If you want to get blue hair without bleaching, check out these top blue hair dyes for dark hair that are either high-lift dyes or color depositing dyes.
Blue hair is a fun hair color that can be pulled off by people of all ages. It is one of the most popular funky hair colors for a reason. If you are planning to change your dark hair color into blue, there are plenty of products on the market.
I have reviewed a list of some of the best blue-black hair dyes in the market that can quickly make your dark hair blue.
| Best Blue Hair Dyes For Dark Hair | Best For | Type of Hair Color |
| Arctic Fox Semi-permanent Hair Dye | Light Brown to Dark Hair | Semi-Permanent |
| Manic Panic Blue Amplified Hair Color | Damaged Hair | Semi-Permanent |
| Garnier Nutrisse Hair Colour, Intense Indigo | Unprocessed Hair | Semi-Permanent |
| Lime Crime Electric Blue Hair Dye | Dry, Dull Hair | Color-Depositing Temporary Dye |
| L’Oreal Paris HiColour, Black Sapphire | Black Hair | Permanent |
Top blue hair dyes for dark hair 2024
How to choose a blue hair dye for dark hair?
Here are some tips on how to choose the right hair dye brand for dark hair.
Safe Ingredients and Formula: This isn’t just for dark hair, if you’re buying a hair dye, make sure it’s free of harmful chemicals like ammonia, resocrinol, PPD, etc. These are often added to increase color depth and longevity, however, they are harmful for hair and skin and might also lead to health disorders.
Type of Dye – If you don’t want to bleach your dark hair, your best choice is to use a “color depositing dye” for blue hair color. These dyes simply coat the outside of your hair strand and won’t penetrate the inner cortex. Hence, you won’t be required to lighten your hair. On the downside, these dyes won’t stay on your hair for a long time.
Longevity – As mentioned above, color depositing dyes don’t last long. However, there are certain dyes that come with strong formulas and developer mix (containing hydrogen peroxide) that don’t require you to bleach dark hair but do so in the process of dyeing. Obviously these dyes last longer but are much more harsher on hair.
Shade of Blue – You should definitely pick a shade of blue that will show up well on dark hair. Unless it’s a highly pigmented color depositing dye or hair chalk, a lighter shade of blue like aquamarine, sky blue, etc. won’t show up well on dark hair. You can pick darker shades like electric blue, turquoise, navy blue, steel blue, etc. to complement your hair color.
How I tested the best blue hair dyes for dark hair?
I did a “strip test” where I colored a section of the ends of my hair using each of these dyes. I checked for the following parameters and then rated the dyes on a scale of 1-5.
- Color Payoff: I obviously looked for dyes that gave the brightest, most vibrant color
- Chemical-Free: A lot of these dyes are ammonia-free, but I also checked for other harsh chemicals like PPD and peroxide.
- Long-Lasting: Also, I checked if the dyes last long or wash away easily.
Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Dye, Blue Jean Baby
I wanted to try something fun with my hair so I decided to try out the Arctic fox semi-permanent hair dye. The results are pretty surprising since the color came out brighter than I expected it to.
Plus it actually made my hair softer and shinier. I cannot recommend this product enough for beginners since it is really easy to apply. It also gave a surprisingly brighter shade to my dark brown hair.
The best part about this hair color is that it is free of ammonia. As a beginner, I was always skeptical about coloring my hair because of the harmful effects of ammonia.
So it was a relief to find a hair coloring product in the market which was free of it. The product is also cruelty-free and vegan which makes it an even better choice.
You can try the aquamarine shade or the Poseidon shade from the range if you want a different shade of blue.
What I liked:
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ammonia free
- Bright colors
- Wide choice of shades
- Easy to apply
What I didn’t like:
- Colour is transferable
My Ratings:
- Color Payoff – 4/5
- Chemical-Free – 4.5/5
- Long-Lasting – 3/5
Who It’s For – People With Damaged Hair
Manic Panic Blue Amplified Hair Color, Blue Moon
This is another hair color that caught me by surprise with its bright color. I was expecting a midnight bluish shade with this one since the color was a bit dark. But it came out really vibrant on my medium brown to black hair.
This is a maximum-strength hair coloring product from the manic panic that will give you some of the most intense and vibrant shades on dark hair. One drawback of this blue hair color is that it bleeds a lot.
So I had to wash my hair at least three to four times to completely get rid of the product.
If you don’t get rid of the color properly, it will transfer to yoru skin and clothes. You should also seal the skin around your hair with vaseline so it doesn’t stain much.
What I liked:
- Bright shade
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ammonia free
- Gluten-free
- Wide range of shades
- Phthalate-free
- Paraben-free
- Mixable colors
What I didn’t like:
- Product bleeds a lot during application
My Ratings:
- Color Payoff – 4/5
- Chemical-Free – 5/5
- Long-Lasting – 3/5
Who It’s For – Vegans
Garnier Nutrisse Hair Colour, Intense Indigo
This color is a little bit muted than the rest of the shades and it gives an intense blue-black look. You should opt for this one only if you are going for a subtle tint of blue on your dark hair.
