{#TryItTuesday} Thinking about a new #hair color for Spring? I tried @eSalon and here are my results! #eSalon #bLinkBiz

I am a Spring Baby and if the season of Spring represents anything it's renewal, a perfect time for change in my book. I started the changes last year actually by donating over 13 inches of hair to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths, an organization that uses the hair to make wigs for women battling cancer, if you missed that post, click HERE. That was serious change for me as I had my hair super long for a very long time!

This year I knew I wanted to try color, and not just a 'wash out' over time color, but something that would last longer and bring me into summer. And that's where esalon comes in.

Here is the 'lo-down' on my experience:

Ordering Process:

You complete a questionnaire that asks questions about your hair's length, texture, current color, level of grey (if any) and you are also asked to include a current photo to help make it easier for the colorist who will be working on your order to get the right color for your hair. I personally had trouble completing my order and had to try a different browser than the one I normally use to finally get my order to go through, I still don't know why that happened (and no, I wasn't on a mobile device or tablet I was on my desktop!). Despite attaching a photo I was asked to re-send via email another photo. The order took quite awhile to arrive, and arrived via US Postal Mail (which I had to pick up, it wasn't brought to me directly - apartments and their super small mailboxes!).

This is what arrives:

Packaging/Contents:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Two Bottles of Developer

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Two bottles of hair dye - one for roots, the second for ends

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Gloves

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dye Brush

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Stain Remover

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Stain Guard (much akin to Vaseline to protect your scalp and ears from the color)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - One Packet of Shampoo

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - One Packet of Conditioner

Application:

I don't have grey hair so I don't color my hair and had no real idea of what to expect, but the fact that this comes with one hair color for roots and another one for the ends, seemed strange to me, but you start with mixing the color for your roots and then applying it and leaving it on for what seems like a very long time before mixing and applying the color that gets put on the ends. The final step is to add water to the leftover dye used on the ends to create a rinse that can be used in the shower BEFORE Shampooing or Conditioning your hair.

It took a LONG time to rinse this stuff off I will tell you that. and you will definitely want to jump into the shower and not try to crouch over a sink as it's a bit difficult and time consuming to get the rinse to go clear before you start to shampoo.

TIP: The 'personalized instructions' don't mention the gloves are in the box in the center, so if you open your kit and can't figure out why there are no gloves, they are there, just in that box where the stain guard, stain remover and shampoo and conditioner packets are.

RESULTS:

So here is the big reveal, the before and after:

Top Photo is my hair BEFORE. The Bottom is my hair AFTER on the same day the color was applied. The only difference is in the top picture, the before photo, my hair is slightly shorter.

Price:

Each kit totals $24.95 and they offer an auto renew pricing which is slightly cheaper at about $19.95

My Take:

The color I selected was "Light Brown Golden Copper" - I find my hair looks more red than 'golden' and I don't like the different color at the roots and different color for the ends. Thankfully it is not totally 'ombre' probably because of the rinse but the rinsing didn't 'blend/marry' the color cohesively in my opinion. Overall this is NOT the color I expected and I am not thrilled with my results. 

Perhaps if I did have grey in my hair to cover, I would have been happier with the results, this is way redder and way darker than I expected and the results I wanted to achieve was to go LIGHTER and I wanted to see more of the Golden Brown shade that was shown to me on their website when I finished my survey/questionnaire.

And also as I don't color my hair regularly I think I would have preferred just leaving this to the pros and putting that $20 towards an actual salon experience which feels a bit more 'pampering' in my opinion. I guess I'm just not a DIY type of girl.

Do you currently color your hair butterfly? If so, what is your favorite shade and favorite brand? Have you tried esalon yet, if so, what do YOU think? Sound off and let us know!

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and all opinions are 100% my own!  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. I participated in the eSalon hair color campaign as a member of The bLink Marketing Network. I was provided a free hair color to review but all opinions are my own.

@Influenster really hit the nail on the head with the #ParadiseVoxBox #Beauty, #Haircare + something for #feet too!

#ad: This is not a compensated campaign, however an Influenster #ParadiseVoxBox was sent to us for editorial consideration. Full Disclosure Below.

