I’ve been a drugstore hair dye user for years. But overuse finally took its toll, and I destroyed my hair. The only solution was to cut off my long, fried locks to regain my natural curls. After giving my shorter hair a break from chemicals for a while, it was healthier, but I began to miss the vibrant color it used to be. While I swore to myself I would never dye my hair again, I wasn’t feeling like “me.” After speaking to a few beauty experts, I came across a smarter at-home hair dying solution: Madison Reed.

Because of my history with box dyes, I’m a “professional” on how the process works, and was skeptical of how this one would be different. I even explained to my colorist my awful experience with DIY hair dye, and she was able to give me hope in a better way of achieving the color that defines me without killing my hair. I was happy to hear that Madison Reed can enhance my natural color — and with over 40 shades, I’m guaranteed a perfect shade match. I was relieved to discover the products had a low chemical profile and that they met the strict safety standards the EU requires. All of that was great on paper, but I didn’t want to lose my curls again. I was nervous this experience would turn out just like all the times before.

But I figured I’d give it a test drive, just to see if the formula lived up to the reviews. It came in a beautifully packaged box that immediately changed my outlook. Along with my hair color, it also included shampoo and conditioner, gloves, a cap, wipe, and barrier cream. I loved that I could do this at home like I normally would, but the experience was more luxurious than before. I didn’t have to deal with the offensive odor of the typical box dye, or any of the color stains on my skin, clothes, or furniture. I could tell that Madison Reed was different as soon as I applied it. 35 minutes was all it took. And most importantly, my curls remained bouncy, light, and felt great. My hair looks completely natural, and now that I have healthy-looking hair, I also get daily compliments!

Madison Reed made me feel so much more optimistic and energized because I have my vibrant color back. And my curls never looked better! Even though I was skeptical about trying hair dye again, I finally feel confident that I found a product I could use repetitively to maintain my gorgeous hair.

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!