The 16 Best At-Home Hair Dyes for Professional Results (2024)

An ammonia-free formula that contains plant-derived pigments and oils like jojoba and coconut oil, Phyto was the winner of the GH Beauty Lab's most recent at-home hair color test. It provided the richest, most uniform and truest color, and users found that it lasted longer than all others tested. The formula left hair feeling the softest after application and was the least messy dye and the overall tester favorite.

An impressive 100% of testers agreed that it gave rich and even color results. The kit also ranked best for ease of preparation; not being messy; producing a shade that matched the color on the box and lasted; and leaving hair feeling nourished. “The best hair color I have ever used, including professional,” a user raved. Several testers said that it left their hair shiny. A caveat: the shade range is not as extensive as that of other brands.

Revlon’s ammonia-free boxed hair color came out near its pricier competition in terms of performance in GH Beauty Lab testing. Despite its low cost, it earned the highest scores in numerous categories. Testers gave this drugstore dye top marks for having clear instructions, being simple to prepare and rinse out, having a minimal aroma, and making hair appear smooth and shiny.

Take note, though, that it wasn’t the best at covering grays compared to other formulas and some users needed more than one box to cover their hair. Several users commented on how effortless it was to apply and the “beautiful color” it produced (true to its name). “It made my hair soft, shiny and nourished,” one marveled.

Just like in the salon, ESalon's professional colorists create a customized hair color just for you and your hair needs, which is then shipped to your door for application at home. It was a top performer in the GH Beauty Lab's at-home hair color test for providing the desired shade, giving rich and even results, and leaving hair looking silky and feeling nourished, although it didn't provide as good gray coverage or resist fading as well as other custom hair color brands in Lab testing.

Former GH Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D, is a fan of the service and another former GH Beauty Lab scientist called it "a great option if you want the customization you get from working with a hair colorist and the convenience and savings of doing it yourself at home." It "felt very personalized — the service, the color I wanted, the emails with helpful info and tips," a tester raved. "Very nice packaging with all the pieces labeled; my hair felt soft and healthy and looked so shiny when I was done!"

Mild but mighty, this Zotos Professional dye fully camouflaged even stubborn grays and resisted fading better than the rest in Lab assessments. It was the gentlest formulation and comes in a wide array of shades, from icy blondes to deep crimsons and inky blacks. The formula provided the best coverage of gray hair and most closely matched the shade shown, Lab testing found.

In a comparison of just-dyed human hair samples versus those exposed to 20 wash/dry cycles and 10 hours of UVA light (simulating four weeks of wear), the color faded the least per measurements of color change with the VeriVide DigiEye system. Users also rated it top for not irritating. (A drawback: the starter kit and hair color are sold separately.) “Natural-looking, beautiful, lasting coverage,” a tester remarked.

In GH Beauty Lab testing, experts found that Clairol Nice 'n Easy was the best pick for light hair and has a gentler, more conditioning formula. While all brands tested for blonde shades have only scored average (or worse) for covering up gray, this stood out for fade resistance and keeping its shine.

In Lab evaluations, it scored high for giving a natural look, 79% of testers said it left their hair soft and shiny and 90% said it didn’t cause irritation. The hair color also comes in a huge range of 50 shades from very light blonde to dark blue-black. "Easy to apply and left hair extremely soft, even without conditioner," a tester reported.

A top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing, Garnier's permanent color is made with no ammonia and a high concentration of nourishing oil so it's gentle on hair that's damaged from treatments like keratin or thinning strands. The formula scored high for its pleasant non-chemical scent, ease of rinsing and not irritating, and it didn't fade over weeks after application.

It didn't perform as well as others at increasing hair's shine, though. "Made my hair feel extremely healthy and looked very natural," one tester raved. Another remarked: "My hair texture was softer from the use of this product compared to others."

Test out a new hair shade or refresh the one you have as you deep condition strands with Moroccanoil’s innovative temporary color-depositing mask, a GH Beauty Award winner. The formula left strands evenly colored seven minutes after application and feeling soft and silky, GH Beauty Lab testing on hair samples found.

It's available in a selection of both neutral and bold shades, although some users found the color came out a different tone than shown on their hair. (Try doing a patch test on a small section of hair that's hidden before applying all over.)

For a personalized at-home hair color experience, turn to ammonia-free Madison Reed, which changed the game with its online service that offers custom shade recommendations delivered to your door and video consultations with pro colorists. It outperformed other custom-color kits at being simple to use and not messy, having an unobtrusive scent, not causing irritation and resisting fading.

In Lab evaluations, 100% of testers agreed that the selection process was seamless, the color was easy to prepare, application wasn’t messy and the scent wasn’t offensive. Among the personalized dyes, it concealed grays best (though not as well as traditional boxed hair color) and faded the least in Lab measurements on hair samples. Many testers noted that applying it was an effortless, “pleasant experience” and that their hair felt “healthy” after use.

