The 6 Best Japanese Hair Dyes, Recommended By A Hairstylist (2024)

Dyes that care for your hair and nourish it while rendering the most flattering hues.

Reviewed by Jill Turnbull, Hairstylist Jill Turnbull Jill TurnbullHairstylist facebook_iconinsta_icon
Written by Oyendrila Kanjilal, MA, Certified Skin Care Coach Oyendrila Kanjilal MA, Certified Skin Care Coach linkedin_icon Experience: 2 years
Edited by Shiboli Chakraborti, MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach Shiboli Chakraborti MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach linkedin_icon Experience: 4 years
Fact-checked by Anjali Sayee, BTech Anjali Sayee BTech linkedin_icon Experience: 7 years
Last Updated on
All products recommended on StyleCraze are independently selected by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we may receive a commission. Learn more about our product selection process.

Oftentimes, we color our hair, but the color doesn’t show up. That’s why you must try the best Japanese hair dyes that are specially made for bleached Asian and naturally black hair or similar hair types. These dyes with rich pigmentation add the real color to your hair, no matter how dark your natural hair is.

They are made with safe, nourishing ingredients that hydrate and condition your hair while keeping the shine intact and healthy. They also chide away your fear of damaging the hair due to heavy dyes. To solve this query, we have got you the 6 best Japanese hair dyes to get a completely new makeover.

Top PicksCheck Price
Best Moisturizing:Kao Liese Prettia Bubble Hair Dye – Ash BrownPrice on Amazon
Best Fragrance-Free:Salon de Pro Hair Color – Natural BrownPrice on Amazon
Best Long-Lasting:Bigen One Push Cream Color – 2 Lightest BrownPrice on Amazon
Best Easy-To-Use:Dariya Palty Hair Color – Gray OchrePrice on Amazon
Best For Sensitive Skin:Rishiri Kombu Hair Color Treatment – BlackPrice on Amazon
Best Ammonia-Free:ShoHan Instant Powder Hair Color – BlackPrice on Amazon

6 Best Japanese Hair Dyes Of 2024 That Also Nourish Your Hair

1. Best Moisturizing:Kao Liese Prettia Bubble Hair Dye – Ash Brown

star-ratingstar-ratingstar-ratingstar-ratingstar-rating
4.3

The Kao Liese Prettia Bubble Hair Dye is a rinse-off treatment with conditioning properties. This hair repair dye contains hydrolyzed silk and lanolin acid that protect the hair and repair and moisturize the cuticles. It also contains nourishing ingredients like amino acids and royal jelly extract that prevent hair breakage and dryness, making your hair soft, healthy, and shiny. The hair dye has a soft foaming solution that evenly coats and colors the hair. The shade Ash Brown belongs to the Design Series of the brand and gives a bluish-ash color to dark hair.

Pros

  • Prevents breakage
  • Prevents dryness
  • Moisturizing
  • Provides even color distribution

Cons

  • No English instructions

protip_icon Caution
Do not shake this hair dye bottle. That will cause the mixture to bubble inside the bottle leading to failure in dispensing as foam.

worth-buy-icon

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

There are more than 1,312 Amazon reviews attesting to the quality of the product and endorsing its value.

2. Best Fragrance-Free:Salon de Pro Hair Color – Natural Brown

The Salon de Pro Hair Color has a scent-free formula that does not irritate the eyes and nose and keeps the scalp healthy. The penetrating, no-drip coloring formula evenly dyes the hair in works in just 15 minutes, giving a beautiful glossy finish. The hair dye contains polymer silk protein to improve firmness and bounce, royal jelly extract to keep the hair moisturized, olive oil to add shine, and vegetable protein to protect your hair. The hair dye comes in a one-push bottle packaging to ensure convenient and mess-free use.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Fragrance-free
  • Moisturizing
  • Non-irritating
  • Ammonia-free

Cons

  • None

protip_icon Quick tip
This dye is most suitable for thick, coarse hair and for small random clusters of gray hair.

