9 Best Tried and True Japanese Hair Dyes in 2022 (Hair Stylist-Reviewed)

While there's not much concrete evidence out there to support this, some users claim that since Japanese hair dye is formulated for dark, Asian hair, it likely works best for those with similar hair color and textures. Moreover, other users report that Japanese hair dyes didn't dry out or damage their hair as much as Western products and that they didn't have as strong of a smell, but this seems to vary between the product.

Ultimately, hair dyes in general work in a similar fashion no matter where it's from, but Japanese hair dyes do indeed offer colors that are trendy and popular in Japan.

For the most part, choosing a Japanese hair dye is no different than choosing a hair dye anywhere else. For details buying guides on hair dye, check out our articles below.

Based on our in-house testing, we ranked a couple of the best Japanese hair dyes you can find online. Keep in mind our overall scores are not a simple averaging out of each product’s test results; some tests were given more weight than others, which is reflected in our rankings.

After picking up the nine popular hair dyes from popular e-commerce sites in Japan like Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping, we tested each for each of the following:

• Finish
• Color retention
• Feel

Next, we tested how long the color lasted.

We shampooed and dried the dyed hair samples seven times in a row to see how much of the color changes. Then, we compared it to images of the hair taken immediately after it was dyed, and gave higher scores to products that had fewer changes in color.

Finally, we tested how the dye made the hair feel in the hand.

We touched the dyed hair samples to check the feel of the hair and how smooth our fingers ran through them. Products that offered a smooth feel and allowed us to easily run our fingers through them were rated highly.

You've obviously dyed your hair since you want it to look a certain way, so you'll probably want to keep it to that color for as long as possible. By taking care of your hair, the color will last longer. Use a conditioner or hair oil to moisturize your dried-out hair.

Moreover, using a shampoo that isn't overly cleansing, like a colored shampoo or shampoo for colored hair, will help minimize color fading.

Check out the links below for more on hair conditioners and masks!

Dying your hair during menstruation is not advised, since the skin is quite sensitive, and hair dye can add stress to your skin. It's best to avoid dying your hair when your skin or your body doesn't feel at its best.

If you're pregnant, always check with your doctor and ask if it's safe for you to dye your hair. During pregnancy, women can be particularly sensitive to smells, and the strong smells found in hair dye can make you feel sick, so be careful if you decide to dye your hair.

※None of the content on this website is intended to act as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a licensed medical practitioner or other qualified healthcare providers for healthcare concerns.

If you plan on dyeing your hair into a bright color, like pink or purple, it's best to choose a color that's similar to the last hair color you used.

Since it's difficult to suddenly dye your hair from a warmer color to a colder color, to get the best results, you'll have to gradually shift colors if you plan on making such a drastic change.

We also purchased and tried out the most popular boxes of Japanese bleach online, so check out the article below if you know you'll be needing to lighten your hair first!

If you're looking for shampoos to treat your colored hair, so that you can keep rocking your newly colored locks for longer, check out the links below! 

Author: Kano Ichiyama/Translation: Jasmine Li, Mitsuki Nagasawa, Tomoko Leeper/Photos: Yuuki Inagaki, Koichi Miura

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