Best ammonia-free hair dyes: 10 choices for healthy colour

Experimenting with hair colours can help you get a new look, but you must not compromise with your hair health. So, if you are planning to dye your hair either for fun or to cover up the grey strands, make sure you use ammonia-free hair dyes. Most hair dyes are formulated with ammonia, an alkaline compound that can damage the hair cuticles, reduce moisture and lead to dry tresses. It can also enter the bloodstream through the scalp, which can cause several infections. Exposing your hair to ammonia can destroy tyrosine in the hair that regulates the production of melanin, which contributes to the ability of hair to hold any colour. So, using ammonia-free hair dyes can help retain the moisture in your strands and promote healthy hair. We have compiled a list of the best ammonia-free hair dyes that you must try for a safer alternative to regular dyes.

10 best ammonia-free hair dyes

The best ammonia-free hair dyes in India can avoid frizzy and dry hair. It can contribute to maintaining the overall health of your tresses. So, pick your favourite one from our list of the top hair dye brands and enjoy a safe colouring experience.

1. Clairol Natural Instincts Semi-Permanent Hair Dye

The Clairol Natural Instincts Semi-Permanent Hair Dye is packed with the goodness of coconut oil and aloe vera. These ingredients not only add shine to your tresses, but also contribute to the overall hair health. This ammonia-free hair dye washes away all the visible greys, conditions your hair and leaves it smooth. With lasting effect for up to 28 washes, this hair dye is a healthier and reliable option for a natural and radiant look.

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2. Naturtint Permanent Hair Color for Women

The Naturtint Permanent Hair Colour for Women is one of the best hair dye for natural hair. Being the first permanent hair colour certified by the USDA BioPreferred program, this hair dye promises to give up to 100 percent grey coverage. This ammonia-free hair colour is free from parabens and cruelty, which makes it a safe and a wise choice. It is enriched with plant and seed oils and extracts, which helps protect and nourish your scalp. The presence of quinoa, organic shea butter and baobab proteins, helps fix the hair colour, rebuild hair’s keratin and moisturises your tresses. This dermatologically-tested hair dye can enhance the hydration and leave your hair soft and shiny.

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3. Cuticolor Permanent Hair Color Cream

If you are looking for hair dyes for grey hair, try this one from Cuticolor. This permanent hair dye helps cover grey tresses and gives a natural look. Suitable for all hair types and textures, this hair colour promises to give salon-like finish in 20 minutes. This dye gives a lasting effect for up to 8-10 washes, which makes it a reliable choice. Available in black and dark brown colour, this ammonia-free hair dye moisturises your tresses and promotes shine. In addition the brand also states that the product doesn’t contain any PPD, alcohol and fragrance.

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4. Herbatint – Permanent Hair Color

This ammonia-free hair colour from Herbatint comes in 36 shades that gives a perfect result in just 40 minutes. It is a dermatologically-tested hair dye that is safe for sensitive skin. Promising to give 100 percent coverage to grey hairs, this hair colour is vegan and cruelty-free. It is packed with the goodness of 8 organic herbal extracts including aloe vera, black walnut and witch hazel that helps nourish and protect your tresses.

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5. Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit

The Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit helps you enjoy the hair colouring experience at home. This ammonia-free, permanent hair dye promises to give 100 percent grey coverage. This kit comes with a radiant cream colour, conditioning colour activator, barrier cream, cleansing wipe, protective cap, gloves, colour protecting shampoo and customised instruction manual. Infused with the goodness of keratin, argan oil, and ginseng root extract, this hair dye is free of ammonia, cruelty, gluten and parabens.

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6. L’Oreal Paris Permanent Hair Colour

L’Oreal Paris Permanent Hair Colour promises to provide vibrant hair colour with nourishing and strengthening pro-keratin. This ammonia-free hair dye claims to provide 100 percent grey coverage from root to tip. By providing salon-like results in just 30 minutes, this dye promises to keep the colour for up to 8 weeks. It comes with a protective colouring cream, a scalp comfort shampoo and a nourishing masque. This hair dye has a non-drip creme formula that protects your strands before, during and after colouring.

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7. Biotique Hair Color Conditioning Hair Colour

Biotique Hair Color Conditioning Hair Colour promises to make your hair shiny and healthy. Packed with the goodness of botanicals of the Himalayas, this ammonia-free hair dye claims to cover 100 percent grey hair and can last up to 26 washes. It contains black tea, hibiscus, shikakai and other organic herbal extracts that provide a vibrant colour to your hair. Free from harmful chemicals, this dye may protect your hair and scalp, thus enhancing the colour density of your hair.

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8. Garnier Hair Colouring Cream

Garnier Hair Colouring Cream promises to provide long-lasting colour to your hair. It may also make your hair smooth and add a lustrous shine to them. The brand claims that its hair dye can last up to 8 weeks with proper care. This ammonia-free hair dye may provide proper coverage to grey hair. Enriched with the goodness of olive, almond and avocado, this hair dye can strengthen and nourish your hair. This hair dye kit comes with a colouring cream, a developer, a conditioner and gloves to provide a salon-like treatment at home.

