15 Best Drugstore Hair Dyes That Are Worth Trying At Home In 2024
Affordable and mess-free hair colors to add oomph and character to your hair anywhere.
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Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
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There is never a perfect time to dye your hair, but the price of going to the salon is heavy. That’s why we have some of the best drugstore hair dyes listed out for you, so you can choose the one that suits your needs. Some of these professional-grade hair dyeswill give you the hair color of your dreams without burning a huge hole in your pocket. But do keep one thing in mind. Please read the instructions behind the label and follow them to the T. And we mean to the T. Now that we have gotten this out of the way take a look at the list of the top drugstore hair dyes available online.
In This Article
Top 15 Drugstore Hair Dyes For Home Use
1. Best Vibrant Color:Manic Panic High Voltage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream
If you love experimenting with bright, vibrant, and bold hair colors, here is the ultimate drugstore hair dye that doesn’t damage the hair. Manic Panic High Voltage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream is an extremely pigmented formula that can brighten your hair almost instantly. IIt is a 100% vegan and cruelty-free semi-permanent dye cream that conditions your hair as it applies. It imparts moisture to dry hair and protects it from further damage. To get the best out of these colors, we suggest you lighten your hair to a medium level 7 blonde or lighter. Watch this video for insights from the tester’s experience to know more about the product, which is not tested on animals.
Pros
- Vibrant color
- Ready to use
- No mixing required
- Highlights dark hair
- Color stays vibrant for days
- Fades gracefully
Cons
- None
Pro Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has received 9,128 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.
2. Best Conditioning Formula:Arctic Fox Vegan And Cruelty-Free Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye
If you are looking for a drugstore dye to minimize dryness and damage, try the Arctic Fox Hair Color. It is a high-definition semi-permanent direct dye that does not require a developer, meaning it deposits color directly to your hair. The unique feature of this hair color is that it is formulated to fade within the original color spectrum, so as the color fades, the shades continue to be the same gorgeous hue without turning patchy. This makes your hair color stay vibrant for weeks. But for this to happen, your base color should compliment the hair color that you plan on applying. For long-lasting results, apply it to pre-lightened hair. This video showing the reviewer’s experience with the product will give you more insights into the product that is free of animal testing.
Pros
- Long-lasting color
- Conditioning formula
- Just a little product required per use
- Does not damage your hair
- Illuminating shine
Cons
- None
Did You Know?3. Best Mess-Free Application:Style Edit Root Concealer
Want to cover those gray strands without changing your hair color completely? If so, Style Edit Root Concealer is the answer to natural-looking hair! This instant temporary root touch-up spray covers gray hair without clogging your hair follicles and is easy to wash out. It adds vibrancy to dull hair.
It comes with a unique pinpoint applicator that targets the areas that need a color boost.
It is a quick-drying, deep conditioner formula with naturally derived color-adaptive pigments that self-adjust and match your hair color to provide a lustrous, natural finish.
The highlight of this semi-permanent dye color is that it contains five color-adjusting formulas that match the darkest to the lightest blonde hair colors.
Pros
- Covers gray hair instantly
- Works in seconds
- Just a little product required per use
- Dries in minutes
- Mess-free application
- Washes out with shampoo
Cons
- None
Pro TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
A whopping 5,808 reviews on Amazon make it obvious that users genuinely love this product.
| Manic Panic High Voltage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream Best Vibrant Color | Arctic Fox Vegan And Cruelty-Free Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye Best Conditioning Formula | Style Edit Root Concealer Best Mess-Free Application | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color | Bad Boy Blue | Green | Medium Brown |
| Dimensions | 2 x 2 x 2 inches | 1.75 x 1.75 x 5.25 inches | 2 x 1 x 4 inches |
| Weight | 4.8 Ounces | 4 Ounces | 3.2 Ounces |
| Number of Items | - | 1 | - |
| Hair Type | - | - | Normal |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 9,128 | 272 | 5,808 |
| Price | $14.99 | $12.99 | $29.99 |
4. Best Consistent Texture: Crazy Colour Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream
Crazy Color Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream is a solution that lasts for up to 8 washes and provides a luminous and vibrant color. It doesn’t require peroxide to activate and the creamy consistency is easy to apply because of its conconditioningditioning formula. It comes in a range of fun colors, has a consistent texture, and comes in generous portion sizes to get gorgeous, colored hair.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Value for money
- Easy application
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Some users may not like the bright shades it fades into.
"This hair dye applies smoothly to my strands and looks vivid. I like its scent as it does not overwhelm my senses. My hair looks healthy after I dye it with this product. The formula does not irritate my scalp or cause hair breakage. However, it stains my skin slightly."
