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Ammonia free hair colour: is it possible to dye hair without ammonia?

What’s behind the ammonia free hair colour trend, and does it offer a real alternative to traditional hair colour formulas? 

All you need to know about ammonia free hair colour

When it comes to colouring your hair, you have a lot of different options. We’re not just talking about colours, either. There are many different types of formulas you can choose from and they each have their strong suits. One option you may want to consider is ammonia free hair colour (hair dye without ammonia). Here, we’re sharing our best ammonia free hair dyes and explaining why you may want to use a no ammonia hair dye formula. Let’s get to it! 

What is ammonia in hair dye used for in traditional hair colours?

First things first, it’s helpful to understand exactly what ammonia is in order to understand ammonia free hair colour. 

Ammonia is a chemical typically found in permanent hair dyes. If you’ve ever thought your hair dye smelled a little strong, that probably had something to do with the ammonia in the formula. What does ammonia do? It’s used in hair colouring formulas to open the hair’s cuticle layer, which then allows the dye to penetrate the hair shaft. 

The best ammonia free hair dye collections (permanent)

These days, however, you can get permanent colour through ammonia free hair colour products. In fact, over a decade ago, L’Oréal Professionnel brought out their innovative, ammonia free hair colour collection INOA. It uses pioneering technology to replace the use of ammonia. Instead, INOA uses a unique oil delivery system where oils are used to fuse the hair colour to the fibre. 

How does hair dye without ammonia work? This no ammonia hair colour process is quite simple. The ammonia free hair colour formula is blended with oils and applied to the hair. The pigments are then attracted from the oils towards the moisture in the hair’s fibre, and penetrate through into the cortex, depositing their colour right at the heart of the hair. INOA is a truly effective, permanent no ammonia hair colour solution that removes the need for ammonia in hair dye. 

Is ammonia free hair colour safe and better?

Ammonia free hair colour has an extra gentle formula. This is great news for those looking for haircolor for sensitive skin, or hair that feels frazzled from previous colouring and/or styling processes. That said, to be on the safe side, your stylist should always do a patch test before colouring to check for sensitivity whether using a no ammonia hair colour or not.

One of the main criticisms about ammonia-based hair dyes is the strong ammonia smell that some products can give off. INOA is an ammonia free hair colour, so it doesn’t have that strong smell.

The INOA oil delivery system not only infuses the hair with nourishing oils to give it a silky smooth finish but protects the hair’s natural moisture levels to prevent dryness and prolong your colour.

Which is the best ammonia free hair colour (non-permanent)?

For permanent ammonia free hair colour, INOA remains one of the best ammonia free hair colour options and a colourists’ favourite. But what if you’re looking for a semi-permanent or temporary shade? Introducing…Botanea!

Botanea Haircolor: This new collection uses just three natural herbal ingredients and coconut oil to infuse colour onto the hair fiber. Depending on the desired colour, cassia, henna and indigo powders are mixed together with hot water, and give a long-lasting but not permanent, natural-looking finish.

Fall in love with your healthy hair thanks to all the options for hair colour without ammonia!

Image credits: Getty Images - Mint Images RF - Mint Images