I went to Amazon's high-tech hair salon and virtually dyed my hair pink - then got the best haircut I've ever had

Amazon's London hair salon Insider/Kate Duffy
For $72 I went to Amazon's east London hair salon.

Before making a decision, I used the augmented reality app to determine which color and style I liked.

Amazon-branded products such as Echos or Fire Kindles are available in the salon.

Check out more stories from Insider's business page.

To see the real deal, I visited Amazon's first London hair salon. It was only Amazon employees who could visit it when it opened in April. It was opened to the public in May.

Insider/Kate Duffy

The salon's augmented-reality application is a highlight. It allowed me to experiment with different hairstyles through a screen before I finally chose the look that I liked.

Insider/Kate Duffy

First, my hair was almost pink. It looked so real around my roots, I was amazed.

Insider/Kate Duffy

Then, I tried platinum blonde. This looked more natural around my eyes.

Insider/Kate Duffy

You could also choose an ombr look. Reflection made it less obvious and difficult to see on the screen.

Insider/Kate Duffy

I finally tried purple, but decided to keep my natural color. Too nervous to see how the dye would actually look in comparison with the AR app.

Insider/Kate Duffy

The salon is located in east London, which has seen a rise in gentrification and is now a popular area for hipsters. According to the hairdressers, it is well-located because locals are more inclined to try out unusual hairstyles.

Insider/Kate Duffy

My hairdresser brought me to the sink and washed my hair. Even the salon had its own towels.

Insider/Kate Duffy

The hairdresser explained to me my hair type and suggested products. I sat down in a chair.

Insider/Kate Duffy

Behind me were a variety of products including shampoos, hair straighteners and other styling products that customers can purchase from Amazon.

Insider/Kate Duffy

Customers can scan the QR code on a product by scanning it with their smartphone. They will be taken to Amazon, where they can order the product or have it delivered to them.

Insider/Kate Duffy

Online ordering allows customers to be free from the bottle and leave the salon. Amazon Prime customers enjoy faster delivery times.

Continue the story

Insider/Kate Duffy

To get information on the screen, I pointed at hair products on a shelf. To get it to work, I had to ensure my finger was over the black sensor on the shelf.

Insider/Kate Duffy

Halfway through my appointment I was satisfied with the way my hair looked.

Insider/Kate Duffy

Amazon Salon had four upstairs seats and seven downstairs seats.

Insider/Kate Duffy

The majority of tables came with an Amazon Fire Kindle, and the salon had Amazon Echo speakers scattered around. These were used to play music.

Insider/Kate Duffy

ELSL Hairdressing employs Amazon Salon hairdressers. Elena Lavagni, who also owns Neville Hair & Beauty Salon London, runs ELSL Hairdressing. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to Insider that a few of the stylists at Amazon Salon are also qualified to teach haircutting.

Insider/Kate Duffy

Here's my result from my $72 Amazon Salon cut!

Insider/Kate Duffy

Business Insider has the original article.