Best Natural Hair Colour: 3 Plant-Based Options

Natural hair colour can be an alternative for people who want to colour their hair with plant-based ingredients such as henna, indigo, amla, and other botanical powders. However, the word “natural” does not automatically mean a product is risk-free, allergy-free, or suitable for everyone.

The products discussed below use plant-based ingredients and are marketed as alternatives to conventional hair dyes. Their formulas, shades, processing times, and ability to cover gray or change the existing hair colour can vary.

If you are choosing a natural hair colour, it is important to check the current ingredient list, understand what the product can and cannot do, and follow the manufacturer’s application and testing instructions.

What Is Natural Hair Colour?

Natural hair colour generally refers to products that use plant-derived ingredients to add or change colour. Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is one of the best-known examples. Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) is also commonly combined with henna to create brown and darker shades.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes henna as a hair dye and regulates plant- and mineral-derived colour additives used in cosmetics. This does not mean every product marketed as “natural” is automatically safe for every person.

It is also worth remembering that “natural” and “chemical-free” are not scientific opposites. Plant ingredients are themselves made of chemical compounds. A more useful approach is to look at the actual ingredients and the claims made for the specific product.

1. EarthDye

EarthDye offers plant-based hair and beard colours made from botanical ingredients. Its current ingredient information shows that different shades can contain combinations of henna, indigo, shikakai, amla, bhringraj, brahmi, and baheda.

The company also provides application instructions and shade-specific processing times, which is useful because the expected result depends on the starting hair colour.

Pros

• Uses plant-based ingredients in the listed formulas.
• Offers several brown and other botanical colour options.
• Some shades can be used on gray, white, brown, or red hair, depending on the product.
• The company provides ingredient information for individual shades.
• Some formulas can also be used on beards, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Application times can be relatively short for some shades. For example, EarthDye’s current instructions list about 45 minutes to 1 hour for its Copper Brown shade and about 60 minutes for Light Oak Brown.

Cons

• Plant-based colour generally does not work like bleach and cannot simply make dark brown or black hair lighter. EarthDye specifically notes that several brown shades will not lighten darker hair.
• The final shade depends heavily on the colour you start with.
• Gray or white hair may initially show a different tone before the colour develops.
• Some shades require careful preparation and application.
• Results may vary between individuals and between different starting hair colours.

Ingredients

Ingredients vary by shade. For example, EarthDye’s Mighty Oak Dark Brown formula lists:

• Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria)
• Shikakai (Acacia concinna)
• Henna (Lawsonia inermis)
• Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
• Baheda (Terminalia bellirica)
• Bhringraj (Eclipta alba)
• Amla (Emblica officinalis)

Because formulas can differ between shades, check the current package or manufacturer’s ingredient information before choosing a product.

2. Light Mountain Natural Hair Color

Light Mountain Natural is a botanical hair-colour line based primarily on powdered plant ingredients. The company currently offers an original line in multiple shades as well as its Color the Gray line, which uses a two-step approach for certain gray, white, or blonde hair situations.

Light Mountain’s FAQ identifies henna, cassia, amla, and indigo among the botanicals used in its products. The exact combination depends on the product.

Pros

• Uses powdered botanical ingredients rather than a conventional oxidative developer system.
• Available in a range of shades, including brown, red, and darker colours.
• The company provides detailed instructions and product-specific information.
• The Color the Gray line is designed for situations where a two-step process may be needed.
• Light Mountain recommends a strand test to determine both processing time and expected colour results.

Cons

• Botanical hair colour cannot be expected to lighten naturally dark hair in the same way as bleach.
• Some gray, white, or platinum-blonde hair may require a two-step process.
• The application can take longer than a conventional box dye.
• The final colour can vary according to the starting colour, hair texture, and other characteristics.
• Botanical colour may change subtly for several days after application.

Ingredients

Light Mountain says its formulas use botanical powders including:

• Henna (Lawsonia inermis)
• Cassia (Cassia auriculata)
• Amla (Phyllanthus emblica)
• Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria)

The exact ingredients depend on the shade. For example, the company’s Neutral product lists cassia leaf powder, amla fruit powder, and henna leaf powder.

3. The Henna Guys

The Henna Guys focuses heavily on henna-based hair colour. Its products use henna as a base and combine it with other plant ingredients to create different shades.

