Amy is the epitome of a girl obsessed with hair. She likes to whip her hair back and forth. Apart from that she is a qualified hair dresser with 8+ years of experience in hair dressing. She knows the right product for your hair and will not stop until you find what you are looking for to solve your hair problems!
Want to try a product that nourishes and colors your tresses? Try the best Japanese hair dye!
These are unlike some of the hair color you get from other countries out there. What makes Japanese Hair Dyes special? All the natural ingredients they use!
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Related: Dry shampoos for color-treated hair!
Related: Best safe hair dye for pregnancy
There are amazing ingredients like lanolin acid, eucalyptus oil, and more.
This is the reason why Japanese hair products are super popular as they don’t have any of the harmful ingredients found in other products and dyes.
Japanese Hair Dyes | Best For | Top Colors |
Prettia Kao Bubble Hair Color | Bleach-free dyes | Shades of Brown |
Mandom LÚCIDO-L Milk Jam Hair Color | Dark hair | Ash Brown, Brown, Chestnut |
Dariya Salon De Pro Hair Color | Ammonia free | Chocolate Brown |
Bigen Speedy Hair Color Conditioner | Grey hair coverage | Dark Brown and Black |
Brain Cosmos Rishiri Konbu Hair Coloring Stick | Sensitive scalps | Black |
Kao Prettia Red Bubble Hair Dye | Best for long lasting color | Beige, Brown, Burgundy, Red |
Daria Palty Hair Dye | Bubble dye | Blonde and Beige |
Kao Liese Milk Tea Brown Hair Color | Best for beginners | Tea Brown |
Freshlight Hair Dye Sugar Ash | Natural Hair Dye | Grey and Ash |
Cielo Cielo Hair Color Cream Ash Brown | Easy Application | Ash Brown |
So if you love changing and experimenting with your hair color, Japanese dyes are perfect for you.
We’ve rounded up some of these products in our best Japanese hair dye list. Check it out below.
How we tested the best Japanese hair dyes?
After looking at several products in the market, our team rounded up these 10 top Japanese hair dyes. We then tested them based on the following factors:
Ingredients: It was important to use that these hair dyes were free of ammonia and other harsh chemicals. We also checked for peroxides and bleach.
Lasting power: We gave extra points to hair dyes that lasted longer on your hair. These were the ones that did not fade away easily.
Hair Care: Our team gave bonus points to Japanese hair dyes that nourished your hair and colored it. So if it contains ingredients like aloe vera, argan oil, or keratin, it helps take care of hair troubles too.
10 Top Japanese Hair Dyes In 2021
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.
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: Read to know how many ounces of hair dye do you need for long and short hair
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
- Ash Brown
- Bright Brown
- Brighter Brown
- Brighteset Brown
- Dark Brown
- Marron Brown
- Warm Brown
- Deep Dark Brown
- Clear Ash
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
Related: Try the best shampoo to reduce grey hair for a youthful look!
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
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
Daria Palty Hair Dye Japan
Best Japanese bubble hair dye
The Daria Palty Hair Color is specifically for dark tresses. There are seven hair color options you can choose from. The box ships with a colorant cream, a developer which is Oxide water, brush type nozzle, gloves and an English manual.
The creams themselves is made up of eight treatment components that are grape oil, orange oil, apricot oil, lime, aloe leaf extract, seaweed extract and silk protein to name a few.
Seaweed is a great source of vitamin and minerals. It supports growth because of the natural fiber available in seaweed.
The dye has a sweet and fruity smell that is subtle. It’s not recommended to use this product on permed straight locks.
The mix of the oxide water and the cream should be applied on your strands, and in 20 to 30 minutes you’ll have nice dyed locks!
Post the rise, the conditioner protects your tresses from any damage.
Pros
- Super easy application
- Lasts long
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Fumes can be strong for a few customers
Ratings:
- Ingredients – 3.5/5
- Lasting Power – 4/5
- Haircare – 3.5/5
Hair Color Shades Available
- Cafe au Lait Chiffon
- Custard Beige
- Sugar Brown
- Peach Grege
- Raspberry Jam
- Candy Ash
- Milky Grege
- Marshmallow Ash
- Macaron Beige
- Candy Ash
- Choco Waffle
Kao Liese Milk Tea Brown Hair Color Japan
Best Japanese hair dye for beginners
The Liese hair dye is one of the most sought after Japanese hair dyes. This is a bubble dye which means mixing the dye with the developer creates a soft foamy solution that can be applied on your tresses.
It contains healthy amino acids and Royal jelly extract that a shine to your locks. The instruction manual is in Japanese & English.
There are two mixed solution provided with the hair dye. This product claims to leave hair glossier.
