Hair Dye Printer Review: Promised Hundreds, Delivered Two

The Zuvi ColorBox, a device marketed as a hair dye printer, has faced significant criticism in a review by WIRED. Despite claims that the technology could provide hundreds of different shades, the product reportedly struggled to successfully manage even two.

Performance Limitations

The device was designed to automate the hair-coloring process, attempting to bring printer-like precision to beauty treatments. However, the actual performance of the Zuvi ColorBox failed to meet these expectations. The review indicates that the machine was unable to deliver the variety of colors it promised.

Because of these technical shortcomings, the recommendation from the reviewer was for consumers to avoid the device and instead visit a professional stylist.

Context of At-Home Hair Technology

The Zuvi ColorBox enters a market where other companies are attempting to digitize and automate at-home hair care. For instance, L’Oréal has introduced the Colorsonic, a hair-dyeing tool designed to distribute dye to the roots at the touch of a button.

Unlike the ColorBox, the Colorsonic is marketed as a way to remove the guesswork from home coloring while reducing the cost compared to professional salon visits. User experiences with the Colorsonic include receiving kits that provide multiple colors for hair dyeing.

These developments reflect a broader trend in the beauty tech industry to move professional-grade results into the home through hardware automation. While some devices focus on the distribution of dye, others, like the ColorBox, attempt to implement a more complex mixing or printing system to achieve a vast array of custom shades.