Best Hair Color Brands of 2025

Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Royal

Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Royal is a high-performance permanent hair color line favored by professional stylists worldwide. Known for its rich pigment and excellent gray coverage, Igora Royal offers over 100 shades, catering to a wide variety of hair types and color preferences.

The color numbering system consists of two digits: the first number indicates the depth of the color (level of lightness or darkness), while the second number represents the tone or reflex. For example, a shade numbered 6.60 corresponds to a dark blonde with a natural red tone.

Igora Royal includes various color families and subcategories:

• Natural tones (0 series) that provide 100% gray coverage.
• Ash tones (1 series) for cool, neutral shades.
• Golden tones (3 series) offering warm and luminous colors.
• Red tones (5 series) known for vibrant and intense reds.
• Brown and chocolate tones (4, 5, 6 series) that deliver rich, deep hues.
• Light blonde and golden blonde tones (9 series) for bright, radiant shades.

Popular shades include 6.60 (dark blonde natural red), 7.60 (blonde natural chocolate), and 9.50 (intense golden blonde).

Special formulations within the Igora Royal range include Absolutes, designed for mature hair and superior gray coverage; Highlifts, which offer powerful lightening capabilities; and Silver Whites, intended for toning gray and white hair with natural-looking results.

Thanks to its high pigment concentration, Igora Royal ensures long-lasting, vibrant color results. While it is primarily designed for professional use, it delivers exceptional outcomes when applied with proper technique and consideration of hair condition, desired tone, and undertones.

Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Royal remains a trusted choice for both salon professionals and individuals seeking reliable, high-quality hair color solutions.

L'Oréal Paris Excellence Creme

L'Oréal Paris Excellence Creme is a widely popular permanent hair color known for its triple protection system, which helps shield hair before, during, and after coloring. This formula is designed to provide rich, vibrant color while maintaining hair health and minimizing damage.

The product offers a broad spectrum of shades, ranging from natural blondes and browns to bold reds and deep blacks, making it suitable for diverse hair types and color preferences. It is especially effective at covering gray hair with up to 100% coverage, leaving hair looking naturally radiant.

L'Oréal Paris Excellence Creme is enriched with Pro-Keratin, Ceramide, and Collagen, ingredients that work together to strengthen the hair fiber, restore the hair's surface, and provide deep nourishment. This results in smooth, shiny hair with long-lasting color.

The color numbering system uses a similar two-digit structure: the first number indicates the color level, and the subsequent numbers represent tone and intensity. Popular shades include 5 Natural Brown, 7 Golden Blonde, and 6.35 Intense Copper.

Easy to apply with a creamy texture, Excellence Creme ensures even coverage and is formulated to reduce scalp irritation. It is suitable for both first-time color users and those seeking to refresh or change their look.

L'Oréal Paris Excellence Creme continues to be a reliable choice for consumers seeking a balance of vibrant, durable color and hair care.

Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme

Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme is a permanent hair color known for its nourishing formula enriched with fruit oils, including avocado, olive, and shea oils. These natural ingredients help protect and condition hair during the coloring process, leaving it soft and healthy-looking.

The brand offers a wide range of shades, from natural blondes and browns to rich reds and vibrant fashion colors. Garnier Nutrisse is especially popular for delivering rich, long-lasting color with a natural finish.

The color system follows the standard numbering format, where the first digit indicates the depth of the color and subsequent digits define the tone. Some favored shades include 60 Dark Golden Blonde, 53 Light Golden Brown, and 43 Medium Intense Auburn.

Garnier Nutrisse also provides effective gray coverage and is formulated to be gentle on hair, making it suitable for individuals with sensitive scalps.

Thanks to its combination of nourishing oils and quality pigments, Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme offers a balance of vibrant color and hair care, making it a preferred choice for at-home hair coloring.

Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color

Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color is a premium, ammonia-free permanent hair dye known for its nourishing and gentle formula. Enriched with ingredients like argan oil, keratin, and ginseng root extract, it aims to provide vibrant, long-lasting color while improving hair health.

This brand offers a wide variety of shades, including natural blondes, browns, reds, and bold fashion colors. Madison Reed is popular for delivering salon-quality results with a pleasant scent and minimal damage, making it suitable for sensitive scalps.

The color system is designed to be user-friendly, often accompanied by a personalized color consultation online to help customers select the perfect shade based on skin tone and preferences. Notable shades include Medium Ash Blonde, Rich Mahogany, and Deep Espresso.

Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color is favored by those who prefer a safer, more natural hair coloring experience without compromising on color intensity or longevity. Its blend of nourishing ingredients ensures hair remains soft, shiny, and healthy after coloring.

Clairol Professional Beautiful Collection

Clairol Professional Beautiful Collection is a permanent hair color line known for its gentle, peroxide-free formula that is suitable for sensitive scalps. This collection offers rich, vibrant shades that provide excellent gray coverage while maintaining hair’s natural shine and softness.

The brand features a wide range of color options, including natural blondes, browns, reds, and warm tones, making it versatile for various hair types and color preferences. Its unique formula is designed to minimize scalp irritation and protect hair during the coloring process.

Clairol Beautiful Collection uses a straightforward numbering system to help users select their desired shade, with popular choices such as Light Golden Blonde, Medium Chestnut Brown, and Deep Auburn.

The formula is enriched with conditioning agents that leave hair feeling smooth and healthy after coloring. This makes Clairol Professional Beautiful Collection an ideal choice for those seeking a gentle yet effective hair color solution, particularly for first-time users or those with sensitive scalps.

