The 13 Best Drugstore Hair Dyes, Approved by Stylists

Best Overall

Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Dye

$32 at Amazon $8 at Walmart

Active Ingredients: Ethanolamine, coconut oil, aloe vera | Type: Demi-permanent | Shades: 38 | Cruelty-Free: No

Coloring your hair at home can be intimidating, especially if you're worried about potential damage or being stuck with an unintentional permanent hue. But with Clairol Natural Instincts, you can put all your boxed dye fears at ease. We love that the non-fumey formula is ammonia-free and boasts a conditioning, moisturizing blend coconut oil and aloe vera. (Its active ingredient is ethanolamine, which doesn't have the strong smell of ammonia but may still be harsh on hair.)

Ten minutes is all it takes to work its magic—way less time than you'd spend sitting in a salon chair. The result? Hair that looks radiant with enhanced color and shine. And since it's demi-permanent, the results will last roughly 28 washes.

Best Oil-Based

Garnier Olia Oil Permanent Hair Color

$10 at Amazon $9 at Target $10 at Walmart

Active Ingredients: Sunflower oil, meadowfoam oil, passion flower oil, camellia oil | Type: Permanent | Shades: 38 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Achieving permanent, vibrant hair color without ammonia or ethanolamine is possible, but it really depends on the formula. Garnier Olia is an oil-based drugstore hair dye that uses plant oils to create rich, dimensional color by sending pigments deep into the hair shaft—no strong odors or harsh chemicals necessary. While the results are supposed to be permanent, we should mention that the coverage may not last as long as ammonia-based options.

Best Brunette Shades

John Frieda Precision Foam Colour

$12 at Target $12 at Walmart

Active Ingredients: Ammonium bicarbonate | Type: Permanent | Shades: 13 | Cruelty-Free: No

Brunette shades can be tricky to get right with a box dye—the lighter shades especially can skew orange. John Frieda's Precision Foam Colour is different, though. It's available in several natural brunette shades ranging from luminous black to medium chestnut to cool-toned light brown. We like that the unique foam doesn't drip like creams and liquids, allowing for easy application and precise coverage exactly where you want it. Just know the processing time is a bit longer than other kits we've tried.

Best Blonde Shades

Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Creme

View on Amazon $9 at Walmart $10 at Riteaid.com

Active Ingredients: Ethanolamine, plant oils, shea butter | Type: Permanent | Shades: 36 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This little box does it all: You can cover grays, lighten dark roots, or try a new hue altogether, but we like it best for blondes. Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Creme comes in 36 colors, including several blonde shades—from golden honey to super-light ash to medium dirty blonde. The permanent formula conditions and nourishes with shea butter​, grapeseed, and avocado oil to help minimize damage and leave you with soft, shiny, vibrant hair. We have noticed all that oil makes the dye a bit drippy, so be sure you're putting towels down when you apply it.

Best for Natural Hair

Dark and Lovely Hair Color

$5 at Amazon $5 at Target

Active Ingredients: Shea, avocado, and olive oil | Type: Permanent | Shades: 21 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Whether you have relaxed or natural hair, you can switch up your hair color at home with this formula specifically designed for your hair type. This drugstore-favorite comes in more than 20 shades, offers full gray coverage, and delivers vibrant hues that last up to eight weeks. Best of all, it's packed with shea, avocado, and olive oil to condition your hair and leave it soft and shiny.

Best Black Shades

Clairol Nice'n Easy Blend of 3 Tones & Highlights

$8 at Amazon $8 at Target $8 at Walmart

Active Ingredients: Ammonium hydroxide, amino acids | Type: Demi-permanent | Shades: 50 | Cruelty-Free: No

This kit from Clairol's Nice'n Easy drugstore line comes in 50 shades, including several black hues. Beyond true black, there's comic book-inspired blue black, deep cherry black, plum black, and natural-looking brown black. We like that the clever formula combines three colors to help you achieve a stunning multidimensional effect that shimmers and shines. What's more, the demi-permanent formula lasts only eight weeks, so you won't have to bleach out the super dark shade if you change your mind down the road. Just know this formula does contain ammonia which can be damaging and smell strong.

