What Is Semi Permanent Hair Color?
Semi permanent hair color deposits color onto the surface of your hair and brightens up your mane. It does not penetrate the cortex the way permanent hair dye does. Therefore, the color you end up with will be at the same level as your natural hair, or darker. So, boo, if you think you can go from brunette to blonde in just a jiffy, that just ain’t happening. What it can do is add a bright pop of color, intensify and add a shine to your natural hair color, and cover up gray hair. While permanent hair dye can last for months, semi permanent hair dye does not have that kind of lasting capacity. It fades little by little with each wash, and is almost completely gone after 15-20 washes. Now, the hair care aisles in drugstores are stocked up to the hilt with all kinds of semi permanent hair colors. And choosing one from among them can be pretty overwhelming. But have no fear! Because I am here! With my list of top 10 best semi permanent hair dye brands that will give you the hair color of your dreams!
10 Best Semi Permanent Hair Colors
1. Best For Gray Hair: Clairol Professional Beautiful Collection
The Clairol Professional Beautiful Collection is a range of semi-permanent cream hair colors that also works as a conditioner. It is designed to give your hair an instant color boost that can last up to 8 washes. This hair color formula is enriched with hydrating and nourishing ingredients such as jojoba oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E to deeply nourish your hair and make it soft and silky. The collection comes with 15 different shades that can give a rich color to your gray and dull hair. Pros
Dual benefit of dye and conditioner Adds moisture to hair Gentle formula Last up to 8 washes
Cons:
Can stain your skin
2. Best Gentle Formula: L’Oreal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color
Have fun with beautiful trendy shades with the L’Oreal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color that comes in a wide variety of shades such as pink, violet, indigo, blue, peach, turquoise, etc. This semi-permanent hair color is formulated with pure dye in a base of conditioning mask, making it gentle on your hair. This hair color comes in a tube with a blendable creamy texture. This hair color is suitable for blondes, brunettes, dyed hair, bleached hair, or highlighted hair. This video will give you a better insight into the qualities of the product. Pros
Ammonia-free Peroxide-free No mixing required Cruelty-free Easy to use
Cons
May not last long
3. Best Pigmented: Ion Color Brilliance Semi-Permanent Brights Hair Color
Anyone who’s in the pursuit of a bold, vivid hair color job needs to check out Ion Color Brilliance Semi-Permanent Brights Hair Color. Its range of high quality, hi-fashion hair colors was designed in Italy and can be used on natural or bleached hair. Ion’s hair colors are known to be especially gentle on hair as they contain hyaluronic acid, argan oil, pequi oil, and other natural products that work to nourish your hair. They also contain 38% less ammonia. Get your hands on these bad boys if you’re looking for bright blue, pink or red shades.Pros
No ammonia or peroxide Intensely pigmented colors Infused with natural products that strengthen your hair
Cons Does not cover up grays effectively
4. Best Vegan: Iroiro Premium Natural Semi-Permanent Hair Color
For anyone who is super conscious about only using products that have not been tested on animals (which should be all of us, really), Iroiro’s range of semi permanent hair colors is the perfect choice. This vibrant range of colors that comes in 14 shades is 100% vegan and cruelty free. They also contain natural organic coconut oil that ensures that your hair is moisturized throughout the coloring process. But that’s not all! Iroiro is also committed to making its hair colors free of parabens, ammonia, peroxide, and synthetic preservatives and fragrances.Pros
Vegan Cruelty free Pleasant yuzu-cranberry frangrance Thick consistency prevents the dye from dripping and running Moisturizing due to its coconut oil content Color matches almost perfectly to the swatch on the box Fades out slowly
Cons
Takes time and effort to rinse out Highly pigmented dye that can stain your skin and any clothes it comes in contact with Requires pre-lightening
5. Best Ammonia-Free: Wella Color Charm Demi-Permanent Hair Color
Wella’s range of demi-permanent hair colors is a step above the semi permanent hair colors you’ll find in the market. This is because they last for about 24 washes and add some intense depth to your natural hair color. They are not only great for covering gray hair but also work well in toning highlights and adding deep lowlights to your hair. They also process in just 20 minutes and are free of ammonia. Watch this video for a thorough understanding of the product.Pros
Ammonia free Covers gray hair Processes in 20 minutes
Cons Needs to be combined with Wella Color Charm Activating Lotion (that is sold separately) for optimal results.
