When it comes to at-home hair color, women today are spoiled for choice. From drugstore boxes to luxury brand offerings, how do you decide which one is right for you and your hair?
Two popular semi-permanent hair color lines — IGK Mixed Feelings and Madison Reed — offer quality results with minimal damage. But they have some key differences that may make one better suited for your needs and preferences.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Aspects | IGK | Madison Reed |
| Ammonia-Free | Yes | Yes |
| Lasting Power | 6-8 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Fade Style | Colors fade to lighter tones gracefully | Fades gradually to natural and subtle tones |
| Shine/Dimension | Very vibrant, glossy shine with depth | Translucent and luminous color shine |
| Mixing Required | Yes | No |
| Applicator | Applicator bottle with tip | No-drip tube applicator |
| Cost Per Application | $26-$29 per use | $26 per use |
| Additional Products | Styling items only | Haircare prep, gloss, root pens, more |
| Best For | Color-treated or frequently colored hair | Gentler for fragile or virgin hair |
An Overview Of IGK And Madison Reed Hair Color
Los Angeles-based haircare brand IGK was founded by four stylists who set out to bridge the gap between professional salon services and at-home maintenance.
Their Mixed Feelings semi-permanent hair color line aims to make vibrant, long-lasting color achievable at home with formulas that condition while depositing rich, shiny color that fades gracefully.
Madison Reed was founded by industry veteran Amy Errett who sought to disrupt the home hair color market with salon-quality ingredients delivered straight to your door.
The Madison Reed line features over 55 shades of glossy ammonia-free color designed to provide coverage with shine and dimension. Their products are gentler but still provide beautiful, multidimensional results.
While both lines offer innovative alternatives to traditional box dye, the brands have some differences that may make one better for your specific hair type and needs. Let’s do a deeper dive into how igk and Madison Reed compare across a few key factors.
Lasting Power and Fade Rate
When evaluating the longevity of at-home hair color, you want to understand both how long it will last as well as how it fades over time. This impacts how often you need to reapply for root touch-ups.
IGK uses a rich base cream formula that adheres well to all hair types for longer-lasting color deposit. Users report coverage lasting 6-8 weeks before significant fading occurs. When the colors do start to fade out, the hues get lighter but tones remain vibrant rather than getting brassy.
Madison Reed’s ammonia-free formula leads to a gentler application process but that can mean shorter staying power in some cases. Users note coverage tends to last 4-6 weeks before roots are visible and color starts to dull. One tradeoff is that the fade is a bit more graceful — hues simply start to look more subdued and natural rather than drastically losing brightness.
If your top priority is longevity between applications, IGK may have a slight edge. But Madison Reed users are pleased with how naturally and subtly the colors fade.
Shine and Dimension
When coloring hair at home, you want rich, multidimensional tones that make strands shine rather than look flat and opaque.
The IGK Mixed Feelings line utilizes protein and amino acid complexes to attach to hair while providing conditioning benefits. Users love the glossy shimmer and highlights they get with IGK, noting vibrant but translucent coverage allowing their natural hair to shine through.
Madison Reed takes pride in their color looking like what you’d get at a high-end salon. Their formulas use ingredients like keratin and argan oil for added shine and dimension.
Rather than opaque coverage, Madison Reed aims for a translucent stained-glass effect with lots of natural light reflection.
If you prefer your color more sheer and luminous, both brands deliver on shine and vibrancy. IGK seems to have the edge when it comes to conditioning results during processing.
Ammonia-Free Formulas
Ammonia is an ingredient often used in hair color to help open the cuticle and deposit pigment. But it can lead to irritation, damage, and unwanted brassiness over time. Both Madison Reed and igk offer ammonia-free options:
- IGK Mixed Feelings utilizes a gentler patented technology called AGEsmart® rather than ammonia to penetrate the hair. This aims to provide vivid results with less irritation to the scalp.
- Madison Reed is proud to formulate all of their hair color completely free of ammonia (as well as other harsh chemicals like parabens and gluten). This makes application gentle with minimal odor. The tradeoff is sometimes shorter staying power than ammonia-based dyes.
