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Get expert-looking color for brunettes, blondes, gray coverage and more.

We updated this article in July 2022 with new product picks based on extensive testing by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab as well as product details and expert commentary.

Color processing at a salon can cost anywhere from $75 to more than $500 — which can be worth it if you want to completely change your look, but for those who just want to add subtle highlights or touch up gray hairs for $10 or less, you can absolutely do it at home. Today's at-home hair color options are easy to use and offer a quick, inexpensive way to update your look without the cost and hassle of a trip to the salon. The best at-home hair dyes from tried-and-true hair color brands last throughout regular shampooing, sun exposure and regular hot tool usage to remain shiny, healthy and vibrant.

But which boxed hair dye is best? To find out, GH Beauty Lab scientists rigorously test at-home hair color kits and products both in the Lab using technical instruments and on consumer testers to gauge their ease of use and effects, including color vibrancy, fading when exposed to water and UV, shine, the look and feel of hair after use and more. Here, the GH Beauty Lab's best-tested at-home hair color products you can buy, plus top-rated editor and consumer picks, including boxed drugstore dyes for professional results and gray coverage on all hair shades.

Scroll to the bottom of this article for more information on how we test hair color at the GH Beauty Lab, plus tips to keep in mind when shopping for hair color and how to make your DIY dye job last — and be sure to read our foolproof guide to coloring your hair at home, plus color inspo for dark brown hair, auburn hair, blonde color ideas, gorgeous highlight inspo and balayage hair color ideas.

Numerous shades — especially dark hair like brunettes and reds — from Clairol's popular demi-permanent drugstore color impressed the GH Beauty Lab in evaluations. In Lab testing, the ammonia-free at-home dye offered even coverage, left hair visibly shiny, and was fade-resistant when used to cover up gray strands.

• Formula: Demi-permanent • Number of shades: 38 • Includes: Color cream, color activator, conditioner

You can't beat this bargain: The GH Beauty Lab was especially impressed by Revlon's ammonia-free formula and the boxed dye earned perfect scores across the board in all categories. It covered grays completely, retained shine and didn't fade after four weeks. Great for dark hair colors and redheads, its auburn shade, Burgundy, was a top performer in Lab tests, covering grays well. The real hair samples it was tested on on kept their shine after multiple washes. "I have used other products with similar results but I would say that this product’s color last longer without fading and covered the gray hair also for a longer period of time," a tester reported. Another called it "one of the best hair colors I have used."

• Formula: Permanent • Number of shades: 41 • Includes: Ammonia-free colorant, color developer, conditioner

Cover regrowth in between dye sessions with this permanent root touch-up kit from Clairol, a GH Beauty Award winner. GH Beauty Lab evaluations found that the color provided total gray coverage and blended perfectly with users' existing shades. It also processes in just 10 minutes for speedy results.

• Formula: Permanent • Number of Shades: 28 • Includes: Permanent color cream, color activator lotion, mixing tray, applicator brush

In addition to boasting an "8-free" formula (meaning the brand claims it's formulated without eight of the more controversial or chemical ingredients often found hair color: Ammonia, PPD, resorcinol, parabens, phthalates, gluten, SLS and titanium dioxide), Madison Reed is also certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny, earning it top marks as the best natural hair color. A GH Beauty Award winner, the brand revolutionized the hair color industry by delivering salon-quality DIY dye kits in an impressively large shade range. “I loved how easy it was to find my perfect shade and that the kit came to my door with everything I needed to color my hair – genius!" a tester reported.

• Formula: Permanent • Number of shades: 56 • Includes: Permanent hair color, color activator, barrier cream, cleansing wipe, protective cap, gloves, color-protecting shampoo and conditioner

In GH Beauty Lab testing, experts found that Clairol Nice 'n Easy was the best pick for light hair and has a gentler, more conditioning formula. While all brands tested for blonde shades have only scored average (or worse) for covering up gray, Nice 'n Easy stood out for fade resistance and keeping its shine. In Lab evaluations, it scored high for giving a natural look, 79% of testers said it left their hair soft and shiny and 90% said it didn’t cause irritation. The hair color also comes in a huge range of 50 shades from very light blonde to extremely dark blue-black. "Easy to apply and left hair extremely soft, even without conditioner," a tester reported.

• Formula: Permanent • Number of shades: 50 • Includes: Permanent color cream, color activator, conditioner

Highlighting your hair is pretty tricky to do on your own (we support hitting the salon for the best results), but L'Oréal's Glam Lights promises to make it easy by reducing it to two steps. Fill the included highlighting brush with the formula, and then brush it through your hair from root to tips. Though the GH Beauty Lab hasn't tested this kit, reviewers note that this DIY option can add brighter blonde to already-highlighted or lighter-colored hair.