3. Best Long-Lasting:Bigen One Push Cream Color – 2 Lightest Brown

star-ratingstar-ratingstar-ratingstar-ratingstar-rating
4.3

The Bigen One Push Cream Color comes in a one-push bottle and can be applied directly without pre-mixing. It has a creamy texture and comes with an applicator brush to spread the dye evenly on the hair strands. The formula contains evening primrose oil, grape seed oil, collagen, and eucalyptus oil to keep the hair soft, moisturized, and shiny. Reviewers claim that this fade-resistant shade is great for gray hair coverage with an applicator brush. It offers adequate color longevity.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Long-lasting
  • No-drip formula
  • Easy storage
  • Mess-free

Cons

  • Contains phenoxyethanol and ammonia

My Personal Experience

"Its one-push design simplifies the application process for me. The color lasts for a good while without fading. Overall, this is a good choice for efficient, mess-free root coverage."


4. Best Easy-To-Use:Dariya Palty Hair Color – Gray Ochre

The Dariya Palty Hair Color offers great hair treatment without any skin irritation. The formula contains grape oil, orange oil, and apricot oil that keep the hair moisturized and shiny, and seaweed extract that protects the hair barrier.

The product has a ready-to-use liquid formula in a bottle with a brush type nozzle for ease of use. It contains silk protein that makes the color long-lasting. The dye has a sweet fragrance. The shade Gray Ochre imparts a bluish-ash color to dark and pre-bleached hair.

Note: Do a patch test 48 hours before using the product to avoid allergic reactions. It is not recommended for permed and chemically straightened hair and the eyebrows.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Moisturizing
  • Liquid formula

Cons

  • May cause allergic reactions
  • Not for chemically treated hair

My Personal Experience

"After a couple of uses, I like the ease of application with this hair color. It effectively neutralizes brassy tones, a concern I have while lightening my darker hair. It does not affect the hair health in any way."


5. Best For Sensitive Skin:Rishiri Kombu Hair Color Treatment – Black

The Rishiri Kombu Hair Color Treatment is a natural hair dye and is great for sensitive skin and people who are allergic to chemical hair dyes. The dye is specially developed for covering gray hair and keeping your hair healthy. It polishes the hair and scalp to give your hair a soft and smooth texture, keep the scalp healthy, and maintains PH of the scalp, and balances hair. The product is free of chemicals and synthetic additives. It works slowly and dyes the hair gradually over time with regular use.

Pros

  • Chemical-free
  • Artificial fragrance-free
  • Improves hair texture
  • Softens the hair
  • Provides great gray coverage
  • Safe for sensitive scalp

Cons

  • Takes time to show results

protip_icon Fun Fact
This product was voted number 1 in Japan for the “Best Hair Color and Manicure Product” two years in a row in 2011 and 2012.

6. Best Ammonia-Free:ShoHan Instant Powder Hair Color – Black

ShoHan Instant Powder Hair Color – Black

The ShoHan Instant Powder Hair Color is a hair coloring product with a gentle formula that does not contain ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. According to multiple reviews, the hair dye is less abrasive and works to reduce hair loss and strengthen the hair fibers. It is infused with conditioning agents that make the hair smooth and silky. The hair dye provides great gray hair coverage and imparts a stunning color.

Pros

  • Ammonia-free
  • Hydrogen peroxide-free
  • Gentle formula
  • Provides gray coverage
  • Makes hair smooth and silky

Cons

  • May cause allergic reactions
  • Contains SLS

My Personal Experience

"I've been using this product for a while now and it targets just the roots, which reduces product waste. There's no overpowering scent that irritates while application. But it lasts long and improves my hair health."


*The prices provided in this article are based on the latest available information. However, they may vary due to changes in pricing by the seller and/or promotional offers.

If you are wondering how to protect your hair from the side effects of hair dye, look no further than Japanese hair dyes. They color your hair and double up as hair treatments that nourish and hydrate the hair strands. They are perfect for a DIY color change or touch-up at home and can save you from expensive salon visits. So, if you are considering giving it a shot, check the following factors before selecting a Japanese hair dye.

How To Choose The Best Japanese Hair Dyes?