So if using only clean, ammonia-free hair color is your top priority, Madison Reed takes the lead here. But IGK also skips this harsh ingredient for a much more pleasant process.
Watch this video about IGK hair color!
At-Home Application
Both brands aim to make the at-home coloring process as easy as possible. From mixing steps to development time, the systems have some similarities and differences.
IGK comes as a kit with rich base cream you combine with a developer lotion before applying. The formulas use nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and ginseng root extract to condition strands while coloring. After a 30-40 minute development period, rinse and style as desired with included after-care treatments. IGK prides themselves on a “clean touch” process with minimal mess.
Madison Reed doesn’t require mixing separate components. Their all-in-one formulas allow you to simply apply directly from the tube once your prep work is complete. The company claims no-drip application makes the process “quicker than getting a cappuccino.” You leave the color on for just 25 minutes before rinsing thoroughly and following up with a conditioning treatment.
For those who don’t want to mix and measure formulations themselves, Madison Reed delivers on easy and efficient application. But IGK users appreciate the salon-like process while still keeping things mess-free.
Cost Considerations
Let’s do a brief cost breakdown, noting that prices may shift somewhat based on promotional offers:
- IGK: $29 for single use kit or $78 for 3-use kit
- Madison Reed: $26 for single process kit, multi-kit packs available for $60+
This makes Madison Reed just slightly more affordable for a single full use. But IGK pulls ahead when buying multiple applications in bulk by saving about 25% compared to buying single kits each time.
Over the course of a year for quarterly touch-ups, IGK comes out to roughly $312 compared to $364 for Madison Reed. Factor in any sales or discounts, and the overall cost difference is pretty negligible between the two.
Also Read: Choose Between OUAI And Briogeo.
Product Line Differences
Beyond the core permanent (or demi-permanent) hair color kits, the brands take a different approach with their broader haircare lines:
| Category | IGK | Madison Reed |
| Styling | Yes – IGK offers a full range of styling products from dry shampoo to gloss treatments | No – Madison Reed focuses specifically on hair color and maintenance rather than styling items |
| Color Options | 8 core shade families covering cool, warm, neutral palettes | Over 55 individual shade options with cool, warm, neutral, reds, blondes, lighteners/highlights |
| Hair Types | Best for those with processed or color treated hair already | Great for first time colorers or those with more delicate hair |
| Additional Products | Core hair color line only | Root touch-up pens, glossing treatments, shampoos/conditioners, and more |
As you can see, Madison Reed offers a wider range of shades and hair prep/care products to complement the core coloring kit. IGK instead focuses on a core set of trend-driven hues with complementary styling items.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, in 2022 a class action lawsuit was filed in California alleging some Madison Reed hair color products contain a controversial chemical, phenylenediamine (PPD), despite being marketed as PPD-free. The lawsuit is still pending as of early 2024 but has sparked increased scrutiny of ingredient labels.
Some top alternatives that provide at-home hair coloring kits with clean ingredients include Overtone, eSalon, Hairprint, dpHUE, Overtone, and Lime Crime Unicorn Hair. Many focus on semi-permanent color rather than permanent/chemical processing.
According to consumer studies, some of today’s top brands for minimizing damage while providing clean, dynamic results include Overtone, Madison Reed, Olapex, Redken, Joico, Olaplex, and L’anza. But best match depends on your hair type, texture, and coloring needs. Professional salons remain the gold standard.
Yes – Madison Reed is generally gentler and utilizes more hair-healthy ingredients compared to traditional at-home box kit formulas that rely on harsh chemicals like ammonia and alcohol. Users report less irritation, breakage, and damage over time with Madison Reed.
Also Read: Is Madison Reed Better Than Naturtint?
The Verdict
In conclusion, both IGK and Madison Reed offer high-quality hair color products that cater to different needs and preferences. IGK is more suitable for those who want to experiment with bold and vibrant shades, while Madison Reed is more ideal for those who want to achieve natural and long-lasting results.
Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal style, budget, and hair condition. No matter which brand you choose, you can enjoy the benefits of salon-quality hair color at home.
