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  • 10 Best Hair Colours for Women in India 2021 (LÓreal Paris, BBlunt, and more) 1
  • 10 Best Hair Colours for Women in India 2021 (LÓreal Paris, BBlunt, and more) 2
  • 10 Best Hair Colours for Women in India 2021 (LÓreal Paris, BBlunt, and more) 3
  • 10 Best Hair Colours for Women in India 2021 (LÓreal Paris, BBlunt, and more) 4
  • 10 Best Hair Colours for Women in India 2021 (LÓreal Paris, BBlunt, and more) 5

10 Best Hair Colours for Women in India 2021 (LÓreal Paris, BBlunt, and more)

Scrolling past Instagram profiles of celebrities with perfectly painted balayage or global highlights is a convenient thing to do when searching for hair colour inspiration. But sadly, getting a colour appointment that costs a few thousand rupees isn't always feasible for all of us. Therefore, people opt for an at-home hair colour option as an easy and inexpensive way to update their look without the cost and hassle of a trip to the salon.


LÓreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss and BBlunt Salon Secret are the best hair colour brands in India that are tried and tested to last through frequent shampooing, sun exposure, and the use of heating tools. Get to know more about undertones, hair colour, and how you can get the optimum look from our expert Chahat Goyal, a Chandigarh-based makeup artist. 

Last updated 23/03/2023
Chahat Goyal
Expert
Makeup Artist
Chahat Goyal

Chahat Goyal is a makeup artist based in Chandigarh. She strives to make a historical mark in the beauty industry through her extensive knowledge of aesthetics and skincare. Her area of expertise lies in luxury bridal makeovers for Indian skin tones. Chahat is professionally certified by one of the most eminent makeup artists of North India, "Ms Parul Duggal."

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Table of Contents

In Association With Makeup Artist Chahat Goyal

In Association With Makeup Artist Chahat Goyal

Chahat Goyal, a Chandigarh-based makeup artist is a specialist in luxury bridal makeovers for Indian skin tones. She is professionally certified by one of the most eminent makeup artists of North India, "Ms. Parul Duggal." You can check her work on her Instagram account.

How to Choose Hair Colours for Women in India – Buying Guide

Hair colourists charge a whopping amount for their services because they're professionals and their level of expertise justifies that price. But you can DIY your hair colour at a much nominal price, without ever leaving your home.


However, there are a few things you need to decide first, like the choice of colour and whether to go for a permanent colour or a temporary one. For your convenience, we've researched and listed everything you need to know to make the right choice. So, read on!

① Determine Your Hair Goal

Whether you've gotten your hair coloured before or are taking the first step towards changing your natural hair colour, it is crucial to determine your hair goal. You can either go lighter or darker than your natural hair or enhance your natural colour.

Decide Whether You Want to Go a Shade Lighter or Darker

Decide Whether You Want to Go a Shade Lighter or Darker

If you're thinking of going blonde or experimenting with brighter colours, you'll have to lighten your locks with hair bleach. A lighter colour, i.e., blonde, has shades ranging from light beige blonde, light golden blonde, an extra-light natural blonde, and light natural blonde to light ash blonde, light reddish-blonde, and dark golden blonde.


However, bleaching can cause a lot of damage to your hair, leaving them dry, prone to breakage, and with split ends. Therefore, it becomes important to follow a strict hair care routine post colouring. Invest in high-quality shampoos, and conditioners meant for bleached and coloured hair, deep condition, and oil your hair regularly to bring back the moisture.


Most Indian hair colour lies between standard black to dark brown. Therefore, it is unlikely for you to shade darker unless your hair has been coloured a light shade. In the latter case, you'll have to consult your stylist to know the right time to re-color your hair.

Chahat Goyal
Makeup ArtistChahat Goyal

Experts recommend colors, which are no more than two shades lighter or darker than your natural hair. That will give you the most natural-looking results. Changing your hair from dark to a very light blonde may create a dissonant overall appearance because the eye and eyebrow colors do not match. 


Such mismatches advertise your hair color as fake. In case you still plan to go a shade lighter, bleaching and colouring your hair will leave them frizzy and hard to handle, its always best to invest in some great hair-care products like nourishing shampoos, deep conditioning masks, and serums.

Cover Your Grey Hair With a Permanent Solution or a Temporary Fix

Cover Your Grey Hair With a Permanent Solution or a Temporary Fix

If you have a few greys to cover up, you can opt for temporary root touch-up products. These products are more like makeup than hair dye. They come in spray bottles or pressed powders that wash out as soon as you shampoo your hair. Temporary products are best for concealing a few greys.