Of course, the color looks pretty bright under sunlight but otherwise, it doesn’t make a lot of difference. Although this gave me pretty good results for over a month, it started damaging my hair post that.
Along with the temporary blue color, the natural black color of the hair started fading and turned into a brownish shade. So I would recommend a patch test before fully investing in the product.
This is a good product for people who are looking to cover their greys. The good news is that the product is formulated with avocado oil, olive oil, and shea oil that moisturizes your hair and prevents damage to an extent.
What I liked:
- Non- a dripping formula
- Includes fruit oil ampoule
- Provides grey coverage
- Subtle shade
- Permanent color
- Makes the hair smooth
What I didn’t like:
- Color fades after a month
My Ratings:
- Color Payoff – 4/5
- Chemical-Free – 3.5/5
- Long-Lasting – 3.5/5
Who It’s For – People With Virgin (Unprocessed or Colored) Hair
Lime Crime Electric Blue Hair Dye, Mystic Blue Fantasy
This bold and beautiful shade of blue works perfectly for people with dark brown or black hair.
It worked so well for me and gave a bright blue tint to the hair. You have to leave this product on your hair for at least an hour to make sure that the tint is absorbed well.
The packaging is really good and the jar is really convenient to work with. It also has a very pleasant smell, unlike most hair coloring products.
I found this product is also a bit difficult to wash off but you have to get rid of any trace of the hair color to prevent color transfer.
Oh and you know what I loved? This dye is vegan and leaping bunny certified. It is also free of harmful ingredients like ammonia, peroxide, and bleach.
What I liked:
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ammonia free
- Pleasant smell
- Damage-free formula
- Good packaging
What I did not like:
- Difficult to wash off
My Ratings:
- Color Payoff – 4.5/5
- Chemical-Free – 3.5/5
- Long-Lasting – 4.5/5
Who It’s For – People With Sensitive Scalp
L’Oreal Paris HiColour, Black Sapphire
The HiColour range from L’Oreal Paris is specifically formulated for people with dark hair bases.
So I had a lot of expectations from this product and it definitely did not let me down.
Although it looked dark after I washed my hair, it turned instantly brighter in daylight.
It definitely dried out my hair a little bit after the application but you just have to follow up with a moisturising conditioner or a hair mask to fix that issue.
The product smells pretty bad and it burned my eyes a little bit. It is recommended to do a patch test to avoid any allergic reactions.
What I liked:
- No brassiness
- Multi-level lift
- Formulated for dark hair bases
- Bright results
- Anti-breakage
- Permanent hair color
- Suitable for chemically treated hair
What I didn’t like:
- Might dry out your hair
My Ratings:
- Color Payoff – 4/5
- Chemical-Free – 3.5/5
- Long-Lasting – 4.5/5
Who It’s For – People Who Want a Long-Lasting Color
FAQs – Best Blue Hair Dyes For Dark Hair
Can I permanently color my hair blue?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to have blue permanent hair color. Funky colors can only be done on your hair temporarily. These colors will wear off your hair sooner or later.
However, you can prolong the lifespan of your hair color with proper maintenance or you could recolor them. Regular recolor of your hair is not recommended since it could cause dryness and damage.
What skin tone suits blue hair color?
Your skin color is one of the last things you should worry about when you are planning to get blue hair. Blue hair is a universal color that goes along with all skin tones.
Blue is also a very versatile shade so there is always something for everyone. This hair color comes in a variety of shades like turquoise blue, aquamarine blue, pastel blue, midnight blue, etc.
If you have a warm skin tone, it is best to opt for blues tones with green or purple hues.
One of my favorite shades, turquoise blue, works really well with warm skin tones. If you have cooler skin tones, pure blue shades will work best for you.
How long does blue hair color stay on your hair?
Most of the bright colors, including blue, cannot stay on the hair for a long time. The environmental conditions and water can fade it off pretty quickly. The bright results that you get after immediately washing your hair might stay for hardly a week.
Color-safe products cannot protect your hair color forever. If you wash your hair often, you will lose vibrancy quickly. So just stick to dry shampoo for most of the day if you want your color to last long.
Can you put blue hair dye on dark hair without bleaching?
A lot of people think that it is not possible to achieve bright colors on naturally dark hair without bleaching.
But this is not entirely true. You can have dark hair and still achieve blue dye on your hair.
The key is to use the hair coloring kits that are specifically meant for dark hair. The best part is you don’t even have to go to a salon to get this done.
Since this involves no bleaching, you can do it yourself in the comfort of your home using the kit.
It is important to follow the package instructions when you are trying to color your hair at home. But most of the hair coloring kits work the same way.
So after you’ve found your top blue hair dyes for dark hair, you simply have to let the hair dye sit on your hair for the stipulated time and then wash it off.
Also, make sure to use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to wash off the color from your hair.
Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?
The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.
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