5. Best Long-Lasting Color: John Frieda Precision Foam Color
The rich and long-lasting formula of John Frieda Precision Foam Color adorns your hair with a stunning espresso brown color. It also nourishes the hair strands while protecting them against environmental damage. It is a 100% gray coverageand long-staying hair color. The thick foam consistency ensures maximum product penetration and checks for any dripping. The pack contains a colorant, developer, foamer, gloves, and easy-to-read instructions to facilitate your dyeing experience. The after-color conditioner in the package hydrates your hair and makes it manageable. For a more informed decision, check this video review of this hair dye.
Pros
- Available in multiple shades
- Blendable
- Conditioning formula
- Thick consistency
- Fade-resistant
- Does not drip
Cons
- May cause hair fall
"This foaming hair dye offers full coverage to my hair. The foam spreads nicely on my strands and penetrates them to color them nicely. It also covers hard-to-reach areas without much effort. The rich color stays vibrant and looks natural. The best part is that the product never stains my hairline."
6. Best Great Fragrance:Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color Nourishing Color Cream
Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color Nourishing Color Cream is formulated with color boost technologyand a blend of triple fruit oils to deliver boosted hair color and to make your hair healthy and silky. The grapeseed oil in the hair color cream nourishes the hair, whereas avocado, olive oil, and shea oil hydrate the strands and lock in moisture for soft and silky hair. The non-drip color cream spreads evenly. The advanced technology in this color cream transforms the darkest hair with a shiny tone and makes it silkier.
Pros
- Great fragrance
- Reasonably priced
- High-impact color
- Glossy look
Cons
- May fade after a few washes
"I love how nourished my hair feels after I dye it with this hair color. It coats my hair evenly and leaves it looking naturally shiny. The color stays put for 8 weeks straight, even after washes. My hair looks smooth and silky after I dye it with this product. It also has a mild scent."
7. Best Ultra-Nourishing Ingredients:Garnier Olia Ammonia-Free Brilliant Color
Get bouncy and healthy tresses with the Garnier Olia ammonia-Free Brilliant Color. It is a professional formula perfect for dry hair. Its formula is enriched with oil-powered technology that enables the colorants to penetrate hair shafts without ammonia. It prevents damaging ammonia molecules from attacking your strands, giving you pure, vibrant, and long-lasting color. Use this drugstore dye for blonde highlights or for full blonde dyeing.
Olia improves and restores the shine and nourishment of your hair as the oils help reverse roughness and damage for a brilliant and healthy look.
It hydrates your hair, making it silky and up to 3X shinier.
Its formula is infused with ultra-nourishing ingredients like avocado, olive, and shea oils that help improve the texture of your hair.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Adds intense shine
- Suitable for getting highlights
- Long-lasting color
- 100% gray hair coverage
Cons
- Takes time to wash out
8. Best Ammonia-Free Formula:Revlon ColorSilk Beautiful Color
Revlon ColorSilk is a specially blended permanent hair color formula that includes the patented Revlon 3D Color Gel Technology. It deposits a rich, multi-dimensional color that looks natural and vibrant.
It is one of the best drugstore dyes to cover gray hair while maintaining a natural look.
Its UV complex imparts color protectionto protect the color from fading, keeping it bright and true-to-shade till the end.
It also contains nourishing ingredients such as silk proteins that leave your hair hydrated and conditioned.
This ammonia-free formula is available in an array of 41 attractive shades.
Pros
- Adds lustrous shine to your hair
- Infused with keratin
- Ammonia-free formula
- Pigmented color
- Blends well
- Adds a natural look
Cons
- Can turn your hair brassy
"My gray strands are no longer visible, thanks to this dye. It colors my strands nicely without clumping them. My hair looks nourished and glossy after I color it with this product. Its liquid-gel formula is easy to apply. I love that it is free of any chemical scent."
9. Best For Hydrating: L’Oréal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color
Want shimmery highlights that dazzle for days? Then try L’Oréal Paris Feria Permanent Hair Color.
Unlike conventional hair colors, this formula is fortified with a multi-faceted shimmering color that delivers intense, bold, and brilliant results.
This permanent hair dye product is perfect for those who are looking for edgy hair colors. It comes in a wide shade range – from bright red, platinum blonde, rose gold, and metallic brown to blue, black, and brown hair colors. The Feria Multi-Faceted Prismatic Color Spectrum is custom-formulated by L’Oréal master colorists to provide salon-like results to real hair.