Permanent root touch-up products are similar to hair dye that covers and match the grey hair with the rest of your head. They last for around three to four weeks before fading. They come in handy when you don't want to colour your whole head. However, they take longer to apply than temporary sprays.

Chahat Goyal
Makeup ArtistChahat Goyal

Use a thin applicator brush (specifically designed for applying hair colour and other hair products), along with use a rat-tail comb to section your hair. After making the sections, pick up the grey strands and paint them close enough to cover the entire grey area.


Make sure to wash your hair with slightly warm water so the colour can come off easily. Color-treated hair needs special care. Once a week, you should therefore apply a conditioning mask to bring out the beauty of your hair.

② Choose Hair Colour That Matches Your Skin Tone

While we live in a free country and can wear any hair colour that we like, it can help us understand different shades to pick a colour that complements our skin tone. Depending on your unique skin tone, you can choose whether the warm or cool tones suit you.


How to identify your undertone? If you see blue or purple veins on the top of your hand, you've cool undertones. If your veins are more greenish-looking, then you have warm undertones. For those who see both, you most likely have a neutral undertone.

Lighter Shades for Cool Skin Tones

Lighter Shades for Cool Skin Tones

The paler your complexion, the lighter you can go with the choice of hair colour. Cool blonde shades like platinum, beige blonde, baby taupe blonde, and light icy blondes work perfectly for fair/cool skin. But if you want to go for a deeper hue, dark red violets and jewel-toned colours, such as rich true red, solid jet (blue) black, and dark deep brown will look amazing.


People with cool skin tones can also pull off shades from the rainbow category, namely blue (we've seen Billie Eilish pull this colour like a pro), green, and purple. Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor also have the palest skin colour, and they've carried off lighter hair colours flawlessly in the past.

Chahat Goyal
Makeup ArtistChahat Goyal

People with cool skin undertones tend to have blue, green, pale brown, or grey eyes and naturally blonde, brown, or black hair with ash tones. Out of the box, shades like platinum-blonde, almost white, burgundy, mahogany, pearl, bluish-black will complement the cool skin toned skin. 


Cool strawberry or dusky rose, for a darker version - is a popular choice for those with a pale skin tone (and often a natural skin & hair color combination). The pink hues emphasize your blush and give you a healthy-looking complexion.

Warm Hair Colour for Warmer Skin Tones

Warm Hair Colour for Warmer Skin Tones

To choose a highly flattering hair colour that complements your warm skin tone, go for golden beige or buttery blonde shades. Kangana Ranaut and Alia Bhatt are two celebrity examples of the warmer blondes. Women with fair skin and warmer undertones would want to avoid the overly blue and violet-based colours as these might appear too harsh against their skin tone.


However, if you want to go brunette, you can opt for caramel, butterscotch, or clove shades. From Hollywood, you can take hints from Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez. If you want to try out rainbow shades, you can go for warm colours like coral, rose gold, apricot, and yellow.

Chahat Goyal
Makeup ArtistChahat Goyal

Most Indian women have skin tones that are made to compliment dark brown or black hair. However, shades like mahogany, ebony, coffee brown, deep caramel, deep mocha, etc., look great with Indian skin tones. 


I would recommend avoiding blonde shades for Indian skin tones since the yellow undertones present in most Indian skin tones will make a face look dull once combined with blonde hair.

Blonde Colour for Those With Neutral Skin Tones

Blonde Colour for Those With Neutral Skin Tones

Neutral skin tone has the most flexibility with colour. From gorgeous platinum or pale beige blonde to a more golden blonde or amber blonde, you can carry off any blonde. Caramels, mocha, and golden browns will further accentuate your features, giving you a glowing complexion.


Remember to stay away from colours that match your skin tone too closely, as they'll wash out and won't look natural. Priyanka Chopra, Sushmita Sen, and Deepika Padukone are some celebrities to take inspiration from hair color. The deep, rich, and earthy browns balance the undertone and skin tone, giving your facial features a strong edge.

Chahat Goyal
Makeup ArtistChahat Goyal

Those with a neutral skin tone are very fortunate to carry off either warm or cool colors, i.e., ash, gold, reds, chestnut, coppers, and it would look quite natural, depending on the depth of color and technique used. Aside from skin tone, you should also consider eyebrow color and eye color. The hair colour shouldn’t be more than two tones different from the eyebrow shade.

Darker Hair Colour for Dark Skin Tones

Darker Hair Colour for Dark Skin Tones

Women with dark-tan to brown skin tones can either pick a shade lighter (at least two shades) or darker than their skin tone. This will create a natural contrast, thus making you look more appealing. Take hints from Mindy Kaling and Lakshmi Menon's look. They both pull off a darker hair colour to highlight their features.


