If you enjoy DIY beauty, here are 12 Colorists charge extra for their services since they are experts who know more about hair color than the typical individual. Still, that degree of skill comes at a cost, which, depending on how frequently you change your hair color or touch up your roots, may quickly add up.

The good news is that you can DIY your hair color at home with boxed dye from the drugstore. Just be sure you thoroughly follow the directions and be as accurate as possible. Christin Brown, celebrity hairdresser and Olaplex ambassador, suggests doing the following before you go for the bottle. “First and foremost, read the directions thoroughly,” she advises.

Next, while this may seem apparent, strictly adhere to the directions. Brown advises doing precisely what they say—in other words, this is not the time to experiment with new ideas. Finally, she cautions against leaving the color on for longer than suggested. Following this easy suggestion can go a long way toward assuring you get the intended outcome.

We’ve collected up the top drugstore hair dyes worth trying, whether you’re wanting to save money or can’t make it to the salon.

List of The Best Drugstore Hair Dyes To Try In 2023

1. Clairol Natural Instincts is the best overall.

Coloring your hair at home may be daunting, especially if you’re concerned about harming it. However, with Clairol Natural Instincts, you may put your anxieties about boxed dye to rest. The ammonia-free conditioning solution contains coconut oil, aloe, and vitamins.

The end effect is dazzling hair with improved color and luster. In terms of duration, it just takes 10 minutes to perform its magic, leaving you with color that will endure for 28 washes, covering grays and roots. That’s a lot less time than sitting in a salon chair, so it’s a no-brainer.

What We Like

• It just takes 10 minutes to complete.
• Formula for conditioning
• Ammonia-free

What We Don’t Like

• Not long-term

2. Clairol Nice ‘n Easy is the best black.

Covering grays might be difficult when you have dark raven hair. Fortunately, this recipe is up to the job. It has 100 percent gray coverage and looks natural with a variety of brilliant tones and accents. Even though it’s heavy-duty, it doesn’t have that chemical odor; instead, it has a pleasant, flowery aroma. It conditions the hair as it goes, leaving it shinier and softer than when you started. Furthermore, the non-drip solution will not create a mess of your entire bathroom.

What We Like

• This mixture smells better than many others.
• The formula is non-drip.

What We Don’t Like

• Ammonia is present.

3. Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color Permanent Hair Color is the best red.

Red hair color fades quickly, so you’ll want a solution with a lot of staying power, which this one has. The permanent dye produces a natural look from root to tip thanks to Revlon 3D Color Gel Technology, with a boost from the multi-tonal color that adds dimension. Silk proteins condition7 the hair, leaving it lustrous and soft. Furthermore, the dye contains UV protection to protect the color from the sun and extend its brilliance.

What We Like

• Has a UV protectant built in
• Formula for conditioning

What We Don’t Like

• Processing time is longer than average.

4. Garnier Olia Oil Permanent Hair Color is the best permanent hair color.

This recipe is not only ammonia-free, but it also contains 60% moisturizing oils. The end result? An incredibly nourishing product that not only colors beautifully and evenly (including entirely concealing grays), but also leaves hair super moisturized and lustrous, a certain method to make any color seem even better.

What We Like

• Ammonia-free
• Formula for conditioning

What We Don’t Like

• The color palette might be expanded.

5. Schwarzkopf Simply Color is the best ammonia-free option.

Ammonia is an excellent hair color ingredient—in both at-home and professional color—but it may be damaging to your hair8 and is also a common skin sensitizer. Enter this option, which is devoid of ammonia, silicone, and alcohol (all of which might possibly harm your hair) while yet providing long-lasting permanent color and total gray covering. Extra points for including oat milk, soy protein, and argan oil to help maintain hair healthy.

What We Like

• Ammonia-free
• Hair is not harmed.

What We Don’t Like

• The color palette might be expanded.

FAQ

What to Look for in a Hair Dye from a Drugstore?

Ammonia-Free

Ammonia is a potent hair-lightening agent, however it can also cause skin irritation: “Finding an ammonia-free hair dye may be advantageous for both sensitive skin types and beginners dyeing their hair for the first time,” Brown suggests. Pay attention to the instructions on the box, which depict the end result on various base colors, and make sure it matches your real hair as nearly as possible.

Permanence Level

Not all hair dyes are the same. Permanent color will remain in place until it fades or is washed out, but semi-permanent or demi-permanent tones will fade or wash out gradually. (The length of time they will last will be specified on the package.) While the latter two alternatives will produce more subtle results, they are also an excellent option if you are unsure of the hue you want or if you don’t want to wind up with a result you dislike (and then have to wait for it to grow out).

Is it safe to use drugstore hair coloring on all hair types?

In theory, yes. However, if your hair is severely damaged or overprocessed, you should avoid it. Improper application can quickly damage your hair, therefore it may not be the ideal option for you.

How long does store-bought hair colour last?

It is determined using the formula. Permanent color lasts until it is washed out, demi- or semi-permanent color fades over time (typically approximately 28 washes), and temporary hair dye only lasts till you shampoo it out.

Today’s boxed hair dye formulations have greatly improved, and many now include chemicals that help add luster and condition your hair while you color it. This is great for folks who want to touch up their roots at home or who prefer to change up their color frequently without paying a salon premium pricing.

We asked celebrity hairdresser and Olaplex ambassador Christin Brown for her thoughts on using cheap hair colour at home, and she approves of the technique. “First and foremost, read the directions thoroughly,” she advises. Next, while this may seem apparent, strictly adhere to the directions. Brown advises doing precisely what they say.

