{"id":605463183666,"title":"Madison Reed Review: Does Home Hair Care Actually Work?","created_at":"2023-05-28T23:56:51-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Madison Reed Review: Does Home Hair Care Actually Work?\",\n \"keywords\": \"madison reed, madison reed review, madison reed reviews, madison reed hair color, madison reed hair dye, madison reed hair color reviews, madison reed color\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team analyzes the ingredients in Madison Reed hair products to give our take on whether they're likely to be effective for hair loss or if they're a waste of money. We feature customer reviews including before-and-after images, and explain a recent lawsuit.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/madison-reed-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Brian Moore\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.D.\",\n \"F.A.A.D\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/brian-moore\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/brian-moore-md-faad-2b1b77a2\/\",\n \"https:\/\/www.apexskin.com\/our-team\/dr-brian-moore-md\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Dermatology Advisor\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"dermatology, skincare, pigmented lesions, anti-aging, medical research, clinical trials, sunscreen, moisturizer, wrinkles, makeup, shampoo, soap\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"Columbia University\",\n \"University of Toledo\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Madison_Reed_Thumbnail.png?v=1685333004\",\n\"width\": \"3708\",\n\"height\": \"3708\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35226791\/\", \n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4938278\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/ouai-shampoo-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4350143\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/6693006\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3758547\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24124869\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5093181\/\",\n\"https:\/\/topclassactions.com\/lawsuit-settlements\/consumer-products\/beauty-products\/madison-reed-class-action-says-products-cause-hair-loss\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/ca\/san-francisco\/profile\/hair-care\/madison-reed-1116-896759\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Allure\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"argan oil\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"hydrolyzed keratin\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"fragrance\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"The Daily with Charlotte Z\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Top Class Actions\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"BBB\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Dr Dray\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-05-28\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Madison_Reed_Article_Header_Image_Optimized_a4931b21-6e0e-4e24-83b0-e08a57803000.png?v=1685333050\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eM\u003c\/span\u003eadison Reed is one of the most popular home hair care brands in the US. The brand claims to be an Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner, and to help customers “get gorgeous, lasting, award-winning hair color at home.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut do hair products for the home really compare in quality to those at a salon? Do Madison Reed’s products contain ingredients shown in clinical studies to improve hair quality? Do the products contain any questionable additive ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Madison Reed hair products?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Madison Reed based on clinical trials to give our take on whether the brand is worth the money.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll highlight some ingredients we consider to be questionable from a health perspective, and feature real, unsponsored Madison Reed customer reviews.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIngredient Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Madison_Reed_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1685332541\" alt=\"Madison Reed ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients in Madison Reed’s “Ravenna Brown” cream color are shown above.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are a number of research-backed ingredients for improving hair quality in this formulation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eArgania spinosa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e (argan) kernel oil\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35226791\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eJournal of Cosmetic Dermatology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to protect hair against damage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSilica\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e may be an effective ingredient for hair loss, given that a 2016 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4938278\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e reported that hair with higher silicon content has “lower falling rate and higher brightness.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSilica and silicon are not the exact same thing; silica is an oxide of silicon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHydrolyzed keratin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is another effective ingredient, and is clinically shown to increase hair volume and repair hair damage as we documented in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/ouai-shampoo-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOuai shampoo reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePanax ginseng\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e root extract\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was shown to promote hair growth in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4350143\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eJournal of Medicinal Food\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile there are a number of potentially effective ingredients in this product, there are also several ingredients that may be questionable from a health perspective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eM-aminophenol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was shown in a 1984 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/6693006\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to cause toxicity at the highest dose level, but this was when the chemical compound was included in diet so it doesn’t necessarily apply to topical products.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2-methylresorcinol\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was associated with a significant reduction in body weight gain in an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3758547\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eanimal study\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, suggesting it may have harmful effects on metabolism, but again this was when added to diet so it doesn’t necessarily apply to a hair product.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eToluene-2,5-diamine sulfate\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was shown in a 2014 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24124869\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to cause “strong local inflammation” when applied to skin at a 1.60% concentration. This was an animal study which is a weaker standard of evidence than a human study.