If you like to switch your hair up every once in a while and love to experiment with new colors and shades – it’s time to take that plunge and give the best green hair dye a try. It looks fun, adventurous, vibrant, and most importantly, there is a shade for everyone. You can own the color – from neon green, lime, mint, and pastel shades to olive and darker shades of green - there’s an unbelievable selection that’s available on the market for you to choose from.

According to Guy Tang, a hair artist that’s based in California, it is essential to use a hair color remover to remove any previous color from the hair. Once that’s done, going in with a lightener is important even if you are naturally blonde. “We need to create a little bit porosity so that it can actually take the color in more vividly…and it’ll have more longevity.”

It doesn’t matter if your hair is short, long, thin, thick, curly, wavy, or straight, many hues of green can look good on all hair types and cuts. It is, however, a high-maintenance color that needs to be refreshed every couple of washes. But all the effort will definitely be worth it with the compliments that will get showered on you every time you walk out the door. When asked about the frequency of touch up of green hair color, our contributor and a renowned cosmetologist Ghanima Abdullah says, “If you bleached your hair before dyeing it green, wait at least six weeks before bleaching it again and using green hair dye. If you have used a temporary green dye, you can touch up the color as often as you like.” She further says, ”To prevent green hair dye from turning yellow or brassy, you can use purple shampoo. But if your green is fading and appears much more yellow, use a blue shampoo to make your hair green again.”

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  Best Overall

  ARCTIC FOX Semi-permanent Hair Dye - Iris Green

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Channel your inner goddess with the shade Iris Green with Arctic Fox’s long-lasting semi-permanent hair dye. It is a medium grassy green shade that works best on pre-lightened hair to level 8 or lighter. The green hair dye is a conditioning product as well and will leave your hair looking smoother and more hydrated. Made with all-natural ingredients, you can be sure that there are no nasties in it such as drying alcohol, ammonia, peroxides, or sulfates. Also, if you prefer a more fluorescent neon green, you can mix Iris Green with Neon Moon to get an impeccable-looking shade.

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Best For All Hair Types

Keracolor Color + Clenditioner - Emerald

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Keracolor’s Color + Clenditioner in the shade Emerald is a gorgeous green hair dye shampoo that cleanses, conditions, deposits, and maintains color with every use. Suitable for all hair types, this 3-in-1 product is a must-have in every hair color aficionado’s closet. Simply apply to wet or dry hair, comb through for uniform saturation, and wash till the water runs clean. This product adds vibrancy and luster to the hair, thanks to nourishing ingredients such as jojoba oil, shea butter, rose hip oil, almond oil, and keratin complex. When we tried this product, we found that it worked best when allowed to sit in the hair before washing.

3

Most Long-Lasting

Punky Colour Semi-Permanent Conditioning Hair Color - Apple Green

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This pretty apple green semi-permanent conditioning hair color from Punky Color is not for the faint-hearted. Go bold and all-out with this green hair dye that lasts really long – up to thirty-five washes. It is versatile and can be safely used on all hair types since it prevents breakage and leaves the hair frizz-free when used regularly. We recommend using this product that has a bright and bold color payoff if you like your hair color to last long. Based on our observations, it is not recommended for gray, medium brown, or darker hair.

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Best Gluten-Free Formula

MANIC PANIC Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream - Electric Lizard

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Manic Panic’s semi-permanent hair color cream in the shade Electric Lizard from the Classic High Voltage collection is a bright green hair dye that glows under black light. Meant for those who like to switch their hair color often, this bright neon green hair dye lasts about 4 to 6 weeks since it lightly rests on the hair shaft and does not penetrate the hair cortex. After putting it to the test, we discovered that it works best when applied on level nine or ten bleached hair. You can apply heat with a hair dryer after application for 5 minutes to help the hair cuticle to better absorb the color.

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Best Damage-Free Formula

Lime Crime Unicorn Hair - Jello

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If you are looking for full coverage, look no further. Lime Crime’s Unicorn Hair in the shade Jello is a fun, bright tropical green that leaves a sugary citrus vanilla scent when used. The application process is easy and saves you tons of time and effort that’s usually spent at the salon. It also moisturizes intensely and boosts shine – with the goodness of conditioning ingredients such as fatty acids and vitamins. Certified by Leaping Bunny and PETA, the brand offers 100% vegan and cruelty-free products. Through trial and error, we discovered that this product works best on lighter hair, and if you wish to achieve a more intense look, you don’t have to add heat, just leave it on for 1-2 hours.

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Most Versatile

KISS COLORS Semi-Permanent Tintation - Lime Light

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Made with aloe vera water that ensures maximum hair treatment and hydration, Kiss Colors’ Semi-Permanent Tintation in the shade Lime Light is a great product that will help you to get vibrant and funky hair. Also infused with argan oil, olive oil, collagen, and keratin, this green hair dye ensures that the hair is left feeling silky soft from the first application itself. It is best applied on hair that has been washed with a clarifying shampoo. You can skip the condition and dry your hair completely for the best results and a potent color. Additionally, the packaging is quite convenient – you can dye your hair straight out of the squeeze bottle!

