Dr. Katrina Habaluyas Luz is the face behind Ask Your Derma. She is a board-certified dermatologist in Metro Manila. She is also an educator and digital creator on all things skin, hair, and nails. She is a Diplomate of the Philippine Dermatological Society and offers online video consultations. You can also catch her on her Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channel.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
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Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
There are three types of hair color formulations: liquid, cream, and powder. Let’s check out the pros and cons of each one below.
The choice of a formulation of a hair dye can be tailored to your purpose and lifestyle! Use a liquid if you want to distribute the dye throughout the entire head. It works great to cover all hair.
Use a cream hair color if you want to apply only the necessary amount needed such as the hairline. You can also read the instructions on proper application - be it on dry or wet hair.
You can portion it so that you only make as much as you need. This makes it suitable for both all-over color or touch-ups. An example is henna hair dye, pictured above, which can last from 4-6 weeks after application.
Powder dyes work for all over color, root, and hairline touch-ups. Look for hair products that are gentle and specifically made for dyed hair so that you can maximize the duration that your dyed hair stays intact. Powder hair dyes are more prone to fading. Thus, proper hair care is very important!
Getting the right type of hair dye will greatly improve your experience, so it's important to know the right one that you need based on your lifestyle. Check out the common types that you can choose from in this section.
If you like switching up your look often, semi-permanent hair dyes are ideal for you to use because they will look amazing for a couple of weeks before fading beautifully, giving you the chance to try different looks. This type of hair dye doesn't penetrate the hair shaft, which is what makes it fade easily after shampooing your tresses.
Since it only works on the surface of your hair, it likely won't cause any damage and requires only little maintenance. With all its features, we recommend it for those who want to try out hair trends, are looking for the right hair color for them, and are fond of coloring their hair bright, fun colors.
For those who have found their one true hue, permanent hair color is the answer. From its name, this type of hair dye will last a long time without fading, so if you're ready to make the commitment to your preferred color, this is a practical choice to get. It's also suitable for those who want to cover gray or white hair.
Each box of permanent hair color usually comes with a developer, which you have to mix with the colorant itself. The developer settles in your hair cuticles and closes them off to prevent the color from fading or coming off. This is what makes it last long, perfect for those who want permanently lighter or darker hair.
Henna is a natural hair dye that is free of chemicals, making it suitable for sensitive skin or scalps. It also contains different properties like vitamin E, which helps condition and nourish your hair. This means that as it gives your hair a vibrant hue, it's also strengthening its overall health.
This type of hair dye is also recommended for those with thin hair since it gives your locks a thicker and healthier appearance. Because of its composition, it won't cause hair fall or hair loss, too, which some harsh hair dyes tend to do. It also fades gradually, giving you a more natural effect.
The key to finding a flattering hair color is to know your skin undertone and to pick a hair color that complements it. Read on to find out which colors to go for and which ones to avoid.
Peachy complexions with warm undertones will match well with cooler, auburn reds. This will highlight your skin color. If you have olive skin with warm undertones, go for deep golden and caramel hues, which complement the natural brown eyes Filipinos have.
If you have tan skin with warm undertones, caramel and toffee colors will suit you best, but if you want to play a bit more with your hair color, you can also go for blue-reds, maple, or mahogany shades. But, if you want to go with a darker hair color, we suggest choosing a warm black.
Hair color definitely impacts our overall look. So it's important to make sure that your hair color matches your skin tone. In general, if you have warm undertones, cool to lighter hair would complement nicely.
Avoid ashy blondes as this can wash you out, making you look pale. If you have cool, olive skin, go for an ashy or strawberry blonde hair color. On the other hand, deep, cool complexions will work well with deep violet shades and inky black hair.
Determine your skin’s undertones, say you have a cool undertone, a brown to darker shade of hair dye would work nicely. In general, a hair color tone that’s opposite of your skin undertone works well.
If you have a neutral skin undertone, you’re in luck because almost any hair color shade will match you. You can also choose a color that complements your eyes. For those with brown eyes, go for golden brown, amber, or copper shades. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, why not try silver-white hair?
For amber eyes, look for coppery red, dark golden auburn, or warm tawny shades to make your eyes stand out. For hazel eyes, avoid very light or very dark shades, and instead, go for medium, rich shades, like auburn, warm honey browns, reds, or darker blondes.
