The 5 Hair Color Types and How to Choose Between Them

Table Of Content

• Semi-Permanent & Demi-Permanent Hair Color: What’s the Difference?
• How To Make Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Into Permanent Dye
• Keep In Touch
• Washing Your Hair 101: A Step-by-Step Salon Approved Guide
• The 10 Best Semi Permanent Hair Dyes in 2024
• Semi-Permanent Color: Washes Out in 6-12 Shampoos
• oVertone Coloring Conditioner

It will highlight your stray grays to help them blend in more with the rest of your hair’s shade. Semi-permanent hair dye is typically applied to hair that has been freshly shampooed hair because it offers the best results. It should be noted that semi-permanent hair dye can tend to present a bit darker on your hair than it looks on the bottle. Maintaining a semi-permanent color requires more frequent application than a permanent color. But other than that, there's no real maintenance routine; it simply washes out over time.

Semi-Permanent & Demi-Permanent Hair Color: What’s the Difference?

Remember that semi-permanent hair color is designed to be temporary, so even with these tips, it will still eventually fade. However, following these suggestions can help extend the life of your color and keep it vibrant for a longer period. Bishop also notes that many women are concerned about dye safety during pregnancy. "[Semi-permanent dye] is safe for all hair types, including pregnant women," he says, adding, "It's been proven that it will not affect anything." It enhances the hair’s shine while adding a subtle hint of color that gradually fades.

How To Make Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Into Permanent Dye

Demi-permanent color is a great option if you’re looking to extend time between salon visits or coloring at home. Our Root Reboot® is a color-depositing, demi-permanent hair color designed specifically to cover your roots between coloring sessions. This product blends onto hair for 100% gray coverage on your T-zone (hairline and roots).

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Thankfully though, there are formulas such as demi-permanent hair color that provide instant color and last a while but don't require commitment. Regarding avoiding damage to your hair, semi-permanent color doesn’t need a developer and doesn’t damage your hair while dyeing it. For others looking for a long-term change, permanent hair color may be the better option.

Why you’ll love demi-permanent hair color

It's great for those who want a more lasting and noticeable change in hair color. These services majorly boost shine for natural or colored hair, as well as give vibrancy back to colored hair in between highlighting appointments. Since semi-permanent color doesn't last nearly as long as permanent, it's not prudent if you're looking for an extensive change.

Semi-permanent color treatments require neither ammonia nor alcohol and are therefore gentle alternatives to permanent coloring. Still, even the mildest color rinse adds luster, a deep glow and delicate shimmering light reflections to your hair. These color enhancements are a great way to switch things up with your hair without committing to one color. Below, we’ll answer a few common questions regarding how to use semi-permanent hair color and some useful tips and tricks.

If you crave change without a long-term commitment, semi-permanent hair dyes are your call. The fleeting change with quirky and bold colors is enough to unleash your vibrant aura. Channel your inner confidence, and don't shy away from experimenting with colors. As Gibson explains, demi-permanent dye contains low levels of peroxide to allow the color to penetrate the shaft to an extent, but without ammonia.

Semi-Permanent Color: Washes Out in 6-12 Shampoos

As we've mentioned, costs for any service will vary based on the salon, experience of the stylist, and location. This semi-permanent treatment is one of the most revolutionary formulas out today. DpHUE Gloss+ Conditioning Semi-Permanent Hair Color combines the benefits of a salon-grade gloss with an at-home dye. You’ll also want to avoid washing your hair for at least two days after coloring to prevent premature fading. So it’s worth considering choosing a shade lighter than your own hair to get the exact color that you want. Prices vary greatly, but it's always much less expensive than a color change.

If you're looking to subtly deepen your natural hair color or add a layer of color (such as a red tone on brown hair), a semi-permanent color is your best option. Because they don't contain ammonia or peroxide, semi-permanent color can't lighten hair. While it depends on the person and the formula, in general, semi-permanent hair dye will last for around 6-12 washes, depending on the formula and on whether the hair had been bleached before dyeing. In very light or bleached hair, the semi-permanent hair color can be very persistent, and while it will fade, it might still leave a stain behind.

However, any type of hair color, including temporary, can impact the hair’s overall health. To compile this list, we researched manufacturer specifications, including color range, formula ingredients, and more, to create a short list of the top hair dyes that are semi-permanent. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best semi-permanent hair dye for each category. Permanent hair dyes do exactly what their name implies — they change the color of your hair. This is because permanent hair dye changes the structure of the hair.

15 Best Natural Hair Dyes Of 2024, Per Hair Colorists And Reviews - Women's Health

15 Best Natural Hair Dyes Of 2024, Per Hair Colorists And Reviews.

Posted: Mon, 28 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

To avoid color buildup, wait for several washes before adding more semi-permanent color.Many maintenance products deposit new pigment in the hair rather than repeating the dyeing process. Because there is no ammonia in either, "it can't permanently change the color of the hair, and it only deposits color," Bishop says. The biggest difference between the two is permanence, with demi colors lasting much longer. Bishop adds that demi-permanent colors are often used in salons alongside permanent dyes, and semi-permanent dyes are most frequently used in DIY coloring kits. That's not to say salons don't ever use semi dyes—but more on that later.

The coloring process only takes about 20 minutes, and Clairol promises that the color will last for up to 28 washes. (Again, just keep in mind that it’s not going to lighten your natural color.) It can also be easier to use at home, since you don’t have to mix it with a developer. Semi-permanent is also a nice pick if you want to tone your highlights, notes Gache, though again, just keep in mind that regular maintenance and upkeep will be required to maintain the effect. Semi-permanent hair colors are an excellent option for folks who like to switch up their hair frequently. These products provide a safe way to change your hair to suit your mood without damaging other types of dye.

Demi-permanent hair color is ammonia-free and mixed with a low-volume developer, so it washes out after about 24 to 28 shampoos. Applied to dry hair before you shampoo, it works by depositing pigment on the surface of the hair. It doesn’t actually penetrate your strands or lighten your color, but it does last much longer than the more-temporary hair color options out there.

The ammonia-free formula makes it gentler on the hair than permanent dye, but less long-lasting. The result lands somewhere in between permanent and semi-permanent dye. It's also worth noting that demi-permanent dye has limited lightening properties. It can enhance your natural color (or darken it), but it won't lift the color significantly. According to Gibson, permanent hair dye goes deep into the hair shaft to change its natural color for an extended period.

Semi-permanent dye kits for home use may have a little more variation in longevity. Bishop says to prepare for the dye to possibly stick around longer than labeled on the box because everyone's hair isn't going to fade the same, and it largely depends on how often you shampoo. "I would say the box typically is going to say whatever it says, but I would always double the amount of time on the back of the box of how many washes it says it'll take," He advises. The duration of semi-permanent hair color is, on average, four to eight weeks, but can be shorter or longer depending on the individual’s circumstance and the specific formula. Things like sun exposure, frequent shampooing, and heat styling can accelerate the fading process.

The easy-to-use applicator brush lets you zero in on silvery strays for no roots, no grays and no trips to the salon. Plus, it lasts for up to three weeks, so you can brush on your perfect shade and wear with confidence. Permanent hair color is actually able to lighten virgin hair (i.e. natural hair color that has never been colored) up to two shades without the need for additional steps like bleach. So, you can save yourself time, effort, and an extra step of complexity at home by reaching for a permanent home hair color. Permanent hair dye is, in fact, fairly permanent, though it can fade in tonality over time and require touch-ups as new growth comes in. It's worth noting that changing or reversing a permanent color can be challenging and will likely require additional chemical processes, further damaging and stressing the hair.