How to Find the Best Red
Best Red Hair Dye For Dark Hair, Unlike other hair dyes, this semi-permanent hair color does not contain ammonia or peroxide and instead uses keratin to nourish your melanin-rich locks.[1]It is also highly pigmented, delivering rich colors that last up to 36 shampoo washes.
This non-drip formula delivers rich red shades for dark hair and looks amazing on warm skin tones. It’s also formulated without ammonia, peroxide, parabens, and added fragrances.
Best For Gray Coverage
If your gray hair is starting to peek out from your rich chestnut locks, then you may want to consider a demi or semi-permanent hair color. These products gradually wash out over 28 washes and are better for your hair because they don’t use ammonia or a peroxide strong enough to lighten your strands before forcing in the dark pigments.[2]
A demi or semi-permanent dye is also a good option for people who are unsure about coloring their hair because it’s easier to get rid of if you decide that you don’t like the shade or don’t want to continue coloring your hair. However, you may find that your gray hair grows back faster because the hair dye doesn’t fully cover it.
To achieve the most natural-looking results, choose a semi-permanent red hair dye that is specially formulated to be gentle on your strands and cuticles. One such option is this ARCTIC FOX product in the shade Poison, which has a vibrant fire engine red hue that suits warm skin tones. [3]
It’s free of irritants such as ammonia, PPD, parabens, and peroxide, and it contains ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, Brazil nut oil, aloe vera leaf juice, jasmine extract, and Achillea millefolium extract to keep your strands healthy and moisturized.
A semi-permanent hair dye is also a good choice for those with thick, coily melanin-rich strands because it is less likely to bleed or cause damage. For this reason, this Soft-Sheen Carson Dark & Lovely kit is an excellent pick. Its creamy formula penetrates thick strands to give you a rich red hue that looks beautiful on 2A to 3C textured hair.[4] It also comes with nourishing ingredients such as shea, avocado, and olive oils to keep your strands healthy while you color them.
Best For Salon-Like Results
If you want your red hair to look vibrant, choose a semi-permanent dye that’s ammonia-free. One good option is Punky Fire’s Poppy Red hair dye, which gives a fiery fire-engine hue that looks stunning on cool skin tones. It also has added hair and scalp care ingredients, including keratin, silk amino acids, and vitamin B-5, to nourish your strands as it deposits color. It has a easy-to-apply glaze consistency, and you can use it with a brush or mix it into your conditioner for a quick color fix.
Another great option is L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Permanent Hair Dye in the shade Renegade Red, which has a vibrant, fire-engine hue that doesn’t wash off or fade with time. It’s formulated with a protective conditioner and contains no ammonia, peroxide, or PPD.[5]
The formula is easy to use and has a rich saturation, and it’s suitable for all levels of hair damage. You can use this hair dye to give your strands a deep and vibrant shade that lasts for up to 35 shampoo washes.
Manic Panic’s Vampire Red semi-permanent hair dye is another good choice for a vibrant red hue that won’t fade or wash out. This shade is ideal for dark hair, and it’s formulated with a conditioning ingredient to keep your strands soft and smooth. It’s also free of parabens and sulfate, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your strands.
If you’re looking for a rich, saturated red hue that won’t wash out or fade quickly, try Vidal Sassoon’s Merlot Vibrant Red hair dye. This semi-permanent hair color doesn’t contain ammonia, PPD, or resorcinol, and it’s available in a variety of shades to suit your tone. It also provides excellent gray coverage and leaves your hair smelling fresh and clean.[6]
Best Nourishing Formula
Whether you want to be bold with a coppery red or go for a cooler burgundy hue, there are plenty of options when it comes to finding the best red hair dye for dark hair. To help you make the best decision for your needs, consider how much you value your hair’s health and how long you want your new color to last before making a permanent or semi-permanent dye decision.[7]
Generally, permanent hair dyes require bleaching to lift your natural pigment and open your hair cuticles so the dye can deposit in between each strand. This is the most invasive way to color your hair and can leave it dry and damaged, so if you’re thinking about going for a permanent change, consult a professional.
If you’re looking to make a subtler switch, a semi-permanent boxed hair dye is the safest option for your dark locks. Look for a formula that is free of ammonia and peroxide since these chemicals can be damaging to your locks over time. Also look for hair dyes that are nourishing and have ingredients like Shea butter, avocado oil, and vitamin E.
For a vibrant cherry red shade that can take your looks to a whole other level, try Manic Panic’s Vampire Red Dye.[8] This nourishing semi-permanent hair color has a conditioner in the formula to keep your locks soft and hydrated. It’s also formulated without parabens and sulfates. The cool thing about this red hair dye is that it fades after a few shampoo washes and doesn’t leave any brassiness in your locks.