#ParadiseVoxBox from Influenster with products from Dr.Scholl's, Goody, Suave, Olay and NYC Color!

I have tried out some not so stellar subscriptions boxes lately, so bad in fact, that I just haven't had the same rush/thrill I usually get when a new one arrives. I know the normal reaction would be 'Yay! A box full of stuff!', but when you have to go back and write about it and realize that not as much of it worked for you as you originally thought it would, it gets harder to drum up the same enthusiasm you had when you first open it. For those boxes I opted to follow our parents age old advice about when you don't have something nice to say....(don't say anything at all.)

Thankfully Influenster saved the day with a box I could get jazzed about!

Contents of my #ParadiseVoxBox (in alpahabetical order):

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dr. Scholl's For Her High Heel Insoles

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Goody TangleFix (Gentle Hair Detangler Brush)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NYC - New York Color Sparkle Eye Dust Color in '882 Smokey Topaz'

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away! Shine Minimizing Cleanser

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Suave Professionals Moroccan Argan Styling Oil

My Take:

This box knocked it out the park because absolutely everything was truly useful for me. Most people aren't quick to take the plunge with subscription services because they are always afraid the makeup will be some garish color they'd never wear, or they will get a ton of products they don't use. And I can understand that as I for one don't like when boxes come with self tanner as I have color and I don't need self tanner products. But with this box Influenster definitely hit a home run. We are now in fall and my high heel boots are coming out of the closet, and the Dr. Scholl's inserts have made all my favorite boots that much more comfortable. I already use Dr. Scholl's in my flats and sneakers and love that they know have insoles made for heels as well. I use them in my high heel shoes and now for fall will put them inside my boots with heels as well. SCORE!

I loved the gentle detangler brush as well from Goody, I am 'tender headed' and I hate getting my hair tugged at to detangle it, this makes it much easier to detangle my hair without the need to use extra product to do the job. I have fine, thin hair so I hate having to add a detangler product to my hair which weighs it down, so I am definitely loving this brush and haven't stopped using it since I got it! I'm going to run out and get these for my nieces and nephews because like me, they hate getting their wet hair detangled! I have a feeling they are going to love the Goody detangler brush and how gentle it is just as much as I do! SCORE!

The Olay Shine Minimizing Cleanser is just up my alley as I have oily skin, and usually have to use a mattifying product under my Foundation. I am using this with a cleansing brush and together they have been an amazing one-two punch for my face! (I will definitely share more about the brush soon, in fact you are going to have a chance to win it too so stay tuned!). SCORE!

The New York City Sparkle Dust is perfect for a night on the town, I do use a primer first and then apply this slightly wet for a more dramatic eye look. I will try to get a picture of just my face close up when I am wearing this so you can get an idea of how it works against my skin. I'm a beige/sand in many foundations and have hazel eyes. I don't do dramatic eyes too often, but when I do, I love this Smokey Topaz Color! SCORE!

Last but certainly not least was the Suave Professionals Moroccan Styling Oil. This styling oil definitely gives you that 'fresh out of the salon' feel AND smell. For my thin hair with most styling oils a very little always go a very long way with me, and this one is the same, I don't need to use much at all, especially if my hair is still damp. I also love to put it on my ends post styling for a little extra gloss/shine and especially on my bangs after I have flat ironed them. (My bangs are grown out right now, but I do plan to cut them again, so when I do I'll take a close up shot of them with a drop of this on it!). SCORE!

Everything in this box particular box was perfect for me, and the folks at Influenster have certainly set the bar high for the next box! I am so bummed I wasn't able to attend the twitter party they held to celebrate the #ParadiseVoxBox, because I certainly really loved this one! I wouldn't hesitate to fully recommend any of the products in this box!

Which of these products would you most like to try? or if you have tried all of them already, which is your particular favorite butterfly?

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a paid campaign, no monetary compensation has been offered. Ascending Butterfly is a member of Influenster and Influenster boxes are randomly sent to members for editorial consideration and our honest opinons of the products. All opinions expressed herein are 100% my own. See our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for full information.