Dark espresso and inky black are two of the most preferred hair color choices for women with dark skin tones. If you have a warmer undertone, you can also go for shades like mahogany, maple brown, and toffee to bring out the best of your features. However, you should steer away from colours closer to your skin tone as they'll clash and make your face look washed out.

Chahat Goyal
Makeup ArtistChahat Goyal

Rich dark brown and deep burgundy reds would also look amazing with dark skin tones. On dark hair, a balayage or ombré using red tones is a great way of adding some striking color without changing your shade entirely. Try warm wine tips or strategically-placed sections of maroon red that increase down the lengths.

③ Match Your Hair Colour With Your Eye Colour

The key to picking a perfect hair colour lies in the balance between the colour of your eyes and skin tone. A right hair color enhances the overall appearance by focusing on the eyes first and then moving the face's attention. So, let's discuss how you can determine your hair colour based on the colour of your eye.

Warmer Colours for Brown Eyes

Warmer Colours for Brown Eyes

If you have brown or warm hazel eyes, choose warmer hues such as chestnut brown, toffee colour, and honey blonde. You can also go for golden undertones of these warm brown hair colours to bring out the colour of your eyes.


However, if your eyes are on the cooler side of brown, platinum, and silver blondes, an ashy blonde and salt-and-pepper look will work for you. For those with eye colour that's a richer shade of brown can play with medium golden brown, amber, copper, butterscotch blonde, or medium almond shades of the hair colour.

Chahat Goyal
Makeup ArtistChahat Goyal

The base or global colour could be the darkest brown and touches of cinnamon and espresso highlights which break up the colour and add dimension. Highlights will keep the colour from looking flat. 


Out of the many daring hair colours Selena Gomez has sported this dark dimensional brown strikes us as one of the most becoming. One can go for mid-light ribbons of auburn that melt into medium and light golden highlights and enough of the medium-brown base color.

Golden Highlights for Amber Eyes

Golden Highlights for Amber Eyes

Amber coloured eyes are quite common in Indian women. Whether you have light brown or amber eyes, you want a hair colour with a warm burst of sunlight, like butterscotch or golden highlights, and copper-y red or dark golden auburn to make your eyes stand out.


And darker shades like black, burgundy, or the deepest brown are not recommended as these cool colours will look harsh against your natural warm coloured eyes. 

Chahat Goyal
Makeup ArtistChahat Goyal

It may be best to stick with colours somewhere between medium blonde and medium brown. However, if you choose lighter colors, it's best to use them since highlights with blonde highlights on medium-colored brown hair are very attractive.


To provide variety, try light brown hair color with both medium brown low-lights and blonde highlights or streaks. The three-color tones in the hair will highlight your skin tone and make your eyes really stand out.

Both Warm and Cool Shades for Hazel Eyes

Both Warm and Cool Shades for Hazel Eyes

Hazel eyes are the most forgiving as they allow you the freedom to creatively experiment with your hair colour. You can choose from both warm and cool shades, provided you keep to the basic selection of medium and rich tones.


You can choose from auburn and warm honey brown colours, or pick a cool shade from reds and darker blondes. But you would want to avoid super-light and super-dark hues as they'll clash with the natural pigments in your eyes.

Chahat Goyal
Makeup ArtistChahat Goyal

Those with gold and brown flecks in their eyes in the iris are in a warm category. People with gray, white, or blue flecks in their eyes are in the cool category. Blonde hair tends to emphasise the lighter colors in hazel eyes. 


Brown hair highlights the brown, green, gold, and gray flecks in the eyes. Red hair emphasises the gray and brown highlights in hazel eyes. Look closely at the prominent colors in your eyes before selecting the base color for your hair.

④ Check the List of Ingredients

Check the List of Ingredients

Not all forms of alcohol are bad for your hair. But if a formula does contain alcohol, make sure it has super-hydrating ingredients, too, like aloe vera, chamomile, keratin, amino acids, and vitamin E. Hydrogen peroxide in its purest form, and large quantities are toxic for the human body. However, it is diluted multiple times before being used in hair color.


Its primary duty is to lighten the hair so that the new pigment could be deposited. But it does have a damaging effect - moisture loss. Most hair colour manufacturers use a blend of natural and synthetic pigments to give you the desired shade. Though these pigments are required to change the colour of your hair, you need to make sure to use colour damage prevention products to minimise their effect.

Chahat Goyal
Makeup ArtistChahat Goyal

Avoid using hair colours that contain harmful parabens and radicals. Nowadays, Ammonia-free hair colours are widely available in the markets. However, it's always better to avoid using products with ammonia present in them. This is because the ammonia pulls the protein layer off the hair and makes the hair more prone to breakage.

