the color. Adjust timing if needed.
-
Protect your skin and surfaces. Apply the barrier cream around your hairline and on your ears. Cover surfaces with the stain guard cloth. Put on gloves.
-
Section hair and apply color. Use the tint brush to divide your hair into 4 sections. Starting with the bottom layers, apply color from roots to ends using the brush. Once each section is saturated, massage the color in with your fingers.
-
Process then rinse. Set a timer for your custom processing time, usually between 20-40 minutes. Check color every 10 minutes and add more if needed. When time is up, rinse hair with warm water until the water runs clear. Shampoo and condition with the provided Color Care products.
That‘s it! From start to finish, the process took me about an hour. After drying and styling, I was left with a warm, golden light brown that was exactly what I had envisioned. The color looked natural, multi-dimensional, and most importantly, like it had been done in a salon. I was thrilled!
eSalon Product Lines
In addition to custom color, eSalon offers a range of products for colored hair:
-
Tint Rinses: Temporary treatments to refresh or tone color between dye jobs. Available in Boosters to intensify color and Balancers to neutralize brassiness.
-
Color Care: Gentle shampoos and conditioners that protect color and deeply nourish hair. Choose from Classic, Moisture, and Volume formulas.
-
Styling: Protect, prime, and perfect your style with products like Universal Leave-In, Velvet Primer, and Tame Mist.
-
Color Tools: Professional application tools like tint brushes, mixing bowls, and stain guards. eSalon also sells reusable non-latex gloves.
Everything is made to work synergistically with eSalon color for optimal results and longevity. The company even offers a subscription option called the Color Plan, which delivers your personalized color and accessories every 4-8 weeks, plus access to exclusive perks.
Customer Reviews
Of course, no eSalon hair color review would be complete without hearing from other customers. On the brand‘s website, the custom color kits have an average 4.7/5 star rating from over 52,000 reviews. Other products like the Tint Rinses and Universal Leave-In have thousands of glowing reviews as well.
But I wanted to see what people were saying off-site too. On Trustpilot, eSalon has a stellar 4.2/5 star rating from nearly 1,500 customers. Here are some highlights:
"I used to spend $150 every 6 weeks at the salon for color and highlights. My eSalon color is indistinguishable from my previous professional color. The personalized instructions make it foolproof to apply. I‘m thrilled with the quality, convenience and affordability!" – Jane S.
"I love how customized this service is. I have hard-to-match ashy blonde hair but eSalon nailed it. My colorist even tweaked the formula for my second order based on my feedback. The Color Care products leave my hair so soft and shiny. I‘ll never go back to drugstore dye!" – Karen T.
"After a year of DIY quarantine hair experiments, my color was a hot mess. I decided to try eSalon and I‘m so glad I did! The Tint Rinse in Pearl Blonde neutralized my brassiness and the custom color matched my natural ashy hue perfectly. 10/10 recommend." – Lauren M.
Overall, the vast majority of customers rave about eSalon‘s quality, ease of use, and unbeatable color matching. The brand also has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, which speaks to its credibility and customer service.
Pros and Cons of eSalon
So, how does eSalon stack up compared to other hair color options? Here‘s a quick overview of the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Custom color blended just for you by professional colorists
- High quality salon-grade formulas for a fraction of the price
- Convenient at-home application with personalized instructions
- Large shade range with options for different tones and techniques
- Helpful customer support and access to colorists for advice
- 100% satisfaction guarantee and flexible return policy
- Cruelty-free and free of harsh chemicals like ammonia and PPD
- Affordable subscription option with exclusive perks
Cons:
- Pricier than drugstore box dye (but still cheaper than most salons)
- Shipping can take up to 2 weeks, so not ideal if you need color ASAP
- Some customers with hard-to-match shades needed a few tries to perfect their color
- At-home coloring can be tricky if you have a complicated hair history or drastic color change in mind
All in all, the pros seem to heavily outweigh the cons. If you‘re looking for an affordable way to achieve professional-looking color at home, eSalon is absolutely worth a try. The custom blending sets it apart from one-size-fits-all boxed dyes, while the expert guidance and salon-quality formulas make it more foolproof than going totally DIY.
Frequently Asked Questions
To wrap up this eSalon hair color review, I‘ve compiled a quick FAQ with some of the most common questions about the brand:
How long does eSalon hair color last?
eSalon‘s custom color is designed to last through 30 washes, although this can vary based on your hair type and care routine. Using sulfate-free products like the Color Care shampoos and conditioners can help extend the life of your color.
Can I use eSalon to cover stubborn grays?
Yes! eSalon offers both permanent and demi-permanent color with a variety of coverage options. For clients with resistant grays, the colorists can formulate the color with a higher developer strength for maximum coverage.
How often should I color with eSalon?
Everyone‘s regrowth and color needs are different. Generally, eSalon recommends coloring every 4-8 weeks to maintain your look. The brand‘s Color Plan subscription lets you customize your frequency.
Does eSalon do blonde shades?
Absolutely. eSalon has an extensive blonde shade range, from icy platinum to warm honey. You can also request personalized techniques like babylights, ombre, or shadow roots.
Is eSalon color damaging?
Because the formulas are custom blended, eSalon is able to use the minimum amount of dye required to achieve your color. The ammonia-free, conditioning base is designed to be gentle on strands. Of course, any permanent color process can cause some damage, so it‘s important to follow up with nourishing treatments.
What if I‘m not happy with my eSalon color?
eSalon offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you‘re not thrilled with your color, contact the company within 30 days for a complimentary reformulation or full refund. Colorists are also available via phone or email to help troubleshoot any issues.
The Verdict
Overall, my eSalon experience was an incredibly positive one. As someone who has gotten professional color for years, I was admittedly skeptical that a home dye could measure up. But eSalon‘s custom blending, expert guidance, and salon-quality formulas totally won me over.
The ordering process was simple, the application was easy, and the color itself was spot-on. I loved being able to get such a personalized shade from the comfort of my own bathroom. And at $30 per kit, the cost savings compared to a salon are significant.
Yes, coloring your own hair can be a little scary at first. But eSalon‘s detailed instructions and access to professional colorists make it totally doable, even for beginners. If you can paint your nails, you can master this!
In terms of the actual hair color, I was blown away by how natural, glossy, and multi-faceted it looked. The golden tone was exactly what I wanted and the gray coverage was impressive. I also appreciate that the dye didn‘t leave my hair feeling dry or damaged afterward.
All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend giving eSalon a try if you‘re looking to color your hair at home. It‘s not quite as low-maintenance as popping on a drugstore box dye, but the personalized results are 100% worth the small time investment. At the end of the day, eSalon is about as close as you can get to a professional salon color without leaving your house.