  • Shade: Choose the color of your hair dye that matches your undertones. Warm shades with copper or golden tints, such as brown, chestnut, and chocolate, look good on people with warm undertones. On the other hand, those with cool undertones can opt for colors with a purplish or bluish tinge, like ash brown or cool brown. If you have dark hair, choose hair dyes that would look vibrant on your natural hair color.
  • Ingredients to Avoid: Choose a hair dye free of peroxides, ammonia, bleach, and other harmful chemicals for naturally shiny hair, especially if you have sensitive skin. Look for options that have been dermatologist-tested and clinically tested to ensure they are gentle on your scalp and hair. Additionally, avoid dyes containing synthetic additives and fragrances. These irritants dry out your scalp and turn your tresses brittle.
  • Lasting Power: Look for hair dyes that do not fade after a few washes. Choose tested dyes that provide good coverage to grays and have proven efficacy. Consider dyes with UV filters, as they last longer.
  • Nourishing Formula: Choose a hair-friendly formula fortified with moisturizing agents like glycerin, shea butter, vitamin E, hydrolyzed silk, and lanolin acid to protect your hair and moisturize the cuticles. Additionally, pick and test formulas infused with nourishing ingredients like amino acids, aloe vera, argan oil, keratin, and royal jelly extract to prevent hair breakage and dryness.
  • No-Drip Consistency: Choose a hair dye that does not have a runny or watery consistency. Dyes having thick consistency allow easy and precise application. They do not stain your clothing. Additionally, no-drip dyes are the best for DIY hair styling and achieving multidimensional color.
  • Bottle Design: If you pick a bottle dye, choose those with brush-type nozzles or an attached applicator brush. They deliver mess-free applications and provide uniform coverage to the hair strands.
  • Developing Time: Some hair dyes work in just 15 minutes to give a beautiful finish, while others work slowly and show results over time with regular use. Choose one with a nourishing formula for minimizing damaged hair.

The Bottom Line

The products mentioned above are some of the best Japanese hair dyes you can buy online. The Kao Liese Prettia Bubble Hair Dye – Ash Brown minimizes healthier hair growth, prevents breakage, moisturizes, and is cuticle-friendly, while the Bigen One Push Cream Color – 2 Lightest Brown offers easy application, long-lasting results, and a mess-free experience. They are formulated with ingredients that are beneficial to the hair and give stunning results on dark hair. Go ahead and try any of these hair dyes today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Japanese bubble hair dye last?

It lasts for about 4-6 weeks.

Is hair dye safe in Japan?

Yes, Japanese hair dyes are ammonia-free and safe to use.

Why do people in Japan dye their hair purple?

The purple color gives a very different look to the hair, which also compliments the skin tone of Japanese people.

Does Japanese bubble dye have bleach?

No, Japanese bubble dyes don’t contain bleach.

Do Japanese people dye their hair brown?

As most Japanese people have naturally black and brown hair, they only prefer these dyes to cover their grays.

What is the best Japanese hair dye brand?

BigenOne is the best Japanese hair dye brand that provides affordable, easy-to-apply, safe dyes.

Why is Japanese hair dye better?

Japanese hair dyes don’t have harmful ingredients but only natural ingredients to cover the hair effectively.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

Oyendrilal Kanjilal, the author of this article, is a hair care enthusiast who loves keeping up with the latest trends in hair care. She has sifted through various user feedback online and has compiled this list of the best Japanese hair dyes. What sets them apart from many products is that they are made of natural ingredients that keep your hair moisturized and nourished while giving you the best shine and color to your hair.

Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
disqus_comment

Community Experiences

Join the conversation and become a part of our empowering community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with other beauty, lifestyle, and health enthusiasts.

Jill Turnbull
Jill TurnbullHairstylist
Jill Turnbull is an internationally acclaimed freelance hairstylist, colorist, and makeup artist with over 47 years of experience. She founded her own beauty brand and her work has been featured in editorial magazines worldwide.

Read full bio of Jill Turnbull
Oyendrila Kanjilal
Oyendrila KanjilalCommerce Writer
Oyendrila holds a master's degree in English Literature from the University Of Calcutta, West Bengal, and is a certified skin care coach. As a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience, she writes about everything that the modern woman needs to know about grooming and self-care.

Read full bio of Oyendrila Kanjilal
Shiboli Chakraborti
Shiboli ChakrabortiCommerce Editor
Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.

Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Anjali Sayee
Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor
Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.

Read full bio of Anjali Sayee