I've been dyeing my hair in the salon for decades, so my colorist is pretty much like family. But over the years, while I still love my color, I've noticed my hair needed a break. I'm faithful to my colorist, but I wanted to take some time off between appointments and find a way to still extend the life of my color, especially at my roots. My colorist says she used a product called Madison Reed, which is an at-home hair dye with ingredients you can feel good about. It sounded like just what I needed.

Madison Reed hair color is available online. All you have to do is answer a few questions about your hair in their color quiz, and Madison Reed matches your shade and provides a few alternatives depending on how light or dark you want to go. They also provide you access to expert colorists to answer all of your questions on your color and how to apply it. A great bonus is that the formula is free of some irritating ingredients found in other hair dyes like ammonia and PPD. It's packed with nourishing ingredients like ginseng root extract, keratin, and argan oil to help pamper and protect the hair. Their permanent color lasts for around 6 months.

I ordered my first bottle and tried it out. It was really easy to apply. I just dispensed the color onto my gloves, sectioned my hair, and applied it to my roots. The formula was creamy, so it didn't drip, and it felt nice on my scalp. I let it sit for about 35 minutes, washed it out, and styled as usual. The color was even richer and more vibrant than the color I've been using for years! My hair felt soft and looked shiny and healthy. I was hooked. It would be a perfect in-between solution to my frequent salon visits.

Even my husband started noticing the difference! He's getting a little gray, so when I told him how easy it was, he wanted to try Madison Reed himself! He and I did the color quiz for him and I helped him out when the coloring kit arrived. It came out just as great!

For only $24.95, me (and my husband!) are able to get salon-quality color at home. Of course, I still visit my colorist at the salon from time to time, but I've switched from color appointments to regular blowouts instead to show off my fabulous color. She notices the difference, too!

Update: The folks at Madison Reed want to help you find your perfect color. Follow this link to get salon-quality hair color at home!