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9. INDUS VALLEY Damage Free Natural Hair Gel Colour for Women

INDUS VALLEY Damage Free Natural Hair Gel Colour for Women is packed with the goodness of aloe vera, amla, basil, wheat germ oil, henna, sunflower oil, jojoba oil and orange oil. This hair dye may help hydrate and nourish your hair, while imparting a natural shine to them. It may also prevent premature greying of hair, protect your strands against UV rays, fight dandruff, control frizz, and revitalise your hair health. This ammonia-free hair dye doesn’t contain hydrogen peroxide, cruelty and is vegan. It may also help condition your strands and make them look healthy.

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10. Revlon Colorsilk Permanent Hair Dye

Revlon Colorsilk Permanent Hair Dye promises to improve the appearance of your strands. Enriched with keratin, this hair dye may nourish and strengthen your hair, making them soft, smooth and healthy. It uses advanced color technology to ensure vibrant results that last. This hair dye comes with an instruction manual to make the application process hassle-free. The kit includes a colorant, a developer, a conditioner and gloves to help you get-salon-like results at home.

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How to choose the best hair dye?

• Before buying the hair dye, assess your hair type and condition as different dyes are developed to cater to specific hair types. So, understand the needs of your hair and then choose the product that promises to provide optimal results.
• Consider the colour and shade that you are aiming for. Choose the one that complements your skin tone.
• Hair dyes come in different formulations like permanent, semi-permanent and temporary. If you want a long-lasting result, choose permanent hair dyes. If you want to experiment with your looks, go for temporary ones.
• Pay attention to the ingredients of the hair dyes and look for the products that are free from ammonia, paraben, sulphates and other harmful chemicals.
• Opt for products that contain nourishing ingredients like keratin, argan oil and coconut oil.

Is ammonia-free hair dye better?

Ammonia-free hair dyes can transform your tresses without damaging them. Some of the important benefits of ammonia-free hair dyes are:

• Maintain hair health: These hair dyes use monoethanolamine that contains alcohol, which serves as a substitute pH adjuster in hair colours. Regular use of these products can protect your cuticles from damage and promote healthier tresses.
• Prevents hair breakage: Ammonia contributes to weakening the structural integrity of your tresses and makes them more prone to breakage.
• Reduces scalp irritation: Regular use of ammonia-rich hair colour can cause itching, burning and redness. So, people with sensitive skin must use ammonia-free dyes to reduce discomfort.
• Enhances the hair colouring experience: These haircare products can reduce unpleasant odour during the colouring process and make your hair dying experience enriching.
• Gives long-lasting effect: Dying the hair with an ammonia-free colour can give you a long-lasting effect.

Also Read: Best shampoos for coloured hair to protect hair colour from fading

How to use hair dyes at home?

• Step 1: Take a bowl and pour the colouring cream into it.
• Step 2: Then add the developer into the bowl and mix both the products.
• Step 3: Apply the mixture evenly on your hair and leave it for 20-30 minutes.
• Step 4: Then rinse it off with water and apply the masque.

Also Read: Best hair dye shampoo: 5 top choices for you!

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• Is it safe to dye your hair during pregnancy?While colouring your hair with ammonia-free hair dyes are safe, the excess of anything is bad. According to a study published in the ACS Publications states that colouring your hair during pregnancy, months before pregnancy and during lactation can put you at the risk of leukaemia, brain tumours or MGCTs.
• How long does hair dyes last?
  A hair dye can last up to 6 to 12 weeks. But it depends on your hair health, how often you wash your strands and the kind of hair care product that you use.

• What ingredients to look for in herbal-based hair dyes?
  Herbal-based hair dyes are free from adverse side-effects. So, while buying these products, make sure that they contain lawsonia inermis, emblica officinalis, azadirachta indica, ocimum sanctum, trigonella foenum, acacia catechu, eclipta alba, camellia sinensis, centella asiatica, sapindus mukorossi, acacia concinna, nardostachys jatamansi, citrus aurantium and loh bhasma as per a study published in ResearchGate.
• Are home hair dyes good?
  At-home hair dyes are as good as professional hair colour. When applied using the right method, it can give desired results. But, if you want drastic changes, you can visit a salon professional.

• Can ammonia-free hair dyes cover grey hair?
  Yes, ammonia-free hair dyes can effectively cover grey hair. They use alternative ingredients like ethanolamine or monoethanolamine, which help to open the hair cuticle and allow colour pigments to penetrate. These hair dyes are specially formulated to provide good coverage without causing damage and scalp irritation.
• Is ammonia-free hair dye effective?
  Ammonia-free hair dyes are effective and safe for colouring your hair. They use alternative alkaline agents to open the hair cuticles and allow colour pigments to penetrate. In comparison to regular hair dyes, they take longer processing time but may offer good coverage and vibrant colour results.
• How often should I colour my hair?
  It depends on personal preference and the type of ammonia-free hair dye that you are using. Semi-permanent hair dyes require frequent touch-ups, while permanent dyes require touch-ups after 4 to 8 weeks. But, you consider the instruction manual of the product to understand its usage in a better manner.
• What is the difference between ammonia-free hair dye and regular hair dye?
  Regular hair dyes contain ammonia, which helps to open the hair cuticles for colour penetration. Ammonia-free hair dyes are considered safer as they use milder agents for colour penetration. This helps reduce damage and scalp sensitivity.

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