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The Best Hair Dye Brands for 2023
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 dye brands that will color, lift, and nourish your locks – without having to go to the salon.
What are the Best Hair Dye 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 Best Hair Dye Brands
#1: L’Oréal Paris
It’s no surprise the world’s largest cosmetics brand has its own hair dye 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 box dyes on the aisles.
Their brand also carries different types and styles of hair colors 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 office-appropriate shades that are suited for Filipino skin 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 hair 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 color (yes, it’s not just semi-permanent hair dye) 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.
As a bonus, these at-home color products can help cover grays and provide you with a natural look.
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 dye? 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 dye 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 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: Manic Panic Creamtone
If you’ve been waiting for a semi-permanent dye that actually suits your bold and bright personality, then you cannot go wrong with Manic Panic. The 40-year-old brand is known for its hot pink hues and vibrant color palette. They’re also a proudly vegan and cruelty-free brand.
Despite specializing in loud colors, the product’s formulation is actually very gentle so you can get your desired hair color and your wildest hair color dreams without sacrificing its smooth, silky texture. Some of their hues include bright pink, blue, green, orange, and yellow.
Pros and Cons of the Manic Panic Creamtone
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Vibrant colors ✔️ Fade-resistant ✔️ Ethically made ✔️ PPD and ammonia-free formula | ✖️ Can be messy to apply |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which hair color brand is best?
A few of the hair color brands that are considered the best are L’Oreal Paris, Clairol, Garnier, Schwarzkopf, and Wella Professionals. These brands suit hair-specific needs, such as your hair type, desired shade, and any sensitivities or allergies.
It’s important to note that you have to read reviews and consult with a professional hairstylist before selecting a hair color brand to apply in a professional setting or in a home setting.
What is the healthiest hair dye brand?
There is no single “healthiest” hair dye brand, as different people may have different sensitivities when it comes to hair coloring products. However, some brands offer hair dyes that are considered to be more gentle and less damaging than others. Some popular brands that offer relatively less damaging hair dyes include:
- Madison Reed: This brand uses a “smart 6-free” formula, which means it is free of six potentially harmful ingredients commonly found in hair dyes, such as ammonia, resorcinol, and parabens.
- O&M Original Mineral: This brand offers hair dyes that are free of ammonia, PPD, and other harsh chemicals.
- Phyto: This brand offers hair dyes that are enriched with natural ingredients, such as botanical extracts and essential oils, and are free of ammonia and PPD.
- Aveda: This brand uses plant-based ingredients in its hair dyes, and offers a variety of options that are free of harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances.
Although hair dyes are considered healthy, it’s a good idea to do a patch test and consult with a professional stylist before using any hair dye product. Additionally, regular hair care, such as using conditioning treatments and avoiding heat styling, can help minimize damage from hair dyes.
Which hair color brand stays the longest?
The vibrancy of a hair color depends on various factors, such as the hair type, color, and texture, as well as the hair dye brand and the maintenance routine followed after coloring. However, some hair dye brands are known for providing long-lasting results. These include:
- Clairol Professional: This brand offers a range of permanent hair dyes that are known for their long-lasting color.
- L’Oreal Paris: This brand has several ranges of hair dyes that provide long-lasting color, including its Excellence Creme and Feria lines.
- Schwarzkopf: This brand has a range of permanent hair dyes that offer long-lasting color, such as its Igora line.
- Wella Professionals: This brand is known for its long-lasting Koleston Perfect hair dye line, which provides vibrant color for up to eight weeks.
You need to remember that the longevity of hair color can also depend on your natural hair color and how well it is maintained after coloring, such as using sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners, avoiding excessive heat styling, and minimizing exposure to chlorine and sunlight.
What hair color brands do salons use?
Many hair salons use professional hair color brands that are not typically available for purchase by consumers at retail stores. These brands often provide high-quality and long-lasting results and are formulated with advanced ingredients to minimize damage to the hair. Some of the most popular hair color brands used in salons include:
- L’Oreal Professional: This brand offers a range of professional hair color products, including its Majirel, Inoa, and Dia lines.
- Wella Professionals: This brand is known for its Koleston Perfect and Color Touch hair color lines, which are used by many professional stylists.
- Redken: This brand offers a range of professional hair color products, including its Shades EQ and Color Fusion lines.
- Goldwell: This brand has a range of professional hair color products, including its Topchic and Colorance lines.
- Schwarzkopf Professional: This brand offers a range of professional hair color products, including its Igora Royal and Essensity lines.
Not every brand in this list is applicable as at-home hair color to use on your own hair, as they have a lot of strong chemicals that only celebrity colorists and hair salons use. These hair colors are advised not to use on natural thin hair, light hair color, and sensitive skin as the dyeing process is strong enough to damage hair.
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.
Joey is an AB Psychology graduate of the University of St. La Salle – Bacolod. Her life’s passions include writing, film, and spending hours on end binge-watching fashion vloggers on Youtube.
