We’re all for naturally sun-kissed blonde and subtly highlighted brunette, for sure. But sometimes you just want to think outside the natural hair color box and mix it up with a vibrant hue or some trendy mermaid locks. Experimenting with bright shades is all the rage; scroll through social media, and you’ll see exactly what we mean. The nice thing about dipping into a more dramatic dye is most options out there are semi-permanent, meaning they’ll gradually fade over the course of several weeks/shampoos. In other words, you can easily go bold without having to make a serious color commitment. Do keep in mind that the base shade you’re starting with will definitely affect the result; generally speaking, bright tones work best on bleached or blonde hair. If you’re starting with a darker color, you may want to consider lightening it first or seeking out formulas specifically made for brunettes. If the former, make sure that the bleaching part is done by a trained professional to minimize the likelihood of damaging your hair, advises Kristen Fleming, color director at 3rd Coast Salon in Chicago. We conducted hours of research on the best non-fading, bright hair dyes out there, evaluating them on vibrancy, longevity, and ingredients. After consulting with an expert colorist, and considering dozens of options, we landed on these top-rated picks for eye-popping results. Our Top Picks Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Color at Amazon ($10) Best Customizable: Best Permanent: Best Vegan: Best Metallic: Best for Brown Hair: Best Color-Depositing Conditioner: No Fade Fresh Semi-Permanent Hair Conditioner at Amazon ($15) Best for Blonde Hair: Best Temporary: In This Article Our Picks Where We Stand How We Researched What To Look For FAQ Why Trust Byrdie What We Like Glows under black light Gentle formula 40 shades to pick from What We Don't Like Reviewers note it doesn't last long When you want to go really bold, this is one of the best—and brightest—formulas available. There are over 40 shades to choose from, including neons that glow under black light. The cruelty-free, vegan color is also gentle on hair, free of ammonia (an alkaline chemical used in hair dye that can cause irritation) and PPD (a chemical used to prolong color in hair dye, and a known allergen). Expect results to last four to six weeks on pre-lightened hair, though some reviewers felt this dye lost its peak vibrancy quicker than they’d hoped. You can’t beat Manic Panic if you want ultra-vibrant locks. This gentle formula is easy to apply and washes out in a month, making it a good option for fun, short-term results. Active Ingredients: Beeswax, flower extract | Type: Semi-permanent | Shades: 66 | Lasts: Up to 6 weeks | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 4, 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes What We Like Available at drugstores Gentle formula Includes applicator brush What We Don't Like May not work well on darker hair We recommend this budget-friendly buy for blonde or bleached hair, as the five colors show up well on a lighter base. It’s free from ammonia and peroxide—two common dye ingredients that can damage hair (a big win if you have brittle, bleached strands) and will last anywhere from four to eight shampoos. While you can easily apply it all over, it also comes with a brush that makes it easier to create rainbow-inspired highlights. Blondes will get vivid results with this budget buy. Unfortunately, it may not work as well on darker hair shades. Active Ingredients: None | Type: Semi-permanent | Shades: 12 | Lasts: Up to 30 washes | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 4 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: No What We Like Customizable finish Can mix and match colors Gentle formula What We Don't Like May not work well on darker hair We love how customizable this Shine Drop It Kit is—you can adjust the color just by adding more or less dye. You simply mix a few drops of dye into a conditioner of your choice; one bottle holds enough for up to 30 applications. And there’s a helpful guide on the box to show you the vibrancy of your color based on the number of drops used, so you can tailor your bold hue to your preferences. (And since you then work it through your hair just like you would conditioner, the application process is super easy, too.) There are eight colors to pick from, many of which can be mixed and matched for a truly customized color. Feel free to be experimental, because the shade will be gone in 10 washes or less. Experimental types will love this customizable color kit. Pick your desired intensity, adding more drops for a dramatic result or fewer drops for something more subtle. Brunette folks should be aware that many dark-haired reviewers felt their