Japanese Hair Dye Reviews 2024 | 11 Stylist-Recommended Hair Colors

Here is my review of the best Japanese hair dye. These hair colors are ammonia and PPD and come in a variety of shades.

Japanese hair dyes are generally known to be more hair-friendly as they are free of ammonia and PPD and similar harmful chemicals. Also, there are amazing ingredients like lanolin acid, eucalyptus oil, and more.

As a hairstylist and cosmetologist, I have over 10 years of experience and I often prefer using Japanese brands due to the sheer variety of shades on offer and innovative new formulas like the “bubble hair dye” etc.

I have reviewed the top Japanese hair colors below. Check it out!

Japanese Hair Dyes	Best For
Prettia Kao Bubble Hair Color	Bleach-free dyes
Mandom LÚCIDO-L Milk Jam Hair Color	Dark hair
Dariya Salon De Pro Hair Color	Ammonia free
Bigen Speedy Hair Color Conditioner	Grey hair coverage
Brain Cosmos Rishiri Konbu Hair Coloring Stick	Sensitive scalps

What are the best Japanese Hair Dyes?

The Prettia Kao Bubble hair color is the best Japanese hair dye in the market today thanks to its ammonia-free and bleach-free formula. This hair dye is very gentle on your hair and doesn’t cause damage like other western dye brands. We love how this Japanese hair dye bubbles up into a foam when you apply it on your hair. It’s easy to apply and comes in 19 shades including brown, blue, red dye and more.

Top Japanese Hair Dyes 2024

Prettia Kao Bubble Hair Color – Marshmallow Brown Japan

Best Japanese hair dye without bleach

Make dyeing your hair easier with Prettia Kao Bubble Hair Color. It comes in a thick foam formula that easily covers your tresses from root to tips.

It has a protecting ingredient called lanolin acid and royal jelly that prevents your locks from experiencing extreme breakage and dryness. So it suits all hair types.

And according to a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences the pantothenic acid and vitamins present in royal jelly also promotes cell growth, reducing symptoms of aging (Kunugi H, Mohammed Ali A. Royal Jelly and Its Components Promote Healthy Aging and Longevity: From Animal Models to Humans. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(19):4662. Published 2019 Sep 20. doi:10.3390/ijms20194662). So this hair dye is also good for hair health, which is rare.

This line of bubble hair color is suitable for those who wanted to make a subtle change and give a bit of character to their locks.

It is also one of the easiest to apply, as you only need to massage the foam type Japanese hair dye. This makes it easier to cover hard to reach areas such as the strands near the nape area.

The salon-inspired colors are available in 19 shades. Their natural shades include warm brown, natural brown, and cool brown categories while the design shades range from pink to navy blue categories.

The packaging includes a brightness level guide that serves as a reference on how the natural hair dye would turn out for different base color.

Pros:

• Easy to apply
• Foam formula
• Protects from dryness

Cons:

• None

Ratings:

• Ingredients – 4/5
• Lasting Power – 4/5
• Haircare – 3.5/5

Hair Color Shades Available

• Marshmallow Brown
• Glossy Brown
• Royal Brown
• Jewel Peach

Related: Number of ounces of hair dye you need

Mandom LÚCIDO-L Milk Jam Hair Color Japan

Best Japanese hair dye for dark hair

If you want a wonderful product to give a beautiful blonde tone to your Asian hair, this is the best Japanese hair dye.

It’s nourishing and gentle on your tresses. But it also contains bleach, so it prepares black hair for receiving a lighter shade of color.

This is also a great hair dye if you want to keep your locks silky and shiny. It contains several natural ingredients like camilla oil, collagen, hydrolyzed silk protein and castor oil.

Together, this amazing blend, leaves your tresses are nourished from within.

As the dye has bleach, it can leave your roots discolored. So using a purple shampoo is advised. We also should warn you that this hair dye can sting on application. It’s always better to do a patch test to check for any allergic reactions.

Pros:

• Great for turning Asian tresses peroxide blonde
• Comes with a free comb applicator
• Comes within your budget

Cons:

• Can sting on application
• Has a chemical-like odor

Ratings:

• Ingredients – 4/5
• Lasting Power – 4.5/5
• Haircare – 3/5

Hair Color Shades Available

• Hazelnut
• Chocolate Ganache
• Caramel
• Cafe Chiffon (Ash Beige Color with Pink Undertones)
• Classic Tea (Ash Brown)
• Natural Black

Dariya Salon De Pro Hair Color Japan

Best Japanese hair dye no ammonia

Want to change your hair color but cannot stand its chemical scent? You might want to check out Dariya Salon de Pro Hair color. This cream type product is free of the unpleasant ammonia odor that is present in most hair dyes. Moreover, its formula effectively covers gray strands.