Regardless of the shade you choose, the most important thing to remember is that it takes a while for your at-home hair dye to develop, especially on dark hair. So don’t rush the process, take your time, and be sure to use a heat protectant and gloves to avoid staining your skin or hands. It’s also a good idea to use a clarifying shampoo or color-depositing conditioner after coloring to maintain your shine and prevent premature fading.
Best Long-Lasting Formula
If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge with a permanent dye, consider this semi-permanent formula from Arctic Fox. It gets rave reviews on Amazon for its ability to condition your strands while depositing vibrant color.[9] The ammonia-free hair dye has over 45,000 perfect five-star ratings and comes in two red shades that will add multi-dimensional hints of color to your strands. The shade “wrath” is more true red, while the shade “poison” has more of an orange base.
The richly pigmented hair dye is fortified with shea, olive, and argan oil to deeply nourish your strands while coloring them. The conditioning treatment ensures that your strands retain the pigment and keep the hue from bleeding or fading, so you can enjoy your red hair color for as long as possible.
Another way to extend the life of your red hair is to avoid washing it with warm water. Warm water opens up your strands’ cuticles, which can cause the color to wash out faster. Use cold or lukewarm water when washing your hair to keep it looking bright and fresh.[10]
It’s also important to use a shampoo and conditioner that are formulated for color-treated hair. These products will help elongate the life of your red hair color and prevent fade-outs. The best hair care products for red hair include shampoos that target brassiness, balancing conditioners, and shine-enhancing serums. You should also make sure to use petroleum jelly on your skin to protect it from staining while you’re coloring your strands.
Best Ammonia-Free Hair Color
If you’re going for a dark red hair dye, opt for this semi-permanent formula that provides rich and vibrant results without the use of harsh chemicals. It’s free from PPD, ammonia, parabens, resorcinol, mineral oil, and fragrance. The formula is also enriched with ingredients that nourish your strands so they stay healthy while you’re changing up your look.[11]
This color is also gentle enough for people with sensitive scalps and it can be used on any hair type. It also helps to cover gray hairs effectively, making it a great option for anyone who wants to keep their natural hair color but wants to cover up those pesky flecks. If you want a vibrant, bold red shade, this is a good choice because it’s one of the few dyes that will give you a vivid red without bleaching your hair first.
The dye comes in several different shades of red and it’s suitable for all skin tones. It’s also formulated to help prevent fading and it’s a great option for those who are looking for a long-lasting hair color that will last through multiple shampoo washes.
The conditioners in this hair dye are derived from shea, olive, and avocado oils. They deeply nourish your strands so they’re ready to take on the color, and the semi-permanent formula gives you rich results that will stay vibrant for up to 35 shampoo washes. [12]
If you have coily, melanin-rich Afro hair, this is a great dye to try because it’s safe for the texture and it doesn’t wash out after just a few shampoo washes. It’s also a good option for those who are considering a permanent hair dye down the road because it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals.
Top Choice
If you’re thinking of going red but have naturally dark hair, it can be a challenge to find the right shade. That’s because dark hair has more melanin and less porosity than lighter strands, so it requires more work to get the color right. Fortunately, there are a number of products that can help you achieve the perfect red look for your skin tone.[13]
One of the best red hair dyes for dark hair is Manic Panic’s Vampire Red. This semi-permanent hair color does not require a developer and can be used on bleached or virgin tresses. It also boasts an amplified formula that delivers thrice the amount of pigment for a vibrant, rich hue.
Another top-rated red hair dye for dark hair is Schwarzkopf’s keratin color cream. This intense color provides a deep crimson color that’s ideal for both warm and cool tones. It’s formulated with K-Bond Plex conditioner to deeply nourish your strands and prevent damage. Additionally, it contains hydrolyzed collagen to increase elasticity and protect your strands from dryness.[14]
For those who are too fickle for commitment, there is a temporary red hair dye for dark hair that can be applied in just a few minutes. L’Oreal Paris’ Colorista Temporary Hair Color Spray can add an outstanding red hue to even the darkest strands, but it’s not permanent. The formula is gentle on the strands and fades gradually.
For those looking for a more long-term solution, consider L’Oreal’s Feria Power Reds line of semi-permanent hair dyes. This colorant has a nourishing formula and is free from ammonia, PPD, parabens, and sulfates. It’s available in a range of vivid shades, including fire-engine red, and the color lasts up to 35 shampoo washes. In addition, this formula is fortified with glycerin and fruit oils to promote healthy, vibrant locks.[15]
Best Chemical-Free
If you want to avoid the ammonia-based hair dyes that can cause dry and brittle strands, then look for a semi-permanent formula that’ll deposit color without the harsh chemicals. This one from Manic Panic deposits rich cherry and burgundy shades on dark hair for four to six weeks, with no ammonia or peroxide. It’s also fortified with conditioners, including avocado, olive, and shea oils, so it will leave your tresses silky smooth and nourished.[16]
The other alternative is this natural hair dye from EarthDye, which uses plant ingredients and extracts to create a bright red shade that’s free of PPD, ammonia, metallic salts, parabens, phthalates, and other chemical ingredients. Its color-lock technology keeps the pigments from fading too quickly, while the blend of nourishing and moisturizing ingredients will help keep your locks hydrated and healthy.
