Look, there are so many clean beauty products on the market rn that it only makes sense that you’d want to go the non-toxic route when it comes to at-home hair color. I get it! Buuut I’ve got some not so great news for ya: Natural hair dye isn’t technically a thing—even if the label says otherwise. Chemical actives are legit required when formulating dye, so unless you’re using straight up henna or a DIY alternative, your hair dye isn’t actually clean. Womp, womp.
That doesn’t mean you’re shit out of luck if you’re looking for non-toxic hair dye—there are gentle alternatives, you just need to know what to look out for on the ingredients label. Step one? Choose a formula that’s free of ammonia and p-phenylenediamine (PPD)—aka two of the most common hair dye ingredients that can irritate your skin, hair, and body—and instead go for one with hydrating oils and soothing plant extracts. And to make the transition as easy as possible for you, I went ahead and found the 12 best non-toxic hair dyes on the market right now, including semi-permanent colors, hydrating glosses, temporary gels, and more.
The coolest thing about this hair dye gel is that it’s spiked with a ton of hydrating 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.
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?
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).
This long-lasting hair dye from Madison Reed is pretty much as non-toxic as it gets. The formula excludes eight of the most common hair dye irritants (including ammonia, PPD, and parabens), and instead, it’s spiked with hydrating and soothing ingredients like keratin, argan oil, and ginseng root extract. So, yeah, you can actually feel good about this at-home hair dye.
DW, choosing to go non-toxic with your hair dye doesn’t mean you can’t shop for it at your local drugstore anymore. This ammonia- and paraben-free formula from Clairol is made up of 80 percent naturally derived ingredients—and it’s legit less than $7. You can expect this dye to last around 28-ish washes.
You won’t find any amonia, parabens, sulfates, silicones, or mineral oil in this vegan hair dye from Revlon. What you will find is soothing botanicals (like sesame oil, black-tea extract, and chamomile), hydrating hemp seed oil, and vibrant, long-lasting color. Pssst: This bb is especially perfect for covering gray hairs.
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.
Surprise! Permanent hair color doesn’t have to require toxic chemicals, as evidenced by this clean formula from Schwarzkopf. The formula is free of amonia, 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, soy protein, and oat milk.
Think of this gloss from DpHue as part semi-perm hair dye, part deep conditioner. Formulated without parabens, amonia, or peroxide, the dye helps enhance and deepen your hair color while also deeply hydrating it. Expect your hair to look extra shiny with this one.
Looking to try a slightly ~unconventional~ hair color? Yeah, you need this gentle, semi-permanent hair dye from Manic Panic. Not only does it come in a range of crazy-bright colors, but it’s also vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated without PPD, parabens, ammonia, resorcinol, and gluten. Uh, score.
If you aren’t totally ready to commit to a new 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).
K, so this one isn’t technically a hair dye, but it’s a great option for natural blondes who are looking to lighten their hair naturally. Just spritz it over damp or dry hair and let the formula’s chamomile and honey do its thing.