Ideally, *permanent hair colour* would stay vibrant forever, or at least until the roots grow. On most heads of hair, that would mean getting a good 6-8 weeks between touch-ups – but sometimes, even with permanent dye, colour fade can happen within a few weeks.
It's common for permanent hair colour to last 6-12 weeks, depending on the condition of your hair when it was dyed, how often you wash it, and the kind of shampoo and conditioner you use.
Generally speaking though, it's best to wait 4-6 weeks before having another color treatment – in most cases, this is enough anyway and reduces the risk of hair damage. There are some exceptions, but in general, it's better to err on the side of caution and wait for this long.
Timing is 30 minutes for standard color application; 45 minutes for maximum gray coverage and for high-lift shades. Typically, with permanent color, the first 15 minutes provide time for the peroxide and ammonia to open the cuticle and penetrate into the cortex to lighten natural pigment.
Generally, the following colors are known for their longevity: Deep Blue and Dark Purple: These colors often contain more concentrated pigments that can adhere better to the hair. Darker shades typically fade more slowly than lighter ones.
Red hair is notoriously difficult when it comes to upkeep. While it's the hardest color to fully strip from your hair, it's also the first to fade, often lightening drastically within the first few washes. So unless you're wanting to touch-up your own color at home, it would be wise to skip the scarlet shades.
It's not your imagination — red hair dye does fade faster than other hair color shades.
All hair coloring is damaging to your hair, but not necessarily bad. Doing nothing and not taking care of your hair is worse. In fact, if you have long hair, most of your ends are already damaged from various environmental factors and routines.
It's no wonder you want to know how long it will take to color your hair? Coloring your hair in a salon by a professional stylist on average can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, and can even extend to as long as 8 hours depending on your hair's condition, length, natural color, and intricacy of service.
If your hair is brown, you may need to bleach it more than once before you apply the grey dye. It's important you get your hair as light as possible before you attempt to turn it grey – this will help ensure a more even tone and vibrant, all-over colour.
Simply put, when it comes to salon color vs. box dye, it's always best to get your hair colored at the salon by a professional. Salon formulas better for your hair, and having a pro colorist apply it also ensures the best results.
Frequency and colour placement are key – If your greys are coming through thick and fast, then you may need to colour every 2 weeks (you won't be alone in this, believe me). The good news is you can use half a tube of colour with half a sachet of developer, for two roots-only colour applications.
However, this longevity also comes with potential downsides. The chemical process used in permanent hair dye can cause damage to the hair, making it more prone to breakage and dryness.
All over color processes should be done every 3-5 weeks for best results. Sooner really isn't necessary, and longer will effect the products ability to lift and deposit evenly. Foil highlights should be done every 6-8 weeks depending on how much contrast there is between your highlights and your natural color.
As a general rule of thumb, darker colors tend to stay on the hair for longer. So, if you're adding lowlights, a root shadow or all-over depth, the shade will offer more mileage than, for example, light blondes, light browns or light reds. The same goes for pastel colors versus rainbow colors.
The salon price to dye your hair can fall between $75-$200+ depending on the coloring technique used, the salon, the experience level of your stylist, and your current hair situation. Meanwhile, you can expect to pay $5-$30 for an at-home hair dyeing kit. There are many techniques used to change your hair color.
It is recommended to tip your hairstylist 15-20% of the total service cost, including both the haircut and color.
Even though permanent color is permanent as we mentioned above, the overall tone and vibrancy will fade over time.
On most heads of hair, that would mean getting a good 6-8 weeks between touch-ups – but sometimes, even with permanent dye, colour fade can happen within a few weeks. Why does this happen? Typically, hair dyes are water soluble. When you wash your hair, the dye molecules simply dissolve and your new colour rinses away.
Comparing Permanent, Semi-Permanent, and Demi-Permanent Hair Dyes. Permanent hair color has the greatest potential for hair damage due to the chemistry involved and should be done most cautiously.
And your hair might feel healthier
While hair dyes and techniques have come a long way since their follicle-frying beginnings, they do still leave some damage. Taking a hiatus from color will help your hair return to its previous state--especially as dyed ends get chopped off.
Additionally, all-over blonde can be more damaging to the hair, as it involves lightening the hair all over, which can cause dryness, brittleness and breakage. On the other hand, highlights are less damaging to the hair as they only lighten small sections of the hair.
Opt for hair dyes made with natural colorants like henna, indigo, cassia, beetroot, coffee, and other plant-derived ingredients. These natural hair dye options allow you to color your hair without harsh chemicals like ammonia, PPD, resorcinol, and peroxide commonly found in conventional dyes.
Darker hair colors like deep black, espresso brown, and blue-black tend to fade the slowest. These colors have larger pigment molecules that hold onto the hair better, making them more resistant to fading.
The length of time that permanent hair dye will last depends on a few different factors, including the health of your hair, how often you wash it, what shampoo you use, and the type of hair dye you use. Generally speaking, though, you can expect permanent hair dye to last anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks.