The 7 Best Hair Dyes for Asian Hair In 2024: Editor’s Pick

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If you are part of our Asian readership, you know how notoriously difficult it is to color your hair using conventional drug-store hair dye. It has a lot to do with your hair type being significantly thicker and doesn’t pick up pigment the way fine Caucasian hair does.

The good news is – there are several top-tier dyes specially formulated to tame resilient Asian hair and get you the hue you desire. So, without further ado, here are our top picks for the best hair dyes for Asian hair and five other top contenders whose performance was nothing short of outstanding. Let’s jump right in.

Top Hair Dyes for Asian Hair

1. Kao Liese Prettia Bubble Color – Best Overall

Nothing beats the Liese Prettia Burgundy Brown hair dye from Kao. For one thing, we haven’t come across many other Asian hair dyes that give you a shade of brown that’s even remotely as intense as the Liese.

That aside, we especially like that it comes in bubble foam form, making the application process surprisingly quick and easy.

All you have to do is mix the two solutions in the bottle, shake it a few times to mix the hair treatment, and then squeeze the bottle to release the foam.

Next, massage the hair treatment into your hair until it forms a thick, creamy consistency, let it sit for 20 minutes or so, and then rinse out. Once you do, shampoo your hair to get rid of any loose dye and then finish it off with the rinse-off treatment in the kit.

The deep burgundy hue you get after is almost hypnotic. You get the same vivid results on black Asian hair without having to bleach it first. It’s a definite winner in our books.

Specs:

• Semi-permanent hair color
• No bleach
• Creamy foam
• All Asian hair types

Pros:

• It does not contain damaging chemicals
• The creamy foam makes application a breeze
• It doesn’t stain or smear
• Long-lasting hues
• Deep, vivid color results

Cons:

• Not as effective on gray hair

2. Best Hair Dye for Asian Hair – Powdered Hair Color

When it comes to hair coloring techniques, powder hair dye wouldn’t always be our top pick – until now. Bigen Permanent Powdered Hair Color blew us away. We did not expect to get such vibrant color results on the first try. The #45 chocolate, in particular, was pristine. Simply mix the powder in water until you get an even consistency, and then apply it to your hair.

One bottle is enough to give you full coverage, although you might need two bottles for the best results if you have long hair.

The great thing about Bigen is that it doesn’t dry out your hair, something many other Asian dyes on the market are notorious for doing. It likely has to do with the fact that its ingredients don’t contain any strong, harsh chemicals that open up the hair cuticles and strip them of every last ounce of moisture. It is gentle, and more importantly, it works!

Specs:

• Permanent hair color
• Orthophenylene-diamine-free, aminoazotoluene-free
• Powder form
• All Asian hair types

Pros:

• The color doesn’t bleed every time you wash your hair
• It doesn’t contain harsh, moisture-stripping chemicals
• It doesn’t need to be used with a developer
• Ideal for hair and beards
• Excellent coverage

Cons:

• Not as effective on gray hair

3. Best Gray Hair Coverage Dye for Asian Hair – Revlon Colorsilk

It is double jeopardy if you have Asian hair and need to cover up those pesky gray hairs. Getting an effective dye that’s not only able to color your hair but also cover your gray hair is a bit like looking for that all-elusive pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. The folks at Revlon clearly understood the assignment with their 3D Color Gel Technology.

Revlon Permanent Hair Color provides long-lasting coverage of gray hair and is a permanent dye you can use at home. One of the most outstanding features of this particular hair color is its uncanny ability to leave your hair in a better state than it was before you colored it. Now, that’s something you don’t often get with hair coloring treatments.

Revlon’s proprietary 3D coloring technology delivers rich, vibrant, multi-dimensional color density that lasts several dozen washes.

Its ammonia-free formulation is infused with silk amino acids and keratin to nourish and rejuvenate your hair once color pigments have been deposited in the cuticle. All in all, the performance of the Revlon Colorsilk is pretty impressive.

Specs:

• Permanent hair color
• Ammonia-free
• Gel form
• All Asian hair types

Pros:

• Full coverage of gray hair
• It doesn’t contain harsh chemicals
• Infused with silk amino acids and keratin
• Rich, multi-dimensional color results
• Long-lasting permanent dye

Cons:

• The conditioner that comes in the kit is only enough for single-use

4. Best Hair Dye for Asian Hair – Home Use

We’re always on the hunt for a hair dye product you can apply without having to bother your spouse, child, sister, mother, etc. After all, is it an “at-home” kit if you need someone there to help you apply it?