Wella Professionals Koleston Perfect

Wella Professionals Koleston Perfect is a premium permanent hair color line renowned for its high-quality pigments and long-lasting, vibrant results. Favored by professional stylists, this collection offers a wide variety of shades with excellent gray coverage and exceptional color intensity.

Koleston Perfect features a comprehensive color palette that includes natural blondes, rich browns, vivid reds, and bold fashion shades, allowing for creative versatility and personalized looks. The color numbering system indicates the depth and tone, making it easy for professionals and users to select the desired shade.

The formula is designed to minimize hair damage during the coloring process while delivering uniform color distribution and a natural finish. Additionally, Koleston Perfect contains conditioning ingredients that help maintain hair’s softness and shine after coloring.

With its precise color formulation and consistent performance, Wella Professionals Koleston Perfect remains a trusted choice in salons worldwide and among individuals seeking salon-quality results at home.

Revlon ColorSilk Beautiful Color

Revlon ColorSilk Beautiful Color is an affordable permanent hair dye known for its rich, natural-looking color and nourishing formula. Enriched with silk proteins, it helps strengthen and condition hair during the coloring process, resulting in soft, shiny, and healthy-looking hair.

The brand offers a broad spectrum of shades, including natural blondes, browns, reds, and vibrant fashion colors, making it suitable for various hair types and personal styles. Revlon ColorSilk is particularly popular for delivering 100% gray coverage with a natural finish.

The color numbering system follows the standard format, where the first digit represents the color level and the subsequent digits indicate tone and intensity. Popular shades include Medium Brown, Light Golden Blonde, and Mahogany.

Thanks to its ammonia-free formula and easy application, ColorSilk Beautiful Color is an excellent choice for at-home hair coloring, providing long-lasting results without compromising hair health.

Pravana Chromasilk Vivids

Pravana Chromasilk Vivids is a professional semi-permanent hair color line celebrated for its intense, fashion-forward shades. Known for delivering exceptionally vibrant results, this range is a favorite among stylists and individuals who want bold, creative hair colors.

Unlike traditional permanent dyes, Chromasilk Vivids is ammonia-free and formulated with silk amino acids and keratin to help condition and strengthen hair during the coloring process. This ensures that hair remains soft and shiny while maintaining brilliant color.

The Vivids range offers a wide spectrum of shades, from deep jewel tones like Violet and Emerald to bright, playful colors such as Neon Pink and Locked-In Blue. It also allows for custom color mixing, enabling unique, personalized results.

Pravana Chromasilk Vivids is designed for pre-lightened hair to achieve the most vibrant payoff, and it is renowned for its long-lasting wear compared to many other semi-permanent colors. Its fade-resistant formula and nourishing ingredients make it a go-to choice for creative hair transformations.

Age Beautiful Permanent Liqui-Crème

Age Beautiful Permanent Liqui-Crème is a professional permanent hair color specifically formulated to address the unique needs of aging hair. It is designed to provide 100% gray coverage while restoring youthful vibrancy, shine, and softness.

Enriched with an anti-aging complex containing melanin, keratin peptide, and silk protein, this formula helps replenish hair structure, improve strength, and enhance manageability. The result is healthy-looking, richly colored hair that resists fading.

The range includes a wide selection of natural, warm, cool, and fashion-forward shades, making it easy to find a flattering color for any skin tone. Popular shades include Medium Ash Brown, Dark Golden Blonde, and Light Copper Blonde.

The liqui-crème texture allows for easy mixing and smooth application, ensuring even color distribution from roots to ends. Age Beautiful is also formulated to combat the texture changes that often occur in mature hair, leaving it silky, shiny, and revitalized after coloring.

Thanks to its professional-quality pigments and nourishing ingredients, Age Beautiful Permanent Liqui-Crème is a top choice for those seeking long-lasting color and enhanced hair health, especially when covering stubborn grays.

Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color

Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color is a vibrant, cruelty-free, and vegan hair dye brand known for its bold, long-lasting colors and gentle, conditioning formula. Free from harsh chemicals such as peroxide, ammonia, and PPD, it is designed to be safe for frequent use and to keep hair healthy.

The range offers an extensive palette of shades, including bright tones like Purple Rain, Aquamarine, and Poison, as well as softer pastels and custom-mix options. Because it is a semi-permanent formula, it gradually fades with washing, allowing for color changes without the commitment of permanent dyes.

Arctic Fox is enriched with added conditioners to help hydrate hair while coloring, leaving it soft and shiny. It is best applied to pre-lightened hair for maximum vibrancy, but it can also add a subtle tint to darker hair shades.

In addition to its hair care benefits, Arctic Fox is committed to giving back, donating a portion of profits to animal welfare organizations. Its combination of vibrant color payoff, gentle formula, and ethical mission has made it a favorite among those seeking creative and responsible hair coloring options.

Choosing the right hair color brand can make all the difference in achieving vibrant, long-lasting results while keeping your hair healthy and beautiful. The brands highlighted in this guide — from professional salon favorites like Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Royal and Wella Professionals Koleston Perfect to at-home bestsellers like L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme and Revlon ColorSilk Beautiful Color — offer something for every hair type, shade preference, and budget.

Whether you’re covering grays, experimenting with bold fashion colors, or simply refreshing your natural tone, today’s hair color formulas combine advanced technology with nourishing ingredients to deliver stunning results. By considering your hair’s unique needs, desired shade, and level of maintenance, you can confidently choose a brand that will help you achieve your perfect look in 2025 and beyond.