Italian · Founded 1970 · B Corp Certified
Herbatint
Founded 1970 in Italy by herbalist Michele Albergo. The original ammonia-free permanent hair colour.
Shop now →The story
Fifty-five years later, Herbatint remains the market leader in ammonia-free permanent colour, sold in over 40 countries. The brand has expanded its credentials over time: B Corp certified in 2016, LEED-certified headquarters in 2017, ISO 22716 cosmetics safety, ISO 9001 quality management, IFS product safety, and a 2030 carbon neutrality commitment. The hair colour itself uses upcycled herbal ingredients, recycled packaging, and a vertically integrated Italian production facility. The 1970 reformulation was the breakthrough; the sustained certification stack is what keeps the brand ahead of the imitators that followed.
I learned from a Swiss herbalist that the plants do most of the work if you let them. Ammonia was the shortcut nobody questioned. I started from the herbs instead.Michele Albergo, Founder, Herbatint (Antica Erboristeria)
What makes them different
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01
Ammonia-Free Since 1970
Michele Albergo's 1970 reformulation removed ammonia, the harshest ingredient in conventional hair dye. Over 55 years later, this is still the brand's central differentiator. Most ammonia-free dyes in the market are imitations of Herbatint's original chemistry.
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02
Herbal Extract Base
The colour base is built on herbal extracts (rhubarb, walnut, cinchona, witch hazel, hawthorn) rather than pure synthetic dye. This is the part of the formula that distinguishes a Herbatint from a generic 'no-ammonia' dye that simply omits the ammonia without rebuilding the herbal layer.
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03
B Corp Certified
Certified B Corp since 2016. The certification covers worker treatment, community impact, environmental performance, and governance. Together with LEED-certified facilities and a 2030 carbon-neutral commitment, it documents the operational story behind the product story.
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04
Full Italian Production
Cultivation, extraction, formulation, and packaging are all controlled at the Italian Antica Erboristeria facility. The supply chain is vertically integrated since 2017 with a 190kW photovoltaic system added in 2023.
The shelf favourites
The handful we reach for most. Ranked by what actually sells, with the why for each.
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Herbatint Permanent Colour - 4N Chestnut
R249.00
The 4N Chestnut is the most-bought shade across the SA range. Natural chestnut is the workhorse colour for covering grey on mid-brown bases without going too dark or too warm.
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Herbatint Permanent Colour 2N - Brown
R259.00
2N Brown is the go-to for darker bases. Covers grey reliably from the first application without the harsh black undertone of conventional dark dyes.
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Herbatint Permanent Colour - 4D Golden Chestnut
R219.00
4D Golden Chestnut is the warm-tone alternative to 4N. Adds gold dimension to the base chestnut, suited to skin tones that suit warmer colour.
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Herbatint Permanent Colour - 6N Dark Blonde
R259.00
6N Dark Blonde is the natural mid-blonde shade. Used both for fresh colour on natural blondes and for lifting darker bases that have grown out.
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Herbatint Permanent Colour 1N - Black
R259.00
1N Black is the deepest shade in the range. The ammonia-free formulation matters most at this depth, because conventional black dyes are typically the highest-irritation products in the category.
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Shop the full Herbatint range below.
All Herbatint products ↓
Herbatint Permanent Colour 1N - Black
Herbatint Permanent Colour - 7N Blonde
Herbatint Permanent Colour 2N - Brown
Herbatint Permanent Colour - 6N Dark Blonde
Herbatint Permanent Colour - 4N Chestnut
Herbatint Permanent Colour - 4M Mahogany Chestnut
Herbatint Permanent Colour - 4D Golden Chestnut
Herbatint Permanent Colour- 4C Ash Chestnut
Herbatint Permanent Colour - 8N Light Blonde
Herbatint Permanent Colour - 5R Light Copper Chestnut
Herbatint Permanent Colour - 4R Copper
Herbatint Permanent Colour - 3N Dark Chestnut
Touring the range
Three doorways into the brand: entry, classic, specialty.
The N range for full grey coverage
The N (natural) shades are the workhorse. Choose the number based on how dark you want the result: 1N black, 2N brown, 4N chestnut, 6N dark blonde, 7N blonde, 8N light blonde. Full grey coverage from the first application.
D, M, and R shades for depth
Golden (D), Mahogany (M), and Copper (R) variants add warmth and dimension to the base shade. Choose these if pure natural feels too flat, or if you want to lean warm rather than ash.
C shades for ash dimension
Ash (C) shades counter unwanted warmth. The 4C Ash Chestnut and 6C Dark Ash Blonde are the cool-tone choices for cancelling brassy undertones or matching naturally cool hair.
What the brand stands behind
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B Corp Certified
Certified B Corporation since 2016. The audit covers worker treatment, community impact, environmental practices, and corporate governance.
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ISO 22716
International standard for Good Manufacturing Practice in cosmetics. Documents the production controls from raw material to finished product.
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ISO 9001
Quality management system certification, audited annually. The framework for batch-to-batch consistency.
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LEED Certified
The Italian production facility is LEED-certified, with a 190kW photovoltaic system installed in 2023 to reduce grid energy use.
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Vegan Range Available
A selection of Herbatint shades is fully vegan. The brand discloses which shades use animal-derived ingredients and offers vegan alternatives across the colour spectrum.
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Cruelty-Free
No animal testing at any stage of formulation or final product. Italian and EU cosmetics law prohibits animal testing for cosmetics.
About this brand
Common questions customers ask about the brand and its products.