How to Identify Fake or Additive-Filled Beard Dyes

If a dye says it’s natural but claims it can turn your beard jet black straight away, be wary. Pure henna gives a reddish-brown shade. The only way to get true black naturally is with henna first, then indigo.

Anything called “black henna” is a clear red flag.  It’s not a real plant dye and usually has PPD or other harsh chemicals that can cause severe irritation, rashes, or allergic reactions.

A genuine natural beard dye keeps the ingredient list short. It's usually just Lawsonia inermis for henna or Indigofera tinctoria for indigo.

Watch out for extras like resorcinol, lead acetate, or numbered dyes such as FD&C colours.

These are synthetic additives and have no place in a chemical-free beard colour.

When you mix pure henna with water, it should take its time, starting green and slowly deepening to brown.

If it goes black straight away or changes colour in minutes, it’s likely been boosted with chemicals.
The paste should have a bit of grit from the plant fibres. If it’s silky smooth, it may have been padded out with thickeners or synthetic fillers.

Some of the better henna suppliers have their products tested for purity and contamination. Look for proof, like a certificate of analysis or results from a third-party lab.

It's a good sign that the product is authentic.

Not every region is strict with regulations, so a “natural” label doesn’t always mean you’re getting a clean, chemical-free product.

Even if a dye passes your ingredient check, things can still go wrong once it’s on your face. 

If you notice sudden itching, burning, or a strange change in colour while it’s developing, rinse it off straight away.