Gone are the times when hair dyes were only reserved for the old ones. Now, they’re a fashion trend that has transcended the boundaries of age.
Also, you’re no longer at the mercy of your hairdresser, with no say in what hair dye to use. The time when you could only pick the color is long gone. Thankfully!
You can now choose hair dyes, considering their ingredients. And there are many that meet the vegan criteria.
Like always, I have found some of the best ones for you.
Read on to learn about some of the best vegan hair dye brands and more about hair dyes.
Why are Hair Dyes Not Vegan? Animal Ingredients in Hair Dyes
It’s sad but true that an overwhelming majority of hair dyes still either contain animal derivatives and/or are tested on animals. So, they are not fit for vegans. Some of the animal ingredients commonly found in hair dyes are:
- Keratin
- Casein (used as a conditioning ingredient)
- Lanolin
- Glycerine
- Vitamin A
- Squalene
- Stearic Acid
- Carmine ( found in red dyes or colors that are made using red dye)
- Ammonia – it’s not always non-vegan but typically derived from urea, which is a type of animal protein.
Vegan Hair Dyes Aren’t Always Cruelty-Free
We have discussed it several times in our posts on cosmetics and personal care items, but it’s something worth reiterating every now and then. When shopping for vegan items, it’s important to remember that animal-free isn’t the same as cruelty-free.
A product (hair dye, in this case) can be vegan, i.e., containing no animal ingredients or derivatives, but it may still be tested on animals.
So, if you’re genuinely concerned about animal welfare and safety, it’s important to consider both the vegan and cruelty-free status of hair dye brands.
For your convenience, the ones I have picked meet both criteria. Let’s take a look at them, shall we?
7 of the Best Vegan Hair Dye Brands
My top picks for vegan hair color brands include:
1. Bleach London (LINK)
Whether you’re looking for a massive transformation through hair color or want a color that reflects your vibrant personality, Bleach London hair colors can offer a great line of options.
Not only does the brand offers an interesting range of hair dyes, but they are also semi-permanent, allowing you to experiment with different colors more often than usual.
Bleach London is vegan and cruelty-free. It’s also taking the lead in the hair dye industry to use recycled and recyclable packaging, which shows its commitment to improving the environment.
In a recent move, the brand has also eliminated single-use bowls and brushes from its home hair color kits to minimize the use of plastic.
It’s a conscious brand with 12 beautiful and unusual colors in its semi-permanent range. There are colors like pink, blue, aqua, orange, red, yellow, and violet.
If these are your kind of colors or you want to try them out, get yourself a Bleach London vegan hair dye.
Bleach London’s semi-permanent vegan hair dyes typically last for up to three washes, making them a perfect choice for events and occasions when you feel like jazzing up your appearance with vibrant colors.
The brand also offers a variety of other hair products used in coloring, such as bleaching kits and toners.
2. Manic Panic (LINK)
If you want a semi-permanent hair dye that lasts longer than Bleach London, buy Manic Panic vegan hair colors.
Manic Panic has been making vegan hair dyes since the late 70s when they weren’t as trendy as they are today. So, you can expect them to really know what they are doing.
Moreover, it is a women-owned brand, so you can also rest assured that the people behind the brand know women’s unique hair struggles and needs. The brand doesn’t only target women, though.
Manic Panic hair colors are for everyone, regardless of age or gender.
Manic Panic’s vegan semi-permanent hair dyes last about 4 to 6 weeks and come in an extensive range of colors.
There are a whopping 51 gorgeous color options ranging from bold to pastels. Whether you’re in for a bold color and a massive transformation or a more subtle hair makeover, Manic Panic hair dyes are a great option.
In addition to being vegan and cruelty-free, the hair dye brand is ammonia and peroxide free. Its colors also do not contain parabens and phthalates, making them a much safer option for your delicate hair.
Manic Panic vegan hair dyes are also easy to apply. They come in a creamy consistency and require no mixing, making their application a simple and hassle-free task that literally anyone can do at home.
The colors work great on both virgin and pretreated hair and, being made with a natural formula, do not damage your hair with harsh chemicals. They also do not penetrate the hair cortex but rest on the top of the hair shaft, so your hair structure remains intact.
While Manic Panic vegan-friendly hair dyes are for all types of hair, some user reviews suggest that they do not take really well on very dark hair. If you fall into this category, you may consider bleaching your hair before the color application for better results.
You can even mix different shades of Manic Panic vegan semi-permanent hair dye to make your own unique shade.
The brand also offers vegan hair bleaching kits and temporary color sprays.
3. Naturtint (LINK)
For those looking for permanent vegan dyes for grey hair coverage, Naturtinit makes one of the best options.
As one of the first permanent hair colors to go vegan and ammonia-free, Naturtint is the OG of the vegan hair dye industry.
The brand is also cruelty-free and offers a range of 36 gorgeous shades that can be used on their own or combined together to create custom shades. People call it the best permanent vegan hair dye brand for a reason.
Naturtint vegan hair dyes aren’t just ammonia-free; they are also free of heavy metals, resorcinol, sodium Laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and artificial fragrance.
Instead, the colors are enriched with a range of hair-beneficial plant-derived ingredients. Some of them include Oleic Acid, vitamin E, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, and sunflower extract that help nourish and moisturize the hair and make them super soft, frizz-free, and shiny.
