Method for dyeing keratinous fibers, in particular, human keratinous fiber such as hair, without the use of iodide ions wherein a tinctorial composition containing, in a cosmetically acceptable medium having a pH of less than or equal to 7, at least one indole derivative corresponding to the formula in which: R1 denotes hydrogen, alkyl or COOH; R2 denotes hydrogen or alkyl; R denotes hydrogen, Si(CH3)3, or COalkyl; and X denotes hydrogen, OH, or OSi(CH3)3; it being possible for X in the 4- or 5-position also to denote the O-alkyl group, on condition that when X is in the 5-position with the meanings mentioned above and OR denotes OH in the 4- or 6-position, only one of the group R1 and R2 then differs from hydrogen; that when X denotes hydrogen, OR must be in the 7-position and R2 must denote hydrogen; and that when R denotes hydrogen and X denotes OH, OR and X are then in the 5- and the 6-position and R1 denotes COOH, to the fibers in a first step and, after a dwell time followed by rinsing and rubbing dry, applying an alkaline oxidizing solution.