Our methodology
Tested like it matters.
Every shade claim on this site traces back to catalog data and a run through the same try-on engine you use. Here is exactly how that works — and where our limits are.
By the Hair Color editorsReviewed by the Hair Color editorial teamTested in the virtual studio
- shades tested in-studio
- 51
- shades tested in-studio
- salon placements rendered
- 5
- salon placements rendered
- photos uploaded
- 0
- photos uploaded
01
Shade data first
Each of the 51 shades carries a fixed record — level, undertones, bleach requirement, gray coverage, maintenance, fade timeline. Guides are computed from that record, so when data changes, every page that cites it updates together.
02
Rendered, not mocked
Featured shades run through the same on-device segmentation and HSL recoloring engine readers use — solid, ombré, balayage, highlights, and money piece. Advice describes the real tool, and previews fail loudly (no hair detected) instead of faking it.
03
Quiz scoring in the open
The Dream Hue Quiz ranks shades with published weights: undertone match counts most, then base-level fit, gray coverage, and bleach cost. No sponsored boosts exist anywhere in the pipeline — there is nothing to buy.
04
Reviewed before publishing
Nothing publishes without editorial review: data accuracy against the catalog, a studio run, and a freshness check. Corrections sent through the contact page ship with the next deploy, and trend guides carry publish dates with seasonal revisits.
05
Honest limits
Previews are directional, not guarantees: porosity, previous color, and your colorist's formula all move the final result. Always strand-test, and treat black and platinum as the commitments they are.