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eSalon

eSalon

Overall Rating

1.8

24 Customer Reviews

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Summary

eSalon’s customized hair dye line claims to allow you to find the perfect shade with help from a professional colorist. Reviews vary on whether this brand distinguishes itself from other home dye companies, though the customization features may be overstated.

Pros

  • Lots of opportunities to give personal feedback on color and adjust it
  • You’ll receive more or less dye depending on your hair needs
  • Long-lasting color for many people

Cons

  • Dye formulas aren’t as personalized as the company implies
  • A wide variance in customer reviews
  • Formulas aren’t significantly different than drugstore brands

eSalon Review: An In-Depth Look

By Lydia Noyes

Updated on: Jun 16, 2020

eSalon sells customized hair dye formulations to help you achieve your ideal shade at home – no expensive salon appointment necessary.

The company claims that every customer will work with a personal colorist to come up with a unique hair color designed to address your most significant hair coloring needs.

Everything about the eSalon hair dye experienced is customized to you; even the bottle label contains your name, and the date it was formulated. After delivery, you’ll have the option to work with a colorist to get any further questions answered

Our analysis will help you understand if eSalon delivers more value than what you’ll get from buying a box of hair dye at the drug store.

Ordering Process

To start the purchase process with eSalon, you’ll first share some background information:

  • Your current hair color and whether it is dyed
  • Whether you have had any chemical treatments in the past month
  • How long your hair is
  • Whether you have any grey
  • Your hair’s natural thickness and texture
  • Your ethnicity
  • Your natural hair color

If desired, you can also upload a current photo.

Next, you’ll choose your preferred color from dozens of options selected for you and leave a message for your colorist (optional).

After, you’ll specify when you plan to color your hair and how often you plan to do so.

You’ll then have the option to purchase your custom coloring kit and, if you prefer, to sign up for auto-ship deliveries at a frequency ranging from every 3–10 weeks.

At this point in the ordering process, eSalon will give you the option to purchase a variety of products for 20% off. This includes:

  • A reusable color tool kit ($16–$20)
  • Color care shampoo and conditioner duo ($24–$30)
  • Tint rinse ($12–$15)
  • Protective cape ($9–$12)
  • ‘Weekly Retreat’ moisturizing mask ($12–$15)
  • Universal leave-in conditioner ($12–$15)
  • ‘Shine Silk’ argan treatment ($14–$18)

Skip all these add-ons, and your custom hair kit will be $23.32 with auto-ship or $29.15 for a one-time order.

Upon ordering, a personal eSalon colorist will create your personalized formula. The company claims that its extensive team of licensed colorists work in critically-acclaimed salons and beauty institutes.

These stylists will choose from 150 possible instruction sets for your dye, which will include the necessary techniques for treating different hair sections, how long to leave the product on your hair, and possible troubleshooting techniques if you don’t love the results.

They will also work with you after you receive your order to answer any questions and ensure you’re happy with it.

Once your order arrives, it will include your personalized hair dye and application instructions, as well as a developer and two pairs of non-latex gloves for application.

Each delivery will only include as much hair dye as you need for one treatment session. Some people will receive two bottles, depending on their hair length, thickness, and how much of an adjustment the color will be from their current shade.

The dye should be used within a week of delivery.

Analysis of Ingredients

eSalon claims to use only high-quality ingredients in its salon-grade formulas, which ensures your hair stays healthy and retains color for weeks after application.

Even so, the company cautions that many users may experience skin irritation or other adverse reactions from using them.

One of the main ingredients in this formula is ammonium hydroxide. This common hair dye ingredient prepares the hair to receive dye so that it can better diffuse into the hair shaft.

However, it’s not without risk. Ammonia is harsh on hair, is known to trigger asthma attacks and other respiratory problems, and it might act as an endocrine disrupter, which means that it could affect your hormone levels.

For this reason, pregnant women should limit their exposure to this compound by dying their hair a maximum of three times over the pregnancy.

Some hair dyes are formulated without ammonia to avoid these concerns. However, they often produce less vivid results and result in faster color fading because the dye doesn’t adhere as well to each strand.

Sodium Sulfite is used as a preservative. It’s usually safe, but those with sensitivities can suffer skin irritation and asthmatic symptoms from exposure.

Overall, these ingredients are typical of what you would expect from home hair dyes. Nothing stands out as offering any specific benefits or risks compared to similar brands.

eSalon Membership

You can purchase eSalon hair dye as a one-time purchase or as part of your color plan.

Doing so will save you 20% per order and give you access to exclusive offers and personalized-how to videos for application.

Any eSalon product can be added to your dye order, and orders over $40 qualify for free shipping.

