How Long Does Hair Dye Last?

Is this your first time dying your hair? In that case, you might be wondering how long hair dye lasts after it’s applied. Unfortunately, there’s no straight answer to that question as there are many different types of hair dyes, as well as different types of hair, and additional factors which all contribute to the longevity of the dye. Simply put, a dye can last either until the next wash or until you cut your hair.

So, without further ado, let’s delve into the key things that factor into hair dye’s effects.

The type of hair dye you’re using

There are four main types of hair dyes depending on how long they last – permanent, semi-permanent, demi-permanent, and temporary.

How long does permanent hair color last?

Permanent hair color dyes, at least when they are of a good enough quality, can last pretty much permanently. Or, until your hair grows more and you have to cut the dyed part.

Depending on the dye, its color, your hair’s color, as well as its condition, permanent dyes can fade out a bit over time even if the dye is of high quality. Nevertheless, permanent hair dyes are pretty much the longest lasting hair dyes out there as they are designed to penetrate the cuticle of the hair as much as possible.

How long does demi-permanent hair color last?

Demi-permanent hair dyes also penetrate the cuticle of our hairs but only partly as they are using a low-level developer. This allows them to be kinder to our hair but still last a long while. They will fade after a while, however.

How long does semi-permanent hair color last?

Semi-permanent dyes don’t penetrate the cuticle of the hair the way permanent and demi-permanent dyes do, which makes them both more sparing for your hair and less long-lasting. Instead, semi-permanent dyes coat our hairs with pigments that usually last between 8 and 15 shampooed washes. On some rare occasions, a semi-permanent dye can last up to 28 shampoos if it’s if high quality and the color works well with your hair’s natural color.

How long does a temporary hair color last?

Temporary hair color dyes can last anywhere between a day and a week as their intended purpose is to be washed away easily. Temporary dyes are typically used for more vibrant and unnatural colors such as pink, green, or blue. They also work by coating our hairs with pigment but it’s specifically made to be easily removed whenever the user wants it gone.

The color of the dye matters

Aside from their quality and type, hair dyes can last more or fewer days depending on their color as well. The color matters because different colors are made up of different pigments. For example, a red dye has around 3,000 pigments while a blue dye only has up to 1,000 pigments. Ironically, the in-between color purple has close to 8,000 pigments.

This means that purple dyes will last significantly longer than red dyes of the same type and quality, and even longer than blue dyes. The general rule of thumb is that darker dyes have more pigments and last longer than lighter ones.

A side note here is that the combination between the hair dye’s color and your hair’s natural hair also contributes to the dye’s longevity – if the two colors are close to one another the dye will appear to last longer. However, if the natural and dye colors are drastically different, even a bit of fading will be painfully obvious

The hair care after dying is important

The better you take care of your hair, the longer its color will last, plain and simple. Use color-sensitive shampoo and conditioner, avoid too much direct sunlight, and stay away from powerful heating hair products.

The condition of your hair is key as well

We’re obviously always advocating that you should keep your hair in a good shape but that’s also important if you want your hair dye to last longer. Damaged, tired, and/or malnourished hair will lose the dye’s color much quicker than a well-kept and taken care of hair.

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