So, Does Natural Hair Dye Actually Exist? Here’s Everything You Need to Know (2024)

"Pure henna-based hair dye is natural and can be great for dandruff and/or scalp conditions," Dr. Lal says. This plant-based hair dye uses henna to color and moisturize your hair, while the formula's aloe vera and chamomile help to soothe your scalp. However, it does take a long time to apply, and many reviewers recommend putting an entire afternoon aside to ensure you get the color and coverage you want.

• Shade(s): 15
• Size: 3.5 oz
• Active ingredients: Henna, aloe vera, chamomile
• Permanent? Yes
  

Glowing Customer Review: "This is the best henna brand I have used thus far! I have been using henna for years and out of the 3 brands I’ve tried, Khadi is truly the best! It mixes to a smooth consistency very easily, rinses out much easier than some, and the color has lasted the longest! Love the natural, safe, nontoxic ingredients—definitely will be buying more!"

This long-lasting hair dye from Madison Reed includes virtually everything you need to expertly color your hair at home. The formula excludes eight of the most common hair dye irritants (including ammonia and PPD), and instead, it's spiked with hydrating and soothing ingredients like argan oil and ginseng root extract. So, yeah, you can actually feel good about this at-home hair dye.

• Shade(s): 36
• Size: 2.5 oz
• Active ingredients: Keratin, argan oil, ginseng root
• Permanent? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I have been coloring my hair for well over 20 years, and this product is a game-changer. The color is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! LOVE the results. No orange or brassiness at all. Everything is included. Simple directions with no smell/odor. I am blown away with the end results. This product is well worth every penny."

The coolest thing about this hair dye gel is that it's spiked with a ton of moisturizing and soothing ingredients (think: chamomile, shea butter, coconut oil) that help keep your hair soft and shiny throughout the dyeing process. Plus, it comes in 31 shades so you're basically guaranteed to find a solid color match.

• Shade(s): 31
• Size: 4 oz
• Active ingredients: Burdock root, chamomile, lavender
• Permanent? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I mixed Light Pomegranate Chestnut & Cayenne Red to get a nice wine color. It set beautifully and covered my stubborn grey hairs. I have medium length hair and I had so much product left over. My hair feels so healthy. It didn’t have any harsh smell or cause tingling. I would highly recommend this product."

You don't have to go to the salon to get that bright hair color you've been wanting to try. Arctic Fox's highly-pigmented semi-permanent hair dye—recommended by Dr. Lal—comes in various colors, from phantom green to sunset orange. The dye is ammonia-free, PPD-free, and sulfate-free to reduce any potential damage, and the formula even includes hydrolyzed soy protein to add strength.

• Shade(s): 23
• Size: 4 or 8 oz
• Active ingredient: Hydrolyzed soy protein
• Permanent? No, semi-permanent

Glowing Customer Review: "I have never had such a pleasant experience dyeing my hair! This stuff smells great; no need for ventilation because there are no toxic fumes. It is very gentle on skin; no itchy burning sensations. And it did not even stain my skin; it washed right away in the shower! The color on my hair was just as vibrant when I washed it as it was during the application. I am super impressed with this amazing product. "

DW, choosing to go "natural" with your hair dye doesn't mean you can't shop for it at your local drugstore anymore. This ammonia-free formula from Clairol is made up of 80 percent naturally derived ingredients—and it's legit less than $10.

• Shade(s): 38
• Size: 5.85 oz
• Active ingredients: Coconut oil, aloe vera
• Permanent? No, demi-permanent

Glowing Customer Review: "Bought this to cover up older highlights and it worked really well. The color is nice—maybe a little darker than anticipated (medium bronze brown), but very evenly covered my highlights and my hair feels really healthy and shiny after. Super happy with the outcome for the price."

For a natural foaming formula that won't last much more than a month, give this demi-permanent Color Cloud hair dye a try. Free from ammonia, PPD, and resorcinol—all of which can be drying—this gentle foam is instead packed with hair-loving ingredients like aloe, chamomile, and ginseng. Best of all, you can expect a gradual fade with this one, allowing you to use it on a variety of base tones.

• Shade(s): 7
• Size: 2.5 oz
• Active ingredients: Aloe vera, chamomile, ginseng root
• Permanent? No, demi-permanent

Glowing Customer Review: "Maintaining blonde hair when you aren’t a natural blonde can be expensive…and I’ve found that this product is the perfect way to refresh my blonde in between appointments. I can go longer without going to the salon. This product removes my annoying brassiness without damaging my hair. It is incredible easy to put on and doesn’t have those harmful chemicals that bother your scalp, eyes, etc. I will be using this again and again!"