Pros
- Extremely easy to apply
- Great hair dye for beginners
- Solid instruction manual
- Beautiful rich color
Cons
- Ammonia smell
Ratings:
- Ingredients – 4/5
- Lasting Power – 4/5
- Haircare – 3.5/5
Hair Color Shades Available
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Milk Tea Brown
- Ash Brown
- Natural Black
FreshLight Hair Dye Sugar Ash Japan
Best Japanese Hair Dye For Natural Hair Color
Most Japanese are born with typical black, asian locks. But they love to experiment with funky colors. If you want something typically Japanese but still natural, try the Freshlight hair dye in Sugar Ash.
It gives an all-over black cast to the strands with subtle silvery highlights that bring out the shine in your tresses.
Pros
- Gentle
- Moisturizing, lotion-like formula
Cons
- Users didn’t like the smell
- Fades easily
Ratings:
- Ingredients – 4/5
- Lasting Power – 3/5
- Haircare – 3.5/5
Hair Color Shades Available
- Sugar Ash
- Cherry Ash
- Beige
- Pink
- Gold
- Mocha
- Apricot
- Natural Black
Cielo Cielo Hair Color Cream For Grey Hairs – Ash Brown Japan
Best Japanese Hair Dye For Easy Application Process
This Cielo product is the best Japanese box hair dye if you want an easy application process. No more mixing and using a brush for application!
All you need to do is put the cream on the comb given in the pack and spread it through your tresses!
And it’s not all about easy application process either. The hair color gives an amazing grey tresses coverage. Seriously, you won’t find a single strand out of place.
It contains nourishing ingredients like the amino acid complex and marine collagen from Japanese seaweed extracts provide hydration to tresses and scalp healthy.
If you’ve got scalp irritation or have damaged locks due to heat treatments, try this hair dye cream.
Pros
- Gentle on sensitive scalps
- Hydrating, Lotion-type hair dye
- Super easy application process
Cons
- None
Ratings:
- Ingredients – 4/5
- Lasting Power – 4/5
- Haircare – 4/5
Hair Color Shades Available
- Light Brown
- Dark Brown
- Mocha Brown
- Rose Brown
- Natural Black
What is the best Japanese hair dye?
After careful reviewing of all the products on the basis of formula, varieties of colors available, price, and other parameters, we’ve found that the Prettia Kao Bubble Hair Color is the best Japanese hair dye.
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.
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.
Here’s our comparison of the best Japanese hair dyes:
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 |
FAQs – Best Japanese Hair Dye
What is the best Japanese hair dye brand?
After checking all review and testimonials, we’ve decided that the best Japanese hair dye brands are Kao, Bigen, Rishiri, Dariya, and Hoyu to name a few. When it comes to dyes, these Japan brands are of top quality and are proven and tested to give the best results.
They offer dyes with a variety of colors, gentle on the tresses, and long lasting. These hair dyes do not only give you vibrant colors but also nourishes the strands and avoid damage.
How long does Liese dye last?
Depending on the condition of your tresses, Liese hair dye can last anywhere from 2 months to 2 weeks. If you have low-porosity, healthy hair and use a color-protect shampoo Leise stays up to 2 months.
But on damaged hair, the dye can wash off in just three weeks. This can be quicker if you use a sulfate-based shampoo.
What are the popular Japan hair color trends of 2021?
Japanese people love experimenting with their hair color. So some of the popular color trends you can find in Tokyo in 2021 include:
Kurokami or natural black tresses
Cool ashy browns
Bright jewel tones like pink and green
Is Liese hair dye halal?
According to the Q and A section on Liese’s official website, the hair color does not contain any ingredient of pig origin. So therefore it is halal. It does contain some trace amounts of alcohol.
But this ingredient is permitted by a lot of Islamic boards in hair dyes and other products that are not perfumes.
Why is Japanese hair dye better?
Japanese hair dyes are not just good for coloring your mane, they double as a nourishing treatment too. These dyes rarely contain harsh ingredients like alcohol or ammonia.
Instead, they’re packed with jojoba oil, amino acids, herbs, and other components that leave tresses soft, healthy, and protected.
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:
- How to color your beard at home
- Will overtone cover grey hair
- Top shampoos for white hair
- Best color depositing conditioner for grey hair
- Best shampoo for blue hair
- Asian hair Vs. Caucasian hair
Prettia Kao Bubble Hair Color

Japanese hair dyes are gentle on your hair and come in a variety of colors. The Prettia Kao Bubble Dye is formulated without ammonia and bleach and leaves a brown tint on hair.
Product SKU: PK2021UP41IL
Product Brand: Prettia Kao
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: $11.60
Price Valid Until: 2021-11-28
Product In-Stock: InStock
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