5 Best Lilac Hair Dye 2024: Stylist-Recommended Pastel Dyes

Want lilac hair colour? Here are some top lilac hair dyes for dark hair, grey hair, bleached hair, and more! These are ammonia-free and PPD -free!

As a hair stylist I have always loved the lilac dye shade for hair as it offers a lot of versatility depending on your skin tone and preferences.

Lilac is somewhat on the lighter side of purple. However it differs from lavender due to having dark pink undertones rather than icy bluish undertones like the former. In simple terms lilac is a shade of purple that is way closer to pink than it is to blue.  

I’ve reviewed some of the top semi-permanent and permanent dyes for you. Let’s check it out!

Top Lilac Hair Dye	Best For	Type of Hair Color
Pulp Riot Semi-Permanent Hair Color Lilac	Silver-Grey Base Hair	Semi-Permanent
Garnier Nutrisse Permanent Hair Color Cream	Dark Hair	Permanent
Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Permanent Hair Dye	Blonde To Brunette Hair	Permanent
MANIC PANIC Mystic Heather Hair Dye Color Classic	Damaged Hair	Temporary
KMS Style Color Smoky Lilac	Black, Unbleached Hair	Temporary

Here are top lilac hair dyes:

• Pulp Riot Semi-Permanent Hair Color Lilac
• Garnier Nutrisse Permanent Hair Color Cream
• Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Permanent Hair Dye
• MANIC PANIC Mystic Heather Hair Dye Color
• KMS Style Color Smoky Lilac

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.

Top Lilac Hair Dye 2023

Pulp Riot Semi-Permanent Hair Color Lilac

I got this product because Pulp Riot is among the easiest to use at home lilac hair dyes. It has a creme texture and is super easy to apply on hair.

The product comes in a tube and doesn’t require the use of a developer so you can simply get down to business.

Another thing that intrigued me about Pulp Riot’s lilac hair dye is that it’s not just ammonia-free, it’s also free of gluten. So people who have allergies can use it without a hitch.

Now for the color. I like the result I got on my hair, but then I have near-platinum bleached blonde hair.

The color looked very close to the pinkish-purple lilac shade and my hair didn’t feel dry or frizzy after using. Probably due to all the quinoa protein in the dye as it is rich in “protein, amino acids, essential minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids.” (Pathan, Safiullah, and Rafat A Siddiqui. “Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Components in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Greens: A Review.” Nutrients vol. 14,3 558. 27 Jan. 2022, doi:10.3390/nu14030558)

I was, however, doubtful if  sure this color would show up well on black or dark brown hair. 

And when we tested it out on one of our dark-haired editors I found out that it doesn’t show up at all if you black hair. So I’d suggest using it only if you have either very light brown hair or bleached hair.

Coming to the price, it seems affordable enough but I noticed the tube was too small. I mean it was enough for a few strand tests but I doubt I would be able to color my shoulder-length hair with one tube. 

So be prepared to shell out more for additional tubes if you’re using this dye. 

Pros:

• The product is free of ammonia and gluten and doesn’t harm skin or trigger sensitivities 
• The quinoa protein-enriched formula helps protect hair from damage during bleaching
• Post application result is a true pinkish lilac shade (if you have bleached hair)

Cons:

• Color doesn’t show up at all on black/dark hair
• Very little product for the price tag

My Ratings:

• Color Pigment – 4/5
• Staying Power – 4/5
• Gentle Ingredients – 4.5/5

Garnier Nutrisse Permanent Hair Color Cream, L1 Deep Intense Lilac Sweet Fig

Now I bought this Garnier lilac hair dye as most other hair colors I saw in the supermarket or on Amazon were either “semi-permanent” or “temporary”. This was the first dye that promised more long lasting results. 

Unfortunately, the color isn’t as “permanent” as it claims. It will wash off in a month if you’re using a sulfate-based or clarifying shampoo. And if you use a high-quality color protect one, it might extend to 2-3 months at most.

So that was an utter disappointment for me. 

Coming to the color, I liked how the dye works (somewhat) well on dark hair. But this is not surprising as it comes with a developer. So you’re adding hydrogen peroxide to lighten your hair every time you’re using this dye. 

The pigment looked very bright and brilliant on my hair and I could see it show up as pinkish undertones on black hair as well. But in my opinion it’s still best if you bleach first. 

I also liked that Garnier gives you a post-application conditioner and a fruit oil concentrate to keep your hair looking good.

These products are actually very beneficial as my hair (which is already somewhat dry from bleaching) looked very soft and shiny after using it. 

Overall, I’d say go for this product if you have dark brown/medium brown hair and do not want to bleach your hair to get a lilac shade. 