The American Academy of Dermatology advises staying "on shade" when dyeing the hair. In general, use a dye within three shades of your natural color.
Unfortunately, organic hair dyes will contain a small percentage of chemicals, unless we’re talking about henna powder. So when browsing the ingredients list, make sure it doesn’t have harsh chemicals that damage or dry out your hair.
Avoid ingredients like ammonia, responsible for that unpleasant smell at salons, and resorcinol, a highly toxic pigment. These can irritate your skin and your lungs. Also, your hair color should not contain any paraphenylenediamine (PPD) or para-toluene diamine (PTD), which are petroleum derivatives that can irritate sensitive skin.
The obsession for 'organic' or 'natural" products has pervaded the skin and hair care industry. Organic hair dyes are claimed to be made with organic botanicals and less chemicals.
These products are never 100% chemical-free. Remember, water is a chemical! A more important consideration is choosing the ingredients that are both effective and safe for you!
Although limited, research says that it is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women to get hair treatments, so rejoice, mommas! It is said that only a very small amount of the product is actually absorbed by the scalp, and it won't reach the fetus. Thus, it wouldn't be harmful to you and your baby.
Regular hair dyes often include chemicals that could pose safety risks. For a healthier alternative, make sure the dye is free of ammonia, paraben, hydrogen peroxide, and resorcinol. You could also opt for vegan or plant-based hair colors as they are less toxic. To be on the safe side, consult with your doctor before dyeing your hair.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it is generally safe to dye the hair during pregnancy. Best to consult with your dermatologist or ob-gyn beforehand, though!
This hair color is infused with several essential oils to give you healthy-looking hair. It has oleic acid extracted from olives to moisturize your hair and meadowfoam seed oil to rejuvenate dull strands. It also has plenty of other plant-based ingredients that nourish and protect your precious locks.
Containing baobab seed protein extract, a potent ingredient, it moisturizes your dry hair, keeping it shiny and healthy. If you worry that all the natural ingredients might make the product less effective, you're wrong. This product gives a long-lasting tint while revitalizing your hair. Plus, it's free of ammonia, resorcinol, and parabens!
For dry or damaged hair, look no further than this organic hair color from Sweet Night. It remains unbeatable with its very affordable price and effective formula. It contains keratin collagen that repairs and moisturizes the hair as you color it, doing less to no damage to the hair.
If you have previously dyed your hair a bright or unusual color, and it has now faded, you will have no problems choosing your next hair color, as Sweet Night has more than 20 colors you can choose from. From light and dark colors to brighter hues, they have it all!
Reviews rave about this product because, unlike other hair colors, this one does not sting the scalp when applied. Note that, like other dyes, the dark colors will be effective even if you have light or dark hair. However, the lighter variants of this hair color are more effective on lighter or previously lightened hair.
Made from botanical herbs and plant extracts from India, this product can give you silky smooth Dark Brown hair. If you prefer it in another color, it's available in a variety of options you can choose from, like Black, Chestnut Brown, Light Brown, and Mahogany, to mention a few.
This hair color's main ingredient is a natural henna powder, which accounts for 60% of the product. As a hair dye, henna is known to promote hair growth and strengthen hair roots, reducing hair fall and preventing hair from thinning.
Therefore, if you have damaged, fragile, or thin hair, or if you just want to dye your hair without causing any damage to it, then go for this one! It is sure to give you your desired results - it can even help with dandruff problems!
Lakme Chroma is a professional line of hair colors that do not have ammonia, PPD, and other harmful ingredients. It is a high-performing hair color, which promises to give you lasting effects. It is dermatologist-tested, making it very gentle on the scalp while still providing some shine and vibrance to the hair.
Each box contains a tube of the hair color and a bottle of developer. You need to mix the two together before applying the mixture to the hair. You'll surely get great results since this product also has conditioning and hydrating effects. You can use this hair color at home, but it is recommended to get your hair done professionally.
It's also recommended for those with graying hair, which is a natural thing that happens to everybody. If you want to maintain a darker hair color, though, this 100% plant-based formula is great. It covers gray hair and softens and thickens your hair from root to scalp without the need to shampoo or condition your hair after dyeing it.