10 Best Hair Colours for Women in India

We've done our research and shared the knowledge for how you should choose your hair colour, so now is the time for us to show some recommendations. Our list includes the best hair colour without ammonia and peroxide available in India.
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Points
1

L'Oreal Paris

Casting Crème Gloss

L'Oreal Paris Casting Crème Gloss 1枚目

Permanent Solution for Optimal Grey Coverage

2

Garnier

Color Naturals

Garnier Color Naturals 1枚目

Hair Colour Enriched With Three Essential Oils

3

BBLUNT

Salon Secret

BBLUNT Salon Secret 1枚目

A Magic Hair Colour With BBLUNT's Salon Secret

4

Renbow

Crazy Color

Renbow Crazy Color 1枚目

Bright and Edgy Colours for the Modern Look

5

L'Oreal

Majirel

L'Oreal Majirel 1枚目

Create the Colour of Your Choice From Over 100 Shades

6

L'Oreal Paris

Excellence Fashion Highlights

L'Oreal Paris Excellence Fashion Highlights 1枚目

Get Perfectly Blended Highlights at Home

7

Revlon

Colorsilk

Revlon Colorsilk 1枚目

Hair Colour Enriched With UV Defense Formula

8

Arctic Fox

Semi-Permanent Hair Color

Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color 1枚目

Vegan Hair Colour Brand Made in the USA

9

MATRIX

Socolor

MATRIX Socolor 1枚目

A Hair Colour Formulated Especially for Indian Hair

10

Streax

Cream Hair Colour

Streax Cream Hair Colour 1枚目

Permanent Hair Colour for a Natural Look

Product details
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No.1

L'Oreal ParisCasting Crème Gloss

₹550.00

Permanent Solution for Optimal Grey Coverage

This ammonia-free formula by L'Oreal Paris is one of the most popular choices among women for at-home hair colouring. It boasts a super nourishing royal jelly that leaves your hair moisturised, soft, and healthy with exceptional shine.


It is available in 11 different shades that cover greys, giving your hair a visible glossy finish. It is an easy-to-apply product with a non-drip crème formula, which can be used even by beginners. As for timing, 20 minutes is all it takes for the colour to work its magic, leaving you with a colour that lasts for 28 washes.

No.2

GarnierColor Naturals

₹180.00

Hair Colour Enriched With Three Essential Oils

This hair colour offers 100% coverage for grey hair and will give you the required finish within 30 minutes. Again, this is an ammonia-free formula with superior color lock technology to give you a long-lasting finish for up to 8 weeks.


This range from Garnier is available in 8 different shades, each enriched with three essential oils – rejuvenating avocado oil, nourishing olive oil, and strengthening almond oil. Reviewers are delighted with the product as it has given them a classy look without any hair damage.

No.3

BBLUNTSalon Secret

₹199.00

A Magic Hair Colour With BBLUNT's Salon Secret

If you want to achieve salon-like hair at home, here's your chance to get gorgeous, shiny, and smooth hair. BBLUNT's revolutionary 3-part hair formula with a developer, colourant, and unique shine tonic will give you good coverage while taking care of your hair's health.


This kit makes at-home colouring an easy process that gives 100% grey coverage, leaving you with vibrant colour. For lasting results, Adhuna Bhabani Akhtar (the owner of BBLUNT) suggests using the BBLUNT range of shampoo, conditioner, and serums. Users have commented on how the product doesn't give any burning sensation; it feels cool on the head, and the colour lasts quite long.

No.4

RenbowCrazy Color

₹2,499.00

Bright and Edgy Colours for the Modern Look

Launched in 1977, Crazy Color by Renbow is a favourite colour brand among those who love to experiment with their hair, adding bright, rainbow colours to them. There is a wild colour palette of 26 colours. The hair colour is semi-permanent, so you can change it after a few weeks if you're unsure about one shade.


The colour is easy to apply - After you're done shampooing, the towel dries your hair, and apply the cream on semi-wet hair using gloves. Leave it on for 15-30 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. The brand recommends applying the colour to pre-lightened or bleached hair for more effective results.

No.5

L'OrealMajirel

₹310.00

Create the Colour of Your Choice From Over 100 Shades

A three-in-one formula by LÓreal that restores, protects, and conditions the hair by penetrating deeper into the cuticle to fill it and repair it at the same time. This particular range has over 100 shades from 10 different colour families. You can find shades from natural to cooler and warmer hues.