It contains ingredients such as royal jelly extract that helps keep moisture on your tresses so that it would not end up dry and brittle after rinsing.

It has added natural olive oil extracts to maintain your mane’s natural shine while the vegetable protein keeps your locks protected during the dyeing process.

Unlike other dyes that would take you 20-40 minutes to take on a full effect, Salon de Pro would only take 15 minutes or less to refresh your look.

The product also comes with accessories like a comb, applicator brush, plastic gloves, and tray, which makes application hassle-free.

Pros:

• Takes only 15 minutes
• Comes with accessories
• Contains nourishing olive oil and jelly
• No ammonia smell

Cons:

• None

Ratings:

• Ingredients – 4.5/5
• Lasting Power – 4/5
• Haircare – 4.5/5

Hair Color Shades Available

• Brown
• Light Brown
• Cool Ash Brown
• Bright Brown
• Brighter Brown
• Brighteset Brown
• Dark Brown
• Marron Brown
• Warm Brown
• Deep Dark Brown
• Clear Ash

Related: Shampos from Japan to treat hair loss

Bigen Speedy Hair Color Conditioner Japan

Best Japanese hair dye for grey hair coverage

If you have been stressing out about your gray strands recently, this may be the best time to get your hands on one of Japan’s number 1 hair dye brands, Bigen Speedy Hair Color. It effectively darkens your tresses in 10-15 minutes.

This dye comes with an applicator comb where you squeeze out the same amount of cream developer and colorant from the tubes. It also does not need any mixing required to take full effect.

The dye formula consists of six natural extracts including balm mint, fennel, chamomile, mistletoe, yarrow, and hops.

These natural herbs give your locks protection and allow the tresses to retain moisture during the coloring process. It also contains taurine that helps the color on your locks, last for long.

Since there is no mixing required it is easier to adjust the amount of cream needed to use in each session.

The remaining amount is easier to store for further use or during your touch up maintenance sessions.

This hair dye is available in natural black, brownish-black, dark brown, natural brown, and light brown shades.

Pros:

• Ammonia-free
• Quick results
• Looks natural
• Nourishing ingredients

Cons:

• Be careful while selecting as there are fakes available

Ratings:

• Ingredients – 4.5/5
• Lasting Power – 4/5
• Haircare – 4.5/5

Hair Color Shades Available

• Black

Brain Cosmos Rishiri Konbu Hair Coloring Stick Japan

Best Japanese hair dye for sensitive scalp

Make coloring your mane as easy as putting on your favorite bronzer with this Rishiri Konbu Hair coloring stick.

This particular hair dye comes in a touch pen-type comb that makes covering your roots and hairline stress-free and without a mess.

This hair dye line by Brain Cosmos uses seaweeds known in Japan to be highly effective in making the tresses grow healthy, glossy, and protected from different forms of damage.

This specific seaweed or rishiri konbu is only available in the northern end of Hokkaido in Japan.  It’s just perfect for sensitive skin, reverses chemical damage, and really takes care of your tresses.

Its formula also includes hyaluronic acid and royal jelly extracts that help your locks achieve a youthful and natural look.

In fact, applying the Rishiri Kombu dye is like getting a special treatment at a Japanese hair salon (without appointment of course!)

Available in light brown, dark brown, and black colors, this hair dye is not sticky and dries quickly. It is also additive-free, which means that it gently polishes your tresses without doing damage to your scalp.

If you get allergic reactions to dyes or get skin irritation, this is the best choice for you. This natural color treatment does contain any paraben, silicone, oxidizer, and fragrance that is why it is safer to use for everyone.

Pros:

• Natural ingredients
• Easy to apply
• Good for sensitive scalp

Cons:

• Doesn’t last longer

Ratings:

• Ingredients – 5/5
• Lasting Power – 3/5
• Haircare – 5/5

Hair Color Shades Available

• Black
• Light Brown
• Dark Brown

Related: Hair dyes that are safe during pregnancy

Kao Prettia Red Bubble Hair Dye Japan

Best long-lasting hair dye

Kao Prettia Bubble Hair Color has numerous color options that includes French Beige, Burgundy Brown, British Ash, Cocoa Brown and Soft Greige to name a few.

You can use this dye on grey hair as well. The dye lasts for 2 months on your strands, provided you don’t wash your tresses very often. For longer locks, you’ll need at least two boxes.

The bubble in the name is because of the foamy mix that is generated after you mix the hair dye with the activator solution.

It comes with a conditioner that protects your mane during your washes. If you want a richer color and better finish, make sure to leave the dye on your tresses for at least 40 minutes.