Naturtint also offers 100% grey hair coverage with natural-looking long-lasting results.
4. Arctic Fox (LINK)
Another great brand for vegan hair dyes is the widely known Arctic Fox, established by the ardent animal lover and cruelty-free devotee Kristen Leanne, who people know as a vlogger.
The brand offers a range of semi-permanent hair dyes and hair-lightening kits that are not just animal-friendly but safe for humans as well. The dyes are free of harsh chemicals and gentle and safe enough for frequent use.
They contain no PPDs, ammonia, peroxide, or alcohol that can dry out your hair. Instead, they contain natural conditioning ingredients to keep your hair hydrated and soft.
The color range includes a variety of vivid, bright, prismatic shades that make a great tool for self-expression and having a bit of fun with your hair. The semi-permanent hair dyes are premixed and hence, easy to apply, making a great choice for a quick hair transformation at home.
Having been established in 2014 only, Arctic Fox may not be as old as several other hair color brands, but it has successfully managed to build a great reputation for itself in the safe, plant-based hair dye category with its amazing quality products.
Check out the following video for a quick review of Arctic Fox vegan hair dye…
Arctic Fox isn’t just a vegan and cruelty-free brand; it also contributes to reducing animal cruelty by donating 15% of its profits to organizations working for its prevention.
The bright colors and deep hues of Arctic Fox’s natural vegan hair dyes will not only make you feel beautiful and invigorated but also gives you a happy feeling knowing that you didn’t harm any animal by choosing to color your hair.
5. Tints of Nature (LINK)
Labeled by many as the best natural vegan hair dye, Tints of Nature is a brand that takes both its customers’ hair health and environmental safety quite seriously.
Tints of Nature hair dyes are 100% vegan, natural, and organic and come in both semi-permanent and permanent formulations. It doesn’t get any better than this.
Whether you’re looking for a fashion dye or one that offers excellent grey hair coverage and also stays for a while, Tints of Nature will make an excellent choice.
The semi-permanent formulas are henna-based, whereas the permanent ones are created using a range of carefully selected plant ingredients.
The brand also offers lightening kits to help naturally brighten dull hair, along with a slight uplift to the color.
Tints of Nature is a UK-based brand, but its hair dyes are available in many different parts of the world, including the US.
6. Henna Color Lab (LINK)
Long before the world got its first commercial hair dye, people relied upon henna to cover their gray hair and/or dye them in a gorgeous red/orange shade. It’s been used as a natural hair dye for centuries.
And if you use pure variety, henna doesn’t cause any damage to your hair. Instead, it can nourish them and make them shinier.
Henna Color Lab uses this tried and tested natural hair dye to make colors that people can use confidently without worrying about hair damage. The brand has worked with henna to create a range of different colors.
There are about 10 color options, apart from the classic orange, including indigo, mahogany, wine red, ginger blonde, and shades of brown.
As per the brand, the dyes not only give your hair a beautiful color, but they also condition and nourish the scalp, detoxify follicles, and smooth the split ends, making Henna Color Lab dyes an excellent choice for your hair.
The brand also offers natural beard dyes, hair treatments, shampoos, conditioners, hair treatments, and a few skincare products.
Needless to say, Henna Color Lab is a 100% vegan and cruelty-free hair dye brand. All of its ingredients are also ethically sourced, making the brand a good choice for those concerned about the environment as well.
7. Lime Crime (LINK)
Lime Crime is a PETA-certified vegan and cruelty-free hair dye brand popular for its bright, bold, strikingly beautiful, and unique unicorn range that those who’re up for experimenting love the most.
The brand strongly advocates self-expression and helps people do it through its big, bold, vibrant rainbow hues.
However, it also offers a range of pastel shades for those who aren’t up for dying their hair in rainbow colors.
Lime Crime vegan hair dyes come in a semi-permanent formulation in lighter tint and full coverage variations. The full coverage range is highly pigmented and has over 20 gorgeous shades to choose from.
The dyes are gentle enough not to cause any harm to your hair. They also do not require a developer or toner. The dyes are also bleach-free.
In addition to being PETA-approved, Lime Crime also carries Leaping Bunny certification, making it a perfect choice for all animal lovers; vegan or not.
Vegan Hair Dyes FAQs
● Are L’Oreal hair dyes vegan?
L’Oreal has a line of vegan hair dyes called Botanea. The collection was launched in 2017 and is 100% plant-based. Having said that, L’Oreal, as a brand, is not fully vegan.
There are also controversies regarding its ‘no-animal testing’ claim, with many saying that it is misleading. While the company doesn’t perform animal testing itself, it has never denied paying the Chinese government to conduct the testing.
● Is Schwarzkopf hair dye vegan?
There is a range of Schwarzkopf vegan hair dyes. It’s called Vegetal. However, the brand itself is not 100% vegan.
● Are henna hair dyes vegan?
Yes. Henna-based hair dyes are typically vegan. However, it’s best to check the full list of ingredients to ensure it doesn’t have any anima-derived component.
Conclusion
Hair dyes can be a tool for self-expression, fashion trend, or grey hair coverage. Whatever purpose you may want to use them for, look for vegan and cruelty-free labels to make sure you aren’t going against your ideological commitment.
All the hair dye brands that I have listed above meet the criteria. Choose any of them and color your hair fearlessly.