You can use this non-toxic dye on any length or texture of hair, but it’s particularly suited for short and medium hair because the color will fade less as your roots grow out. It’s available in a variety of red hues and you can mix it with other EarthDye colors to create your own custom shades, too.[17]
According to Mirko Vergani, a colorist at Fabio Scalia Salon in New York City, people with dark hair tend to look best with darker shades of red. That doesn’t mean lighter reds are off the table, but you’ll likely need to bleach your hair first. If you do decide to go with a lighter shade, make sure to follow a tutorial or talk to a professional stylist to get the best results.
If you’re a complete amateur when it comes to coloring your hair, this easy-to-use spray-on hair dye might be your perfect match. It only takes a minute to apply and washes out after just one shower, making it ideal for music festivals, Halloween costumes, or cosplay conventions. The formula is also free of PPD and ammonia, so it won’t damage your strands even if you don’t know what you’re doing.
This permanent hair color from Schwarzkopf is another good choice for dark-haired redheads, thanks to its deep crimson tone that can hide gray hairs while still looking natural. It requires a bit more time and effort than other liquid hair dyes because you’ll need to mix it with a developer, but its devotees swear by it for its vibrant color that lasts up to 10 weeks. [18]The kit includes a tint brush, bowl, and hair dye developer to get started.
Best Easy-To-Use Hair Color
Red hair is a bold choice that can really turn heads. But it can be difficult to find the right shade if you have naturally dark hair. Fortunately, there are several red hair dyes that can work well on dark hair. Some of them even come in semi-permanent formulas that will last longer than traditional permanent hair dyes.
However, you should be prepared to bleach your hair before using any of these products. This is because most dark hair dyes require a developer to lift the original pigment and open the cuticles of your hair to deposit the new color. You may also want to use a conditioning mask or conditioner to prevent dryness and damage to your hair during the coloring process.[19]
If you are a beginner when it comes to dyeing your hair, you might want to start with a temporary red hair color. These are usually free of ammonia and peroxide, so they will not damage your hair as much as the permanent hair dyes. You can also buy hair dyes that have added moisturizers and vitamins to keep your hair healthy during the dying process. These colors are also easy to apply and wash out.
For those looking to go for a more vibrant shade of red, you can try the Manic Panic Amplified Hair Dye. This product does not need a developer, so it is less damaging than other red hair dyes. It will also give you a more vibrant shade of red that can be mixed with other shades to create custom hues.[20]
Another great option is the Adore Shining Semi-permanent Hair Color. This dye has a liquid glaze-like consistency, so it is very easy to apply. It is also fortified with hydrolyzed collagen, glycerin, and aloe vera to nourish and protect your hair during the coloring process. This product is available in a variety of different red tones, so you can choose the shade that best matches your skin tone.
For those who are not ready to commit to a red hair color, you can try a blue hair dye for dark hair. This will help you achieve a more subtle look, but it will still show up on dark hair. This blue hair dye is free of ammonia and peroxide, and it will not damage your hair as much as a traditional permanent hair dye.
Best Permanent Hair color
For anyone who wants to go a permanent shade of red, it’s important that you find a hair dye that is formulated for your specific hair type. This Schwarzkopf dye is ideal for dark hair because it has a keratin color cream that helps to protect and nourish your strands during the coloring process. Additionally, the dye is also infused with hydrolyzed collagen that helps to increase the elasticity of your strands for a healthier and more vibrant finish.
If you’re looking for a darker blue shade, this Garnier hair dye is another option. This dye leaves a subtle tint of blue on black or very dark hair, so it’s a good choice for people who want a more natural look than a bold and bright shade of blue. This dye also has a conditioning formula and contains no ammonia or peroxide, making it safer for your hair than most other hair dyes on the market.
Semi-permanent hair dyes are a great option for dark hair because they will provide a rich and warm tone without damaging your strands. They are available in a variety of shades, from deep chestnut to burgundy, and they work well on pre-lightened hair because they don’t require bleaching.
When it comes to choosing a semi-permanent hair dye, it’s important to read the label carefully and follow all instructions. Many of these dyes will tell you to apply the shade a few inches away from your roots, as this will help prevent brassy undertones from showing up. Some semi-permanent hair dyes may also recommend using a leave-in conditioner and heat protector to help preserve your color and keep it vibrant.
Temporary dyes are a great option for people who want to try out fun unicorn shades without having to commit to a permanent change. These dyes sit on the surface of your hair and can be washed out in up to a week or two. However, they are not as effective at covering gray strands or going a lot lighter than your current hair color.
