EVO Fabuloso is the product most working stylists use on their own hair between appointments. Most clients have never heard of it.
That gap is a problem. Fabuloso is one of the highest-leverage at-home tools for keeping salon colour looking fresh between toners — especially for balayage, copper, and brunette clients fighting fade-out.
Here is what it is, how to choose your shade, and how to use it without turning your hair the wrong colour.
What EVO Fabuloso actually is
Fabuloso is a colour-boosting conditioner — a regular conditioner with semi-permanent pigment built in. Apply it like any conditioner, leave on for 3–5 minutes, rinse, and it deposits a small amount of colour onto the hair shaft.
The pigment is not a dye. It does not lift, develop, or chemically alter your hair. It deposits temporary colour that lasts 3–6 washes. Used weekly, it tops up your salon colour continuously, so you walk into your next toner appointment with hair that still looks freshly done instead of faded.
See the full EVO Fabuloso range at UKIYO →
Why stylists use it on themselves
Three reasons we hear in the salon kitchen.
1. It extends the life of every colour service. A balayage that normally fades to brass at week six stays cool through week eight or nine with weekly Fabuloso use. That is two extra weeks before you need a toner appointment.
2. It is forgiving. Unlike a true colour, Fabuloso is hard to mess up. Leave it on for an extra two minutes, no big deal. Use it three times in a week, the colour just stays a bit more saturated — nothing patchy or permanent.
3. It conditions properly while it tones. Most colour-deposit products either tone well and dry out the hair, or condition well and barely deposit colour. Fabuloso does both because EVO formulates it as a real conditioner first.
Which Fabuloso shade fits your hair
Six shades in the range. Most clients only need to know which one matches their salon colour. Quick guide:
- Platinum Blonde — cool blondes, ash blondes, icy balayage. The Fabuloso version of purple shampoo, in a conditioner form. Pairs with Kérastase Bain Ultra Violet for the full cool-blonde system.
- Light Beige — warm blondes, beige tones, golden balayage. Less cool than Platinum, perfect for clients who want their warmth maintained, not neutralised.
- Caramel — bronde, light brunettes with warm highlights, honey-toned colour. The most universally flattering brunette shade.
- Copper — red and copper tones, strawberry blondes, natural redheads who want their colour to stop fading. The shade Fabuloso is most famous for.
- Cool Brown — ash brunettes, cool-toned mid-browns, anyone fighting warm pull on their brunette.
- Mahogany — deep red-brown, burgundy tones, dark warm reds.
Not sure which shade matches your current colour? Ask your colourist at your next appointment. Most stylists will tell you on the spot — this is the kind of recommendation we make every day.
How to use EVO Fabuloso correctly
The protocol is the same across all shades.
- Shampoo as normal — ideally with a sulphate-free shampoo from your colour-care range.
- Towel-dry to remove excess water. Wet hair dilutes the pigment.
- Apply Fabuloso liberally to mid-lengths and ends. Comb through to make sure coverage is even.
- Leave on for 3 minutes for maintenance, up to 10 minutes for a colour refresh if your hair has noticeably faded.
- Rinse thoroughly — cool water if possible, which seals the cuticle and locks in the pigment.
- Wear gloves if you have a light bathtub or are using Copper, Cool Brown, or Mahogany shades. The pigment can stain hands and bath surfaces briefly.
For maintenance, use 1–2x per week. For a colour refresh, use 3 days running and then drop to maintenance.
The most common mistakes
Using a darker shade than your salon colour. Fabuloso deposits real pigment — if you pick Caramel when your colour is a light beige blonde, you will go darker than intended. When in doubt, pick the shade that matches your current colour or one step lighter, never one step darker.
Skipping the rinse. Underrinsed Fabuloso can leave a tacky feel on the hair that attracts dirt and styling residue. Rinse until the water runs clean.
Using it on light hair you do not want darkened. Platinum and Light Beige are safe on most blondes. Copper, Caramel, Cool Brown, and Mahogany can shift very light blondes toward unwanted warmth.
The stylist's verdict
If you spend serious money on a salon colour, EVO Fabuloso is the single highest-leverage at-home product for protecting that investment. Two weeks of additional colour life between toners pays for the $44 bottle several times over.
The trick is matching your shade and using it consistently. Done right, you walk into your next appointment with colour that still looks fresh.
FAQ
Will EVO Fabuloso replace my salon colour appointment? No — it is a top-up between appointments, not a substitute. The pigment lasts 3–6 washes, then fades. It cannot lift your hair, cover greys, or do what permanent colour does.
Is Fabuloso safe to use on natural hair? Yes, but the visual effect is more subtle on uncoloured hair. Natural blondes can use Platinum for a cool-tone boost. Natural brunettes can use Caramel or Cool Brown for shine and depth.
How long does the 220ml bottle last? Three to four months at one wash per week for most clients.
Can I leave Fabuloso on overnight? No — 10 minutes is the upper limit. Longer exposure can cause uneven pigment deposit, especially on porous hair.
Where can I buy EVO Fabuloso in NZ? UKIYO carries the full EVO Fabuloso range at 15% off RRP, with free NZ shipping over $75.
11% off your first order with code WELCOME11. 15% off the full EVO range. Free NZ shipping over $75.
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