10 best natural hair dyes for natural hair

Choosing a natural hair dye for natural hair sounds simple until you're standing in the aisle or scrolling online, wondering which one won’t wreck your curls or leave your scalp sulking. Natural textures have unique needs, and not all "natural" dyes are created with those in mind.

We talked to stylists who work with real, textured hair every day to uncover the truth behind the “clean” labels and earthy packaging. Turns out, natural dyes still rely on active ingredients to do the job and that job gets trickier when you're working with coils, curls, or kinks. Ahead, we’re introducing some of the best natural hair dyes for natural hair.

1. Madison reed radiant hair color kit

A poster child for clean hair colour, this kit ditches ammonia, PPD, and resorcinol without sacrificing intensity. With keratin, argan oil, and ginseng, it actually nourishes as it colours. Optimal for coils and curls that don't like drama.

How to use:

Step 1. Mix the colour and activator in the bottle.

Step 2. Part dry hair into sections.

Step 3. Put from roots to ends using the nozzle.

Step 4. Leave on for 35 minutes.

Step 5. Rinse until water runs clear.

2. The Henna Guys 100% Pure Henna Powder

Zero nonsense, just crushed henna leaves. It tints with a warm copper glow and strengthens strands. Best for dark hair tones and curl patterns that need structure.

How to use:

Step 1. Mix powder with warm water into a paste.

Step 2. Let it sit for 8–10 hours.

Step 3. Cover with a shower cap and wrap.

Step 4. Wait 2–3 hours.

Step 5. Rinse with conditioner only. No shampoo for 24 hrs.

3. Naturtint Permanent Hair Color

Naturtint is ammonia-free, PPD-free, and filled with plant oils like meadowfoam seed and sunflower. It’s made for sensitive scalps and textured hair, with colours that lean soft and natural, not chemically loud.

How to use:

Step 1. Mix colorant and developer in applicator bottle.

Step 2. Shake well.

Step 3. Apply to dry hair, starting at roots.

Step 4. Leave for 30–40 minutes, and then rinse.

4. Clairol Natural Instincts Semi-Permanent

A gateway dye for the natural-curious crowd. No ammonia, no PPD, and a formula rich in aloe and coconut oil. Lasts 28 washes and blends beautifully on curls without drying them out.

How to use:

Step 1. Mix the colour and activator.

Step 2. Work evenly through lengths.

Step 3. Leave for 20 minutes.

Step 4. Rinse with warm water.

Step 5. Let hair air-dry.

5. Khadi Natural Hair Color (Indigo + Herbs)

Ayurvedic meets curl care. This plant-based powder blend uses indigo, henna, and amla to deliver natural colour with zero synthetic additives. It’s slow and earthy, but surprisingly effective on grays and natural hair.

How to use:

Step 1. Mix with warm water into a thick paste.

Step 2. Cover with a shower cap.

Step 3. Let sit for 1–2 hours.

Step 4. Rinse with water only.

Step 5. Avoid shampoo for 24–48 hours.

6. Tints of Nature Organic Hair Color

This UK-based brand leans into organic ingredients, with 75% certified organic content and 95% naturally derived. It’s ammonia-free, resorcinol-free, and fitting for curly hair that needs less stripping and more nurturing.

Bonus: aloe vera, chamomile, and wheat protein keep strands soft and hydrated.

How to use:

Step 1. Shampoo hair with clarifying shampoo.

Step 2. Mix color and developer in the applicator bottle.

Step 3. Add to towel-dried hair, starting at the roots.

Step 4. Massage through to ends.

Step 5. Leave on for 30–40 minutes.

7. Herbatint Permanent Herbal Haircolor Gel

Think of this one as your European grandmother’s secret. It shows up in the best way. Free of ammonia and alcohol, it’s gentle but delivers vivid colour. Aloe, walnut, and echinacea support scalp health while keeping coils resilient.

How to use:

Step 1. Mix equal parts color and developer in a bowl.

Step 2. Start at the roots, then pull through.

Step 3. Process for 40 minutes.

Step 4. Rinse with water until clear.

8. Surya Brasil Henna Cream

This semi-permanent gem combines henna with fruits, herbs, and nourishing oils. Great for those avoiding peroxide and ammonia altogether, it conditions while it colours.

How to use:

Step 1. Shampoo and towel-dry your hair.

Step 2. Smooth cream directly, no mixing needed.

Step 3. Distribute evenly using gloved hands or a comb.

Step 4. Cover with a cap for 30–45 minutes.

Step 5. Rinse thoroughly. And style and moisturize as usual.

9. ONC NaturalColors Hair Dye

This salon-grade formula uses low heat to open the hair cuticle instead of aggressive chemicals like ammonia. It’s boosted with aloe, coconut oil, and chamomile and is a friend to curly and coily textures.

How to use:

Step 1. Mix colour and developer in a bowl.

Step 2. Add in sections with a brush.

Step 3. Cover with a shower cap and apply heat for 10 minutes.

Step 4. Let sit for 25 more minutes.

Step 5. Rinse and finish with conditioner.

10. Radico Colour Me Organic Hair Color

A 100% certified organic hair dye made from herbs like henna, indigo, amla, and bhringraj. It’s USDA-certified and ECOCERT-approved: your curls are safe. It won't lighten, but it will enhance and tone naturally, with beautiful earthy undertones.

How to use:

Step 1. Mix powder with warm water into a paste.

Step 2. Cover with a plastic cap.

Step 3. Let sit for 1.5 to 3 hours.

Step 4. Rinse thoroughly with water (no shampoo).

Step 5. Wait 48 hours before shampooing.

Finish up

If you're picturing a magical formula made of flower petals and oat milk that somehow covers grays, lifts color, and leaves your curls buttery soft... that fantasy’s still in the lab. Smart, cleaner alternatives that respect your scalp, honour your curl pattern, and don’t come with a side of ammonia-induced regret.

Each of these formulas skips the harshest offenders (PPD, ammonia, alcohol) and leans into plant-based conditioning agents that your coils will actually thank you for. So yes, “natural” might be a spectrum, not a fixed label.

FAQS

Q1: How to dye hair naturally without chemicals?

If you mean truly chemical-free, you’re looking at ancient beauty staples like henna, indigo, or even beet juice. These are literal plants, not lab formulas. They tint rather than transform, so don’t expect bleach-level magic but they nourish while they colour.

Q2: Which is the safest natural hair dye?

Surya Brasil Henna Cream and The Henna Guys top the list for their plant-first formulas with zero ammonia, peroxide, or PPD. They’re gentle on sensitive scalps, don’t mess with your curl pattern, and double as a deep-conditioning treatment.

Q3: How to cover grey hair without dying?

Welcome to the age of concealer for hair. Use tinted root touch-up powders, mascara-style cover-up wands, or even a bit of mineral makeup on a brush for a quick fix. It’s paint, not pigment.

Q4: How to protect natural hair after hair dye?

Start treating your hair like silk. Skip sulfates, load up on moisture (hello, deep conditioners and leave-ins), and seal with natural oils. Use low-heat tools like the Laifen Swift Special Hair Dryer that is fast, curl-friendly, and non-frying.

Lysira Moonwhisper

Lysira Moonwhisper is your go-to expert for all things hair—care tips, trendy styles, color tricks, and more. With years of experience writing for top beauty brands, Lysira brings insider knowledge straight to you in a fun, down-to-earth way. If it’s about hair, Lysira’s got the scoop you’ll actually use.