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The Best Hair Dye Brands
Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Hair Dye Brands
If there’s anything the past few years in lockdown have proved, it is that most of us have an inner hairstylist. Social media was flocked with photos of crazy new hair colors that had plenty of us purchasing at-home box dyes and bleach.
But whether you joined the money piece trend or stayed natural throughout quarantine, it’s never too late to try a different hair color! Complementing skin care, the hair is our crowning glory, after all, and what better way to wear that crown than in a beautiful color that suits your personality?
Below, we list some of the most popular semi-permanent and permanent hair color names that will brighten, lift, and nourish your locks – without having to go to the salon or make any hair color appointments.
What are the Best Hair Color Brands?
Editor's Choice  Best Overall |  Best For Glossy Hair |  Best Hypoallergenic Hair Dye |
L’Oréal Paris Excellence CremeIf you want a hair dye that keeps your hair healthy, looks natural, and won't irritate your scalp with extreme formulas, then L'Oréal Paris Excellence Creme is the perfect one for you. | Revlon ColorSilkThe Revlon Color Slik offers thorough coverage for gray hair and a keratin-infused formula for a glossy finish for your hair. | Clairol Nice n’ EasyThanks to harsh chemicals, most hair dyes are not for sensitive scalps. But, the Clairol Nice n’ Easy formula offers a diverse shade range that prevents allergies. |
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Let’s Go Over Each of the Hair Dye Brands
#1: L’Oréal Paris
It’s no surprise the world’s largest cosmetics brand has its own permanent hair color line and an amazing one at that. L’Oréal Paris has a vast catalog of the best at-home hair color products, all of which are beginner-friendly and straightforward to use and also feature a lot of fun colors for all ages.
We love that their products are also quite accessible. Literally, you could walk into any beauty store and there is a 99% chance you’ll find one of their DIY permanent hair color box dyes on the aisles.
Their brand also carries different types and styles of hair color shades that you can choose from. There’s L’Oréal Excellence, which is the most widely available one here and also includes a pre-color treatment. Then you have the L’Oréal Preference, a longer-lasting dye that includes post-color treatment.
L’Oréal Paris offers the best hair dyes for office-appropriate shades that are suited for Filipino tones, including Dark Brown, Golden Nude, and Light Brown. Those looking for a color lift will love the brand’s lighter tones, among which are Natural Blonde and Golden Blonde.
The brand also has a lot of other options for when you’re not ready to go all out with a new color yet. If you feel like making a subtle change, try their Superior Preference Glam Lights Brush-on Highlights, which gives you just what the name says without having to sit in a salon chair for hours.
Pros and Cons of the L’Oréal Paris Hair Color
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Multiple color options ✔️ Ammonia-free ✔️ Strengthens and protects texture ✔️ Beginner-friendly | ✖️ May require bleach |
#2: Revlon Color Silk
The worst part about any dye job is the dry, brittleness of your locks after. Thankfully, this permanent hair dye (yes, it’s not just semi-permanent hair color) helps retain the glossiness and luster of your natural hair even after you’ve altered it, color-wise.
Revlon’s Color Silk has a gentle formula that is infused with keratin which helps with retaining and providing ample moisture to make your hair silky smooth. So, if you’re worried about destroying or drying out your locks, then this brand is for you.
Another notable aspect of Revlon ColorSilk is its excellent gray hair coverage. Whether you’re looking to touch up your roots or cover stubborn gray and white hair, this hair color product provides reliable coverage for a flawless finish. Plus, its fade-resistant formula ensures your color stays vibrant and true for weeks to come.
Pros and Cons of the Revlon Color Silk
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Best at-home hair dye for natural looks ✔️ Can cover gray hair ✔️ Retains the silky smooth texture of natural hair | ✖️ Not cruelty-free |
#3: Clairol Nice n’ Easy
Did you know that some people can develop an allergic reaction to hair color products? That’s why it’s super important to patch-test any product first, especially if you’ve got a history of sensitive skin.
Clairol’s most popular permanent color treatment comes in 50 shades. Each one contains ME+, the brand’s breakthrough hair color molecule that prevents your body from developing an allergy. That way, you can experiment with your locks without worrying about an adverse reaction.
Pros and Cons of Clairol
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Prevents allergy ✔️ Wide color variety ✔️ Natural-looking hues ✔️ Simple application | ✖️ Expensive |
#4: Garnier Olia Oil Powered Permanent Hair Color
Another great permanent hair color you can buy is the Garnier Hair Color line, Olia, an oil-powered formula that contains nourishing ingredients that keep your hair bright and shiny.
Garnier is a drugstore brand, which means it’s more affordable and accessible, paying only a fraction of the price of a salon treatment. The good news is that you can get similar results.
The drip-free formula allows you to keep the messiness to a minimum, meaning you won’t have to clean up too much afterward. It’s ammonia-free, too, so there is no harsh scent that will irritate your senses. In fact, most of its ingredients are natural and nourishing.
