Does Natural Hair Color Really Work?
After a flirtation with auburn hair color in high school and some serious bleach in college, I went au naturale. But recently, the few-and-far-between white hairs that I began to pluck in my mid-30s are now threatening to become a bald spot if I keep up the practice.
It’s time for natural hair color.
Natural hair colors typically eschew coal tar, peroxide, benzene, ammonia, toluene, paraphenylenediamine and other toxic chemicals omnipresent in conventional hair dyes—things that I most definitely want to avoid.
Even the FDA warns that conventional hair dyes can cause respiratory problems, hair loss and skin irritation—among other problems.
Some gnarly chemicals in conventional hair dye such as lead acetate are actually banned for cosmetic use in the European Union. Lead acetate is a neurotoxin that can actually cause fetal mortality if you use it when you’re pregnant. Think about what that stuff does to the ecosystem when it goes down the drain.
To be effective, natural hair color doesn’t just have to forego toxic ingredients—it’s got to change your hair color, too. Otherwise, what’s the point? What’s a graying green girl to do—aside from learning to love her true colors? First, look for a natural hair color brand that is free of the chemicals listed above, as well as parabens, propylene glycol and resorcinol, while maintaining low levels of PPD, also known as pigment.
But the whole point of dyeing is actually changing the color of your hair—gray and all. To be effective, natural hair color doesn’t just have to forego toxic ingredients—it’s got to work, too. Otherwise, what’s the point?
I did a little informal research among a group of natural hair coloring friends and these two brands kept popping up as the ones that work best: EcoColors and Tints of Nature
, which provide permanent and semi-permanent options.
I might have to give them a whirl. Now the only question is: auburn or blonde?


12 Comments
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read me
This website was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something which helped me.
Thanks!
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Denise
Can you tell me your opinion of Henna hair dye and how well it covers as I am 90 % gray.
Thanks
Denise
Rachel Sarnoff
Thanks for writing, Denise! The thing about henna is it doesn’t cover 100%. It does make the white hairs a lighter shade of what the other hairs turn. So for example with mine I have mostly dark brown hair but the scattering of white hairs are a bronze color. Kind of like a highlight. I love it but if you are used to full coverage you might want to try it on the underside first to see what you think. Good luck and let me know how it turns out!
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Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but after looking at a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
Anyways, I’m certainly pleased I came across it and I’ll be bookmarking it and
checking back frequently!
Rachel Sarnoff
You probably have, I launched it about six years ago but just relaunched with new branding so that’s probably why you recognize the name but not the posts. Anyhoo, THANK YOU for finding and for reading AND for commenting, I really appreciate it!! 🙂 Rachel