Experimenting with different hair colors is an awesome way to express your creative side, and sometimes you just feel more like you with pink hair instead of brown.
All of that treatment, though, means you’re subjecting your hair to some harsh chemicals that are damaging to you (and possibly the environment) if you dispose of them improperly.
For the good of your hair, we’re going to break down what exactly is in your hair color, what natural hair color is, and how to get it.
What Is Natural Hair Dye?
This is actually a pretty tricky question to answer because there is no federal legal standard governing the terms “natural” and “organic” in the United States.
So, when we say natural hair dyes, we’re referring to products that are derived from natural materials and ingredients instead of man-made. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are chemical-free as it’s nearly impossible to formulate an effective hair color without chemicals (to a certain extent). It does mean, however, that chemicals are kept to a minimum.
Below is a list of the best natural hair dyes that use natural colorants and are therefore free of petroleum as well as lead acetate based pigments. We also researched and chose brands that keep ammonia, sulfates, parabens, and heavy metals out as often as possible.
Best Natural Hair Dyes
Now that you know what to look for, keep reading to find some of our favorite brands that provide natural hair color solutions.
Full disclosure: Dyes that contain natural ingredients typically have a limited number of colors, mainly natural hair colors, so this isn’t the list for you if you’re looking for pastel or neon shades.
LUSH Henna Hair Dye
Henna is one of the most popular natural hair dyes, derived from the Lawsonia inermis plant. LUSH has made huge waves with their vegan and cruelty-free products (many of which are package-free).
They’ve applied these values to hair color as well, offering package-free henna hair dye blocks in natural shades. They contain no PPD, no ammonia, no parabens, no mineral salts, and no sulfates.
Khadi Beauty Natural Hair Color
Khadi is a henna-based brand that provides 100% natural hair color that is vegan, cruelty–free, and contains no parabens, silicones, sulfates, ammonia, or PPD.
Unlike LUSH, this product isn’t package-free, but this is a great option if you need your hair color delivered (especially if you’re in search of a brighter red color).
Henna Color Lab
This Portland, Oregon based brand uses henna for their 100% natural hair and beard dyes. They contain no PPD, ammonia, metallic salts, propylene glycol, or parabens.
Unlike some of the brands we’ve featured above, Henna Color Lab says that their colors are easily mixable for the perfect result. They’re also one of the highest-rated henna brands on this list.
Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit
This natural hair color kit by Madison Reed has really gained popularity for its easy, at-home application and long-lasting formula. Plus, this company only creates products that are “8-free,” meaning they are free from the 8 most potentially damaging ingredients such as ammonia, parabens, PPD, phthalates, and more.
They are Leaping Bunny certified, cruelty-free, and contain nourishing ingredients like Argan oil and keratin. Check out our full Madison Reed review here!
Radico
Radico is another natural hair color brand formulated with henna as well as other botanicals. Their hair dye is USDA-certified organic and Ecocert certified as well.
They use no PPD, ammonia, mineral salts, parabens, sulfates, and are vegan and cruelty-free. As for the shades, this one has 23, which is one of the most extensive collections we’ve seen for 100% natural colors so far.
Clairol Natural Instincts Hair Color
This natural hair dye from Clairol is a semi-permanent dye that naturally fades for up to 28 hair washes!
While its ingredients aren’t completely natural, they do boast an 80% naturally-derived ingredient list. It’s ammonia-free, paraben-free, and is super affordable.
The Henna Guys
If you want to be a henna girl, The Henna Guys can help you out with that. They’re also a natural company that uses no PPD, ammonia, parabens, sulfates, or metallic salts. Plus, they’re vegan and cruelty-free.
Their colors mostly lean toward brown and natural reds, but you can also get a jet black.
EarthDye
EarthDye certainly lives up to their name. Their hair dyes are 100% plant based, cruelty-free, and vegan. They use no PPD, ammonia, parabens, sulphates, or metallic salts.
If you’re pretty picky about the exact shade you want to end up with, this might be a good brand to use. They have some natural browns, blacks, and reds, but also a lot of in-between shades that let you get really specific as well.
Bottom Line
Hair color can be toxic, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of non-harmful and natural hair dyes out there to give you everything you want (without the unsightly ingredient list).
Final Tip: If you want colored hair naturally, there are a few natural methods you can dye your hair using everyday ingredients. Carrot juice, beet juice, chamomile tea, coffee, and even lemon juice can help change your hair without any extra products!
So, if you want to boost your natural hair color or switch up your shades, try one of these best natural hair dyes at home and you won’t be disappointed!
