The Shade Reviews

Name: The Shade
Address: 23 Milton Parade Malvern VIC 3144, ,, Malvern
Rating: 4.54

4.5 Rating 2,288 Reviews

88 %

of reviewers recommend The Shade

Company Reviews

Metrics

Info

4.5

Based on 2,288 reviews

Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods	Courier, Postal Service
Average Delivery Time	Within 5 Days
On-time Delivery	98%
Accurate And Undamaged Orders	100%
Customer Service
Communication Channels	Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In	Under An Hour

About The Shade:

The Shade is Australia's leading home hair colour and hair care company. Our colour is Italian-made, and is free from Ammonia, PPD, Parabens, Phthalates and Gluten.

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Email:

support@theshade.com.au

Location:

23 Milton Parade Malvern VIC 3144, ,
Malvern
3144

The Shade 5 star review on 21st December 2025

576

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Filter: Rated 1 None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“I purchased the shade dye and did yhe patch test as recommended only to find that I had an allergic reaction. When I contacted the customer service about returning the unopened/unused products I was told they can't offer me a refund. I'm sure this product is fine for those that can use it but the customer service is terrible.”

Helpful Report

Hi Laura, We are sorry again that you had a reaction. When you initially contacted us, and you told us that you are allergic to conventional hair colour, we gave you our full list of our ingredients and encouraged you to review our ingredients with your doctor. Unfortunately you are one of the 1% who have an allergy to hair colour. You tried our colour, but you had a reaction. We are glad you performed a patch test first. Wishing you all the best! The Shade team

“Only did 1 star as I had to put something Unable to review still waiting for delivery”

Helpful Report

Hi Helen, I'm so sorry for the delay with your parcel. We despatched your order within 24 hours of receipt. I have checked the tracking of your parcel, and it seems as though it's been lost in transit. I have just arranged for a replacement order to be despatched via Express Post. Very sorry for your inconvenience! I hope this helps! The Shade team

“This is an awful hair colour. Doesn’t cover greys. Gives off orange tones. Not even near the colour advertised. Smells really bad. Made me sick as I react to chemicals”

Helpful Report

Sorry that you weren't happy with your colour. We use a 20vol developer which can lift by two colour levels. Brassiness (orange tones) can be seen when you select a colour outside of the two level range as the colour can not lift enough to achieve a true colour result. The brassy colour pigments which are naturally ocurring in the hair have the largest colour molecules and they are the last pigments to be lifted out of the hair. If the colour you choose is out of range, then we would expect to see a brassy colour result, which is why our colourists are available 7 days a week to assist with colour selection. They consider your natural colour, current colour, treatments and colour goals and can recommend a colour or process to achieve your colour goal, or advise why that might be difficult to achieve and make other achievable suggestions. I note that you didn't ask our colourists for a colour recommendation, and you didn't use our online colour consultation which only recommends colours in range, nor did you contact our colourists, so it seems that this all went wrong in the colour selection stage.

“The colour Copper Blonde was nothing like it describes. Should’ve been called “Ronald McDonald Red” as this was closer to what my hair looked like. Cost me over $250 to have professional Hairdressor fix my hair!!! All I say is Use The Shade product with caution!!!”

Helpful Report

Hi Vicki, So sorry you weren't happy with your colour! We would have been happy to send you a free colour kit with a colour blend which would have balanced the warmth and given you a different, softer, colour result but unfortunately this is the first time we have heard from you. It is generally quite straight-forward to counter-balance and reduce unwanted warmth with a cool based colour. The Shade team

“3 weeks on and still don’t have my colour delivered! NOT HAPPY, will be out of lockdown now and just head back to a hairdresser….”

Helpful Report

Hi Rosa, Terribly sorry for the delay of your order. We despatched your parcel within 12 hours of receiving your order, but unfortunately it got stuck in the black hole which is Australia Post. Once it's in their hands, it's out of our control as to a delivery date. I will send a replacement order to you today via Express Post. Really sorry for your inconvenience. The Shade team

“Unfortunately it didn’t work well for me, I wanted to be a medium ashy blonde, but my hair came out orange. Had to end up buying a supermarket dye to cover it up.”

Helpful Report

Hi Courtney, We highly recommend that all clients who want to lighten by two colour levels, or who are considering a lightening process (bleach was) contact our colourist before you colour. We recommend this at various touchpoints throughout the order process. Our colourists are available 7 days a week, and there is no cost to get personalised colour advice, and I am sure they would have been helpful to you before you ordered/coloured. They can be contacted at https://theshade.com.au/colourist/ I hope this helps! The Shade team

“I haven’t received it yet alone used it: too slow,”

Helpful Report

Hi Michelle, So sorry that your order has taken so long to be delivered. We despatched your order the next business day after the receipt of your order. Unfortunately it has been held up by Australia Post due to the lockdown in Melbourne, which is extremely disappointing and frustrating. I notice that your parcel was scanned today, so I suspect it will be delivered in the next day or 2. Apologies for your inconvenience. The Shade team

“The colour was no where near the shade that I wanted. It did not change the colour of my hair at all. My daughter and I followed the correct procedure 100% and it did not change a thing. Very dissatisfied customer.”

