A hair coloring composition that includes about 5 to 25 wt. % of a first monosaccharide having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, up to about 10 wt. % of a second monosaccharide having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, about 0.1 to 5 wt. % of a surfactant, and about 0.1 to 5 wt. % of a delivery agent, each based on a total weight of the hair coloring composition. A method for coloring hair, that involves applying the hair coloring composition onto the hair, and optionally applying heat to the hair at a dyeing temperature of 30 to 205° C.