• Formula: Permanent • Number of shades: 2 • Includes: Developing powder, lifting powder, lifting cream, conditioning shampoo

A top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing, Garnier's permanent color is made with no ammonia and a high concentration of nourishing oil so it's gentle on hair that's damaged from treatments like keratin or thinning strands. The formula scored high for its pleasant non-chemical scent, ease of rinsing, and not irritating, and it didn't fade over weeks after application. "Made my hair feel extremely healthy and looked very natural," one tester raved.

• Formula: Permanent • Number of shades: 32 • Includes: Color cream, developer cream, applicator bottle, gloves

A reviewer favorite, this semi-permanent color intensifier from dpHUE takes effect in as little as three minutes and comes in a variety of shades from red to brown, black and blonde. And although the hues won't cover grays, the brand's co-founder and pro colorist Justin Anderson says "the deep conditioning will leave your hair feeling amazing."

• Formula: Semi-permanent • Number of shades: 10 • Size: 6.5 oz.

Test out a new hair shade or refresh the one you have as you deep condition strands with Moroccanoil’s innovative temporary color-depositing mask, a GH Beauty Award winner. The formula left strands evenly colored seven minutes after application and feeling soft and silky, GH Beauty Lab testing on hair samples found. It's also available in a selection of both neutral and bold shades.

• Formula: Temporary • Number of Shades: 10 • Size: 6.7 oz.

Just like in the salon, ESalon's professional colorists create a customized hair color just for you and your hair needs, which is then shipped to your door for application at home. GH Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D is a fan of the service and a former GH Beauty Lab scientist called it "a great option if you want the customization you get from working with a hair colorist and the convenience and savings of doing it yourself at home." As for the results: "It matched my current color and came out soft and shiny, truly formulated with my hair in mind," she reported.

• Formula: Permanent • Number of Shades: Custom • Includes: Hair color, developer, two pairs of gloves, applicator brush, shampoo and conditioner, stain guard, stain remover

Good Housekeeping Institute Senior Product Analyst Emma Seymour is a fan of trying bold hair colors and recommends this Lime Crime formula, which comes in a large array of vibrant and unique shades. "I loved how pigmented the color was," she notes. "It was easy to apply and the color showed up on my darker hair color, plus I liked that the jar had a large opening so I could get all of the product out."

• Formula: Semi-permanent • Number of Shades: 27 • Size: 6.76 oz.

All hair color fades, but it's especially noticeable with fantasy colors. These color-depositing conditioners from Overtone are an easy way to keep less natural shades vibrant. Made in a wide array of fun and pretty colors, it's intended to replace your normal daily conditioner to maintain unique hair color. "Unlike traditional conditioners for colored hair, it actually adds color when you use it, rather than just help preserve the shade," Seymour, who tried the formula, explains.

• Formula: Temporary • Number of Shades: 43 • Size: 8 oz.

RELATED: Does Overtone Hair Dye Actually Work on Brown Hair?

The GH Beauty Lab regularly tests at-home hair dye with both consumer testers and controlled Lab tests. In the Lab, scientists dye human hair samples in brown, blonde, red and black shades and evaluate the products for their gray hair coverage. They then assess each hair dye's color retention over a four-week period with a series of tests including 20 wash and dry cycles, as pictured below, and 10 hours of UV light exposure. After, experts judge each sample on final gray coverage, shine and fade-resistance.

Boxed dyes are also sent to a panel of women all over the country who evaluate them on factors such as ease of use and color performance, including gray coverage, color richness, uniformity and accuracy compared to the image on the box. They also provide real-life feedback on resulting hair shininess, softness and smoothness, as well as color fade over four weeks after application.

Choose your hair dye formula based on how long you want the color to last and your desired results. Aral shares a quick primer:

After picking out the best at-home hair dye, there are a few things you'll want to do to keep your color vibrant and true for as long as possible.

✔️ Cut back on washing your hair as much as possible, since contact with water causes dye to leach out of strands, explains GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann. Try applying a dry shampoo on days in between washes to extend your style as long as possible.

✔️ Choose a shampoo and conditioner formulated for color-treated hair when you do suds up. These formulas are specially created to keep hair color intact for as long as possible.

✔️ Give DIY hair color a boost to extend its life between dye jobs with an at-home gloss or glaze that matches your shade, suggests Rita Hazan, a celebrity colorist and owner of the eponymous salon in New York City. These glazes deposit subtle color pigments and enhance shine, she says

Sabina Wizemann, senior chemist in the GH Beauty Lab, develops laboratory protocols using specialized Lab equipment and conducts product testing across hair categories, including at-home hair color. With a background in hair dye research and synthesis, Sabina loves everything hair-related.

Birnur Aral, Ph.D., Executive Director of the GH Health, Beauty and Sustainability Lab, oversees at-home hair color evaluations.

April Franzino, Good Housekeeping's Beauty Director, is an expert in all hair product categories, spanning at-home and professional hair color, hair tools, haircare and styling products, salon services and more.