Try These Natural Hair Dyes for Vibrant Color That Won’t Damage Your Strands (2024)

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Henna | Type: Plant-based | Shades: 20 | Size: 3.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Our top choice may have been designed for professional colorists, but skilled at-home users will love the semi-permanent, easy-to-mix formula. There are 20 shades available, all of which contain—wait for it—10 ingredients or fewer and are anywhere from 82 to 100% plant-based. The semi-permanent formula lasts for up to 20 shampoos.

This natural hair dye uses a purified version of henna (in this case, one derived from cassia angustifolia leaf) to create a wide array of shades ranging from brunettes and blondes to trendy pastels and rainbow hues. Big plus: this dye only needs to be mixed with water—no separate developer necessary.

Key Ingredients: Cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil, sesame oil (brunettes), black tea (dark hair), cranberry (reds), chamomile (blondes) | Type: Demi-permanent | Shades: 16 | Size: 2.5 oz (developer), 1.7 oz (cream colorant), 1.7 oz (conditioning gloss) | Cruelty-Free: No

Those looking for an affordable, user-friendly option for covering grays or trying a new shade will appreciate the demi-permanent formula. It's inexpensive and free of a litany of ingredients, including ammonia, parabens, sulfates, silicones, and phthalates. (Just a heads up, it does contain resorcinol.) The cream formula doesn't drip, and the color lasts up to six weeks all while completely covering any pesky grays. Bonus points for the inclusion of a botanical-based conditioning gloss. Some users have mentioned the color they get doesn't always match what's on the box, but that could have more to do with what base color they started with than anything else.

Key Ingredients: Coconut, aloe vera | Type: Demi-permanent | Shades: 38 | Size: 5.85 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Ultra-gentle and ammonia-free, this bargain buy is made with 80% naturally derived ingredients, such as coconut oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E. You can expect this demi-permanent color to last up to 28 washes. For this reason, Natural Instincts is best for blending smaller sections of gray or enhancing your natural shade and shine rather than a complete color change. Still, there are over 35 colors to choose from, including an extensive mix of blonde, brown, black, and red tones.

Key Ingredients: Henna | Type: Plant-based | Shades: 8 | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you want an entirely natural option, henna-based color is the way to go. Available in eight colors, there's literally nothing else in Rainbow Research besides henna in the form of cassia obovata powder. The process can take some getting used to—you add boiling water to the powder to create an oatmeal-like consistency before painting it onto your hair. We also wish the color lasted longer—it only lasts four to six weeks. Still, happy reviewers rave about the plant-derived formula and the natural-looking results.

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, keratin, ginseng extract | Type: Permanent | Shades: 36 | Size: 1.7 oz (radiant cream color), 2.5 oz (conditioning color activator), 0.7 oz (barrier cream), 0.5 oz (color protecting shampoo and conditioner) | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Madison Reed was the first brand to have "six-free" permanent hair color, meaning it doesn't contain ammonia, parabens, resorcinol, PDD, phthalates, or gluten. Instead, the Radiant Hair Color is packed with nourishing and strengthening ingredients—keratin and argan oil—to improve your strands' look and feel. The thick cream formula won't run or drip and covers grays completely. And since it's a permanent color, it won't wash out or fade (but you'll probably need to redo your roots every six to eight weeks).

Key Ingredients: Argan oil | Type: Non-permanent | Shades: 17 | Size: 3.4, 10.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For commitment-phobes or those who just want a temporary color change, this color-depositing hair mask is a great pick. Each of the 17 shades (ranging from bolder tones to more subdued hues) lasts anywhere from four to 10 shampoos. And to the point of natural, the wash-out formula is ammonia-free, vegan, and cruelty-free, with certifications from PETA, Leaping Bunny, and the Vegan Society.

Key Ingredients: Synthetic beeswax, Humulus lupulus (hops) extract, Anthemis nobilis (flower) extract | Type: Semi-permanent | Shades: 86 | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Looking to go bold without the chemicals? Manic Panic won't let you down. The formula is vegan and cruelty-free and skips all the aforementioned ingredients that can cause irritations. There are over 40 fantasy shades to pick from (including some that'll glow under a black light if you really want to get wild). The color lasts up to six weeks, but you'll get the most vibrant results on hair that's either naturally light or has already been bleached.