To top it all, its power shimmer conditioner ensures to leave your hair silky and smooth while protecting it from fading.
Pros
- Makes the hair smooth
- Adds illuminating shine
- Long-lasting color
- Improves hair texture
- Includes vibrant shades
Cons
- Artificial smell
"I love how smooth and shiny my hair looks after dyeing it with this product. The color lasts on my hair for months without fading. The dye applies smoothly on my strands without leaving patchiness."
10. Best Pigmented Formula: Schwarzkopf Keratin Color Permanent Hair Color Cream
Regain brightness and vitality with the Schwarzkopf Keratin Color Permanent Hair Color Cream that is specially formulated for stressed and over-processed hair. It is formulated with a unique collagen care complex and skin-flattering pigments that help nourish your hair and scalp to revive dull and lifeless hair. The product delivers younger, fuller-looking hair in just 30 minutes. This formula helps repair highly processed and chronically damaged hair and reduces damage up to 80%. According to reviews, the product offers deep color and lasts longer than most others.
It comes in 20 intense variety of shades that deliver 100% gray coverage with low or zero damage.
Pros
- Suitable for dry and brittle hair
- Pigmented formula
- Blends well
- Adds intense shine
- Odor-less formula
- Fades gracefully
Cons
- Can form clumps while applying
"I have noticed less hair breakage after I have used this hair dye. It colors my hair evenly and leaves it looking youthful and vibrant. The formula also covers my gray hair seamlessly. It never irritates my sensitive scalp."
11. Best For All Hair Types: L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Hair Color
L’Oreal Paris Excellence Crème’s Permanent Hair Color is formulated with an exclusive triple protection system that seals, replenishes, protects, and conditions your hair for up to 8 weeks. The non-drip cream formula is available in 38 shades ranging from blonde to dark hair colors that are suitable for both dark and light hair.
The triple protection system is infused with ceramides, a pro-keratin complex, and collagen that deeply nourish dry and damaged hair during and after coloring.
The product also includes a pre-color treatment infused with ceramides that help protect color-treated ends from color build-up and residue.
This color is perfect for covering gray hair, adding intense highlights, and creating a bold and bright hair color. It blends well and can create an ombre effect.
The kit includes a comb, developer, pre-conditioning treatment, gloves, and an instruction manual.
Pros
- Non-drip cream formula
- Conditions your hair as you apply
- Just a little product required per use
- Replenishes dry hair
- Adds brilliant shine
- Fades gracefully
Cons
- Artificial smell
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The extensive 5,458 rave reviews on Amazon prove why we are vouching for this product.
12. Best Salon-Quality: Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Permanent Root Touch-Up
Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Permanent Root Touch-Up comes in beautiful natural shades. It blends easily with your natural hair color without forming patches. It can be applied in just 10 minutes! The product includes an ergonomic brush that delivers salon-quality application. The best thing about this multi-use product is that it can be applied easily so that you don’t have to visit a salon multiple times. According to reviewers, the product visibly covers all gray roots and lasts long.
Pros
- Lasts up to 3 weeks
- Blends well with your natural hair color
- Prevents hair breakage
- 100% gray coverage
- Non-damaging formula
Cons
- Does not cover white hair
"This dye conceals my gray hair quickly. The color lasts for days without fading. It does not dry out my hair or leave residues. The dye comes with an ergonomic brush that applies the color swiftly to my tresses without leaving any patches behind. It also coats my roots evenly."
13. Best For Brunettes: L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color
L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color is a perfect choice for those who love to color their hair often. The Colorista collection offers 7 bright shades designed for light blonde/bleached hair and 4 shades designed for brunettes. The best thing about these semi-permanent shades is that you do not have to bleach your tresses to use them.
The color fades in 10 washes, so you can re-apply whenever you want.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Just a little product required per use
- Free of ammonia and peroxide
- Smooth consistency
Cons
- Some shades may not wash out easily
"This dye does not irritate my scalp or turn my hair brittle. It coats my hair in a beautiful red color. The color looks vibrant and is fade-resistant. I love how hydrated and smooth my hair looks after I dye it with this product."
14. Best Gray Coverage:Surya Brasil Henna Cream
Surya Brasil Henna Cream offers a 100% natural way to cover your gray and white hair. It strengthens your strands and protects your scalp from infections simultaneously.
Its creamy formula glides smoothly on the strands and leaves behind a mild scent that lasts all day.
It contains a blend of nutrient-rich botanical ingredients from Brazil and India that are formulated to color your hair while conditioning it.