We’ve collected up the top drugstore hair dyes worth trying, whether you’re wanting to save money or can’t make it to the salon.

We spent hours researching the finest drugstore hair dyes, rating each solution on active components (paying special emphasis to nourishing actives such oils and conditioners) as well as kind, taking semi-permanent, permanent, glosses, and everything in between into account.

We also examined various dyes for various hair textures, hues, and demands. We narrowed down our choices after talking with a famous hair stylist to arrive at these top-rated products.

GET TO KNOW THE EXPERT

Christin Brown is a famous hairdresser and the proprietor of Santa Barbara’s Full Spiral Salon. She is a Deva Certified Curl Specialist and an Olaplex ambassador.

Find the finest drugstore hair dyes that will leave your hair healthy and lustrous below.

1. Clairol Natural Instincts: Best Overall

What We Like

It just takes 10 minutes to complete.

Formula for conditioning

Ammonia-free

What We Don’t Like

Not long-term

Coloring your hair at home may be daunting, especially if you’re concerned about harming it. However, with Clairol Natural Instincts, you may put your anxieties about boxed dye to rest. The ammonia-free conditioning solution contains coconut oil, aloe, and vitamins.

The end effect is dazzling hair with improved color and luster. In terms of duration, it just takes 10 minutes to perform its magic, leaving you with color that will endure for 28 washes, covering grays and roots. That’s a lot less time than sitting in a salon chair, so it’s a no-brainer.

2. Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Black

What We Like

This mixture smells better than many others.

The formula is non-drip.

What We Don’t Like

Ammonia is present.

Covering grays might be difficult when you have dark raven hair. Fortunately, this recipe is up to the job. It has 100 percent gray coverage and looks natural with a variety of brilliant tones and accents.

Even though it’s heavy-duty, it doesn’t have that chemical odor; instead, it has a pleasant, flowery aroma. It conditions the hair as it goes, leaving it shinier and softer than when you started. Furthermore, the non-drip solution will not create a mess of your entire bathroom.

Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color Permanent Hair Color is the best red.

What We Like

Has a UV protectant built in

Formula for conditioning

What We Don’t Like

Processing time is longer than average.

Red hair color fades quickly, so you’ll want a solution with a lot of staying power, which this one has. The permanent dye produces a natural look from root to tip thanks to Revlon 3D Color Gel Technology, with a boost from the multi-tonal color that adds dimension.

Silk proteins condition7 the hair, leaving it lustrous and soft. Furthermore, the dye contains UV protection to protect the color from the sun and extend its brilliance.

Garnier Olia Oil Permanent Hair Color is the best permanent hair color.

What We Like

Ammonia-free

Formula for conditioning

What We Don’t Like

The color palette might be expanded.

This recipe is not only ammonia-free, but it also contains 60% moisturizing oils. The end result? An incredibly nourishing product that not only colors beautifully and evenly (including entirely concealing grays), but also leaves hair super moisturized and lustrous, a certain method to make any color seem even better.

5. Schwarzkopf Simply Color Ammonia-Free

What We Like

Ammonia-free

Hair is not harmed.

What We Don’t Like

The color palette might be expanded.

Ammonia is an excellent hair color ingredient—in both at-home and professional color—but it may be damaging to your hair8 and is also a common skin sensitizer.

Enter this option, which is devoid of ammonia, silicone, and alcohol (all of which might possibly harm your hair) while yet providing long-lasting permanent color and total gray covering. Extra points for including oat milk, soy protein, and argan oil to help maintain hair healthy.

What to Look for in a Hair Dye from a Drugstore

Ammonia-Free

Ammonia is a potent hair-lightening agent, however it can also cause skin irritation: “Finding an ammonia-free hair dye may be advantageous for both sensitive skin types and beginners dyeing their hair for the first time,” Brown suggests.

Pay attention to the instructions on the box, which depict the end result on various base colors, and make sure it matches your real hair as nearly as possible.

Permanence Level

Not all hair dyes are the same. Permanent color will remain in place until it fades or is washed out, but semi-permanent or demi-permanent tones will fade or wash out gradually. (The length of time they will last will be specified on the package.)

While the latter two alternatives will produce more subtle results, they are also an excellent option if you are unsure of the hue you want or if you don’t want to wind up with a result you dislike (and then have to wait for it to grow out).

People use boxed hair color to touch up their roots, which necessitates a recipe particularly developed to hide grey hair. Grey hair frequently appears first around the temples, thus concealing greys needs some skill. 9 Choose a hair dye that is suited to the task, such as Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Root Touch-Up, which was one of our top recommendations.

A temporary color wax, such as the Mysteek Naturals Color Pop included in our collection, is a terrific (and low-commitment) solution for people who wish to experiment with bright or trendy colours in a non-committal way.

Is it safe to use drugstore hair coloring on all hair types?

In theory, yes. However, if your hair is severely damaged or overprocessed, you should avoid it. Improper application can quickly damage your hair, therefore it may not be the ideal option for you.

How long does store-bought hair colour last?

It is determined using the formula. Permanent color lasts until it is washed out, demi- or semi-permanent color fades over time (typically approximately 28 washes), and temporary hair dye only lasts till you shampoo it out.

Is boxed hair dye harmful to your health?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, there is no solid evidence that boxed hair dye (or salon color) is associated with serious health problems. However, the FDA recommends against using any hair color that contains paraphenylenediamine (PPDA), a frequent allergy.

\

Read the ingredient lists thoroughly and discontinue usage if you experience any scalp redness, irritation, itching, or blisters. If any of these symptoms arise after using hair color, you should see a dermatologist right once.