The 7 Best Drugstore Hair Dyes of 2019

If you’re afraid of damage (and who isn’t?), this is the dye for you. This semi-permanent hair color is extra gentle on hair. The nourishing blend of coconut oil, aloe, and vitamins leaves strands healthier than its competitors, thanks to its lack of ammonia. It only takes 10 minutes for it to work its magic, leaving you with color that will last for 28 washes, covering grays and roots. The color is even, radiant, and natural looking.

Highlighting your own hair isn’t always easy, which is why it’s often left to the professionals. But this kit makes it much more doable to do on your own by breaking the process down into two steps. First, fill the highlighting brush that comes with the kit with the formula. Next, brush it through your hair from root to tip wherever you want to deposit color. Yep, it’s really that simple. The brush is designed to blend the highlights easily, while the formula leaves strands glossy. And the process is quick, too. So much for guesswork!

When you can’t make it to the salon for a root touch-up, this is the next best thing. Whether you always opt for at-home color or prefer to see a professional, this kit will stretch your hue between colorings. The permanent color perfectly blends into your shade to deliver 100% gray coverage. The precision brush makes it a cinch to apply and speeds up the process. It only takes 10 minutes to color roots and grays, but the hue lasts up to three weeks.

John Frieda is the drugstore brand that can nourish and nurture hair color like no other, as their line of shampoos and conditioners for each specific hue have proven, and their dye is no different. This kit makes ​at-home color a cinch and the clever foam formula simplifies precision color application, so you can deposit color exactly where you want it. The even saturation includes 100% gray coverage and leaves you with vibrant color. It’s speedy too, taking just 30 minutes of processing time.

When you have black hair, covering grays can be challenging. Luckily, this formula is known for being up to the task. Boasting 100% gray coverage, it makes it look natural with a range of luminous tones and highlights. Even though it’s heavy duty, you don’t have to worry about that chemical smell—this one has a fresh, floral fragrance instead. It conditions along the way, leaving hair shinier and softer than when you started. Plus, the non-drip formula won’t make a mess.

This little box does it all: You can cover grays, lighten dark roots, or just get a new hue altogether. The permanent formula goes easy on locks and nourishes with grape seed, shea ​and avocado oil, which penetrate deep into the hair. This conditioning action helps hair hold onto the color from root to tip, extending the life of the shade, leaving you with a rich, bold color. It comes in a range of shades, but since blond hair naturally pulls warmth, blonds should look for a neutral or ash tone to avoid looking too warm.