Whether you’re looking to cover your grays or save some coin, box dye can actually do a good job at helping you maintain the dark, rich color you’re used to rocking. From jet black to cool black, natural black, and more, we’ve searched high and low for the absolute best black hair dyes for men, taking a multitude of factors into consideration.
Because if you’ve ever dyed your hair black before, then you know that not all men’s black hair dye is created equal. You want to make sure that it’s easy to apply, maintains (or even restores) some vitality and shine to your hair, and that the color won’t fade after a few washes.
On top of getting the best black hair dyes for men, there are actually a few vital tips that you can employ to maintain your hair color’s depth, health, and vibrancy below.
How to keep black hair dye from fading
- Consider letting the color sit for longer if you have naturally darker hair, because it requires significant lift to create a more porous surface to adequately deposit color.
- Avoid clarifying and anti-dandruff shampoos, as those strip the color from the hair. Make sure to use color-safe shampoos and conditioners, or try a hair color shampoo.
- Incorporate a hair mask into your routine. These nourishing conditioners lock in color and amplify hydration.
- If your ends are dry or appear too dark after coloring, then try applying conditioner to the ends and let it absorb for 5 minutes before coloring your hair. This pretreatment prevents the over-absorption of too much product for extra conditioning and a more even application.
- Touch up hair with a color gloss in between dye jobs.
- In your day-to-day life, wear a hat to prevent fading/brassy tones from the sun, and use protection when heat styling your hair.
Now let’s take a look at the 8 best black hair dyes for men below.
Key Takeaways
For this quest, I started by poring over hundreds of photos, customer reviews, and even my own bathroom cabinet until I whittled it down to the 8 finalists you see on this list. Overall my top pick for a men’s black hair dye is Schwarzkopf Keratin Color Permanent Hair Color because it’s long-lasting, multi-dimensional for a natural look, and nourishing for the hair. For beautiful color that won’t alter your hair texture, check out Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Ultra Creme Nourishing Hair Color.
Why it’s great: If you’re lucky, you can get 8 weeks out of box hair dye, but this affordable one has an anti-fade formula that should get you a good 10 weeks. A pre-color serum also helps with that, with vitamin B6 and collagen, which primes the hair for an even, long-lasting color.
All the while, you should experience less breakage thanks to keratin color bond enforcing systems and a K-bondplex conditioner that leaves hair healthy and strong without altering your hair’s texture or potential curl pattern. Finally, the overall color result is multi-dimensional so that it looks natural.
Who is this for? For the low-maintenance guy in need of a men’s black hair dye that takes a long time to fade.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Pay attention to shades when purchasing: some customers didn’t get the results they wanted. Follow these tips when color matching.
Benefits: Multi-dimensional, long-lasting, conditioning | Hair type: | Type: Permanent | Cruelty-free: Yes
Why it’s great: If you’d rather have a color that washes out a bit quicker, this demi, glossy-toned color is a great option, as it gradually fades evenly. It provides vibrant, even coverage with color that deeply penetrates the hair shaft so that it lasts a solid 24 washes. Enriched with shea butter and free from ammonia and all animal-derived ingredients, this men’s black hair dye is gentle and nourishing on your hair and scalp.
Who is this for? For the guy who needs rich, vibrant black color that will wash out sooner than permanent dye.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This seems to be a new formula that long-time users don’t like as much, but they feel like it gets the job done well.
Benefits: Nourishing, gentle | Hair type: All | Type: Permanent | Cruelty-free: No
Why it’s great: It can be hard to find a box dye that lasts, but this one actually does—and for a low price, no less. Expect at least 8 weeks from one dye job. The non-drip formulation makes it easy to apply and covers up grays like a charm.
The triple care routine that includes shampoo and conditioner contains glycerin, pro-keratine, and ceramides to give hair that rich, dark black color you want without sacrificing the health of your hair along the way.
Who is this for? An easy budget choice for the guy who wants black or natural black hair for a full 8 weeks.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: A few consumers complained about a faulty seam on the conditioner tube.
Benefits: Shiny, Conditioning, Strengthening | Hair type: All | Type: Permanent | Cruelty-free: No
Why it’s great: This 3-pack may set you back further than most on this list, but it seems to be worth it: the overall effect is natural, vibrant, and long-lasting color with 8 weeks of staying power. And isn’t that priceless, after all?
It uses color seal conditioning to infuse hair with a rich, black color and add intense shine and softness, unlike some box dyes or even professional jobs at the salon that leave the hair thirsty and dry. Plenty of customers have been using this dye for years, one for a whopping 45!
Who is this for? For the guy in need of a reliable, go-to men’s black hair dye that lasts a long time.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: There have been some complaints about the smell.
Benefits: Nourishing, shine | Hair type: Normal | Type: Permanent | Cruelty-free: No
Why it’s great: Nothing looks more obvious than hair that is dyed one solid color. Unlike most box dyes, this 3-pack has 3D color gel technology that gives hair a rich, multi-dimensional shine so it looks natural and not monochrome. Enriched with keratin and silk amino acids, it conditions and strengthens the hair, adding in some superior shine. 10 Black is the perfect jet black color, but there are three other black colors available for purchase.
Who is this for? Ideal as a black hair dye for men if you prefer some dimension in your black hair color.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some people have found that the color fades after a month.