For example, its brown products can combine henna with indigo and amla, while its Auburn formula includes henna, indigo, and red kaolinite clay.

Pros

• Offers pure henna as well as blended shades.
• Uses henna as the base for many of its hair-colour products.
• Indigo is used with henna to create brown and darker shades.
• Offers products aimed at different hair colours and desired results.
• The company provides ingredient and application information for individual products.
• Its product guidance explicitly warns that natural ingredients can still cause sensitivities or allergic reactions.

Cons

• Pure henna generally produces a red or orange-red result rather than a conventional brown or black shade.
• Darker shades may require blends containing indigo or multiple application steps.
• Henna application can require considerably more processing time than conventional hair colour. For example, The Henna Guys’ pure henna instructions recommend allowing the mixture to activate for 8–10 hours and then leaving the applied henna on the hair for about three hours.
• The final colour depends on the starting hair colour and previous chemical treatments.
• First-time users may find the preparation and application process more involved.

Ingredients

Ingredients vary by shade. Examples used by The Henna Guys include:

• Henna (Lawsonia inermis)
• Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria)
• Amla (Phyllanthus emblica)
• Bhringraj or false daisy (Eclipta alba)
• Other botanical ingredients depending on the colour

The current ingredient list for the specific product should always take priority over a general ingredient list because formulas can differ between shades.

How to Choose a Natural Hair Colour

The best natural hair colour for you depends less on a single “best” brand and more on your starting hair colour, the shade you want, and how much application time you are willing to spend.

Consider your current hair colour

Plant-based hair colour usually adds or deposits colour rather than dramatically lightening the hair. If you have dark brown or black hair and want a significantly lighter shade, a plant-based dye may not provide the result you expect.

For example, EarthDye states that several of its brown shades will not make darker brown or black hair lighter.

Consider gray coverage

Gray and white hair can behave differently from pigmented hair. Some products may require a two-step application to achieve a darker result on substantial amounts of gray or white hair.

Light Mountain, for example, recommends its Color the Gray two-step system for hair that is more than 10% white, gray, or platinum blonde in certain applications.

Check the processing time

Application time varies considerably between products.

Some EarthDye shades list processing times around an hour, while pure henna products from The Henna Guys can require substantially longer preparation and processing.

If convenience is important, compare the complete instructions before buying.

Read the complete ingredient list

Do not rely only on the word “natural” on the front of a package. Check the ingredients for the exact shade you plan to use.

This is particularly important if you have previously reacted to hair dyes or cosmetic ingredients.

Are Natural Hair Dyes Safe?

Natural hair colour is not automatically allergy-free.

The FDA recommends following the product directions and performing a skin patch test before using hair dye. Its consumer guidance says the test should be performed before each use and that the product should not be used if a rash develops.

The FDA also advises consumers not to dye their eyebrows or eyelashes at home because hair dye can seriously injure the eyes and may cause blindness.

This is particularly important when evaluating products that make claims about eyebrow use. A manufacturer’s marketing claim should not override general safety guidance.

What about black henna?

“Black henna” deserves additional caution. Traditional henna generally produces brown, orange-brown, or reddish-brown tones. Products marketed as black henna may contain additional ingredients, including p-phenylenediamine (PPD), which can cause serious skin reactions in some people.

A European study involving 10,425 participants found that 50.9% reported having used hair colourants at least once. The study also found a significantly higher prevalence of PPD contact allergy among people who had previously received black henna tattoos.

For that reason, never assume that a product is safe simply because it is labelled “henna” or “natural.” Check the ingredients and follow the product’s testing instructions.

Final Takeaway

The best natural hair colour depends on what you want the product to do.

EarthDye may suit people looking for multi-botanical formulas and relatively short processing times for some shades. Light Mountain Natural offers a broad botanical range and a dedicated two-step system for certain gray, white, and blonde hair situations. The Henna Guys offers pure henna as well as henna-based blends with ingredients such as indigo for brown and darker shades.

None should be chosen solely because it is labelled “natural.” Before applying any hair colour, check the ingredients for the exact shade, consider how it will interact with your existing hair colour, follow the application instructions, and perform the recommended skin or strand test.

Most importantly, natural hair colour should be viewed as a plant-based colouring option, not a guarantee that the product is chemical-free, allergy-free, or suitable for every person.