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Best Finish

LUNAR TIDES HAIR COLOR - Juniper Green

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Lunar Tides Hair Color has a great consistency and a rich color payoff. We recommend you try the Juniper Green shade from their Velvet collection – it is one of the darkest greens you will ever get your hands on. This emerald green hair dye comes packed with the goodness of oat protein that leaves you with healthy-looking hair. The downside of this product is that it comes in a relatively small pot - so if you have thick or long hair, you’ll have to buy 2 to save yourself the horror of running out in the middle of the hair coloring process.

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Most Pigmented

MANIC PANIC Semi-Permanent Hair Color Amplified Formula - Green Envy

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About 30% more pigmented than their Classic High Voltage color range, Manic Panic’s Amplified Formula is for both dark and light hair, and for men and women alike. The shade Green Envy is a deep emerald green with a hint of blue that looks as magical as it can get. Easy to use, this green hair dye lasts about 6 to 8 weeks, depending on your hair’s porosity and how often you wash it. For subtle highlights, the product can be used on virgin or unbleached hair – but if you want a more full-bodied color, apply it on pre-lightened hair.

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Best Value For Money

PRAVANA CHROMA SILK VIVIDS - Green

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Croma Silk Vivids by Pravana is a long-lasting vibrant direct-dye hair color that can be applied to hair that is clean, dry, and pre-lightened. The shade Green offers a luxurious color saturation that doesn’t damage the hair follicles and leaves the hair feeling soft, smooth, and shiny. Additionally, it enhances the natural oils in the hair and is free from nasties such as parabens and sulfates, so you can rest assured of zero damage to the hair. As per our expertise, the product works best when washed with a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner after the application.

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Most Travel-Friendly

IROIRO Premium Natural Semi-Permanent Hair Color - 350 Neon Green

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This green hair dye from Iroiro comes in an easy-to-use, eco-friendly pouch with a tamper-proof cap. The premium natural semi-permanent hair color in the shade Neon Green is loaded with coconut oil and quinoa protein that offer additional conditioning to the hair. In addition, the product has natural preservatives and a yuzu-berry fragrance that makes it a hundred percent free of synthetics and petrochemicals. The best part about the product is its rich color payoff. However, it does stain a little – which means you need to take extra precautions and care while applying it.

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Good Dye Young Semi-Permanent Hair Color - Kowabunga

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Good Dye’s Young Semi-Permamnent Hair Color is a high-quality cream-based formula with the benefits of essential oils. The shade Kowabunga is an ultra-vibrant green hair dye that is sure to turn heads when you walk into any room. This super-conditioning hair dye is infused with natural sunflower extract that provides UV protection, as well as bergamot oil which is a fragrant essential oil known for its stress-reducing properties. You can mix the color with others from the range to create a shade that’s unique to you. However, the dye stays anywhere between 7 to 24 washes depending on a number of factors.

After the round-up of the best green hair dyes on the market, let’s find out how you can choose the best one for yourself.

You may choose the best green hair dye for yourself based on these factors:

Skin Type: Though many shades of green are versatile and look equally good on all skin tones, you can make your experience foolproof by choosing a shade that will definitely look good on you. If you have warm undertones, go for brighter colors such as lime, neon, or pastel mint, and darker or more intense shades if you have cool undertones – like juniper forest and olive green. Always remember that green works best on pre-lightened or bleached hair. If you apply it on dark hair you will only get dull highlights or a slight tint.

Longevity: If you are looking for a hair color that will last for 4 to 6 weeks, then semi-permanent hair dye is what you need. However, there are permanent ones available in the market that last for months on end, as well as demi-permanent ones that can be washed off in a couple of days. Do look out for harsh chemicals such as peroxide, ammonia, ethyl alcohol, and PPD - since they make the hair dry, brittle, and prone to split ends. The best ones are those that specify they are non-damaging and are vegan and cruelty-free – since they are not just good for you but also for the planet.

Follow these simple steps to apply the green dye to your hair:

• Mix the contents in a bowl
• Wear gloves and put coconut oil or a moisturizer on the hairline and ears
• Apply the hair color evenly on wet, towel-dried, or dry hair (read the instructions; they usually mention it on the dye box)
• Comb through for the uniform saturation of color
• Let it sit for a few minutes (Again, read the label of the product you are using, since each brand has a different duration mentioned)
• Process the hair color by using a hair dryer for 5-10 minutes
• Rinse with cold water until the water runs clear
• Use conditioner to lock in moisture (optional)

Go green with the best green hair dyes that are bright, bold, and captivating. The best way to amp up your look is by switching things up with your mane. For a dramatic, cool, sassy look – a green hair color is all you will need. It has never been easier to get salon-like, professional color at home – one that you can do with zero assistance from anybody. What’s more, there are brands that offer customizable, mixable colors so you can get creative and go all out while being original.

Contributor: Ghanima Abdullah, Cosmetologist, The Right Hairstyles