Before we begin, there are a few things you should know about me. First, I’m 28 years old, rapidly approaching 29. Second, I have jet-black hair. Both details matter because I’m officially at the age where my roots are going gray faster than I can keep up with. The first few grays felt charming, even wise. After that, the novelty wore off, and I found myself spiraling into searches like “is this genetics or stress,” and “if you pull out a gray hair, does it actually come back worse?” (I remain skeptical).

The most traditional solution, of course, is regular root touch-ups. But between years of heat damage and my general aversion to sitting in a salon chair every few weeks, dyeing my hair just isn’t for me. Admittedly, I’m both lazy and short on time. Thankfully, my editor put me onto Kiwabi Hair Color Shampoo, a Japanese color-depositing formula designed to softly blend grays over time rather than mask them all at once.

Kiwabi Hair Color Shampoo

Kiwabi

Root Vanish Color Shampoo

• Why We Love It: If you’re looking for something gentler than traditional hair dye, Kiwabi is a Japanese color-depositing shampoo designed to gradually camouflage grays over time. It’s used just like your regular shampoo, though it’s worth rinsing any residue from shower tiles before it dries to avoid staining. Because the formula builds with each wash, patience is key—results typically appear over the course of about three weeks, allowing you to ease into the most natural-looking shade. Be sure to choose the color closest to your natural hair (black, dark brown, or light brown) as selecting a shade that’s too light or too dark can lead to unwanted tone shifts.
• Key Ingredients: Japanese knotweed, rosemary, green tea, licorice, jojoba oil, lavender oil
• Size: 300 mL

About the Kiwabi Hair Color Shampoo

According to hairstylist Rogerio Cavalcante, Kiwabi Hair Color Shampoo is a color-depositing formula designed to gradually camouflage gray hair while cleansing both the scalp and strands. “Rather than acting like a traditional dye, it subtly blends grays over repeated use, resulting in a softer, more natural-looking finish,” he explains. It comes in three shades: light brown, dark brown, and black.

The formula relies heavily on botanical extracts and plant-derived oils, including traditional Japanese botanicals known for supporting scalp comfort and hair conditioning—notably burdock, Japanese knotweed, calendula, gotu kala, tsubaki, and gardenia. It is also free from ammonia, peroxide, and harsh oxidative dyes, which makes it significantly gentler than conventional hair color products.

Instead of penetrating the hair shaft and altering pigment internally, Cavalcante explains that the shampoo deposits color on the surface of the hair. “With consistent use, the pigments build gradually, reducing the contrast between gray and pigmented strands rather than delivering full coverage in a single application,” he adds.

My Experience With the Kiwabi Hair Color Shampoo

Before Kiwabi, I relied on hair glosses and other low-commitment options to preserve my strands. The issue was that many felt overly chemical or required gloves, a long wait time, and the patience to sit around with wet hair for anywhere from five to twenty minutes—all of which were not ideal. Kiwabi, by contrast, is refreshingly low-effort—lather, leave on for two to three minutes, and rinse.

Because I went in blind, I was briefly taken aback when the shampoo was, in fact, black. Even though gloves aren’t required, I still worried about staining my hands (wetting them beforehand helps) or my shower, neither of which ended up being an issue. The formula applied easily and, to my relief, still delivered the squeaky-clean feeling I want from a wash.

Given how often beauty products overpromise and underdeliver, I kept my expectations tempered. Still, after the first wash, my hair looked noticeably shinier and more vibrant than usual. My grays were still there, which makes sense, since results build gradually over two to three weeks, depending on hair type and wash frequency. I committed to using it every time I washed for three weeks, and over time, the grays that bothered me most softened to the point where only a few remained (dare me to pull them out?). Once you hit your desired coverage, the brand recommends returning to your regular shampoo and using Kiwabi periodically as a maintenance refresh.

How to Apply the Kiwabi Hair Color Shampoo

Unlike many color shampoos that require careful timing or a quick scan of the instruction manual, Kiwabi is used just like a regular shampoo. Apply it to wet hair, massage through the scalp and lengths, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. With repeated use a few times per week, results gradually improve over time.

Is the Kiwabi Hair Color Shampoo really worth it?

According to Cavalcante, Kiwabi is a great option for anyone looking for low-commitment, gentle gray blending with minimal upkeep. It’s especially well-suited for sensitive scalps or for those who want to avoid harsh chemicals. He notes that while it won’t replace traditional hair dye for immediate, full gray coverage or a dramatic color change, it excels at subtly softening and blending grays for a more natural result. If you want more thorough coverage, the brand also sells a color treatment that they recommend using for the first few applications.

Meet the Expert

• Rogerio Cavalcante is a New York–based hairstylist, the owner of The Second Floor Salon, and the founder of the haircare brand Brazil Edition.