Should You Try Natural Hair Dye? Colorists Explain How To Use It And If It Works As Well (2024)

Since it launched in 2013, Madison Reed has quickly become an editor favorite, and Dosso says the brand's Radiant Hair Color Kit is one of the best options she's seen for those who want the perfect marriage of efficacy and gentler ingredients. "It's free of all of the harshest ingredients that are commonly found in hair color products and is leaping bunny-certified," says Dosso. It's available in 57 shades, making it a great choice for those who want options.
Plus, it contains argan oil, which moisturizes hair and adds shine.

Contributor Brigitt Earley has been a subscriber for two years now—the kit gets automatically delivered to her house every six weeks—and says it not only gives her brown hair a deep refresh with all-over color, but it also effectively covers gray hair along her part. It also leaves hair feeling soft and shiny. Some of our testers say they couldn't tell the difference between the at-home kit and a salon visit.

In addition to great results, we love the simplicity of the directions—it couldn't be more straightforward. Start by sectioning your hair into four parts and applying the barrier cream just below your hairline to prevent staining on your skin. Then, mix your activator and color together. Apply color to your roots and leave it on for 35 to 45 minutes. Then, pull the color through the mid-lengths and ends, leaving it on for an additional five minutes before washing with shampoo and conditioner. Easy right?

Read more: The Best Root Touch-Up Products

When you dye your hair at home, you can forget about having to budget hundreds of dollars for a professional treatment—especially when you shop this drugstore brand. The demi-permanent isn't like other conventional formulas you'll find on the shelves, either. It's made with 80 percent naturally-derived ingredients designed to be gentler on your scalp and hair.

Users say it does carry a harsher scent than some of the other natural hair dyes we evaluated, but that it's still relatively subtle compared to ammonia-based products. They also love that there's 42 shades to choose from and that directions are clear and easy to follow. Another plus? Users said the dye left their hair feeling silky and looking shiny.

For a 100% natural option, check out Khadi's natural hair dye. The ingredient list is comprised entirely of vegan herbal ingredients. There's no synthetic dyes, fragrances, preservatives, color enhancers, peroxides, or ammonia—only natural pigment that comes from finely ground plant powder that naturally darkens your hair.

Users say exact results depend on your starting hair color—some see more coverage than others. But, as a nice bonus, users say it leaves their strands impressively shiny. A few of them also liked the product's earthy smell, which they preferred over the ammonia scent in standard dyes.

We love Naturcolor’s Permanent Herbal-Based Hair Color Gel, because its ingredient list is packed with plants and botanicals. It's made with no harsh chemicals—only herbal ingredients, like chamomile and sage. It's easy to apply, too. The directions are clear, and the color sets in under and hour.

Users say it doesn't last quite as long as some other permanent options they've tried, but say the formula does a great job eliminating orange and brassy tones while leaving hair soft and shiny. We also found that the smell was not harsh like standard dyes yet not too earthy either.

Made with natural flower oils, Garnier’s Olia hair dye will color your hair while adding shine and showering it in a flowery scent. We love that it's readily available on drugstore shelves, and just as easy to use as other color kits. It comes with everything you need from start to finish, plus works its magic quickly.

Users with skin sensitivities say this dye worked well for them and didn't cause irritation. In its wake, the product left super shiny and soft hair with rich color. It's worth noting, though: Those with particularly stubborn grays and dark hair said the product didn't completely eliminate the silver strands.

If you don't love how hard your locks may feel after a dye job, grab this box from Naturtint. It's designed to simultaneously color and smoothen hair, since it's infused with oleic acid (derived from olives) and meadowfoam seed oil.

Users love that this dye has little-to-no scent compared to other big brand names. Many also noted that it was easy to apply. The results are impressive, too. Users say the color not only looks great, but their hair feels soft and bouncy after application. We're impressed by the shade range, too—it comes in 57 different hues.

This unique hair dye has a low pH formula that works with heat instead of harsh chemicals to raise the hair’s pH level to allow color to penetrate the cuticle. It's made entirely of organic and vegan ingredients—no ammonia or other harsh chemicals.

Many users who had a hard time finding hypoallergenic dyes raved that this one checked all their boxes. They found the product easy to use, despite the fact that you need to use a lot of product—especially if you have long, thick hair. But once color is deposited, users reported long-lasting results.

Meet the Experts

• Krystel Cuadra is a colorist at Maison Seventy Seven in New York.
• Felicia Dosso is a colorist at Sally Hershberger Nomad in New York.
• Terri Rehkopf is the founder and owner of Ippodaro Salon in San Antonio, Texas.

How can I color my gray hair naturally?

Coloring gray hair might seem like more of a hassle, but it's definitely possible. While it is a longer process, you can use coffee grounds to dye your grays, says Terri Rehkopf is the founder and owner of Ippodaro Salon in San Antonio, Texas.

She also suggests using Hairprint, which can be done at home or at the salon with three to four rounds of application. If either of those aren't up your alley, consider using a semi-permanent dye. "It requires no peroxide, and it's just a stain that can go into the root," Rehkopf says.

If you're using natural hair dye on grays, experts say you need to manage your expectations. “It's always best to expect more translucent coverage with more natural dyes, as they don’t have certain chemicals to fully saturate the hair's cuticle,” says Cuadra. Natural hair dyes simply don't cover gray hairs as well as chemical-based dyes can.

Is hair dye dangerous?

The main difference between natural hair dyes and standard hair dyes is that natural dyes do not have ammonia. In standard hair dyes, ammonia can cause hair loss and irritation, Rehkopf says.

Many brunettes tend to develop dermatitis on the scalp from using dark dyes because they contain PPD (paraphenylenediamine), which is harsher on people's scalps and can cause thinning, she says. People allergic to PPD can get welts, itchiness, and burning on their scalp, or their eyes get swollen, says Rehkopf.

It's also important to note that people with inflammatory scalp conditions, like dandruff or psoriasis, are at a greater risk of irritation from PPD and should try to avoid the ingredient if possible, says Women's Health beauty director Brian Underwood.

If you're unsure how you'll react to natural dyes, simply do a patch test to see how you feel, he suggests. And if you show any signs of a rash, hives, or sudden itchiness after dye-ing your hair, contact your dermatologist as soon as possible.

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