Every item added to your order will be redelivered every shipping cycle. You can add, skip, or cancel any item—or your whole order—at any point through your account page. It’s also possible to request any change to your dye formulation to bring out different color tones.

The company will issue refunds within 30 days of purchase, but only for unused products. These may be limited to one refund per client per product.

Analysis of Customer Reviews

20 customers have reviewed eSalon on our website, giving the company an average rating of 1.7 stars and a 10% recommendation rate. Reviews on Trustpilot are more positive, averaging 4.3 stars after nearly 1,000. We’ve summarized some of the prevailing opinions below.

Common Compliments:

  • Salon-quality results
  • Colorists easy to talk to and gave excellent advice for color selection
  • Cute packaging
  • Long-lasting color

Common Complaints:

  • Recent reviewers share they believe the company changed its formula for worse results
  • Products don’t fully cover grey hairs
  • Leads to dull colors
  • Left hair oily and gunky, even after multiple washes
  • Limited color options
  • Some received almost opposite hair colors

Popular Alternatives to eSalon

You have several options for receiving hair dye on a subscription basis. Two popular alternatives to eSalon include Madison Reed and Color&Co.

Like eSalon, L’Oreal’s Color&Co customizable haircare brand lets you order your preferred shade after working with a professional colorist to get it right.

The onboarding process includes questions about your gender, preferred shade family, whether you’ve had any chemical or color treatments in the past year, what your natural hair looks like, and other questions that are near identical to eSalon.

One difference is that you can request ammonia-free formulas for demi-permanent coloring.

As with eSalon, Color&Co offers several dozen shades to choose from. You can also sign up for a subscription to save 25% on every order.

Likewise, you can consult with a colorist at any point in the signup process to receive personalized insight. The company will even personalize each bottle with your name, similar to eSalon.

Color&Co’s hair dye kit is priced at $26.90. Alternatively, you can subscribe to save 25% and pay $19.90 per delivery (about $3 more than eSalon).

Madison Reed brands itself as a safer alternative to traditional hair dyes because it doesn’t contain harsh ingredients like ammonia, parabens, resorcinol, and more.

Unlike the other two brands, you can only choose from a range of pre-mixed dyes, though the company recommends specific shades based on your results from its initiation quiz.

You’ll pay between $22–$26.50 for each dye kit, again depending on whether you sign up for a subscription.

Despite its claims of using only safe ingredients, customer reviews show that many Madison Reed users have a negative experience with this brand, as it left them with an itchy scalp and even hair loss.

The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?

eSalon’s hair dye subscription option seems like a viable way to keep up your color at home. You have ample opportunities to customize your shade and request input from the company’s coloring experts, and the brand’s pricing aligns with the competition.

One thing that concerns us is that the company’s advertising doesn’t seem wholly aligned with what it offers. eSalon’s color questionnaire asks for details about your hair health, texture, length, and other characteristics, and it’s implied that your custom formula will contain ingredients related to your specific hair needs.

However, every hair dye formula contains identical ingredients; all that changes are the coloring compounds. So while your quiz results may affect how much dye you receive per shipment, it won’t have much more of an impact on your product experience.

eSalon is a viable option for home hair dye, but we don’t see much that separates it from the competition. If you already have a brand you love, there’s not a compelling reason to make the switch unless it makes sense from a cost perspective.

Customer Reviews

1.8 Stars out of 24 Reviews
5 Star:12% 4 Star:0% 3 Star:4% 2 Star:25% 1 Star:58%
17% Recommend This Company
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Posted on Oct 21, 2018

Fake reviews and destroys hair

By Cynthia C., Nibley, UT, Verified Reviewer

The reviews on the salon are all fake. After I had ordered, I saw a review with my name on it, but I didn’t write it. They recommended stuff that they should not have recommended for my hair and ended up ruining it. On top of that, I’m losing pieces every single day. I am very disappointed and will not use again.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 24 People Have Voted

Posted on Jan 24, 2019

Oil slick

By Dodie Lyn L., Grand Rapids, MI, Verified Reviewer

I tried two applications to make sure I didn’t mess up something with the first. I’ve used box dies before and have had no issues...unfortunately, that is not the case here. This product leaves a very heavy oily residue that is next to impossible to rinse out! I do not have normally oily hair. My hair is typically very dry and prone to breakage. I have rinsed, washed, and washed again...still full of grease! I can’t even blow dry my hair. I spent 20 minutes with the drier with no results! I never write reviews. Never - that’s how frustrated I am with this die. Yes, the color is great, but not the hassle afterward!