results weren’t vibrant enough though. Active Ingredients: Castor oil | Type: Semi-permanent, drops | Shades: 8 | Lasts: Up to 15 washes | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 0.67 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes What We Like Long-lasting No-drip formula Comes with a moisturizing conditioner What We Don't Like Reviewers note color doesn't match the box Pick up this dye if you’re ready to commit to an unexpected color; because it’s a permanent formula, it won’t wash out. Although this line of dyes offers plenty of natural shades, it’s the ‘trend’ selection that caught our attention. Look out for eight dramatic shades, including a punchy purple and look-at-me-teal. The easy-to-use, no-drip formula stays put as you apply it, and an included conditioner ensures your new shade has plenty of shine and hair stays strong and healthy. One thing to note: Some reviewers felt their final result didn’t quite match the picture on the box. If you’ve found your color soulmate and you’re ready to commit, this permanent formula is for you. Active Ingredients: Rose oil | Type: Permanent, cream | Shades: 20 | Lasts: N/A | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: N/A | Cruelty-Free: Yes What We Like Cruelty-free formula Easily diluted for more subtle results Gentle formula Lasts up to 30 washes What We Don't Like Only works on light blonde hair If finding a vegan dye is important to you, you’ll love Brite, a company that specializes in ethical hair color. This creamy, conditioning formula is PETA-certified, vegan, and cruelty-free, and it certainly hasn’t made compromises in quality to meet these benchmarks. Each semi-permanent tone lasts up to 30 washes on blonde hair before fading gradually and evenly. Hoping for a more subtle effect? Dilute the dye by mixing it with conditioner for a pretty pastel shade. This dye brand that puts ethics front and center will give vegan beauty connoisseurs peace of mind. Long-haired folks be warned though: you don’t get a large amount of dye per box so you might need two. Active Ingredients: None | Type: Semi-permanent, cream | Shades: 3 | Lasts: Up to 30 washes | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 3.38 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes What We Like Comes with a hydrating after-treatment conditioner Has a metallic sheen Long-lasting What We Don't Like May not work well on darker hair To really make a statement, consider one of these head-turning metallic hues. This permanent hair dye comes in blue, red, purple, steel, and silver tones – all with an unmistakable gleam. While most of the shades (bar steel and silver) are suitable for both brunette and blonde base tones, the metallic iridescence doesn’t look quite the same on darker hair colors. Reviews say the color stays vivid for approximately four to five weeks, after which you’ll need a refresh. If you want a deep, shimmering hair color that’s bound to command attention, this formula is one to try. Longer-haired folks should buy two boxes for best coverage. Active Ingredients: None | Type: Permanent, cream | Shades: 13 | Lasts: Up to 3 weeks | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 6.38 oz | Cruelty-Free: No What We Like Specifically formulated for darker hair Vegan formula Contains quinoa to support hair strength What We Don't Like Can be messy Per our previous point about bold colors being trickier for brunettes, this formula offers the best solution. Tailor-made for those with brown hair, you don’t need bleach to achieve any of the five electric shades. Choose from magenta, blue, red, green, and ruby—all of which create surprisingly intense results on darker hair tones. Another pro: this semi-permanent formula contains quinoa extracts to help strengthen and protect your hair. Some reviewers did say it can be messy to apply—put some vaseline at your hairline to avoid staining your skin. We recommend this formula for our brunette friends who want vivid color results without having to bleach (read: damage) their hair first. Active Ingredients: Quinoa extracts, baobab seed oil | Type: Semi-permanent | Shades: 11 | Lasts: Up to 30 washes | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 6 fl oz (color), 0.75 fl oz (reconstructor) | Cruelty-Free: Yes What We Like Moisturizing Easy to apply Maintain color every time you wash What We Don't Like May take multiple washes to get desired color These tinted conditioners add and maintain color slowly each time you wash your hair and they tend to be safer/less drying than traditional box kits. We love how easy they are to use. Simply, work the product into damp hair, leave for five to 10 minutes, then rinse. Think of it like a deep conditioning hair mask, just with color. (Once you’ve achieved your