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe Barrier Cream, Cleansing Wipes and Shampoo that are sold with this hair color kit all contain \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003efragrance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, which was shown in a 2016 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5093181\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to be potentially harmful to human health and to the environment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall we consider Madison Reed’s hair coloring kit likely to be effective, not only for coloring the hair but also for potentially improving hair quality due to some research-backed active ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHowever, we do not currently recommend this product due to the inclusion of the inactive ingredients cited above. It’s worth noting that the vast majority of hair coloring products contain ingredients we consider questionable due to the nature of this type of product, so Madison Reed is not unique in this respect.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how do real users rate and describe the effects of Madison Reed? We’ll review in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored Madison Reed User Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA licensed hairstylist with a YouTube channel called “The Daily with Charlotte Z” reviewed Madison Reed in an unsponsored video: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/38dzb5ohULU\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named Callie Mileham reviewed Madison Reed and included before-and-after images of the hair color and quality change:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tm7Tgbzp7_Y\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy Was Madison Reed Sued?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn 2022, Madison Reed was sued in a class-action lawsuit \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/topclassactions.com\/lawsuit-settlements\/consumer-products\/beauty-products\/madison-reed-class-action-says-products-cause-hair-loss\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eaccording to\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Top Class Actions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe lawsuit alleges that the brand misrepresents their products as being free of harsh chemicals, while containing ingredients that may cause aesthetically damaging effects such as hair loss.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe plaintiff claims that after using Madison Reed for the first time, her scalp became irritated and she suffered hair loss.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFurther, the lawsuit alleges that a compound called ethanolamine that’s in some Madison Reed formulations “is known to cause hair loss.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAt the time of publishing this article, the lawsuit appears to be ongoing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow to Use Madison Reed Products\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube video from the official Madison Reed channel contains a tutorial on how to color your hair at home using the products:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HCe6xFTndi0\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Customers Review Madison Reed\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMadison Reed is sold on Amazon, which is a better resource for honest customer reviews in our opinion than a brand’s website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMadison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit, Shades of Brown is the brand’s most popular hair coloring kit on Amazon, with over 1,900 reviews and a 4.2 out of 5 star average rating.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Fredda Bianco” who appreciates the convenience of the product and claims that Amazon is a better place to buy it than the brand’s website:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“This is amazingly easy and I have gotten so many compliments on the color.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Are used to order from the Madison Reed website, but it took a while for the product to ship and you had to pay for shipping. Not so with Amazon prime. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eHighly recommend if you feel like you want to color your own hair.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Kimberly S.” who claims that the product had little effect:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“When I tell you, there was absolutely no difference in my hair color! My hair looks exactly the same. The only thing the color did was to darken a few gray hairs at my temples\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and forehead and that is literally it.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMadison Reed has an average rating of 1.35 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/ca\/san-francisco\/profile\/hair-care\/madison-reed-1116-896759\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ewebsite\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, with some users claiming the product causes hair loss, like this complaint from April 20, 2023:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Their product made my hair fall out, including a baseball sized bald spot on my head.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAt the time of publishing this article, Madison Reed responds to the majority of complaints on their BBB page, which is a sign of a high-quality brand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs Henna a Safer Hair Dye?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dermatologist and YouTube beauty influencer called \"Dr Dray\" has a video suggesting that henna is a natural alternative that's healthier than traditional hair dye products:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ou9gOwa07k0\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros and Cons of Madison Reed\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere are the pros and cons of Madison Reed at-home hair color kits in our opinion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eShould be effective for changing hair color\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMay be effective for improving hair quality\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eContains research-backed ingredients\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMuch cheaper than salon treatment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMost Amazon reviews are positive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCons:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eContains some ingredients with questionable toxicity data\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSome products contain fragrance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCurrently being sued over products causing hair loss\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMadison Reed seems to be a good option for consumers seeking affordable hair coloration. The products sold by the company should be effective for dying hair, and can be much more affordable than hair dying at a salon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSome of the formulations sold by the company contain questionable additive ingredients, but so do most commercial salon treatments.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMadison Reed does use research-backed active ingredients in their hair coloration products that may improve hair quality beyond just changing its color.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA class-action lawsuit was recently filed against Madison Reed alleging that the brand isn’t as “natural” as claimed and that their products can cause hair loss.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA dermatologist suggests that henna may be a safer natural hair coloration option in a video shared in this article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-05-28T23:57:27-04:00","updated_at":"2023-05-29T00:24:56-04:00","summary_html":"We analyze the ingredients in Madison Reed hair products to give our take on whether they're likely to be effective for hair loss or if they're a waste of money. We feature customer reviews including before-and-after images, and explain a recent lawsuit.","template_suffix":"","handle":"madison-reed-review","tags":"_related:hair-dye"}

