15 Best Natural Hair Dyes for Long-Lasting Color in 2023

"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 helps 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.

THE REVIEW: "I have serious allergies to hair color with chemicals, so I researched and found Khadi. I do like the results and my hair is much healthier," writes a reviewer. "It is a process. I use the Khadi hair prep first and leave in an hour and then use the Khadi dark brown hair color."

You don't have to go to the salon to get that bright hair color you've been wanting to try. Arctic Fox's semi-permanent hair dye — recommended by Dr. Lal — comes in various colors, from blue to hot pink. The dye is ammonia-free, PPD-free, and sulfate-free to reduce any potential damage and is made with hydrolyzed soy protein to add strength.

THE REVIEW: "Anytime I want to color my hair, I go for this brand. It actually colors over dark hair without bleach," one reviewer writes. "You do have to leave this dye in for a long time if you want it to deeply color your hair and stay colored for a while."

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.

THE REVIEW: "This was simple to use," one reviewer writes. "The BEST part was any area of skin it got on, including my counter top, it did not stain at all. I simply wiped it off with some paper towels and water... I now have fresh dyed locks without stained skin, it covered my hair perfectly and the after smell is fantastic!"

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.

THE REVIEW: "I have been using solely Overtone in my hair, both shampoo, conditioner, and color, for around 3 years and I have never been disappointed," writes one user. "The color is always true to their description and it's very nourishing in your hair."

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.

THE REVIEW: "This is much more gentle on my fine hair than the chemical [dyes]. It does cover my grey roots well," one user writes. "It does have some henna in it, so I do get a slightly red color on my light brown hair, but it is the most beautiful color! I love and get up to 3 touch ups from one box."

Not only is this vegan hair dye an MVP at covering gray hairs, but it's also free of ammonia, sulfates, silicones, and mineral. What you will find in it, though, is soothing botanicals (like sesame oil, black-tea extract, and chamomile) and vibrant, long-lasting color. Pretty much everything you could want from a drugstore natural dye, right?

THE REVIEW: "I am allergic to soooo many things and this is the only hair color that doesn't give me a nasty rash. Also, it doesn't smell horrible," one user writes. "And the conditioner that comes with it is fantastic!"

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 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 and oat milk.

THE REVIEW: "We tried a lot of hair dyes, and all of them promised no harsh chemicals with no reactions," one reviewer writes. "After trying this out, trust me, this is the one... No bad ammonia, no bad itching, no red scalp or face."

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.

THE REVIEW: "First time buying Madison Reed and will definitely buy again. I often have issues with hair color drying out my hair and giving me headaches," writes one reviewer. "While I always wish there was more conditioner included, the kit is easy to use and color very nice."

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.

THE REVIEW: "I don't like to put permanent hair color in my hair, so Natural Instincts is my way to go 100%," writes a user. "It is so good at covering up the gray without changing your hair color. I would recommend it to anyone."

If you love the idea of bright hair colors but don't want to commit to the lengthy bleaching process that can leave your hair damaged, Mysteek's Color Pop is a great option. Rather than a dye, this is a hair wax offering temporary color that doesn't require any bleach. You just rub some of the bright wax between your fingers, coat your hair, and you're good to go. It can get heavy, especially on thinner hair, and 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!

THE REVIEW: "Love the ease of use and the color is so vibrant," writes one customer. "It leaves my hair soft and moisturized."

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 amonia. The official instructions recommend using a heat cap or blow dryer to do the job.

THE REVIEW: "Other natural hair colors were causing my hair to fall out due to the ammonia alternative enthanolamine 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?

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.

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."

Think of this gloss from DpHue as part semi-perm hair dye, part deep conditioner. Formulated without ammonia or peroxide, the dye helps enhance and deepen your hair color while also deeply hydrating it.

THE REVIEW: "Very subtle, which is what I like. I use it to maintain between salon visits," one product reviewer writes. "Softens and adds a pop of hue."

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).

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!"

"You really should use oils after dyeing to help moisturize your hair that is chemically altered during the dyeing process," Dr. Lal says. This hair oil features a combo of safflower seed oil, castor oil, argan oil, soybean oil, and more, to help moisturize damaged hair to leave it looking and feeling healthier.

THE REVIEW: "This oil saved my hair," raves one reviewer. "My hair is so silky and shiny. It has made such a drastic improvement in my hair, I will continue purchasing this forever!"