Helpful Report

Hi Mandy, Sorry you didn't get the colour results you were after! You mentioned in your colour consultation that you recently had a keratin treatment. Unfortunately keratin treatments can block colour absorption, which negatively impacts colour results. We do advise all clients who want to achieve two levels of colour lift that they should consult with one of our colourists directly, and unfortunately we didn't hear from you in regards to your colour selection. Our colourists can provide personalised colour advice which is critical to achieving successful colour results, particularly in situations such as yours where you wanted to lighten by two levels and there is pre-existing colour in the hair. Our colourist can be contacted here: https://theshade.com.au/colourist/ I hope this helps! The Shade team

“Unfortunately the colour didn’t take on my hair- despite me leaving it in for over an hour! I asked and received advice from their colourists based on photos I sent- and bought the colour they suggested. I mixed it exactly as per the instructions but it did nothing. Waste of time, money.”

Helpful Report

Hi Sheila, So sorry you didn't get the colour result you were after. Leaving the colour on longer than we advise in the instructions is not recommended and colour cannot lift or lighten pre-existing darker colour pigments in the hair, only a lightening process will do that. Please don't hesitate to contact one of our colourists here you would be happy to assist you: https://theshade.com.au/colourist/ I hope this helps! The Shade team

“Hi whilst the customer service when you are looking to purchase is good. This really is just a box colour repackaged and not suited for blondes at all. It might work well if you are looking at the darker shades but I would not purchase again as it is just a supermarket colour and not of salon standards as promoted.”

Helpful Report

Hi Kirsty! Thank you for your feedback. Our colour is salon grade and free from ammonia, PPD, parabens and phthalates, so it is not only a better option than conventional colour, but it is an excellent option for people with a sensitive scalp or who have allergies or who are looking to avoid exposure to those older, stronger, harmful chemicals. We note that you were looking for a platinum blonde colour result - our colour is for two levels of colour change and we recommend that significant colour changes such as the colour result you were looking for, should be managed by professionals in a salon, as the lightening, colour and tone are increasingly complicated, and that shouldn't be attempted at home. Wishing you the best!

“Extremely disappointed with lack of useful info, or warnings. The colour I bought was light brown , but was many shades darker. the tips you have on putting it on yourself just show someone with long hair. What about something for people with shorter hair? It stains - a lot. I have marks I cannot remove from basin. I assume this review will not appear as its not positive. but youi need to know you do not service older women with grey hair they need to cover. What about more tips on how to deal with the back of your head? how to avoid spillage? how to choose the correct colour?”

Helpful Report

“Awful colour, nothing 'natural ' about it”

Helpful Report

“I did not enjoy the colour, it was much darker than expected and despite being a custom duo blend, it was very disappointing. It was dark burgundy red rather than copper blonde.”

Helpful Report

“I purchased a medium blonde expecting my hair to go a blonde colour. My hair went a copper colour, not even close to blonde. Not sure if I was sent the wrong colour as didn't check. Am not happy at all with The Shade and how it coloured my hair the wrong colour.”

Helpful Report

Hi Sam, Sorry you didn't get the result you were looking for. We always recommend contacting one of our colourists when lightening by two colour levels, as lightening always reveals Natural Contributing Pigment (natural warmth) . Please contact one of our colourists here who can assist you in correcting your colour: https://theshade.com.au/colourist/ I hope this helps! Adam The Shade

“Unfortunately I suffered an allergic reaction to the skin test despite it being ppd free. The service and delivery was great though.”

Helpful Report

“I have not used it as I was sent the wrong colour.”

Helpful Report

“The shade didn’t turn out the colour I wanted. It also made my hair dry. I won’t be using again. I’m back to the salon ASAP.”

Helpful Report

Hi Joanne, It is harder when there are two colours in your hair, and lightening processes will dry your hair, as mentioned in our earlier communications. We recommend that colour changes of more than two colour levels should be done in a salon, and we don't recommend repeated lightening processes, as they will damage your hair. Camilla Colourist for The Shade

“Product doesn't work very well, rude customer service, highly do not recommend, just buy store dyes as they work better and don't keep your money if you're not using them.”

Helpful Report

Hi Aleisha, We double-checked your order and the correct order was dispatched. Sorry you weren't happy with your colour. We are happy to help you find a colour which you are happy with. Please complete the "Ask a Colourist" questionnaire: https://theshade.com.au/colourist/ and we will get right back to you with our suggestions which will help you meet your colour goals. Regards, Craig The Shade

“I can’t actually rate it as I am still waiting on it :(”

Helpful Report

Hi Saskia, Sorry for the delay in you receiving your order. We despatched it within 24 hours of receipt of your order, but unfortunately it was delayed. As per the tracking, I can see that it was delivered on November 10th. Apologies for the inconvenience. The Shade team

“Well for starters they free gift didn’t come and the dye was very poor quality I honestly should of gone to coles and Bought some cheap hair dye thanks for wasting my money and time !!!”

Helpful Report

The Shade is rated 4.5 based on 2,288 reviews