The Vanilla Gold hair color from Mise En Scene is a true DIY color treatment. Thanks to the bubble foam technology used to generate the color lather, it is super easy to apply.

Simply mix the solutions that come in the box, swirl it around, squeeze the dispenser to release the foam, and slather it on your hair. After about 30 minutes, wash it off, apply the serum that comes in the kit, rinse that off as well, and you’ll be left with a gorgeous vanilla gold tint on your hair. Suffice it to say; we were pretty pleased with the results.

Specs:

• Semi-permanent hair color
• Contains ammonia
• Creamy foam
• Pre-lightened hair

Pros:

• It lasts several washes
• Covers gray hair
• 30-minute cure time
• Quick and easy application
• Vivid color results

Cons:

• Its smell is a little off-putting

5. Best Fast-Acting Hair Dye for Asian Hair

Sometimes, you don’t have all day to sit around and wait for your hair dye to set. If you need a quick and easy color fix for gray hair, the Bigen Speedy Conditioning Color Kit is designed to do just that. It only requires 10 minutes of processing time, and you’re good to go.

Bigen Speedy comes in cream form, so you don’t have to worry about dripping, staining, or making a mess. It is 100% ammonia-free and is infused with six different natural herb extracts to give your hair a natural healthy shine and restore moisture. All in all, it’s great value for the money.

Specs:

• Semi-permanent hair color
• Ammonia-free
• Cream form
• Brown to darker hair

Pros:

• Fast-acting formula
• Provides full gray hair coverage
• Quick and easy application
• Contains conditioning natural herb extracts
• Color lasts several washes

Cons:

• Requires a developer

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6. Best Herbal Hair Dye for Asian Hair

If you’re looking for a truly oriental dye that’s 100% ammonia-free and PPD-free, you will like what the Daeng Gi Meo Ri Hair Color brings to the table. Its unique formula contains loads of herbal extracts like mugwort, Cnidium Officinale, chrysanthemum, and ginseng, all known for their potent medicinal properties. They are remarkably effective in minimizing scalp irritation, itching, and hair damage.

It is also keratin-rich, which moisturizes the hair and adds a layer of protection against the damaging effects of dye. If you’re prone to dye allergies, you don’t have to worry about getting unpleasant side effects from Daeng Gi Meo Ri. Nonetheless, we always recommend doing a patch test first, just to be sure. Its 15-minute setting time is a bonus as well.

Specs:

• Permanent hair color
• Ammonia-free
• Cream form
• Brown to dark hair

Pros:

• It does not contain harmful chemicals like ammonia and PPD
• It contains several herbal extracts
• Ideal for people with dye allergies
• Minimizes scalp irritation, itching, and hair damage
• Intense color results

Cons:

• Usage instructions are in Korean

7. Best 3-in-1 Dye Kit for Asian Hair

Our pet peeve is hair color kits that don’t have everything you need to get the job done. The ReEn Heukmobichaek hair dye comes with a complete 3-in-1 supply kit with all the tools you need to color your hair at home. The best part is – it allows for three separate coloring treatments.

The dye contains chameleon plant extracts, which work wonders for dry hair and flaking scalps. It also contains a black moisturizer that not only infuses color pigments into your hair; it leaves your hair looking thick and glossy, thanks to the cinnamon, safflower, and gardenia ingredients it contains.

All in all, if you’re looking for an Asian hair dye kit that colors, nourishes, and moisturizes your hair, the ReEn Heukmobichaek dye cream is designed to do just that. We were pretty pleased with the results.

Specs:

• Semi-permanent hair color
• Ammonia-free
• Cream form
• Brown to darker hair

Pros:

• Offers excellent coverage
• Chock-full of herbal ingredients
• Leaves hair looking healthy and glossy
• No chemical odor
• Quick, safe, and easy application

Cons:

• It’s a little pricey but worth it

Safer Products for Healthier Hair

While Asian hair can put up with a lot before it screams for mercy – and we mean, a lot – you still need to pick Asian hair dye and products that are safe, gentle, and effective.

The 7 best hair dyes for Asian hair we’ve reviewed in this guide are from top brands that specifically cater to this demographic. Try them out and leave a comment below. We’d love to hear what you think.

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