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The 7 Best Black Hair Dyes in 2024 | & Buying Guide

The black hair dyes offer the best way to rid the light and discolored hair strands and brand yourself a new raven look. And the good news is that most of them involve simple application procedures, allowing for DIY application at home.

Please keep reading to find the seven best black hair dyes, features, and factors to consider to make the best buy.

What’s the Best Black Hair Dye?

If you’re in a hurry and are interested in knowing the best hair dye, we picked the Revlon Permanent Hair Color as our best overall Black Hair Dye. We love it because it’s infused with Keratin and Silk Amino Acids to nourish and condition your hair.

Best Overall
Revlon Permanent Hair Color 
Pros:
  • 100% grey hair coverage
  • Ammonia free
  • Natural-looking hair
Cons:
  • Contains paraphenylenediamine (PPD)
  • Excessive use can cause hair dryness and breakage
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In addition, the dye is ammonia-free, meaning it won’t cause skin irritation, burns, or damage to the hair cuticle. Its easy application process is also a plus. If you don’t love our favorite pick, we’ve listed the top seven black hair dyes to provide you with multiple options.

The 7 Best Black Hair Dyes in 2024

The top hair dyes on our list include:

  1. Best Overall: Revlon Permanent Hair Color
  2. Best for Gray Hair: Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Dye
  3. Vegan-Friendly Option: Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Dye
  4. Best Fade-Defying: L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying + Shine Permanent Hair Color
  5. Best for Hair Conditioning: SoftSheen-Carson Dark and Lovely Fade Resist Rich Conditioning Hair Color
  6. Best for Hair Nourishing: Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Hair Color
  7. Best for Sensitive Scalp: Schwarzkopf Simply Color Permanent Hair Color, 1.0 Jet Black 

We have discussed the features and strengths of each to help you make an informed buying decision. However, we wish to stress the importance of black hair dyes before jumping into the reviews section.

Why You Need a Black Hair Dye

Woman with the best black hair dye in a bowl in a peach colored room

Seamm/Shutterstock

Black hair dyes will help you reclaim your natural hair color. If your hair has turned brown due to age or any other condition, applying black dye will give back your natural black hair color.  

Hair dyes give you thicker and healthier-looking hair. When you dye your hair black, the black hue adds color molecules to the hair strands, which fattens them slightly, resulting in a healthier and fuller look.

Hair dyes help you match your skin tone. If your skin tone doesn’t complement your hair color, you can change the hair color to your liking using dyes.

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Best Black Hair Dyes: Our Top 7 Picks

Now that you have an idea of the best black hair dyes and why you need them, it’s time to look at the individual options (listed above) to see what they have to offer.

1. Revlon Permanent Hair Color

Best Overall
Revlon Permanent Hair Color 
Pros:
  • 100% grey hair coverage
  • Ammonia free
  • Natural-looking hair
Cons:
  • Contains paraphenylenediamine (PPD)
  • Excessive use can cause hair dryness and breakage
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The permanent hair color by Revlon is the best overall product on our list. We love it because it’s formulated with Keratin and silk amino acids, which work together to give silky and well-conditioned hair.

Additionally, the Revlon permanent hair color features a patented 3D color Gel Technology that delivers 100% grey hair coverage. The formula is ammonia-free and leaves your hair in a better shape than before.

2. Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Dye

Best for Gray Hair
Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Dye 
Pros:
  • Ammonia, silicon, and paraben free
  • Long-lasting dark hair
  • 100% grey hair coverage
Cons:
  • Relatively expensive
  • It contains persulfates which may cause allergies
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The Garnier Olia Permanent Hair formula constitutes high fidelity color to give 100% grey hair coverage. It’s 60% oil powered, with natural flower oils to condition your hair and the scalp. The flower oils also propel the dye deeper into the hair strands.

The formula is free from ammonia, silicon, and parabens, promising to give you softer, odorless, dark hair in the long run. The package includes an instruction leaflet, which makes applying the dye a breeze.

3. Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Dye

Vegan-Friendly Option
Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Dye 
Pros:
  • 80% natural
  • Gentle to the hair and scalp
  • Ideal for all hair textures
Cons:
  • Expensive option
  • It might dry the hair when used in excess
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The Clairol instincts demi-permanent hair dye features more than 80% natural ingredients like coconut and aloe vera, which are meant to give you radiant and healthy-looking hair.

The formula works well for all hair types and gives 100% gray hair coverage. It holds well for up to 28 washes after application.

4. L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying & Shine Permanent Hair Color

Best Fade-Defying
L'Oreal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying & Shine Permanent Hair Color 
Pros:
  • Long-lasting dye
  • Conditions of the hair and scalp
  • 100% gray hair coverage
Cons:
  • May become drippy
  • It has a strong smell
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The L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference hair color is your go-to option if you want fade-defying hair color with depth and dimension to treat your faded hair.

Its formula contains:

  • Camelina oil to soften the hair and the scalp to avoid dryness and flakiness
  • Vitamin E prevents hair and skin cell damage by free radicals. It also provides an ample environment for hair growth
  • UV light filter to detangle the colored hair while protecting it from elements like UV rays, salty water, and chlorine
  • Hi-tenacity dyes to give the formula its fade-defying black color

The dye is easy to use and provides 100% gray hair coverage.

5. SoftSheen-Carson Dark and Lovely Fade Resist Rich Conditioning Hair Color 

Best for Conditioning
SoftSheen-Carson Dark and Lovely Fade Resist Rich Conditioning Hair Color 
Pros:
  • Conditions the hair while coloring
  • 100% grey hair coverage
  • Easy to apply
Cons:
  • Can cause allergic reactions to a sensitive skin
  • Not the best for light hair
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The Softsheen Carson fade-resistant hair dye features Dark and Lovely’s exclusive seal technology, intended to condition your hair while coloring.

