Natural Hair Color

Do natural hair color products work?

Although so-called "natural" hair dyes abound, most of these contain some degree of potentially hazardous chemicals. Those that are completely chemical-free are not as effective. Cosmetic chemists at TheBeautyBrains.com say, "There are a number of natural materials that can stain hair... but if you're looking for the shades that are traditionally associated with permanent hair color, there is no 'natural' solution at this time."

Most natural hair dyes rely on henna and/or berry extracts to stain hair, but neither is capable of making hair lighter and can only make small changes. Henna, for example, is a natural hair color that can give hair an orange, brown or red tint but only temporarily. Not all henna-based hair dyes are truly natural; some contain PPD (para-phenylenediamine) and resorcinol, both of which are linked to severe allergic reactions and sensitivity issues, according to editors at TruthInAging.com. That's why it's important to check labels and always do a strand test before using any at-home hair color product.

Although henna can't produce the same types of results -- and certainly not in the same variety -- as chemical hair coloring products, it has been used for centuries to color hair and many still swear by it today. Unfortunately, we didn't find many reviews for henna-based hair dyes.

The editors at TruthInAging.com recommend Surya Henna Cream (Est. $11) , a vegetable-based dye that uses henna as a conditioner. Editors say the formula is 90 percent natural, with the other 10 percent being made up of synthetic dyes and preservatives. The company avoids harsh metal dyes and says its product is safe even on chemically treated hair. It's available in 15 shades, all of which last seven to 10 washes.

Users at Amazon.com, where the formula earns a high overall rating, say it does an excellent job of covering gray hair and the colors look surprisingly natural. Most say that it can be very drying, however, and recommend using a good conditioner. Some complain that Surya Henna is not completely natural. However, it's your best bet in this category, and a ConsumerSearch Best Reviewed pick.

For longer lasting color, Naturtint (Est. $13) is a permanent hair color that uses a small amount of hair dye chemicals in conjunction with natural ingredients. It relies on vegetable-based dyes and earns a good rating at MakeupAlley.com where it's reviewed almost 50 times.