12 Natural Hair Dyes That Give You Long-Lasting (and Non-Toxic) Color

Psst: You can't always trust that "natural" label on the box.

by RUBY BUDDEMEYER MAR 2, 2021

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.