desired hue, you can use it for less time to keep the shade vibrant.) And if you want to experiment with a different hue, simply use a clarifying shampoo before starting your next color-depositing conditioner of choice. If you want a foolproof dye solution, this color-depositing conditioner, which works to enhance your shade each time you wash, does the trick. However, users have noted it may not be the most effective on darker hair. Active Ingredients: Palm, coconut, sugar | Type: Semi-permanent, conditioner | Shades: 12 | Lasts: Up to 8 washes | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 6.4 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes What We Like Moisturizing Customizable finish Huge range of colors What We Don't Like May not work well on darker hair If you have a specific color—or combination of colors—in mind, chances are you’ll find it/them in this range by Lime Crime. Available in 35 shades, there's something for everyone, and many reviewers like to mix and match several hues at once for a vibrant rainbow effect. How long you leave the color on your hair will determine the intensity: 30 minutes is standard, but you can leave it on for up to two hours. FYI, the brand is pretty clear that results are best the lighter your hair is, though the website does feature a helpful guide that shows what each shade will look like even depending on your base tone. This candy-hued hair dye range is best for blondes—especially the paler, pastel shades. Active Ingredients: Glycerin | Type: Semi-permanent, cream | Shades: 25 | Lasts: Up to 10 washes | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 6.76 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes What We Like Easy to use Great for testing colors Good for adding highlights or accents What We Don't Like Messy spray We love this spray on dye for when you’re not sure which vibrant color you want but you know you want to try one out. With just one spritz of this spray-on dye, you'll get the hair color of your dreams. This temporary solution instantly covers every hair shade and type with vivid pigment, then washes out with just one shampoo. Use an old towel or piece of newspaper underneath the hair so you can spray without worrying about staining your clothes. Once you’ve applied the spray, remember to avoid touching your hair to ensure the color remains in place (taking a shower before bed to wash it all out would be a smart move, too so it doesn’t end up all over your sheets). It’s best for adding highlights and hints of color to the hair, making it an ideal purchase for a costume party or night out rather than an everyday look. Active Ingredients: None | Type: Temporary, spray | Shades: 7 | Lasts: 1 day | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: No What We Like Smells nice Super pigmented Vegan formula What We Don't Like Stains easily, might be difficult to remove on lighter hair This hair dye uses all-natural, vegan ingredients to deposit a beautiful shade on your hair. The creamy formula is free from all kinds of nasties, including parabens (preservatives that have been linked to breast cancer), sulfates (detergents that can cause irritation), and phthalates (a common beauty product stabilizer linked to a plethora of health issues, including infertility), as well as common irritants included in most hair dyes, like ammonia, peroxide, and PPD. This dye works on a range of hair tones, but blondes should know that the pigment can be difficult to remove from lighter shades. If you prefer to avoid harsh chemicals, this natural formula is the dye for you. Blondes who want to be able to return to their blonde easily may want to steer clear of this hyper-pigmented dye. Active Ingredients: Glycerin | Type: Semi-permanent | Shades: 14 | Lasts: Up to 20 washes | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 8 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes What We Like Gentle on hair Enhances shine Non-drying What We Don't Like Might stain and bleed Home dye kits are notoriously tough on hair, and can leave strands dry and damaged. Not so with Punky Colour, which eschews peroxide, a bleaching agent that can damage the hair and scalp, making it a safe bet for hair that’s already dry and prone to split ends. (We recommend going to a professional for any treatment involving peroxide). Even better, the formula includes keratin, a protein found naturally in hair and skin that’s known to help strengthen strands. Dyes are known for being harsh on hair, but this nourishing formula promises to be gentle on dry and damaged strands. Active Ingredients: Glycerin | Type: Semi-permanent, cream | Shades: 21 | Lasts: Up to 35 washes | Best for: All hair types and shades | Size: 3.5 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes Overall, our favorite non-fading hair dye was Manic Panic Classic High Voltage Hair Dye Color, a semi-permanent option available in tons of colors that lasts four to six weeks. Our favorite budget option was L'Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Color, a gentle formula that comes with a handy brush for DIY rainbow highlights. To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market, evaluating their key features in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We also consulted hair experts for their opinions on our choices. We used all that to make our picks for this article. Attributes we evaluated each non-fading hair dye on: FAQ How long do bright hair dyes last? Fleming says bright colors are the fastest to fade: “Most are just deposited on top of the hair and barely penetrate the hair shaft,” she explains. Plus, if you’re coloring pre-lightened hair, it’s likely more porous, which contributes to water pushing the direct dyes out of the hair quickly, she adds. What bright hair dye color is hardest to remove from hair? It might be obvious, but red is the most difficult hair color to remove compared to other hues. “Red color molecules are the biggest, which both means it fades the fastest, but also makes it harder to remove from the hair,” says Fleming. If you have lighter hair, you might want to look at other colors before committing to a full redhead moment. Are bright hair dyes damaging to the hair? According to Fleming, bright hair colors like pink, purple, blue, and green aren’t damaging in and of themselves. The issue becomes problematic if you have to overly lighten your hair beforehand to achieve that super bright result, which can leave it damaged, she says, again underscoring the importance of only letting pros bleach your hair. Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Additional guidance was provided by Kristen Fleming, color director at 3rd Coast Salon in Chicago. Byrdie contributor Esme Benjamin checked and updated this article in November 2023 to ensure every detail was correct and each product deserves its place on Byrdie’s list of the best bright, fantasy hair dyes. According to ourDiversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any bright hair dyes from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us atcontact@byrdie.comand we will evaluate the product ASAP.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/byrdie-bright-and-crazy-hair-color-update-tout-28ffecae51324a13bd3eaec72f0eafe2.jpg "Our Definitive List of the 12 Best, Ultra-Bright Hair Dyes (1)")
Who It’s For
Best Drugstore
L'Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Color
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Best for Brown Hair
Splat Midnight Hair Color Kit
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Who It’s For
Best Color-Depositing Conditioner
No Fade Fresh Semi-Permanent Hair Conditioner
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/no-fade-fresh-lavender-hair-color-depositing-conditioner-d69f60eefb914bf38df084b4202c1a7a.jpg "Our Definitive List of the 12 Best, Ultra-Bright Hair Dyes (9)")
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Best for Blonde Hair
Lime Crime Anime Hair Color
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Best for Dry & Damaged Hair
Punky Colour Semi-Permanent Conditioning Hair Color
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/punky-colour-semi-permanent-conditioning-hair-color-53e095e14faa48358bd5fcc1d0d69ab1.jpg "Our Definitive List of the 12 Best, Ultra-Bright Hair Dyes (13)")
Who It’s For
Where We Stand
How We Researched
What to Look for in Bright Hair Dye
Why Trust Byrdie
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/manic-panic-classic-high-voltage-hair-dye-color-db879552fe374980bee1fb7d5389a54a.jpg "Our Definitive List of the 12 Best, Ultra-Bright Hair Dyes (2)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shrine-purple-semi-permanent-hair-dye-drops-bc613bf426e5494f94330b8491405da2.jpg "Our Definitive List of the 12 Best, Ultra-Bright Hair Dyes (4)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/garnier-color-sensation-hair-color-cream-5bd3396d904a419595ac2767c201ac3a.jpg "Our Definitive List of the 12 Best, Ultra-Bright Hair Dyes (5)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/brite-rose-semi-permanent-hair-color-7e4c3502a8544d0d911b00ee7e1cbb86.jpg "Our Definitive List of the 12 Best, Ultra-Bright Hair Dyes (6)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/schwarzkopf-got2b-metallics-permanent-hair-color-5b7849ece8c44cdea3def9e6dea3dece.jpg "Our Definitive List of the 12 Best, Ultra-Bright Hair Dyes (7)")
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Edited byAlly Hirschlag
Article Sources
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