Best Red Shades

Revlon Colorsilk Permanent Hair Color

$14 at Amazon $4 at Target $4 at Walmart

Active Ingredients: Ethanolamine, hydrogen peroxide, amino acids, keratin | Type: Permanent | Shades: 42 | Cruelty-Free: No

Red hair dye tends to fade fast, so you'll want a formula with major staying power—and this one does the trick. Revlon Colorsilk combines multiple active ingredients (ethanolamine and hydrogen peroxide) to deliver a natural look with a multi-tonal color from root to tip. The combination of keratin and amino acids helps minimize damage while strengthening hair and leaving it soft and shiny. That said, hydrogen peroxide can be drying, and the processing time for this color is lengthier than some others we've tried.

Best for Root Touch-Ups

Clairol Nice'n Easy Root Touch-Up

$16 at Amazon $8 at Target $8 at Walmart

Active Ingredients: Cocamide MEA, phenylenediamine | Type: Permanent | Shades: 15 | Cruelty-Free: No

Anyone who colors their hair on the regular knows that roots are a pain, and would love to make them disappear. Whether you always opt for at-home color or usually see a professional for root touch-ups, this kit is a stellar DIY option that can help you go longer between treatments. The permanent color cream seamlessly blends into your natural shade and even delivers complete gray coverage at the roots and temples. The precision brush makes it a cinch to apply, and you only have to leave it on for 10 minutes. We just wish there was a wider shade range.

Best Semi-Permanent

Schwarzkopf Color Boost Vibrancy Booster

$6 at Amazon $5 at Walmart

Active Ingredients: Pigments | Type: Semi-permanent | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: No

Whether you're a DIY newbie or want to give your color a boost without necessarily changing it much, a semi-permanent formula is the way to go. This is one of our favorites, as it's super easy to use and conveniently customizable. Just add one to five drops of the solution to your regular conditioner, work it through your hair, let it sit for five minutes, then rinse out to reveal a more vibrant color and enhanced tone. That said, there aren't a ton of shades available.

Best Gloss

Kristin Ess Signature Hair Gloss

$15 at Amazon $15 at Ulta $15 at Target

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide, cocamide, antioxidant complex | Type: Gloss | Shades: 9 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Hair gloss technically isn't hair dye. It deposits a wash of pigment onto color-treated strands to extend the life of hair dye, enhance your natural color, or change up your natural color slightly. Glosses also leave a noticeable shine in their wake. We're big fans of this kit from Kristin Ess, which you can use in the shower for a quick dullness fix and color boost. We like that this ammonia-free formula doesn't have a strong chemical odor, but wish it came in more shades.

Best Ammonia-Free

Schwarzkopf Simply Color

$10 at Amazon $13 at Target $12 at Walmart

Active Ingredients: Ethanolamine, oat milk, soy protein, argan oil | Type: Permanent | Shades: 11 | Cruelty-Free: No

Ammonia is an effective hair color ingredient—in both at-home and in-salon color treatments. It elevates the pH in your hair so the cuticles open on each strand, allowing color to be deposited inside. Unfortunately, it can take a toll on your hair and may irritate sensitive skin.

Schwarzkopf Simply Color is not only free of ammonia but also silicone and alcohol. (Just a heads up, the active ingredient in this hair dye is ethanolamine, which doesn't smell as strong as ammonia, but it can be harsh on strands if left on too long or used frequently.) It offers great color payoff and permanent results that resist fading.

Best Professional Kit

Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit

$30 at Amazon $30 at Ulta $30 at Target

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide, ethanolamine, keratin, argan oil | Type: Permanent | Shades: 36 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

"The only at-home hair color I would recommend for use when in a pinch is Madison Reed," says professional colorist Felicia Dosso. She likes that the brand's products are generally gentler than other boxed dyes. This comprehensive kit includes a cream color, a conditioning activator, a squeeze bottle, barrier cream, a cleansing wipe, and single-use shampoo and conditioner. We just don't love that it contains ethanolamine and PEGs (synthetic petrochemicals that enhance absorption).

Best Natural

Biolage Haircolor

$24 at Sleekshop.com

Active Ingredients: Cassia angustifolia leaf (henna), coconut oil, pigments | Type: Henna | Shades: 16 | Cruelty-Free: No

If you're partial to natural hair dyes, this one's for you. Biolage Haircolor is a henna hair dye containing only a few ingredients. This at-home color is also free of harsh substances and preservatives, such as ammonia, parabens, sulfates, silicones, and phthalates. Though it works best on pre-lightened or naturally blonde hair, it's perfect for covering grays or trying out a new shade and lasts about six weeks.