The hair colour is made up of a unique formula consisting of Ionene G and Incell Complex. When applied to damaged hair, the product's Ionene G repairs the hair fibre and smoothens it, and the Incell Complex improves the hair's porosity and shine. The only disadvantage of the product is that you'll have to buy a developer separately.

No.6

L'Oreal ParisExcellence Fashion Highlights

₹350.00

Get Perfectly Blended Highlights at Home

Now no more salon visits to get those highlights! Get salon-like, tailor-made highlights right at the comfort of your home. LÓreal Paris's first do-it-yourself highlights formula makes it easy to achieve the perfect brown and blonde ombre highlights on your own.


The pack comes with an expert highlights brush, colouring crème, developer, protective conditioner, and high-quality gloves to give you fashionable highlights. Women love how it is an easy-to-use hair colour that leaves long-lasting results.

No.7

RevlonColorsilk

₹435.00

Hair Colour Enriched With UV Defense Formula

Whether you want to cover your greys, add warm colour to your hair, or get a new hue altogether, this box of happiness does it all. This permanent hair colour formula acts as a UV defence to keep the colour vibrant, extending the shade's life.


The hair colour is available in 12 different warmer hues, each giving a natural-looking coverage. The package comes with basic content, including ammonia-free colourant, cream colour developer, after-color conditioner, pair of gloves, and an instruction leaflet.

No.8

Arctic FoxSemi-Permanent Hair Color

₹11,816.00

Vegan Hair Colour Brand Made in the USA

Whether you want to add a tint of colour to your dark hair or show a vibrant hue on lightened hair, this semi-permanent hair colour from Arctic Fox will do it for you. This DIY formula is 100% vegan and cruelty-free and does not contain any harsh chemicals.


The colour range is complete with 19 bold shades, right from virgin pink to aquamarine and Transylvania. All the colours are extremely vibrant and last for up to 8 washes. Reviewers love the smell of the hair colour and the fact that it keeps their hair soft and moisturised for a long time.

No.9

MATRIXSocolor

₹270.00

A Hair Colour Formulated Especially for Indian Hair

Providing full grey coverage, this range by Matrix is formulated especially for Indian hair. It helps remove the predominant warm tones in dark hair, providing uniform, opaque coverage. All the colours in this range are vibrant, giving radiant coverage with visible highs and lows.


The formula consists of smoothening and conditioning agents – ceramides, jojoba oil, and soybean that constantly strengthen hair even in between touch-ups. The long-lasting colour also protects the protein in your hair by using its Kera-Protect technology. One of the hair colour's disadvantages is that you need to buy a developer separately.

No.10

StreaxCream Hair Colour

₹149.00

Permanent Hair Colour for a Natural Look

Promising 100% grey coverage, Streax is one of the most common brand names in India. The colour is enriched with the goodness of walnut oil and argan oil that nourishes and cares for your locks, giving away a gorgeous and appealing look.


The colour penetrates deep into the shafts for long-lasting results. The ammonia-free formula is available in 15 vibrant, warm, and cool shades. Like other similar colours, it will show best on Indian hair. Some reviewers have complained that the product dries out hair because of the presence of harsh chemicals.

How to Colour Your Hair at Home?

With the pandemic bringing our lives to a halt, we all learned some skills that made our lives easier at home. Now we no longer need professional help, be it for cooking, cleaning, or colouring our hair at home. While some of you might have perfected the art of hair colouring, others are still learning. And to make the task easier for you, here's a video on how you can easily colour your hair at home.


  • Get all the tools you need
  • Prepare your hair by parting it into different sections
  • Apply Vaseline jelly on your forehead, behind the ear, and nape of your neck before applying colour
  • Start applying colour from the centre of your hair to the ends
  • After application, wait for the time mentioned in the instruction manual
  • Make sure to read and follow all the instructions
  • Apply post colour care products to condition and smoothen your hair

Thinking About Other Ways to Take Care of Your Hair?

Thinking About Other Ways to Take Care of Your Hair?

If you're not quite sure about how to take care of your hair post colouring, or otherwise, don't worry – there are plenty of products available that'll nourish your hair and keep them soft. For some inspiration, take a look at some of our other articles.

Summary

Picking the right hair colour isn't as simple as it looks. There are many factors to consider before choosing a colour so that it complements your skin tone and facial features. By reading the above article, we hope you were able to make a decision and choose the best hair colour to update your look.


Author: Srishti Sikka

Top 5 Hair Colour for Women

No. 1L'Oreal ParisCasting Crème Gloss

No. 2GarnierColor Naturals

No. 3BBLUNTSalon Secret

No. 4RenbowCrazy Color

No. 5L'OrealMajirel

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When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.

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