Pros and Cons of the Garnier Olia Oil
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Fade-resistant ✔️ Free of ammonia ✔️ Conditions the hair to keep it soft ✔️ Nice fragrance | ✖️ Limited bright tones available |
#5 Schwarzkopf Professional
If you’ve ever hesitated to dye your hair at home, Schwarzkopf Professional might just change your mind. Known for its professional-grade formulas, this brand makes it easy to achieve salon-quality results from the comfort of your bathroom.
Whether you’re covering grays or venturing into a bold, vivid color, Schwarzkopf offers options for every hair goal. I recently tried their dyes to refresh my look with a new hair shade, and the process was surprisingly seamless.
The applicator brush made applying color to my entire head a breeze, and I was thrilled with how natural my tones turned out.
The extras make the experience even better. The color-depositing shampoo extended the life of my shade, and the stain remover was a lifesaver for accidental smudges.
While I’ll admit their box color may not perfectly mimic the magic of a professional colorist, the results are still impressive for at-home use. It’s still great that they work with a celebrity hair colorist to improve their professional hair color collection.
If you’ve been dreaming of a vibrant hair transformation without the salon price tag common in the hair color industry, Schwarzkopf Professional is a brand worth trusting for your next dye adventure if you’re looking for long-lasting hair dye.
Pros and Cons of the Schwarzkopf Professional
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Offers vibrant, vivid colors with a natural finish ✔️ Includes thoughtful extras like an applicator brush ✔️ Color-depositing shampoo helps maintain vibrant hues | ✖️ Box color may not fully replicate salon-level expertise |
#6: Redken Professional Haircolor & Hair Dye
Redken Professional Haircolor is a staple in the beauty industry, renowned for its advanced formulations that deliver consistent, salon-quality results.
Trusted by professional colorists, Redken offers a versatile range of shades, from vibrant colors to subtle natural tones, ensuring every client achieves their desired color.
Using hydrogen peroxide-based formulas, their products are designed to work seamlessly on all hair types, including dark hair fiber, while maintaining hair health throughout the coloring process.
Redken stands out among other brands for its ability to create long-lasting, rich results without compromising the integrity of the hair.
One of Redken’s highlights is its approach to maintaining color vibrancy over time even with its semi-permanent dye collection. With solutions tailored for at-home care, such as color-preserving shampoos and conditioners, the brand helps address a common concern: how quickly hair color fades after appointments.
Their expertise in crafting products that make hair feel healthier and shinier post-coloring solidifies their reputation as a leader among different brands.
Whether you’re heading to the salon or tackling your color at home, Redken’s professional hair dye offers a balance of innovation, performance, and care.
Pros and Cons of the Redken Professional Haircolor & Hair Dye
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Professional-grade, salon-quality products ✔️ Wide range of options for various hair types and concerns ✔️ Advanced, innovative formulas for effective hair care | ✖️ Expensive |
What Is the Best Way to Take Care of Dyed Hair?
Taking care of dyed hair is essential to maintain its color vibrancy and overall health. Here are some tips for caring for dyed hair:
Use a Color-Safe Shampoo and Conditioner
Choose a shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated for color-treated hair. These products are gentler and help to preserve the vibrancy of your hair color while nourishing and moisturizing the hair.
Limit Washing
Try to wash your colored hair less frequently to prevent color fading. Washing your hair every 2-3 days or using dry shampoo between washes can help preserve your hair color.
Use Cool Water
Wash your hair with cool or lukewarm water instead of hot water. Hot water can strip the hair of its natural oils and cause the color to fade more quickly.
Protect Your Hair from Heat
Minimize heat styling and use heat protectant products before using heat styling tools such as blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons. Excessive heat can cause damage to the hair and accelerate color fading. It helps to use coconut oil as a natural heat protectant when styling your hair with irons or blow dryers.
Deep Condition Regularly
Incorporate a deep conditioning treatment into your hair care routine once a week to keep your hair shiny, hydrated, and nourished. Look for a deep conditioning treatment specifically formulated for color-treated hair to help maintain its vibrancy.
Looking into different hair types and which hair texture you possess and determining which hair mask or treatment works best for you will significantly help your hair continue being healthy in the long run.
Avoid Chlorine and Salt Water
Chlorine and salt water can strip the hair of its color and moisture. If you’ll be swimming in a pool or the ocean, protect your hair by wearing a swim cap or applying a leave-in conditioner beforehand.
Trim Regularly
Schedule regular trims to prevent split ends and breakage, which can make color-treated hair look dull and lifeless. Trimming your hair every 6-8 weeks helps to keep it healthy and looking its best.
Protect Your Hair from the Sun
UV rays can fade hair color and cause damage to the hair. Wear a hat or use hair products with UV protection when spending extended periods in the sun.
By following these tips, you can help maintain the vibrancy and health of your dyed hair, ensuring it looks beautiful and vibrant for longer.
