L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Mousse Absolue, $15
No more mixing! With a shake of the bottle and the push of a button, L’Oréal’s first-ever dual chamber canister delivers just the right ratio of color dye to color developer, and is instantly swirled into a fluffy, non-drip mousse for easy application. Plus, we love how the design is reusable; since contents are kept fresh under pressure, you can save the bottle for touchups later if you don’t use all the color in one shot.
1Madison Reed box of color, $30
Iconic celeb stylist Sally Hershberger is advisor to this new brand, which aims to bring the pro home. An expert shade recommendation is provided via an online color advisor, mobile live web chat or digital photo consultation. Formulas are free of common color chemicals like ammonia and parabens and with conditioning agents that help protect hair and scalp during processing. And starting in San Francisco and New York with other cities to come soon, a pro can even make a house call to teach you the best way to apply your new shade at home.
2eSalon hair color set, $20
Now you can get custom color at home. This subscription service starts with a questionnaire that asks about hair tone, texture, ethnicity and styling habits. A unique shade is then mixed and blended with vitamins and aloe, and bottled and delivered within days. The kit includes a matched developer, personal instructions on how to apply, gloves and packets of stain guard, stain remover, and shampoo and conditioner. And if you’re at all confused, a colorist is available via email or phone to answer your questions. The most unreal part? You can get this all for 20 bones.
3Rootstix, $15
“The average length of time between color appointments is two months, but most people need a touch up within the first four weeks,” explains Maura Keenan, creator of Rootstix, an easy-to-apply touch-up marker. Priced lower than most competitor pens, the $15 wand comes with a small blending comb that allows you to swipe and then comb through color for instant, believable coverage that washes out in the shower. Light and medium brown and black are available now, with blonde coming this summer and additional shades launching later in the year.
4Rita Hazan Ultimate Shine Color Gloss, $26
“My clients are always asking for advice on how to extend the life of their hair color—and gloss is the answer,” says celebrity colorist Rita Hazan, who just added brown, red and blonde shades to her color gloss collection. Used in place of conditioner in the shower, the glosses contain coconut fatty acids, panthenol and silk to rejuvenate hair while color correctors add vibrancy and cut brass. Used two to four times per week, the formula claims to prevent fading and counteract warmth.
5John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss, $12
If your hue needs a refreshing wakeup, John Frieda’s newest glosses add the shine and pigments that wash out of color-treated hair over time. The weekly treatment comes in warm and cool renditions of blonde, red and brunette, with about six uses per tube. Simply apply in the shower after shampooing and conditioning, and allow to sit for just three minutes before rinsing out. The formula is free of peroxide and ammonia, and won’t lift or lighten your color.
6Salon Grafix Play It Big Volumizing Dry Shampoo, $4-$9
Dry shampoo lovers, take note: The first colored version to hit mass retailers has finally arrived. Salon Grafix’s line of volumizing powder sprays are formulated with a keratin protein complex to strengthen strands while building volume and body. Available in black, blonde, brown and clear for now, we also love that the bottles come in carry-on-friendly travel sizes to sop up grease while on the go.
7R+Co Gemstone Color Shampoo and Conditioner, $24-$25 each
Created by top stylists Garren, Thom Priano and Howard McLaren, R+Co is a new prestige hair care line with ingredients curated from around the world. Since a bad shampoo can ruin good color, the Gemstone Color Shampoo and Conditioner protect and enhance color with Egyptian hibiscus extract and moringa seed extract from India to prevent and repair oxidization. Rhubarb from France conditions hair to add shine to existing color and golden root extract from Sweden shields color from heat styling stress.
