COMPOSITION FOR DYEING HAIR

PURPOSE:To obtain the composition for dyeing the hair, capable of gradually dyeing the hair. CONSTITUTION:A composition for dyeing hair contains hematoxylin of formula I, a color generation-retarding agent and a metal compound. A composition for dyeing hair contains brazilin of formula II, a color generation-retarding agent and a metal compound. The color generation-retarding agent includes a reducing agent (e.g. ascorbic acid) and a chelating agent (e.g. ethylenediamine tetraacetate), and the metal compound includes the oxides, hydroxides, sulfates, and hydrochlorides of Fe, Sn, Cr, Co, Ni and Mn. When the reducing agent is used as the color generation-retarding agent, a metal compound of low atomic valency state us used. A compound of formula III (R , R , R , R are H, OH, alkyloxy) which is a compound similar to the hematoxylin and the brazilin can also be used as a component composing the composition. The composition is preferably used for a hair-dyeing treatment wherein the color is generated approximately a half day or a day later after the application of the composition to a hair-generating site, etc.