Key Ingredients: Botanical oat milk, soy protein, argan oil | Type: Permanent | Shades: 18 | Size: 2.0 oz (tube color cream), 2.0 oz (developer lotion), 1.7 oz (nourishing conditioner) | Cruelty-Free: No

There are 18 shades of this permanent color available, nine of which are geared toward brown and black tones. It's also dermatologist-tested—a boon for those with sensitive scalps. Still, the dye is full-on permanent, super vibrant, and touts 100% gray coverage. This is always a plus, especially on darker hair. We love that it's easy to use but wish that the resulting color more accurately matched what's on the box.

Key Ingredients: Ethoxydiglycol, tocopheryl acetate, aloe vera extract | Type: Permanent | Shades: 5 | Size: 1.8 oz (tube color cream), 2.6 oz (developer lotion), 0.05 oz (nourishing conditioner) | Cruelty-Free: No

This hair dye was designed for use the day after relaxing or straightening—you can use it one day after you relax or straighten your hair. It's also a good choice for covering grays. The creamy formula is easy to apply and blend—and we love that you only need to leave it on for five minutes. It's also a super hydrating and nourishing conditioner that helps lock in moisture and prevents dry, brittle strands.

Key Ingredients: Botanical pigments | Type: Permanent | Shades: 21 | Size: 1.7 oz (color cream), 1.7 oz (developer) | Cruelty-Free: No

Concealing grays can be challenging—they're notoriously stubborn to cover—but this dye does the trick. It calls on botanical pigments to deposit permanent, natural-looking color while other plant-derived ingredients nourish your scalp and strands—we're talking jojoba, coconut oil, and vitamin E, to name a few. And it doesn't contain ammonia, PPD, or resorcin. The color cream and developer are pretty thick, which can make them hard to mix, but otherwise, this is a DIY-friendly kit.

Active Ingredients: Ethanolamine, squalane, bamboo extract | Type: Permanent | Shades: 33 | Size: 1.7 oz (cream color), 2.5 oz (developer) | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For black hair dye, we recommend IGK's Permanent Color Kit. The vegan, cruelty-free formula comes in 33 deep, rich shades. In addition to pure black (in the shade Volcanic), there are a few variations, such as almost black, deep ash brown, and comic book-inspired blue-black. As noted, this is a permanent hair dye. Make sure you're ready to commit, as darker colors (especially black) are harder to lift. Also, the highly pigmented formula can stain clothes and surfaces, but it comes with a stain-remover pad.

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide, herbal extracts | Type: Permanent | Shades: 36 | Size: 4.6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Thinking about going red? This ammonia-free, herbal-infused hair dye comes in 36 shades, including many fiery tones, from crimson and mahogany to orange and coppery blonde. The gentle formula is also fragrance-free and promises not to have a strong chemical odor. Just a heads up, you have to leave the dye on for about 40 minutes. And, you might need two applications to get the color you want.

Active Ingredients: Ethanolamine, m-aminophenol | Type: Permanent | Shades: 31 | Size: 4.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Whether you want to brighten your blondes, go strawberry blonde, or an ashier shade, this herbal-based dye can get you there, without ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, or bleach. This herbal-based hair dye comes in over 30 colors, including several shades of blonde. There's something for every bombshell, but take note: this will not lighten your hair—you need to have a light hair color already for the lighter blondes to show up. While it does contain PPD, blonde hair color often contains less of it, as it's more meant to lighten rather than deposit pigment.

FAQ

• What can I dye my hair with naturally?

  Henna is a popular choice for dying hair without using store-bought dyes. It’s a plant-based dye that deposits color, typically red, dark brown, or black. Other options include black tea for dark hair, chamomile for blondes, and cranberry for reds. Keep in mind your results will likely be much subtler than if you used a more traditional hair dye.

• How can I color my gray hair naturally?

  Henna powder is a good choice for coloring gray hair. Henna comes in several colors and is easier to control than some other types of home-dying plant-based techniques, like coffee or tea.

• How can I dye my hair without damaging it at home?

  Use a product like pure henna without any additives and be sure not to leave it on too long to avoid damaging the hair. Otherwise, you can choose a demi or semi-permanent color that deposits color and doesn’t contain peroxide or bleach to lighten the hair.