Instead of ammonia or silicones, this natural hair dye is formulated with plant-based oils. Meaning, one less harsh chemical on your head, and no harsh ammonia smell while you’re dyeing your hair. Keep in mind that even though this dye is considered “natural,” you should still patch-test any new dye on your neck or behind your ear, tightly secure the lid so the dye doesn’t dry out, and wait a full 24 hours (seriously, don’t skimp on this) to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction.

• Shade(s): 34
• Size: 6.3 oz
• Active ingredients: Sunflower and camellia oil
• Permanent? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I’m older, have fine hair with a little gray hair, and growing out my layers, which are dry. A lot of color products I’ve tried either don’t cover the gray or are too heavy or harsh, but not this one. The color came out as shown on the box and left my hair very manageable. The conditioner isn’t heavy, just the right amount, and leaves my hair bouncy. The difference it has made is amazing."

If you love the idea of bright hair colors but don't want to commit to the lengthy bleaching process, Mysteek's Color Pop is a great option. Rather than a dye, this hair wax offers temporary color that doesn't require any bleach. Just rub some of the bright wax between your fingers, coat your hair, and you're good to go. It only lasts up to five days (without washing your hair), but once it washes out, you'll be free to change up your look with another color!

• Shade(s): 12
• Size: 0.25 or 1 oz
• Active ingredients: Petroleum jelly, beeswax, and biotite
• Permanent? No, temporary

Glowing Customer Review: "What better way to brighten your day than to add color to your hair!! I absolutely love being able to change my hair color without worrying if I'm damaging my hair! Comes right out with one wash. Great buy."

Surprise! Permanent hair color doesn't have to require a ton of potentially iffy chemicals, as evidenced by this clean formula from Schwarzkopf. The formula is free of ammonia, silicone, and alcohol, but it still provides you with rich, long-lasting color. Oh, and it's also got a handful of hydrators, like argan oil and oat milk.

• Shade(s): 10
• Size: 2 oz
• Active ingredients: Argan oil, soy protein, botanical oat milk
• Permanent? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I’ve been dyeing my hair black for years, and outside of the salon, I’ve always had trouble finding a good cheap dye that uses natural ingredients, doesn’t cause breakage, and doesn’t fade in one or two washes. This dye has a bold, natural-looking color, hasn’t faded quickly, and my hair still feels hydrated and conditioned. Highly recommend."

Just like the name implies, this natural hair dye is actually a color-depositing conditioner, and acts more like a temporary demi-permanent dye than a semi-permanent or permanent dye (meaning it will slowly fade with each wash and won’t cover up grays). Apply it to damp hair for 15 minutes and then rinse for a soft color change. It’s buildable, so the more times you apply it, the more vibrant your color will be, and Overtone even has a special line specifically made to work on brown hair. The best part? It’s ammonia-free.

• Shade(s): 32
• Size: 8 oz
• Active ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil
• Permanent? No, demi-permanent

Glowing Customer Review: "Smells good, works beautifully, and fades really nicely. I don't know how it managed to make my brown hair literally completely copper—I was expecting more of a reddish tint, but this stuff blew me away, and it made me hair feel super soft. It fades out in about 6-7 washes but it fades really nicely and still leaves my hair reddish."

Certified organic ingredients like argan oil, chamomile, and coconut oil make this natural hair dye stand out among the rest. It's ammonia-free, cruelty-free, and even vegan, and it comes in a wide range of colors (see: Fiery Red, Rich Copper Brown, and Honey Blonde). It does, however, require a heat source to work, as the heat allows the ingredients in this dye to penetrate the hair, thus depositing color sans ammonia. The official instructions recommend using a heat cap or blow dryer to do the job.

• Shade(s): 29
• Permanent? Yes

THE REVIEW: "Other natural hair colors were causing my hair to fall out due to the ammonia alternative ethanolamine which they use," one reviewer writes. "It's not hard to use. Did the root first, put the heat cap on, which I bought from them, then mixed up another small batch to color the ends to even it out." They add, "No irritation to my scalp at all. No itchiness, no redness at all."

