Halloween? Paint some pumpkins on your dog.
Christmas? Make him look like Santa Claus.
Easter? Draw some eggs on your dog and put a bunny ribbon on his head.
Coloring dogs is the hottest new trend in pet grooming.
It can be a green, grinch, blue, purple, multicolor design or a leopard, chocolate chip, zebra, or a rainbowy unicorn pattern…whatever tickles your creative fancy!
While it’s loads of fun to color your pooch and cherish your eyes with the outcome, there are tons of concerns, such as is it OK to dye dog hair? What are the side effects of dog hair dyes? Which dog hair dyes are safe for dogs? And so forth.
Let’s put all of these concerns to rest with a list of the top 7 safe dog hair dyes that don’t cause skin issues, itchiness and are dog coat-friendly.
Warren London Critter Color Temporary Dog Hair Dye
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Reverse osmosis water, acrylates, copolymer, gerbanben ii, approved coloring, triethanolamine
Material: Paste
Stay time: Temporary
Best For Age: More than 12 weeks old
Packaging: Cream Jar
Lasts For: 2 to 3 washes or fades on its own within a few weeks
What Is Good?
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It’s temporary and washes out in 2 to 3 baths or fades on its own within a few weeks
Non-toxic Formula
Easy to apply—it can be applied with a spray bottle, brush, fingers, or airbrush
Can be easily washed off from hands
What Is Not So Good?
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Works best on white or light furs only
You require a blow dryer to seal the dye better. But it takes a lot of drying time, especially if the dog is giant and has a thick fur
Can take hours to dry
Owpawz Opawz Dog Hair Dye Gel Bright
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Purified water, cosmetic, toiletry and fragrance approved cosmetic colorant dyes and pigments, cellulose thickening agent and preservative
Material: Gel
Stay time: Permanent/ Semi-permanent
Best For Age: Older than 6 months
Packaging: Tube
Lasts For: 8 washes
What Is Good?
-
Unique packaging style—just squeeze the tube to dispense the dye
Completely non-toxic for your dog
No ammonia or peroxide
Colors last longer
Works best for fine and soft-haired dogs
Takes only 20 minutes
Colors don’t bleed into their coat when rinsing
What Is Not So Good?
-
In dogs with wirehaired coats, the colors wash away more quickly
Can’t be used on young puppies
The black hair dye from this brand is not as great as other variations
Crazy Liberty Dog Hair Dye
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Aqua, alcohol, benzyl alcohol, dimethylpolysiloxane emulsion, lactic acid, glycolic acid, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carbomer, sodium citrate, perfume, colorant agents
Material: Thick Liquid
Stay time: Permanent
Best For Age: Older than 6 months old
Packaging: Tube
Lasts For: More than 15 washes or fades away after 3 months
What Is Good?
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Ingredients are totally harmless as it uses plant and fruit juices AHA (α-hydroxy acid) as a dye extract to give the intensive color
Includes olive extract that nourishes and restores the fur, protects the color from bleaching under UV rays
Soothes the dog’s skin
Penetrates deeper into the coat without affecting its humidity
Protects against thermal damage and gives the glamorous sheen coat
Takes 10 minutes on a white coat
What Is Not So Good?
-
Can’t be easily cleaned from carpets, floors, or walls
Some may find the scent not-too-natural
If the dye got in the eyes, rinse immediately else, it would cause irritation
It can get a little stuck—cut off the tip and use it to avoid getting stuck
Opawz Hair Chalk Paint Pen (Dog Hair Dye)
Key Features
Material: Hair Chalk
Stay time: Temporary
Best For Age: older than 6 months
Packaging: Pens
Lasts For: 1 wash
What Is Good?
-
Environment-friendly and non-toxic
Works best on short-haired
Easy to apply
Colors don’t transfer to your skin when you touch them
What Is Not So Good?
-
Not suitable for double-coated dog
Not effective on black coats
Shampooing is required to wash it out
Willbon Pet Dog Hair Dye
Key Features
Material: Hair Chalk
Stay time: Temporary
Best For Age: older than 6 months
Packaging: Pens
Lasts For: 1 wash or fades away after 2 days
What Is Good?
-
Non-toxic, non-allergenic, and non-damaging
Pens are easy to draw any kind of design
Hair chalks are water-soluble, making it convenient to wash out
What Is Not So Good?
-
Works best on short-haired animals than long hair
It appears like crayon on your dog’s hair than applying a spray or powder
It can mat your dog’s hair
Petway Petcare Pet Paint Spray
Key Features
Material: Liquid
Stay time: Temporary
Best For Age: Older than 6 months
Packaging: Spray Bottle
Lasts For: 1 wash
What Is Good?
-
Colors seals quickly
Propellant-free
Non-toxic and free from harsh chemicals
Environment-friendly
Does not include any harsh chemicals which will harm your dogs
Overspray on walls, carpets, floors, clothing, or hands will wash off easily
What Is Not So Good?
-
Coloring results may vary with dog breed and his hair thickness and color
It may be costly for some customers
Top Performance Dog Hair Dye Gel
Key Features
Active Ingredients: Purified water, cosmetic, toiletry, and fragrance association-approved dyes and pigments, cellulose thickener, glycerin and preservatives
Material: Gel
Stay time: Semi-permanent
Best For Age: Older than 12 weeks
Packaging: Cream Jar
Lasts For: 4 to 6 washes or fades away after 2 to 3 weeks
What Is Good?
-
Completely non-toxic for dogs
Lasts 4 to 6 washes
Smells good
The gel is easy to apply as compared to liquid dyes
Takes only 15 minutes on white or light dogs (you can leave it for more time to get more intense shade)
What Is Not So Good?
-
May cause allergic reactions if your dog already has skin allergies
It works best on softer coated dogs
The vampire red color is not so good—looks like cotton candy pink
Can take more than 30 mins of dark dogs
You’d need to wet the fur first
What Hair Dye Is Safe for Dogs?
A hair dye that doesn’t contain harsh and toxic chemicals is safe for dogs.
The above-mentioned hair dyes are non-toxic and safe to use on dogs. However, we suggest that you consult your vet for confirmation.
What Happens if You Put Human Hair Dye on a Dog?
When you use a human hair dye on a dog, “it can cause chemical burns, sores and dog hair shedding” says Vet Info. “Do not use products made for humans. This cannot be stressed enough. Human hair dyes contain hydrogen peroxide or bleach to lift the natural color. Both chemicals are extremely harsh.”
These dyes are toxic and can cause serious health concerns if your dog licks his fur. Furthermore, human hair dye also contains chemicals and artificial colors that are only suited for the human pH level—which is completely different from that of a dog’s.
Therefore, don’t even think about using human hair dye on dogs. Period.
How to Dye a Dog’s Fur Safely?
- Don’t let your dog lick the coloring by using a cone collar.
- Make sure to avoid your dog’s eyes, wounds, or any other sensitive body parts.
- Perform a patch test before using.
- Consult a vet to find out if the color dye won’t hurt your dog
- If you are not sure about how to do it, don’t take risks. Hire a professional dog groomer.
- If your dog has sensitive skin, it’s best that you don’t dye your dog’s hair to prevent an allergic reaction.
- Avoid sensitive areas.
- Follow the instruction labels on the dog hair dye you are using.
How Long Does Dog Hair Dye Last?
A permanent dog hair lasts for at least 20 washes, a semi-permanent dog hair dye lasts for 4 to 6 washes, and a temporary dog dye lasts for one wash only.