For a less messy DIY dye experience, turn to this L'Oréal Paris kit, which was a strong performer in GH Beauty Lab testing. It ranked near the top in several areas: not being messy during application, successfully covering grays and delivering color that lasted.

Some drawbacks included that it didn't score well for fade resistance in Lab assessments or with consumer testers for leaving hair looking smooth. Many testers commented on how easy it was to apply; others praised "the color saturation" and that it "looked so rich and beautiful."

In GH Beauty Lab testing, this Schwarzkopf dye was a star in deep shades like brown and black. These dark hair colors were true to the images on the packaging, the best at initial gray coverage and showed the least fading over 20 wash-and-dry cycles and 10 hours of UV exposure, simulating four weeks of wear. (Note that its lighter blonde shade didn't perform as well and it didn't score as highly for leaving hair soft and not being messy.)

It ranked highly with users at having instructions and an applicator that were easy to use, covering grays completely, providing even color and having a non-offensive scent. The color was "rich and uniform" and "didn't look like it was from a box," two testers marveled.

All hair color fades, but it's especially noticeable with fantasy colors. These color-depositing conditioners from Overtone are an easy way to keep less natural shades vibrant. Made in a wide array of fun and pretty colors, it's intended to replace your normal daily conditioner to maintain unique hair color (though isn't meant to conceal grays).

"Unlike traditional conditioners for colored hair, it actually adds color when you use it, rather than just help preserve the shade," Seymour, who tried the formula, explains.

RELATED: Does Overtone Hair Dye Actually Work on Brown Hair?

The GH Beauty Lab regularly tests at-home hair dye with both consumer testers and in controlled Lab tests. In the Lab, our scientists dye human hair samples in black, brown, red and blonde shades and visually evaluate each for color results and gray hair coverage.

They then assess each hair dye's color retention with a series of tests including 20 wash and dry cycles using the Swatch Wash Station and 10 hours of UVA light exposure with the Q-Lab QUV Accelerated Weathering Tester (simulating four weeks of wear). Finally, Beauty Lab scientists measure color change in the dyed hair samples using the VeriVide DigiEye system to determine how much each faded over time.

Boxed dyes are also sent to a panel of women all over the country who evaluate them on factors such as ease of preparation and application, scent and color performance, including gray coverage, color richness, uniformity and accuracy compared to the image on the box. They provide real-life feedback on resulting hair shine, softness and smoothness, as well as color fade over four weeks after application.

The GH Beauty Lab's most recent at-home hair color test included 136 consumer testers and 160 human hair swatches. In total, Lab scientists exposed colored hair samples to UVA light for 800 hours and tallied 2,712 consumer survey responses.

Here's what you'll want in a typical at-home hair color kit (and should have on hand before application), according to GH Beauty Lab experts:

✔️ Hair color: This container holds a blend of the alkalizer and the dye precursors, the molecules that form the final color molecules in hair.
✔️ Developer: Usually housed in an applicator bottle, the developer contains hydrogen peroxide and is mixed with the hair color before application.
✔️ Instructions: Each product is different, so read the directions fully before use to familiarize yourself with the process, and follow them closely for best results. Lay out tools before starting for easy access.
✔️ Gloves: One set is often included to protect skin from dye, but have extra gloves on hand just in case you need to switch them out for a different size or a fresh pair.
✔️ Applicators: Most kits come with an applicator bottle in which the developer and the color are shaken together. Some also include a mixing tray or bowl and applicator brush. If not included, gather a bowl to dispense the dye into, an applicator brush and clips to section hair to ensure even coverage.
✔️ Extras: Kits may have packets or tubes of color-protecting shampoo, conditioner or a deep-conditioning treatment to enhance the result. Some also include color-remover wipes to sweep away dye splatters and a shower cap to slip over your hair while the dye processes to prevent dripping. (If not, GH Beauty Lab pros recommend having your own ready.)

Choose your hair dye formula based on how long you want the color to last and your desired results. Aral shares a quick primer:

• Permanent: This dye often contains ammonia (to open hair’s cuticle) mixed with a developer (hydrogen peroxide) to lift and deposit pigment, changing the hair’s color until it grows out. This dye lasts the longest and is best for covering grays.
• Demi-permanent: Ammonia-free, it deposits dye with a developer and lasts up to 24 shampoos for subtle enhancement and blending of regrowth.
• Semi-permanent: It has no ammonia or developer and deposits dye only to soften gray or boost color, lasting through about six to eight washes.
• Temporary: This is both ammonia- and developer-free, which means it's the least damaging hair dye. Large color molecules adhere to the outer layer of strands and can be washed out in one to two shampoos.