Best Hair Colour in India

From ancient art and literature to modern-day Bollywood, the deep black tresses of Indian women have been flaunted and romanticised since time immortal. But in today’s day and age where it’s all about making a statement for yourself, experimenting with your hair colour offers a much-needed confidence boost whether you’re looking to hide those annoying greys or just stand out from the crowd. And with colour palettes ranging from subtler burgundies and browns to the bolder blues, greens and reds, there’s something for every mood, taste and occasion. 

Whether you swear by the expertise of your hairstylist or prefer colouring your hair by yourself at home, you’ll know that finding the right colour is usually the easier task. The real ordeal lies in finding the right brand of hair colour that not only gives you gorgeous looking hair but also cares for it without burning a hole in your pocket. Adding to the confusion is the choice of whether to go ammonia-free or opt for the more conventional route with many studies now suggesting that ammonia laden hair colours do more harm than good in the long run. 

With most companies opting to go the ammonia-free way, the following is a list of the five best Indian hair colour brands that women across the country have sworn by and are worth considering whether you’re about to begin your hair colouring journey or just looking for a change of brand.

1. L’Oreal Paris Excellence Creme

L’oreal produces some of the finest hair colours out there and this one with its unique triple care formula is no exception. It consists of a protective serum, colouring creme, developer, and conditioner that helps strengthen hair while colouring, leaving it feeling soft along with a noticeable shine. The long-lasting colour also gives your hair full grey coverage and an even natural finish.

Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Its unique triple care technology helps lock in colour for a long-lasting and vibrant finish
• The pro-keratin formula helps strengthen hair leaving it feeling thick and lustrous
• The no-drip formula has a 30 minute processing time that ensures a mess-free and fast application
• It is ammonia-free and helps cover greys efficiently

Price: ₹490-₹590

2. Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color

The Revlon Coloursilk range has a large variety of natural shades that offers 100% grey coverage along with a rich and vibrant colour. Incorporating a UV defence system, it helps prevent sun damage while its 3D colour gel technology offers natural-looking, long-lasting colour from root to tip. It also comes with an after-colour conditioner with nourishing silk proteins that penetrates every strand with its gentle, ammonia-free formula leaving your hair silky and shiny.

Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Long-lasting colour that lasts at least up to 16 washes
• The ammonia-free formula prevents damage and leaves your hair feeling healthier 
• The provided conditioner ensures that your hair remains hydrated without leaving it too dry
• Comes with an entire kit that can easily cover medium length hair
• The box comes with accurate shade charts so your colour of choice is always spot on

Price: ₹599-₹699

3. Garnier Colour Naturals

One of the most popular and pocket-friendly options, Garnier Colour Naturals is enriched with the goodness of three precious oils including almond, coconut and olives that nourishes hair giving it a rich and lustrous finish. It also prevents excessive dryness post colouring while offering 100% grey coverage and long-lasting colour.

Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Available in 8 natural shades including various hues of black and brown
• The use of natural oils help nourish and hydrate hair
• Easy to apply no-drip formula sticks to your hair until you wash it off
• One of the most value for money options out there
• Excellent grey coverage and ammonia-free

Price: ₹180

4. L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss

This new generation of ammonia-free colourants from L’oreal lives up to its hype and colours your hair to perfection promising a natural-looking, long-lasting finish with no visible greys. The colours also help soften the hair while offering rich shimmering tones and a glossy shine. It also has a delicate fragrance for that ‘wow’ factor.

Here’s why you’ll love it:

• The non-drip creme formula takes about 20 minutes to process ensuring easy and fast application
• Lasting up to 28 shampoos, it helps you flaunt that colour for a long time
• It offers one of the finest finishes available and the provided conditioner leaves your hair feeling soft and lustrous
• Being ammonia-free is always a bonus

Price: ₹550

5. Bblunt Salon Secret Creme Hair Colour

Created by Indian hairstylists who’ve not only lent their skills for major Bollywood films but also run their own hair salons, you can rest assured knowing that the Bblunt Salon Secret Hair Colour has been tried and tested on some of the best in the business. This ammonia-free colourant comes in a three-part hair colouring system including a unique shine tonic claimed to be a ‘salon secret’ giving it its name.

Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Enriched with silk proteins, it offers a smooth finish post colouring 
• Lasts up to eight weeks
• Comes with an easy to apply kit
• Ammonia-free

Price: ₹199

Final Thoughts

While all the above options are ammonia-free, they do contain other chemicals like PPD, MEA, or AMP that can cause skin irritation and hair damage in the long run which is why repeated usage of any hair colour is never recommended. You can also consider natural hair colours like henna and hair darkening oils or even semi-permanent hair colours which although don’t last as long, offer safer alternatives.

Always keep an eye out on the ingredients that go into the making of any hair colouring product. Doing a patch test at least 48 hours before applying them is always a good idea to avoid any allergic reactions or skin irritation.