10 Best Black Hair Dyes for Perfectly Dark, Shiny Strands

In addition to having 80% naturally-derived ingredients including coconut oil and aloe vera, Clairol's demi-permanent dye received high marks in the GH Beauty Lab. It left hair super shiny, was fade-resistant and provided even coverage. Plus, it has four different shades of black, letting you pick your favorite deep hue.

Talk about a beauty steal! Priced at under $3, this boxed dye from Revlon received perfect scores across the board in all of the GH Beauty Lab's rigorous tests: It covered grays completely, retained shine, and didn't fade after four weeks. Additionally, the nourishing formula includes keratin and silk amino acid to keep hair in tip-top shape. 

Thanks to the included conditioner with shine serum, L'Oréal Paris's box dye keeps color vibrant, rich and shiny. It also is known to really last. "This is the best box dye I’ve used for black hair," one Amazon reviewer raved. "I dyed my hair 3 months ago and it’s still very black!"

If you are looking for the truest and deepest jet black shade, Dark & Lovely has you covered. Amazon users also love that it provides great gray coverage. "I love this hair dye and it covers my gray" shares one reviewer, and "the main thing is, it covered my grey," says another. 

Sensitive scalp ladies, listen up: Schwarzkopf's formula is non-irritating and perfect for you. It claims to be free of ammonia, silicone and alcohol, making it ideal for those with easily irritable skin. Plus, it contains botanical oat milk, soy protein and argan oil to keep hair hydrated and strong. 

For a gentler option free of many of hair dye's bothersome and potentially irritating side effects, turn to this Garnier permanent color, a top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing. The formula contains no ammonia and a high level of conditioning oil. It earned high marks for its appealing non-chemical scent, easily rinsing, and not causing irritation, and it proved fade resistant for over weeks post-use. "Made my hair feel extremely healthy," a user reported.

Like red shades, black hair color is one that could fade easily if you don't use the right formula. Creme of Nature's dye prevents that from happening, while leaving it healthy and hydrated too. Plus, the gel formula is very user-friendly. "It’s easy to apply and doesn’t run as much as other products," shares one Amazon reviewer. 

Designed to complement their in-salon color, each shade of Vidal Sassoon's box dye contains the just-right blend of pigments for long-lasting color. The conditioner keeps hair soft and smooth, making the color pop even more. 

If you're looking for a different take on black hair color, try Clairol's blue black shade in a GH Beauty Award-winning formula. It's subtle but softer than jet black and has lots of dimension and shine. Testers found that the dye gave good gray coverage, 79% said it left hair soft and shiny and 90% said it didn’t cause irritation.

Garnier Nutrisse's soft black shade is exactly as it sounds: less harsh than a true black and contains warmer tones. With a triple oil blend containing avocado, olive and shea, the formula is known to nourish strands, while the color boost technology keeps the shade strong over time.