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. Why does this happen?
As a general rule, hair color lasts about 6-8 weeks, depending on if you're covering gray hair or not. If you don't have a lot of gray and you're dying your hair to change up your color, there are ways for stylists to blend in highlights with your natural hair color to keep it looking fresh for longer.
Generally speaking, though, you can expect permanent hair dye to last anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks. If you have any concerns about using permanent hair dye on your hair, be sure to speak with a professional stylist before making the commitment.
Salon dye does tend to last longer than home bought dye.
It is important to note that while the color will never fully fade out of the hair strand, the tone of the color can fade over time, losing its vibrancy and richness. Therefore, it will need to be refreshed at some point. 2. As your hair grows, the color grows out.
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.
Our permanent hair dye offers 100% gray coverage and lasts much longer than semi-permanent hair color.
Certain harsh chemicals in popular box dyes have given many stylists pause. Common concerns include: Ammonia - This mixing agent lifts cuticles to deposit colour but is quite drying over time. Peroxide - High volumes like 30+ developer cause more damage to delicate hair.
The general rule of thumb is once every 4-8 weeks, give or take. This frequency varies from person to person, depending on factors like the type of hair dye used, the specific color used, your hair regrowth rate, and any additional treatments you may tack on (like chemical straightening or perms).
Hard water is perhaps the most frustrating cause of fading hair color. That's because hardness isn't immediately obvious — which means you could use this water on every wash and inadvertently make things worse. Hard minerals can fade your hair dye and cause other issues.
Fantasy Colors (Think Unicorn-Inspired): These audacious and vibrant shades, like neon pinks, blues, and purples, often exhibit the fastest fade. Their pigments come in larger molecules that wrestle with the task of penetrating the hair shaft, rendering them more susceptible to swift erosion.
Go to the salon.
Generally speaking, removing permanent hair dye requires a trip to the salon. A professional colorist should know how to remove hair dye with minimal damage, and they can help correct any color mistakes (like orange hair) that may arise from the removal process.
The One-Hour Rule for Mixed Dye
Got some extra mix? Storing it for future glam sessions might not be the best call. Using old or expired hair dye can lead to funky colors and potential scalp irritation or allergic reactions.
If your client can't seem to keep their gray hair or roots covered for long, it may be time to discontinue using hair dye. Going to the salon every two weeks for treatment is too often, and along with all the damage it can do to their hair, it can also be expensive over time.
Limit washing: If you can, reduce how often you wash your hair to retain your hair's natural oils that protect colour. Use dry shampoo in between washes to absorb excess oil. Rinse your hair with cold water: Cold water seals your hair cuticles and prevents colour bleed.
Permanent hair colour penetrates the hair cuticle, altering the structure of the hair shaft in order for the colour to be locked in permanently. Semi-permanent colour, however, is deposited on the outside of the hair shaft. Without anything locking it into place, the colour is temporary.
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.
So How Long Should I Wait? We recommend four to six weeks between each hair coloring session, but be sure to take a look at the instructions of your hair coloring kit for the best guidance. Putting some space between colorings will help keep your hair from becoming dry and weak.
In general, those looking to dye dark hair without bleach will fare best with colors as dark as or darker than your existing hue—think moody burgundies, deep browns, or inky blacks. If you want to go lighter, you'll typically need some form of bleach. Without bleach, you can only deposit color, not lift it.
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. Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide combine to open up the hair's cuticle to reach the internal structure and make a color change ...
The fastest way to remove hair dye is typically by using a clarifying shampoo or anti-dandruff shampoo. These shampoos contain strong cleansing agents that can effectively strip color from the hair. It's important to follow up with a deep conditioning treatment, as these shampoos can be harsh and drying on the hair.
Cool shades like ash blonde and mushroom brown are among the best hair colors to hide grays, since the cool tones won't clash with your silvery streaks.
Root sprays and root powders offer a quick and temporary way to cover up gray hairs: simply choose a shade that matches your natural color and apply to the roots.
It could be that your hair is resistant to tint, especially when the hair texture has changed as a result of going white. But also it could be that by going lighter, either all over, or by introducing (subtle) highlights you would not see the regrowth strip quite as quickly as if it were lighter.