Benefits: Nourishing | Hair type: Dry, Color Treated | Type: Permanent | Cruelty-free: Yes
Why it’s great: Boasting three different black colors to choose from, this nourishing, affordable 2-pack does an incredible job at locking in color and truly keeping it from fading. This is thanks to color boost technology that intensely infuses dyes into the hair fiber for a rich, radiant black color that adapts to your hair’s texture, even if it’s coarse and unruly.
After applying, it comes with a fruit ampoule that contains five ultra-hydrating oils that can be added to the included thick conditioner to ensure color, prevent dryness, and give your hair that silky shine.
Who is this for? An easy choice as a men’s black hair dye for all hair types, especially if your hair is coarse, coily, or on the high-maintenance side.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some users aren’t crazy about the strong scent.
Benefits: Nourishing, conditioning | Hair type: All, dry, color-treated | Type: Permanent | Cruelty-free: Yes
Why it’s great: Sometimes you’re just not ready to fully commit, so a semi-permanent dye is ideal for testing the waters of men’s black hair dye. This vegan and cruelty-free brand offers a ton of playful colors, including a deep Transylvania black, which is a blue-based jet black color for cool-toned dudes. It won’t last too long, but it’s easy to apply and rinse out, all while nicely conditioning the hair.
Who is this for? Ideal for the fella who wants to try out black hair dye for about a week.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The time it takes to fade seems a bit inconsistent.
Benefits: Conditions | Hair type: All | Type: Permanent | Cruelty-free: Yes
Why it’s great: Whether you’re sensitive or just want to be more eco-conscious, this hair dye is a good option because it’s vegan, 92% naturally derived, and doesn’t contain any harsh smells. It uses olive oleic acid and meadowfoam seed oil to condition, nourish, and smooth the hair and keep the color lasting a long time.
Who is this for? A great black hair dye for men with sensitive skin or noses or allergies to harsh chemicals.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: A few customers felt like the color came out darker than expected, so pay attention when color matching.
Benefits: Nourishing, natural | Hair type: All | Type: Permanent | Cruelty-free: Yes
Buying Considerations for The Best Black Hair Dyes For Men
Ingredients
When it comes to the best black hair dyes for men, there are a few ingredients to seek out and a handful to avoid. First, some of the best hair dyes include nourishing ingredients like shea butter and keratin to strengthen the hair and protect it directly after coloring, which sensitizes the hair. As for those to avoid, ammonia is a big no-no because of its ability to cause damage to the hair and irreversibly alter its pH.
Type
Just in case you thought there was one hair dye and one hair dye only, make sure you’re reading the box before purchasing because there are actually three types. The first is semi-permanent, which does what it sounds like it might do, which is a deposit color that lasts anywhere from 3–6 washes. This is great for testing out hair dye in the short term.
Demi-permanent dye should hang in there for 24–26 washes. And finally, permanent hair dye, which should stick around on your hair for 6–8 weeks, depending on how often you wash your hair.
Additional Treatments
Something that I’ve noticed about superior black box hair dyes is that they come with some additional treatment, typically in the form of a conditioner, pretreatment, or conditioning mask. This is going to elevate the at-home dye experience to one similar to a salon. Crucially, these treatments lock in hair color, add shine and vitality, and protect hair from future breakage. Dye can be rough on hair, no matter how ‘natural’ or ‘clean’ the formulation, so stick to a black hair dye that contains a treatment boost.
How We Chose
Lots of black hair dyes for men claim to properly color and condition the hair while lasting for at least 6 weeks. But sometimes these claims just don’t hold up, and the color fades or it leaves your end brittle and dry. So wherever possible, I chose black hair dye from reputable brands that consistently deliver superior results.
I also sifted through hundreds of customer reviews and hair blogs, landing on my top 8 by choosing products that people rate highly and usually buy over and over again.
Company reputation: Does the brand have great customer service, ensuring that quality products are delivered on time? I always check a company’s track record before recommending.
Customer reviews: Are folks happy with the quality and overall results? What people say about a black hair dye’s performance matters to me most.
Transparency: Does the brand list all of the ingredients inside so that it’s clear what you’re going to be putting on your hair? I make sure that everything is out in the open and easy to find.
Why Trust Us?
As a hair care expert at FashionBeans (and someone who has dyed their hair for nearly two decades), in-house writer Rachel Cascella, it goes without saying, is passionate about hair care. Sixteen years as a model in the fashion industry has led her into the chairs of the industry’s top hairstylists, giving her exclusive access to a wealth of knowledge and first-hand encounters with some of the best products out there.
She has also written for TheRightHairstyles for quite some time, combining her love of hair health with a penchant for research. So far, she has written about color shampoos to help you maintain that valuable hair color, and conditioners to brighten and tone gray hair. Her methodical approach and commitment to quality make her insights particularly valuable for anyone looking to enhance their grooming routine.
Final Verdict
The best black hair dyes for men should be affordable, look natural, and not be too harsh on the hair. My top pick is Schwarzkopf Keratin Color Permanent Hair Color because it has tone and depth, it’s conditioning and healthy for hair, and it lasts for 10 weeks—longer than most.
FAQ
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Truthfully, any of the black hair dyes on this list will do the trick. The best black hair dye for men will give you even, vibrant, and long-lasting results.
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Permanent black hair dye should last for 6-8 weeks, while semi-permanent might last for 3-6 washes and demi-permanent for 24-26.
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