If your skin is too sensitive for traditional hair dye ingredients (like PPD and ammonia), you'll love this ultra-gentle alternative. And even though it's gentle, it still gives you tons of color payoff and shine. Just make sure you start with a patch test if your scalp is really sensitive, k?

• Shade(s): Natural black, soft black, dark brown
• Permanent? No, semi-permanent

THE REVIEW: "My scalp is extremely sensitive and I was hella afraid to use it because of all previous experience I had before, and I gotta say this product went beyond my expectations and I would use it again 100%," one reviewer writes. "No rush, no itching, nothing."

My favorite thing about this natural hair dye is the thin application tip and gel formula—both of which make it so easy to target specific areas or strands if you aren't looking to color your whole head. Antioxidant-rich oat flakes and color-preserving flower extracts are just a couple of the standout ingredients in this one.

• Shade(s): Dark chestnut, light chestnut, dark blonde, golden blonde
• Permanent? No, demi-permanent

THE REVIEW: "I was able to get really good coverage for my roots (about 4-5 inches) with this product," writes one tester. "The grays became brown/reddish highlights and the rest of my hair didn't get darker. It was easy to apply with a toothbrush and didn't stain the tub at all when washed out."

If you aren't totally ready to commit to a new summer hair color—or you're just looking to tone or brighten your current hue—you gotta try this color-depositing mask from Moroccanoil. It's super easy to apply (you legit just comb it through towel-dried hair, let it sit for seven minutes, and rinse) and it's loaded with conditioning ingredients (like argan oil, obvs).

• Shade(s): 9
• Permanent? No

THE REVIEW: "My stylist recommended this in between tones and I really love it," one reviewer writes. "It only takes a few minutes, so you just do it with a cap on during your shave or something and then by the time you're done, you're good to go!"

Some at-home hair dye kits include accessories like brushes and plastic gloves, but it's always good to have some on hand before you get started, especially if you're worried about staining your skin. Dr. Lal also recommends petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, to protect your face from the dye. "Use this along the hairline to prevent hair dye from getting on your face or hairline," he says.

Another tip? Wash your hair two days before dyeing. "The oils on your scalp and hair will help naturally lubricate your scalp and hair," Dr. Lal says, adding that you should always do a patch test before getting started. And don't forget: "Oil your hair or condition ASAP after dyeing."

Gentle ingredients

Once again, for the ppl in the back: All hair dyes include some chemicals, because that’s what’s required to give your hair a semi-permanent or permanent color change. But there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to keep it as natural as possible: Look for dyes made with moisturizing and protective oils, along with formulas free of alcohol, ammonia, and PPD. These three ingredients can not only dry out hair but potentially lead to skin irritation, so if you see it anywhere on the box and you’re sensitive, just put it back and keep on lookin’.

The coverage

If you're still a little unclear on the difference between permanent, semi-permanent, and demi-permanent hair dyes, here's the basics: With semi-permanent dyes, “there’s no developer, there’s no hydrogen peroxide—the color just sits on the hair’s surface for about 15 washes,” Patty Slattery, AVP of hair color education, training, and testing at L'Oréal Paris, has told Cosmo.

Demi-permanent dye washes out after three to four weeks and is "great for people who want to amp up their existing color, like making chestnut-brown hair richer and shinier," added Slattery. Neither semi- or demi- or glosses are great at covering grays, so if that's your main goal, choose a permanent hair dye instead, which "penetrates deep into the cortex of your hair."

The amount

K, this one sounds obvious, but "almost every person underestimates the thickness of their hair," celebrity hairstylist Cynthia Alvarez has told Cosmo. So check the instructions on how much dye you'll need before you walk out of the store, and if you're on the fence, pick up an extra box of dye in case. "You don't want to be left with a section of hair that's not colored due to lack of product,” she warned.

• Karan Lal, MD, is a board-certified pediatric and cosmetic dermatologist based in Arizona.
• Patty Slattery, AVP of hair color education, training, and testing at L'Oréal Paris. Slattery has spoken with Cosmopolitan on the topic of dyeing your hair at home.
• Cynthia Alvarez is a bi-coastal celebrity hairstylist who works with clients such as Saniyya Sidney and Rachel Lindsay. Alvarez has spoken with Cosmo on the topic of dyeing natural hair.
• Meri Kate O’Connor is a hairstylist and colorist at Cooper Weho salon in Los Angeles. O’Connor has spoken with Cosmo on the topic of ammonia-free hair dye.