Pros:

• The dye shows up on brown/dark brown hair without bleach (as it comes with developer)
• Comes with a conditioner and oil that contain safflower extracts that nourish hair
• Can last upto 2-3 months if you’re using a sulfate-free, color protect shampoo

Cons:

• The developer contains peroxide that can damage and dry out hair
• The hair colorant contains alcohol and added perfumes that might not suit some sensitive scalps
• The dye is very strong so you can’t use it right after bleaching (you need to wait at least 2 weeks)

My Ratings:

• Color Pigment – 4.5/5
• Staying Power – 4.5/5
• Gentle Ingredients – 3.5/5

Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Permanent Hair Dye, 5VR London Lilac Hair Color

I was surprised to see a Vidal Sassoon hair dye on amazon as this is a professional brand created by one of the top hairstylists in the world of the same name.

So I simply had to try this one out and the results were well… interesting. 

If I had to describe this lilac hair dye in one sentence it would be, “It’s like Garnier but better”. 

The hair dye is also a “permanent hair dye” and comes with a number 20 vol. Developer that will lighten your hair as you color it.

So this is a great lilac hair dye for dark hair. What I also liked is that it comes with a post-use deep conditioning mask which is just as great if not better than the Garnier one. 

I also noticed this dye pigment is much stronger than Garnier. I could see just a pinkish undertone on black hair with the former but Vidal Sassoon actually makes your dark hair somewhat lilac in color.

However this won’t last long. Yes, the color lasts 8 weeks as promised (provided you use a sulfate-free color protect shampoo!). But it bleeds. A lot.

My showers were running pink for a long time after using this product. But while it lasted the color was amazing. 

Pros:

• Strongly pigmented dye that shows up well on even dark hair
• Comes with a conditioning mask that helps nourish damaged hair and adds shine
• Lasts upto 8 weeks if you take care of it well

Cons:

• Color can bleed in the first few washes
• The hair color comes with a developer so it contain peroxide that can damage hair 

My Ratings:

• Color Pigment – 5/5
• Staying Power – 4.5/5
• Gentle Ingredients – 3.5/5

MANIC PANIC Mystic Heather Hair Dye Color Classic

If there’s one name that comes to mind when we’re talking about funky hair color trends it’s Manic Panic. No one does unconventional temporary hair dyes better. At least in my opinion. 

So I got the Mystic Heather dye from this brand (closest thing to lilac I could find) and tried it on a strand of my hair.

And the results were… interesting to say the least. Firstly, the shade was a bit lighter than I expected it to be. But I liked how it looked in the end anyway.

One thing I can guarantee is that the color won’t show up well on black hair. So if you have darker hair hues, try using a hot towel while applying this dye as it will ensure dye penetrates the strands rather than just coats it.

If you have bleached hair and are looking for a temporary, fun color that will not hurt your hair in any way, this is it. 

Like all Manic Panic products this one is free of not just ammonia but also PPD, resorcinol, gluten, alcohol and other bad guys of the hair dye industry.

Pros:

• Completely free of any harsh ingredient like ammonia, peroxide, etc. so safe for people with very sensitive skin or pregnant women
• Easy to apply as you don’t need a developer
• Good if you’re looking for a frequently changeable temporary hair dye solution

Cons:

• Will not stay on hair for long as it’s just a color-depositing hair dye
• Lighter shade might not show up on dark hair or black hair
• The end result appears a bit lighter than promised 

My Ratings:

• Color Pigment – 3.5/5
• Staying Power – 3.5/5
• Gentle Ingredients – 5/5

KMS Style Color Smoky Lilac

I like the spray on formula of this dye. It is just so simple to use and it will show up easily on dark hair. Since it lacks the regular chemicals other dyes have (like PPD or ammonia) it is also safe on hair.

What I love most is the temporary nature of this dye – it’s perfect for experimenting with a new look without the long-term commitment or bleaching black or dark hair. The formula didn’t damage my hair, and it washed out easily after a few shampoos.

My only issue is that the dye bleeds on to the forehead sometimes and can stain your skin.

Pros:

• Free of harsh chemicals like ammonia or PPD
• The color can be used on damaged or thin hair as it’s chemical free
• The color will show up on black unbleached hair as it’s color depositing

Cons:

• Won’t last long on hair as it’s temporary dye
• The color can bleed and stain forehead while applying

My Ratings:

• Color Pigment – 4.5/5
• Staying Power – 3/5
• Gentle Ingredients – 5/5

Final Thoughts on The Best Lilac Hair Dyes And Hair Color Trends

I love how you can get awesome pinkish-purple hair color just in a day at home with these lilac hair dyes.

If you want this lighter hair shade to show up well on your tresses, bleaching beforehand is recommended. 

But certain color-depositing dyes also make sure you can get this hair color on dark hair as well.

Also Read:

How Many Ounces Of Hair Dye Do You Need

How To Get Hair Dye Off Skin Fast