This semi-permanent shade is also allergy-tested and enriched with chamomile that softens your hair from the root to the tip.
Pros
- Nourishes hair
- Moisturizing
- Mess-free application
- Revives dry strands
- Adds softness and luster
- Improves hair elasticity
- Protects hair from breakage
Cons
- Availability issues
15. Best Temporary Hair Color:Mysteek Color Pop Temporary No-Bleach Hair Color
The Mysteek Color Pop Temporary No-Bleach Hair Color is a great option for people who want to change their hair color frequently, but fear the damage. This multi-application temporary color comes in bold shades that not only provide gray hair coverage but also transform your hair look. The cream-based hair colorwax stays on for 3-5 days and can be easily washed off. The non-permanent hair color goes smoothly on your hair without making it feel sticky or dry and offers exquisite results like that of a hair salon.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Washes off easily
- Non-sticky
- Safe for kids
- Blendable
- No harsh chemicals
Cons
- May stain the clothes
"This hair dye colors my dark black hair blue. I love the fact that I do not need to bleach my hair. It is a creamy formula that glides smoothly on my hair and coats it nicely. My hair color looks vivid for days. However, it washes out easily without creating build-ups."
Infographic: A Complete Guide To Hair Dye Before And Aftercare
The process of dyeing your hair can be exciting and transformative, but it is crucial to remember that proper before and aftercare is essential for color vibrancy and the overall health of your hair. Whether you are a first-time dyer or a seasoned pro, the infographic below can be of help. Check it out for a successful, long-lasting hair dyeing experience that leaves you with beautiful, healthy-looking locks.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Hair coloring is the traditional way of covering your grays. However, with the rise in demand for hair dye, coloring at the salon has become a costly affair, making over-the-counter options a top choice for many. Opt for the Manic Panic High Voltage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream for its vibrant and ethical color formulas, or the Schwarzkopf Keratin Color Permanent Hair Color Cream for its nourishing formula, or even the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Hair Color for its multi-tonal shimmer. You can find various drugstore hair dyes for your needs including dyes formulated for extremely dry, frizzy, and brittle hair to ones suitable for gray coverage. They come with a variety of nourishing ingredients like aloe vera and olive oil that are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. These high-quality drugstore hair dyes can transform your hair color without breaking your savings. Whether it is dark black, bold color, light blonde, or simple touch-ups to cover gray, you can do it easily in the convenience of your home using DIY-friendly hair dyes. Thus, consider resilient hair dyes that condition your hair and lend shine to hair strands, and don’t forget to use a color-depositing shampoo or a color-protectant daily shampoo in your hair care routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which drugstore hair dye is least damaging?
REVLON Colorsilk is one of the least damaging drugstore hair dyes as it is ammonia-free and contains silk proteins that hydrate and condition the hair.
What’s the safest hair dye to use?
The Herbatint Permanent Ammonia-Free Herbal Hair Color Gel is the safest hair dye as it is enriched with 8 organic herbal extracts that are safe to use on the scalp. Moreover, it offers long-lasting results and has a hypoallergenic formula.
Is it better to go lighter or darker to cover gray hair?
It is better to go with one shade lighter than your natural hair color to cover gray hair. Light shades like auburn, golden, or ash brown complement the look.
How often should you color gray hair?
The frequency of coloring depends on the amount of gray hair. Generally, four to six weeks, as the color fades away after six weeks.
How can I cover gray hair without dying it?
You can use alternative natural methods to dye gray hair. Here are some of them.
• Coffee: It is the most convenient method of covering gray hair. When used on regular basis it darkens the hair roots and prevents graying of hair.
• Henna: Applying henna once or twice a month will naturally cover the gray roots.
• Apple cider vinegar: Applying apple cider vinegar to your hair can preserve the melanin content of the hair.
• Onion: Onion is rich in an enzyme called “catalase”. Prolonged usage of onion on hair might darken the hair roots.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Pooja Karkala, is a hair care enthusiast who loves trying out different hair styling products. She has researched and reviewed hundreds of products to get her readers the best drugstore hair dyes. This list is of products is for those who like adding an edge to their style quotient. These dyes are rich in pigments, help nourish the strands, and last longer.
Khamis Maiouf is a professional hairstylist with over 20 years of experience. He helps his clients achieve consistently attractive haircuts, discover the coolest hairstyles, and find the best hair products.Khamis Maiouf is a professional hairstylist with over 20 years of experience. He helps his clients achieve consistently attractive haircuts, discover the coolest hairstyles, and find the best hair products.
Read full bio of Pooja Karkala
Read full bio of Krati Darak
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
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