6. Best Cruelty-Free: Manic Panic
Manic Panic is nothing less than a pioneer when it comes to vegan and cruelty free products. These “high voltage” hair colors (as the brand calls them) come in a rainbow spectrum of 44 shades and are known to be super pigmented. Besides having an extremely catchy name, Manic Panic is also free of para, gluten, and ammonia. So, it’s no wonder that it won NYLON magazine’s Beauty Hit List award for Best Hair color in 2017. This video will give you a better insight into the qualities of the product.Pros
Very pigmented Wide range of colors Creamy formulation that makes it easy to apply Does not dry out or damage hair
Cons Fades quickly with each wash
7. Best Alcohol-Free: Color X-Change Semi-Permanent Hair Color
Enjoy salon-style hair coloring with fragrance-free Color X-Change Semi-Permanent Hair Color. It is developed with concentrated color pigments that add shine to your hair and leave them looking bright. It is available in 13 different shades. This hair color takes 10 to 20 minutes to process the dye and provides long-lasting color. In addition, it comes in a ready-to-use form, and no mixing is required. Pros
Ammonia-free Peroxide-free Alcohol-free Sulfate-free Vegan Cruelty-free Gluten-free
Cons
Sensitive scalp may use only after patch test May not be long-lasting
8. Best Shade Range: Adore Creative Image Semi Permanent Hair Color
Give your hair a beautiful and sensual feel with the Adore Creative Image Semi-permanent Hair Color. It provides a rich color and makes your hair shiny, soft, and silky. This liquid hair color needs 15 minutes to enhance your natural color or create trendy highlights. It intensifies your natural color to give it a healthy shine and leaves them in a better condition. These semi-permanent hair colors are available in an impressive range of 56 shades. Pros
Long-lasting Does not need a developer Ammonia-free No peroxide Alcohol-free
Cons
None
9. Best For Damage Protection: Dark & Lovely Color Gloss Ultra Radiant Color Creme
Dark And Lovely Color Gloss does exactly what it claims to do with its name! This range of semi permanent hair colors is aimed at black women and any woman who would like to add shine to her lackluster natural colored hair. Dark And Lovely comes in 6 shades of brown and black and is ammonia free. But what makes it even better is the fact that it’s infused with tons of nourishing agents like coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, pomegranate oil, and shea butter that condition and strengthen your hair and protect it from damage while coloring. Thus, it is the best semi permanent hair color for dark hair.Pros
Add shine Intensify your natural hair color Contain natural oils that nourish your hair
Cons Very narrow range of shades
10. Best For Color-Treated Hair: dpHUE Gloss+ – Color-Boosting Semi-Permanent Hair Dye & Deep Conditioner
The dpHue Gloss+ is a semi-permanent hair dye and a deep conditioner that works on enhancing and boosting hair color along with giving your hair a conditioning boost for shiny and healthy hair. This vegan hair dye works both on natural as well as colored hair and comes in 11 versatile shades that can be mixed to match your hair color. The dye has a clean and hydrating formula with no sulfate, paraben, peroxide, or ammonia that leaves your hair feeling soft and hydrated. Pros
Vegan formula Gluten-free Cruelty-free Free from sulfates, parabens, and ammonia Works on color-treated hair
Cons
Color may fade off easily Not very pigmented
You can always hop onto the trend of semi permanent colors to transform your look. But, this celebrity look may cost you if adequate care is not taken. Besides, the best results for an awesome look, special hair care is a must to maintain the healthy glow of your hair. Here is how you can find the best semi permanent hair colors to jazz up your looks.
How To Find Semi Permanent Hair Colors
Formula
Choose a blendable creamy texture with a nourishing formula to protect your hair from damage. A semi permanent color with a conditioning effect or vegan formula can also provide an effective result and leave your locks nourished and glowing.
Ingredient
Always check the ingredient lists before purchasing a semi permanent hair color. A chemical-free, gentle product is your ideal option. Products enriched with organic and mild ingredients offer the best results without damaging your hair.
Pigment
If you are looking for a vivid and bold hair color, go for a premium-quality product that offers great results on all hair types including unbleached hair. Check for ammonia-free semi permanent hair color products to reduce the irreversible impact of this harmful chemical that eventually makes your tresses dry and brittle.
Shade Range
Love to be spoiled with the many choices of funky shades? Look for the best quality products that offer an array of amazing hair color shades besides offering great results. Although you can experiment all you want, but ideally, warm skin tones look great in warm colors and shades while cool skin tones look good in cool shades.
Longevity
Whether you want a lasting celebrity look or to hide your gray hairs for a longer duration, if the long lasting effect is what you’re looking for, opt for products that last even after 25-28 washes.
Color Coverage
If hiding gray hair is the sole purpose behind buying a semi permanent hair color, then color coverage is a vital factor to look upon. Opt for those products that provide good color coverage and help you conceal your unwanted gray hair. These also help touch up your roots, so you can avoid those frequent trips to the salon. Now that you’ve gotten a fair idea of what semi permanent hair color you want to go for, let’s look at how you can color your hair right in the comfort of your own home!
How To Dye Your Hair With Semi Permanent Hair Color
(Note: You may need to pre-lighten your hair with bleach depending on which semi permanent hair color you are using to get optimum results.)
Semi permanent hair dye (Get 2 packs if you have long hair) Clarifying shampoo Hair brush Blowdryer Vaseline Rubber gloves Bowl Color safe shampoo Conditioner
[ Read: 25 Tips, Tricks, And Hacks For Hair Coloring ] Infographic: Semi-Permanent Hair Colors: Buying Guide And Tips To Make Them Last Longer
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Shiboli Chakraborti, is a certified skin care coach and has a keen interest in hair care. She thoroughly researched and read many customer reviews on trusted online forums to compile this list of the best semi-permanent hair colors for her readers. These shortlisted products are the easiest way to transform your hair, providing good coverage. They are also easy to use and are available in various colors. What is the difference between permanent and semi permanent hair color? Permanent hair color lifts the natural color of your hair and penetrates your hair shaft to add color to your hair. Semi permanent hair color, on the other hand, only deposits color on the surface of your hair shaft. Thus, permanent hair color lasts longer than semi permanent hair color. How do you use semi permanent hair dye? You can use semi permanent hair dye by massaging it into washed, dry hair and leaving it on for the developing time indicated on the box before washing it off. How long can you keep semi permanent dye in your hair? You can keep semi permanent hair dye in your hair for the developing time given on the box, which is usually anywhere between 15 to 45 minutes. How do I keep my hair color from washing out? You can keep your hair color from washing out by washing it as infrequently as possible, using color protecting shampoo, and by conditioning it regularly. How long after you dye your hair can you wash it? It’s best to wait about 72 hours (3 days) after dyeing your hair before washing it. How long do you have to wait to dye your hair after you wash it? You have to wait until your hair is completely dry before coloring it. How many times do you have to wash your hair? Wash your hair just once until the water runs clear, and then shampoo and condition it.
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