This study examined the use of plant extracts as natural hair dye colourants, highlighting their antioxidant properties and eco-friendly benefits. The authors reported that plant-based dyes effectively deliver vibrant colours and enhance hair health while offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes.
This study found that extracts from plants like onion peel and walnut possess strong antioxidant properties, making them promising eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic hair dyes, delivering vibrant colors and better wash fastness when combined with oxalic acid.
June 2026 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This study formulated an herbal hair dye using the medicinal herb Eclipta alba and other natural ingredients, finding it provided satisfactory coloring effects, conditioning benefits, stability, and safety, which supports its potential as a natural alternative to synthetic hair dyes.
June 2026 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” In this study, researchers formulated a herbal hair dye using Eclipta alba and evaluated it for various parameters, finding it provided satisfactory coloring, conditioning, and stability without irritation, supporting its potential as a safer alternative to synthetic dyes.
This study developed a natural herbal hair dye powder using Eclipta prostrata, Nigella sativa, and Aloe Vera, which offers safe and environmentally friendly hair coloring while avoiding harmful effects associated with conventional dyes.
May 2026 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This review highlights that natural hair dyes from plant-derived pigments can produce viable colors on gray hair with low irritation potential, though they face challenges in shade range and consistency; some products may also be adulterated, affecting safety perceptions.
May 2026 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This review summarizes current research on natural hair dyes, reporting that plant-based formulations can safely provide viable colors on gray hair with minimal irritation compared to synthetic options but face challenges in color range and consistency.
April 2026 in “Biomolecules” This study reported that discarded squid ink was used to develop a high-performance, environmentally friendly hair dye that offers a stable deep black color, UV protection, and preserves hair structure, while showing excellent biosafety in lab tests.
April 2026 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This review discusses the development and benefits of herbal hair dye formulations using medicinal plants like henna and indigo, noting their potential as safer, eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic dyes due to their nourishing and protective properties for hair and scalp.
April 2026 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This review concludes that herbal hair dyes made from medicinal plants like henna and indigo offer a promising natural alternative to synthetic hair colorants, potentially reducing side effects while providing additional benefits such as hair nourishment and scalp protection.
March 2026 in “INTERANTIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT” This study suggests that herbal hair dyes, using natural pigments, may provide a safer, eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic dyes, although their effectiveness depends on application technique and botanical purity.
March 2026 in “Portuguese Journal of Dermatology and Venereology” This study observed an unexpected case where a 44-year-old woman developed linear scalp pigmentation, resembling a tattoo, after undergoing a microneedling procedure followed by hair dyeing two days later, emphasizing the need to advise patients on avoiding hair dye application soon after such treatments.
February 2026 in “PubMed” This study reported that para-phenylenediamine and toluene-2,5-diamine are the main sensitizers in hair dye-related allergic contact dermatitis, with significant cross-reactivity to several other compounds.
January 2026 in “Journal of Pregnancy” This study suggests a potential link between hair dye exposure during periconception or pregnancy and certain adverse obstetric and pediatric outcomes, but the evidence remains preliminary and uncertain.
December 2025 in “Journal of Forensic Sciences” This pilot study found that prebleaching either virgin or previously colored hair only slightly affects the SERS spectra of dyes applied afterward, without impacting the accuracy of dye identification, supporting the technique's robustness for forensic analysis of hair dyes.
December 2025 in “Applied and Computational Engineering” In this study, researchers explored the potential allergenicity and harmful effects of hair dyes, noting that adverse effects such as sensitization and potential carcinogenicity are not inevitable and can vary based on individual physiological differences.
November 2025 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” In this study, researchers investigated how different hair dye processes affect hair structure, finding that oxidative dyes disrupt hair more than semi-permanent dyes, and emerging technologies could help maintain hair health while achieving desired color.
November 2025 in “Indian Journal of Nephrology” In this case study, a 43-year-old male with anti-GBM disease experienced a relapse triggered by hair dye, leading to diffuse alveolar hemorrhage; managing this with plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulins, and rituximab suggests rituximab may be beneficial for relapsing cases.
November 2025 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” In this study, researchers formulated a herbal hair dye using natural ingredients like indigo and henna, finding that it provides excellent color, better dye retention, and is more environmentally friendly compared to conventional chemical hair dyes, without side effects.
November 2025 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” In this study, researchers developed a herbal hair dye using ingredients like Indigo, Henna, and amla, which showed excellent color retention and were found to be more eco-friendly and safer for health compared to traditional chemical hair dyes.
November 2025 in “International Journal of Biological Macromolecules” This study introduced an eco-friendly enzymatic hair dyeing process utilizing laccase-catalyzed polymerization of hematoxylin, achieving intense, long-lasting color comparable to commercial dyes while enhancing hair strength and offering antioxidant and UV-shielding benefits.
November 2025 in “International Journal of Science and Research Archive” This study reviews how different hair dyeing methods affect hair structure, showing oxidative dyes cause more structural damage than semi-permanent dyes, while new technologies aim to minimize harm while preserving color.
November 2025 in “Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences” This study evaluated an herbal hair dye made from plant-based ingredients, finding it stable, non-toxic, and effective in providing lasting color, improving hair texture, and reducing hair fall, making it a viable and eco-friendly alternative to chemical dyes.
January 2025 in “International Journal of Advanced Research in Science Communication and Technology” Results are not reported for this study exploring how herbal hair dye, made from natural plant-based ingredients, might promote glossier, longer, and thicker hair while covering gray.
This study concluded that herbal hair dye formulations, particularly two-stage applications with henna, provide darker colors and may offer added protective benefits for hair and skin due to their plant-based ingredients.
October 2024 in “UNESP Institutional Repository (São Paulo State University)” This study investigated the effects of ammonium thioglycolate and amino methylpropanol hair straightening followed by permanent coloring, finding significant physical and chemical changes to both the cuticle and cortex of hair fibers.
September 2024 in “Heliyon” In this study, researchers observed that even a single session of hair dyeing can damage hair fibers, with significant worsening of mechanical properties and protein composition after three or more consecutive treatments, emphasizing the need to consider the cumulative impacts of dyeing on hair health.
December 2023 in “Forensic science international. Genetics” This study found that the RapidHIT™ ID system can successfully obtain DNA profiles from single hair roots, particularly those with high nuclei counts.
May 2023 in “Sokoto journal of medical laboratory science” This study demonstrated that prolonged use of commercial hair dyes caused significant increases in liver enzymes and bilirubin levels, and evident cellular injury in the skin and liver tissues of Albino rats, indicating potential toxicity.
January 2023 in “Fashion and textiles” This study found that hair dyed with anionic basic hair dye lost more color after shampooing compared to cationic and nonionic dyes, with alkaline shampoo increasing this effect.