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 16 People Have Voted

Posted on Mar 2, 2019

Not a happy camper

By Kindra S., Texas, Verified Reviewer

I love the color but very unhappy with the way it left my hair! I look like a drowned rat! My hair is so waxy and oily looking it's pathetic. I can't stand the way it feels. I've washed my hair twice and it still feels filthy!

I was so hoping this would be the magic color I was hoping for, but it's sadly not.

Darn. Don't waste your money or at the very least, don't use the shampoo and conditioner!

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 13 People Have Voted

Posted on Mar 16, 2019

Totally dissatisfied

By Laura S., Florida, Verified Reviewer

On my third purchase of a custom color set, I wanted to change from dark amber to more of the popular mulled wine color. What I have now is a washed out ugly brunette color. The shampoo after thorough rinsing did not lather at all and after the conditioner, my hair was left a mushy oily mess. The morning after coloring my hair I had to wash my hair twice to try to get it back to somewhat normal texture. I have photos, before and after. I wish I could post them here. I have turned off my orders, I won't risk the health of my hair any longer.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 14 People Have Voted

Posted on Mar 21, 2019

Do not buy this

By Julie L., Colorado, Verified Reviewer

The hair color I purchased was supposed to be brown. I had highlights previously and told my "stylist" (the person who made my personalized color) what I wanted and sent pictures of my hair. My roots are gray, which is why I dye my hair. The color looked like a greenish-brown baby poop and mine was so fried I had to cut it off. My hairstylist laughed at me for thinking this would be ok. Do not buy this product. It also did not cover my gray.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 16 People Have Voted

Posted on May 18, 2019

No thanks.

By Miriam D., Iowa, Verified Reviewer

I was very hopeful with this company. It sounded like everything I could ever want for an at home color. Ohh boyyy. The packaging and everything was cute! Directions were clear and direct. I LOVE how the color turned out...but oh my gosh. There is this heavy residue that I CANNOT wash out!? While I was rinsing out the color from my hair, my hair felt almost rubber like. When I tried to blow dry it, it felt like there was just a giant glob of Vaseline in my hair. It's been two days and still I haven't been able to get rid of it all. I don't think I'll be ordering again, which is a bummer. I really did like the color.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 15 People Have Voted

Posted on May 28, 2019

Wish I had read reviews before I tried.

By Jennifer P., Illinois, Verified Reviewer

Omgosh...This oily, thick gunk in my hair. I washed it three times today. Will rinse again before bed. It's absolutely disgusting. I am so mad, sad, disappointed, disgusted and embarrassed that I was taken in by this company.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 13 People Have Voted

Posted on Aug 8, 2019

Absolutely horrible!

By Meaghan C., Franklin, TN, Verified Reviewer

This stuff is a nightmare disaster! It has stained my wall, my wood floors, my sink, my counter, and my face, ears, and neck! The smell is horrific. Hard to even be in a room with it! And worst of all I needed a medium/dark brown, I got jet black! I colored my hair before a very important meeting and now having to reschedule! The color remover stuff does not work! This is horrible, I mean horrible! So many things in my house ruined and my hair! Would be cheaper to go to the most expensive salon!

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 9 People Have Voted

Posted on Aug 8, 2019

Limited color options and bad customer service

By Victoria W., Illinois, Verified Reviewer

After placing my order, I got an email saying that my desired hair color couldn't be achieved with their lighteners. No big deal. They refunded my order and cancelled my subscription. I went to a salon and got my hair colored there.

Except, this month, I was charged for another kit. I went to the website and cancelled the subscription (an overly-complicated process that tries to get you to click on the wrong thing throughout). I also tried to send an email asking for the second order to be cancelled and refunded. That email was forwarded back to me with no response. It seems like their customer service program isn't set up right or something.

Hopefully, they'll actually refund the autoship order that had supposedly been cancelled. The situation seems misleading at best and scam-y at worst.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 17 People Have Voted

Posted on Sep 9, 2019

Scammers

By Katherine R., Kalamazoo, MI, Verified Reviewer

I was not happy with the gray coverage - color washed out quickly.

I canceled my subscription. Today, I see that they have charged my bank account and are shipping another order. Can't do anything today because it is Labor Day. Will be contacting the fraud department of my bank first thing in the morning.

Buyer beware!

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 14 People Have Voted

Posted on Feb 29, 2020

Horrible!

By Julia H., 100 Mile House, British Columbia, Canada, Verified Reviewer

The color wasn't the right one the first time. You couldn't even notice I had colored it! They sent me a new one. Again. No red. Nothing. Left my hair extremely oily and gunky. Washed it 3 times and still. Horrible product. How do you guys sleep at night knowing you are scamming people?

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Helpful Review? 8 People Have Voted
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