Don't you just hate how other hair colors dye the roots but somehow make them stand out? It's because gray or white hair is naturally lighter; therefore, it will also produce a lighter shade when dyed. With this hair color from Herbatint, you can rest assured that you will have natural-looking, evenly toned hair.
If you dislike the strong scent of drugstore hair colors, you will love this one! It has a gentle and odorless formula that is also easy to mix and apply - even by yourself! It's also safe for those with sensitive skin, so you don't have to worry about any irritation. You will be able to see results in just 40 minutes.
This henna hair dye will give you complete color coverage that leaves you with beautiful, shiny, and healthy hair. You will be able to see the color change in just 20 minutes, and the color can stay for around 30-40 days after each treatment. It comes in four shades: brown, burgundy, black, and chestnut.
Unlike regular hair dyes, this is safe to use repeatedly as it’s all-natural and free of parabens and ammonia. Pregnant and breastfeeding moms praise this hair color in the reviews section, as some drugstore hair colors may contain strong and harmful chemicals that may not be safe for babies.
This fine powder transforms into a creamy and easy-to-use hair color when you add water to it, so you can condition your hair while styling it at the same time. It's made with botanical ingredients and does not have any chemical additives, parabens, PPD, ammonia, peroxide, and metallic salts.
It's available in four colors: dark brown, black, chestnut, and natural red. It will protect and nourish your hair, saving it from damage caused by constant styling and coloring. If you're looking for a friendlier alternative that will help you care for your hair effectively, this is worth a try.
If you're fond of dyeing your hair fun colors, then this hair color is for you. It comes in numerous vibrant shades, including teal, purple, fuschia, and pink. It has a vegan and cruelty-free formula, and is made with naturally-derived ingredients, so it's a good option for those who follow that lifestyle.
This product comes in a cream form and is free from ammonia, PPD, parabens, silicone, and sulfates. It's easy and straightforward to use, so you'll have beautiful locks in no time. Additionally, with its formula, this means that you can try out bright colors without compromising your hair health.
Many people like to switch up their hair colors before or after a big event, and if you're one of them, you might want to try giving platinum blonde a try. You can do that by getting this product, which is a patented permanent hair dye that will give you natural-looking platinum blonde hair. It also offers 100% gray hair coverage.
This organic hair color is made for home use, having a gentle formula made with 75% certified organic and 95% naturally derived ingredients. It's made to be easy on your hair, but like with any other product, make sure to do a strand or patch test before using it to see any adverse reactions you may have.
The care of dyed hair is important to ensuring that your hair remains healthy. Make sure to use products that are made for dyed hair. Since hair dyes can leave hair dry and brittle, it's important to condition your hair, especially with those conditioning shampoos that can help restore moisture and shine.
Best to consult your board-certified dermatologist! Make sure to protect your hair from the sun too! The sun can make hair weak, dry, brittle, and faded!
Below, Dr. Katrina Luz answers some of the most asked questions about organic hair colors, and she also shares some of her tips, so read on!
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it is generally safe to dye the hair during pregnancy. Studies have shown that high doses of these chemicals do not cause severe birth defects. However, these studies have been done on animals only. So it is still best to consult with your dermatologist or ob-gyn first!
Typically, organic hair dyes don't leave the hair as vibrant as synthetic hair dyes. Organic hair dyes are typically "ammonia-free." The thing is, ammonia is the ingredient in traditional dyes that enables it to penetrate the hair cuticle and deposit color.
Claims of organic hair dyes include that they are ammonia-free, sulfate-free, and generally safer for sensitive skin. Remember, though, that organic doesn't equate to risk-free. So don't be too lax with that organic hair dye, and still do a patch test!
Maintaining newly-colored hair properly is a must for your hair color to last long, so you need to find the right products that will give you healthy, bouncy, and shiny locks even if your hair is color-treated. To help you out, check out our other articles below for the best products that you can get online.
Re-editor: Bianca Angela Dela Cruz
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Naturtint | Naturally Better 5G Light Golden Chestnut
No. 2: Sweet Night | Organic Permanent Hair Color
No. 3: Herbul | Henna Chestnut Hair Dye Natural Organic Permanent Color | 6 Sachets
No. 4: Lakme | Chroma Ammonia Free Hair Color Tube Set | Ash Tones
No. 5: Radico | Colour Me Organic Hair Color
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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