How Do You Determine the Best Hair Color for You?
Determining the best hair color for you depends on several factors, including your skin color, eye color, natural color of your hair, and personal preferences. Here are some tips to help you choose the most flattering hair color:
Consider Your Skin Tone
Determine whether you have a warm, cool, or neutral undertone to your skin. Warm undertones typically have yellow or golden hues, while cool undertones have pink or blue hues. Choose hair color shades that complement your skin color to create a harmonious look.
For example, warm hair color shades like golden blonde or copper are flattering on warm tones, while cool tones may look best with ash blonde or cool or dark brown shades.
Evaluate Your Eye Color
Take into account your eye color when choosing a hair color. Certain hair color shades can enhance and complement your eye color, creating a more cohesive and flattering overall look.
Warm hair color shades like caramel or honey can bring out the warmth in brown eyes.
Assess Your Natural Hair Color
Consider your natural hair color and how much maintenance you’re willing to commit to. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance option, choose a hair color that is close to your natural shade or opt for highlights or balayage for a subtle change.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can experiment with dramatic changes like going from brunette to blonde or vice versa.
Take Your Lifestyle into Account
Consider your lifestyle and how much time and effort you’re willing to invest in maintaining your hair color. If you have a busy schedule or prefer a low-maintenance routine, choose a hair color that requires minimal touch-ups and upkeep.
Seek Professional Advice
If you’re unsure about which hair color would suit you best, consider consulting with a professional hairstylist or a hair colorist. They can assess your skin tone, eye color, and lifestyle and recommend hair colors that will complement your features and suit your preferences.
Ultimately, the best hair color for you is one that makes you feel confident and beautiful. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different shades and techniques until you find the perfect color that enhances your natural beauty.
What’s the Difference Between Permanent and Semi or Demi-Permanent Hair Color?
The main distinctions between permanent hair color and semi or demi-permanent hair color lie in their formulations, color longevity, and level of commitment.
Permanent hair dyes contain ammonia or other alkaline agents, along with a developer (peroxide), to penetrate the hair shaft and permanently alter its natural pigment. This results in long-lasting color that remains until new hair growth occurs, necessitating touch-ups every 4-6 weeks to maintain the desired shade.
Conversely, demi or semi-permanent color does not contain harmful chemicals like ammonia and instead relies on lower volume developers or direct dyes that coat the hair shaft without deeply penetrating the cuticle. While semi or demi-permanent color may last up to 4-6 weeks, it gradually fades with each shampoo without leaving a distinct demarcation line at the roots.
As such, semi or demi-permanent hair color offers a less committed option for experimenting with different shades or refreshing colors without the need for frequent touch-ups, making it suitable for those seeking flexibility or those with sensitivity concerns.
Is Bleaching Safe for Dark Hair?
Bleaching dark hair can be a safe process when approached with caution and performed correctly by a professional or with careful adherence to instructions at home. However, it’s vital to recognize the potential risks involved.
Bleaching involves lifting the natural pigment from the hair shaft, which can result in dryness, breakage, and damage, particularly for those with a darker hair color, which typically contains more melanin and may require more lifting to achieve lighter shades like ash brown or blonde hair.
Additionally, the chemicals in bleach can irritate the scalp of those with coarse, dark hair, necessitating a patch test and careful application to minimize the risk of irritation or allergic reactions.
Achieving significant lightening on dark hair often requires multiple bleaching sessions spaced out over time to avoid excessive damage, emphasizing the importance of patience and proper maintenance. For complex procedures or drastic color changes, seeking the expertise of a professional hairstylist and hair colorist is advisable.
Aftercare for dark hair is essential following a bleaching treatment to maintain the health of your hair, including using a deep conditioning treatment, along with using a hydrating hair mask and nourishing care products designed for color-treated or damaged blonde hair and minimizing heat styling and exposure to harsh chemicals. Make sure to use ammonia-free at-home hair dyes, as it may irritate your scalp, especially when it’s fresh from bleaching.
Overall, while bleaching dark hair can yield the desired results, it’s crucial to proceed with caution and prioritize hair health and safety throughout the process.
Conclusion
You don’t need to be a celebrity colorist to achieve the hair color you want. All you need is a professional-grade (yet beginner-friendly!) hair dye, time, and a lot of patience.
Fortunately, the advantage is you can’t go wrong with the amazing products above. We hope this guide was helpful in your search for a new look!
Editor’s Choice
L’ORÉAL PARIS HAIR COLOR
If you don’t plan on doing anything too drastic with your hair and are super particular about keeping it healthy, then a box dye from L’Oréal Paris can give you the hair color you desire.
It’s formulated with advanced triple color technology and a pre-protective serum that protects hair from drying and frizziness, two things that are common with at-home hair coloring treatments.
The best part is that you can walk into almost any beauty store, department store, or even drugstore and find one of these hair color treatments sitting on the shelves because they’re so accessible.
