01
Equation balayage
Precision-lifted, hand-painted brightness with a measured, even tone.
$255+
Balayage & color lab · Downtown Waco
Color, proven like a theory.
A color lab run by a former chemist — custom-formulated balayage, glossy plums and lilac blondes, every shade mapped, measured and written down.
- 0.1 gformula precision
- 6colorists
- 4,100+formulas on file
The lab
A chemist walks into a salon.
Lena spent six years formulating hair color for a major brand before deciding she'd rather put it on people than in bottles. Plum Equation is what happened next: a bright, cream-walled color lab on Austin Avenue where every formula is weighed to the tenth of a gram.
It means balayage that lifts evenly, toners that don't drift and fashion shades — plums, lilacs, rosé — that fade into something pretty instead of something muddy. It also means your exact formula is on file forever.
— Lena Abernathy, founder & color chemist
Signature services
What we're known for
02
Lilac blonde
A soft lavender veil over clean, even blonde.
$275+
03
Plum & black cherry
Deep, glossy plums on dark hair — no bleach required.
$165+The work
Results, by chapter
- 0.1 gformula precision
- 6colorists
- 4,100+formulas on file
- 2019lab opened
The team
The lab team
Lena Abernathy
Founder · Color chemist
Marcus Bell
Senior colorist
Hana Kobayashi
Fashion-color specialist
Rosie Delgado
Colorist
Sample client reviews
Peer reviews
Placeholder reviews for this design — your real Google reviews appear here.
Lena showed me my formula on a screen, weighed it in front of me and the color came out exactly like the swatch. Science!
My plum faded into a gorgeous berry instead of the swampy brown I'm used to. Hana is the real deal.
The most even balayage I've ever had. No stripes, no hot roots, no brass.
They transferred my formula from my old salon in Dallas and matched it perfectly on the first try.
Aubrey planned my bridal color six months out and it was perfect on the day. My photographer asked who did it.
Rosie made my grey look intentional and silvery instead of tired. I'm actually excited about it.
Strand test, honest answer, beautiful result. I'll never go back to guessing.
Every shade is a hypothesis until it is tested. We weigh it, write it down and repeat it, so your color comes out the same beautiful way every time.
Recognition · sample
- Wacoan · Best Hair Salon
- Lone Star Living · Salon Short List
- Salon Craft Journal · Science of Color
- The Chairside Report · Featured Colorist
The shop
Take the salon home
Online store teaser — products shown are samples.
Plum Equation Lilac Toning Mask
$34
Precision Gloss Drops
$42
Bond Formula No. 3
$48
pH-Balanced Shampoo
$28
Fade-Proof Conditioner
$30
Satin Pillowcase in Plum
$44
Visit
Upstairs on Austin Avenue
- 711 Austin Avenue, Suite 3
Waco, TX
Free two-hour parking on Austin Avenue and in the 8th Street garage - (254) 555-0119
- Text us
- [email protected]
- @plumequation
Hours
- Tue – Thu10a – 7p
- Friday9a – 6p
- Saturday8a – 4p
- Sun – MonClosed
Fashion-color and correction appointments start before noon.
Test your theory.
New guests start with a free 20-minute consult and a strand test if we need one.