The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of safflower yellow colorant as a natural dye for hair coloring. The dyeing properties of safflower yellow colorant on hair were explored to obtain optimum conditions. Also, the effect of mordant was studied in terms of dye uptake, colorfastness, and hair damage to better understand the characteristics of the colorant. Tensile strength measurement and SEM analysis were carried out for investigating hair damage to light exposure and washing. On the basis of obtained results considering possible hair damage, optimum dyeing conditions were set 100%(o.w.h.) colorant concentration, pH 5, $40^{circ}C$, and 20min. Dye uptake was improved more effectively by repeated dyeing rather than by increasing concentration. Pre-mordanting method improved dye uptake slightly, irrespective of mordant type. The safflower yellow colorant produced Y colors on hair. Cu and Fe mordants improved washing and light fastness slightly. Better strength retention was obtained with the mordanted-dyed hair than the unmordanted-dyed hair after light irradiation for 40 hours and 10 repeated washing. The hair was more damaged by light exposure than by washing. It was concluded that the safflower yellow colorant can be used as a natural semi-permanent hair dye producing Y color without mordanting.