Pros

• It’s super affordable at $15
• Long lasting dye the lasts for more than a few months

Cons

• The lighter colour on dark hair isn’t too light and can make it only a shade lighter.
• Some customers have complained that it doesn’t dye grey hair

Ratings:

• Ingredients – 4/5
• Lasting Power – 4/5
• Haircare – 3.5/5

Hair Color Shades Available

• Burgundy Brown
• Cocoa Brown
• Cool Ash
• Dark Navy
• Dark Rose
• Raspberry Brown
• Natural Ash
• Smoky Brown
• Provance Rose
• California Beige
• Milk Tea Brown

How to buy the best Japanese hair dyes (A buying guide)

Before selecting a Japanese hair dye, don’t forget to take a note of the following points:

Choose the right formula

Japanese hair dyes usually come in three formulas – foam, lotion or cream. Each of these has it’s own advantages and disadvantages.

Foam

Foam-based hair dyes are very easy to apply. In fact, you just need to spread it on your tresses like you would do a shampoo. So it’s perfect for beginners.

There are bubble hair dyes too which foam up after application and coat your strands completely.

But the problem with these is that they do no give as vivid a color as you’d get with cream-based dyes. It’s also necessary to whip up the foam well to make it adhere to your strands.

Lotion

Lotion has a thinner consistency than cream. So it’s also easy to apply just like foam hair dyes. But it provides a much more vivid color.

It doesn’t leave hair streaky. And you can spread the color on your locks, so you don’t have to worry about running out of product.

The one problem with lotion is that it can drip. So be careful while application and avoid using it in the shower.

Cream

Cream-based Japanese hair dyes give the most professional finish and usually last the longest. As it’s very dense, it adheres to your strands very easily.

It doesn’t bleed or run like lotions or foam dyes do. So you can use it for roots, ends, or to target specific grey areas.

The one issue with creams is you might miss application on a few spots. This makes hair color appear streaky.

So we suggest dividing your hair in sections and applying it onto thin layers to ensure even coating of the Japanese hair dyes.

Pick the right color and shade

There are several fancy hair colors like ash, pink, coral, etc. that are trending right now. But these usually required pre-bleached hair.

If you apply it on your naturally dark or blonde hair, the results will be quite different than expected. And even if you bleach your hair, some hair dyes do not look the same as they do on the cover.

So choose a hair dye that will flatter your existing hair shade. And make sure that the formula doesn’t show different tones on your hair.

Included conditioners and hair treatments

Most people tend to go for Japanese hair dyes as they are generally ammonia-free and contain natural ingredients that do not damage hair much. But coloring, even with the best hair dye, can have some impact.

So look for a Japanese hair dye with ingredients like keratin protein, jojoba oil, almond oil, argan oil, shea butter, or other nourishing formulas. These help moisturize hair, mitigate any damage, and increase the shine too.

Some hair dyes also come with rinse-out conditioners or hair masks that you’re supposed to use after dyeing your hair.

Lasting power

Decide if you want a fun hair color that you can change every other month or long-lasting coverage for roots and greys. Depending on this, look for the staying power of the dye.

Most DIY home dye kit gives you hair color that lasts about a month. But some colors can wash off earlier if you use a sulfate-based shampoo.

So pick a semi-permanent or permanent dye. The health of your hair also matters in this case. Weaker strands with open cuticles can let out color faster.

Amount of product

The price of the product should match the amount of product you’re getting. If you have long hair, you might need two or more packs of the same dye. Also look if the dye contains all you need or if you have to buy a developer separately.

FAQs – Best Japanese Hair Dye

Quick Comparison Table

Japanese Hair Dye	Prettia Kao Bubble Hair Color	Mandom LÚCIDO-L Milk Jam Hair Color	Dariya Salon De Pro Hair Color	Kao Prettia Bubble Hair Dye	Freshlight Hair Dye	Cielo Cielo Hair Color
Formula	Bubble	Cream	Cream	Bubble	Lotion	Cream
Colors Available	Brown, Peach, Light Brown, Dark Brown	Blonde, Dark Brown, Brown	Blonde, Light Brown, Burgundy, Chestnut, Dark Brown, Black	Blonde, Burgundy, Red, Beige, Violet, Black, Ash	Ash, Brown, Black, Blonde	Ash, Brown, Dark Brown
Longevity	Permanent	Semi Permanent	Permanent	Semi Permanent	Permanent	Semi Permanent
Our Rating	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	4/5

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

Conclusion

Getting a new hair color for yourself or covering up your gray strands has never been easy with these Japanese hair dyes.

Many of these brands are continually making innovations in making their product easier to use and cause less to no damage to the consumer’s hair and scalp.

Each brand offers different types of accessories that add to the ease of use of its products such as brushes and one-press bottles.

One thing to take note of is that before committing to a hair dye, make sure that you do a skin test first to see if you do not have an allergic reaction.

With the wide variety of colors and shades available, these best Japanese hair dyes have the perfect one to suit your needs.

Also Read:

• Coolest Japanese Hair Styling Products