Madison Reed Review: Does Home Hair Care Actually Work?

Madison Reed Review: Does Home Hair Care Actually Work?


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Madison Reed is one of the most popular home hair care brands in the US. The brand claims to be an Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner, and to help customers “get gorgeous, lasting, award-winning hair color at home.”

But do hair products for the home really compare in quality to those at a salon? Do Madison Reed’s products contain ingredients shown in clinical studies to improve hair quality? Do the products contain any questionable additive ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Madison Reed hair products?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Madison Reed based on clinical trials to give our take on whether the brand is worth the money.

We’ll highlight some ingredients we consider to be questionable from a health perspective, and feature real, unsponsored Madison Reed customer reviews.

Ingredient Analysis

Madison Reed ingredients

The ingredients in Madison Reed’s “Ravenna Brown” cream color are shown above.

There are a number of research-backed ingredients for improving hair quality in this formulation.

Argania spinosa (argan) kernel oil was shown in a clinical trial published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology to protect hair against damage.

Silica may be an effective ingredient for hair loss, given that a 2016 medical review reported that hair with higher silicon content has “lower falling rate and higher brightness.”

Silica and silicon are not the exact same thing; silica is an oxide of silicon.

Hydrolyzed keratin is another effective ingredient, and is clinically shown to increase hair volume and repair hair damage as we documented in our Ouai shampoo reviews article.

Panax ginseng root extract was shown to promote hair growth in a clinical trial published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

While there are a number of potentially effective ingredients in this product, there are also several ingredients that may be questionable from a health perspective.

M-aminophenol was shown in a 1984 clinical trial to cause toxicity at the highest dose level, but this was when the chemical compound was included in diet so it doesn’t necessarily apply to topical products.

2-methylresorcinol was associated with a significant reduction in body weight gain in an animal study, suggesting it may have harmful effects on metabolism, but again this was when added to diet so it doesn’t necessarily apply to a hair product.

Toluene-2,5-diamine sulfate was shown in a 2014 clinical trial to cause “strong local inflammation” when applied to skin at a 1.60% concentration. This was an animal study which is a weaker standard of evidence than a human study.

The Barrier Cream, Cleansing Wipes and Shampoo that are sold with this hair color kit all contain fragrance, which was shown in a 2016 medical review to be potentially harmful to human health and to the environment.

Overall we consider Madison Reed’s hair coloring kit likely to be effective, not only for coloring the hair but also for potentially improving hair quality due to some research-backed active ingredients.

However, we do not currently recommend this product due to the inclusion of the inactive ingredients cited above. It’s worth noting that the vast majority of hair coloring products contain ingredients we consider questionable due to the nature of this type of product, so Madison Reed is not unique in this respect.

But how do real users rate and describe the effects of Madison Reed? We’ll review in the next section.

Real, Unsponsored Madison Reed User Reviews

A licensed hairstylist with a YouTube channel called “The Daily with Charlotte Z” reviewed Madison Reed in an unsponsored video: 

A YouTube creator named Callie Mileham reviewed Madison Reed and included before-and-after images of the hair color and quality change:

Why Was Madison Reed Sued?

In 2022, Madison Reed was sued in a class-action lawsuit according to Top Class Actions.

The lawsuit alleges that the brand misrepresents their products as being free of harsh chemicals, while containing ingredients that may cause aesthetically damaging effects such as hair loss.

The plaintiff claims that after using Madison Reed for the first time, her scalp became irritated and she suffered hair loss.

Further, the lawsuit alleges that a compound called ethanolamine that’s in some Madison Reed formulations “is known to cause hair loss.”

At the time of publishing this article, the lawsuit appears to be ongoing.

How to Use Madison Reed Products

A YouTube video from the official Madison Reed channel contains a tutorial on how to color your hair at home using the products:

Real Customers Review Madison Reed

Madison Reed is sold on Amazon, which is a better resource for honest customer reviews in our opinion than a brand’s website.

Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit, Shades of Brown is the brand’s most popular hair coloring kit on Amazon, with over 1,900 reviews and a 4.2 out of 5 star average rating.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Fredda Bianco” who appreciates the convenience of the product and claims that Amazon is a better place to buy it than the brand’s website:

“This is amazingly easy and I have gotten so many compliments on the color. Are used to order from the Madison Reed website, but it took a while for the product to ship and you had to pay for shipping. Not so with Amazon prime. Highly recommend if you feel like you want to color your own hair.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Kimberly S.” who claims that the product had little effect:

“When I tell you, there was absolutely no difference in my hair color! My hair looks exactly the same. The only thing the color did was to darken a few gray hairs at my temples and forehead and that is literally it.”

Madison Reed has an average rating of 1.35 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, with some users claiming the product causes hair loss, like this complaint from April 20, 2023:

“Their product made my hair fall out, including a baseball sized bald spot on my head.”

At the time of publishing this article, Madison Reed responds to the majority of complaints on their BBB page, which is a sign of a high-quality brand.

Is Henna a Safer Hair Dye?

A dermatologist and YouTube beauty influencer called "Dr Dray" has a video suggesting that henna is a natural alternative that's healthier than traditional hair dye products:

Pros and Cons of Madison Reed

Here are the pros and cons of Madison Reed at-home hair color kits in our opinion:

Pros:

  • Should be effective for changing hair color
  • May be effective for improving hair quality
  • Contains research-backed ingredients
  • Much cheaper than salon treatment
  • Most Amazon reviews are positive

Cons:

  • Contains some ingredients with questionable toxicity data
  • Some products contain fragrance
  • Currently being sued over products causing hair loss
Stay up-to-date on our research reviews

Conclusion

Madison Reed seems to be a good option for consumers seeking affordable hair coloration. The products sold by the company should be effective for dying hair, and can be much more affordable than hair dying at a salon.

Some of the formulations sold by the company contain questionable additive ingredients, but so do most commercial salon treatments.

Madison Reed does use research-backed active ingredients in their hair coloration products that may improve hair quality beyond just changing its color.

A class-action lawsuit was recently filed against Madison Reed alleging that the brand isn’t as “natural” as claimed and that their products can cause hair loss.

A dermatologist suggests that henna may be a safer natural hair coloration option in a video shared in this article.




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