I finally stopped using pre-mixed hair color on my clients
Most stylists in my area stick with pre-mixed tubes for quick service. After a training session, I started blending colors from basic pigments for each appointment. The results match natural hair tones way better and fade more evenly. It adds a few minutes to my process, but the custom fit is a real improvement.
Nice, that custom blend approach makes so much sense. Getting the fade to look right is half the battle, and that even grow-out you described is exactly what people want but rarely get from a box. The extra few minutes seem totally worth it for that kind of result.