The formula includes three fruit oils: shea, olive, and avocado, which prevent breakage and nourish the hair from root to tip. The permanent non-drip hair dye delivers up to 100% gray hair coverage and can give you a shiny and silky look for up to eight weeks.

6. Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Hair Color

Best for Hair Nourishing
Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Hair Color
Pros:
  • Long-lasting hair dye
  • Nourishes and strengthens the hair
  • Easy to use
Cons:
  • Contains ammonia
  • Excessive use might cause hair dryness
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The Garnier Nutrisse is meant to nourish the hair while coloring. It boasts a color boost technology and a mix of triple fruit oils: shea, olive, and avocado to give 100% gray hair coverage while nourishing the hair from root to tip.

The formula also contains grape seed oil which moistens and strengthens the hair. Combined, the above ingredients form a non-drip creme formula that spreads evenly without leaving any smell. The dye provides 100% gray hair coverage and holds for a long time.

7. Schwarzkopf Simply Color Permanent Hair Color

Best for Sensitive Scalps
Schwarzkopf Simply Color Permanent Hair Color
Pros:
  • Harsh chemical-free
  • Nourishes and conditions the hair
  • Dermatology approved
Cons:
  • Expensive option
  • An excess application might dry the hair
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Schwarzkopf Permanent Hair Color is your go-to option if you’re looking for non-irritating hair color for your sensitive scalp. It contains natural ingredients like soy protein, argan oil, and botanical oat milk, which condition and nourish the hair.

It also contains high-fidelity pigments that are responsible for its coloring abilities. The formula is free from ammonia, silicone, peptides, Paraphenylenediamine (PPD), and alcohol, making it gentle to your hair and scalp. 

Finding the Best Black Hair Dye for You

Bowl of the best black hair dye with tools and bottles around it on a purple table

Jayannpo/Shutterstock

Below are some factors you must consider to land the perfect black dye for your hair.

The Skin Tone

The black hair dyes come in multiple shades, and it pays to choose the one compatible with your skin color. For instance, a black hue with blue undertones will give your cheekbones a radiant glow if you have a warm skin tone.

On the other hand, a start black color can be your go-to option if you have a light skin tone. Please note that choosing the wrong color for your skin tone will give you an unnatural look.

If you find it challenging to find the right hair color, you can ask your salon professional to help you choose the best black hair for your skin tone.

Pro Tip: Not sure what color to get? Take our “what hair color looks good on me” quiz!

The Color Type

Black hair dyes fall into permanent, semi-permanent, and demi-permanent categories. Besides looking for a color that matches your skin tone, you’d also have to choose the color depending on how long you want it to hold on your hair. 

The permanent dyes last the longest, followed by the semi-permanent dye. The demi-permanent shades hold on to the hair for the shortest period.

Ingredients

Some hair dyes are almost 100% natural, while others may contain synthetic chemicals like parabens, ammonia, and silicon, which may negatively impact your hair and scalp. 

It’s advisable to look at the ingredients list to ensure you don’t buy a product containing these harsh chemicals. Don’t know the harsh ingredients? Go for dermatologist-approved dyes.

Consistency

The black hair dyes come in powdery, liquid, or creamy consistencies to give you options to choose from. We highly advocate for creamy dyes as the solid ones can spread to your skin and clothes or enter your eyes. The liquid dyes, on the other hand, can get drippy, limiting their efficiency.

Gray Hair Coverage

Most black hair dyes claim to offer 100% grey hair coverage, which may not be the case. That said, it can help to check the previous customer reviews to see whether the dye lives up to its claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pretty woman with black hair smiling in a studio for a piece on the best black hair dye

MillaF/Shutterstock

Below are answers to various questions that people have asked about black hair dyes.

How do I know if black hair will suit me?

It boils down to your skin tone. More specifically, the black hair will suit you if you have darker/olive-toned skin. However, it’s important to note that the black dyes come in multiple shades.

This might make it challenging to find the perfect dye for your skin tone. If you find yourself in this fix, don’t hesitate to contact your salon professional for help.

Does dying your hair black make it healthier?

It depends on the hand of the hair dye you’re using. Some dyes have natural ingredients like grape, avocado, and shea oils, nourishing and conditioning the hair, making it healthier.

Do I have to bleach my hair before coloring it black?

No. You don’t need to bleach your hair before coloring it black. If you do, the bleaching agent will only destroy your hair, and chances are high that the bleached hair won’t hold the color for a long time.

Is jet black darker than black dye?

The jet black color is darker and richer in color than natural black. Its high color intensity is due to its purple/ blue undertone, which gives your hair an extra shine and light reflection abilities than natural black hues.

Is black hair dye damaging?

No. the black hair dye won’t damage your hair provided that your dye doesn’t have harsh chemicals like silicon, ammonia, PPDs, and PTDs, among others. However, using dyes with these synthetic chemicals may result in significant hair damage.

So, What’s the Best Black Hair Dye?

The best black hair dye is the one that matches your skin tone and gives your hair a healthier and radiant look. Our best overall product on the list is Revlon’s Permanent Hair Color.

Best Overall
Revlon Permanent Hair Color 
Pros:
  • 100% grey hair coverage
  • Ammonia free
  • Natural-looking hair
Cons:
  • Contains paraphenylenediamine (PPD)
  • Excessive use can cause hair dryness and breakage
Check Latest Price
We may earn a commission when you click this link, at no extra cost to you.

We love it because it contains Keratin and silk amino acids, which nourish and condition your hair, giving it a silky and healthier look. Don’t like our choice? Don’t hesitate to pick your preferred product from our list.