The Best Demi-Permanent Hair Dyes to Change Up Your Look

May 2024 · 4 minute read

The Best Demi-Permanent Dye Guide

Demi-permanent hair dye is very popular because of its low ammonia & low peroxide content, gradual fading, and providing the user with a less permanent change to their hair color. Due to it being in such high demand, there are several options for you to pick from on the market. With this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about demi-permanent hair dyes and be able to make a well-informed decision about your hair-coloring needs. Let’s take a look!

What Is Demi-Permanent Hair Dye For?

If you’re keen on trying all the latest hair color trends, then a demi-permanent hair dye is for you. Even if you end up with a color you don’t particularly like, after just 24 washes with shampoo, you’ll be back to the hair color you started with!

If you feel like your hair needs a bit of a boost to return it to its natural shine and healthy glow, then demi-permanent hair dye is an easy and affordable way to give your strands a new and refreshing look. A demi-permanent hair dye is perfect for coloring gray hair without damaging the follicles. If 25% of your hair (or less) is gray, a demi-permanent dye blends the gray strands into the highlights. 

If  25% or less of your hair is gray, these dyes can blend the gray strands into the highlights. It’s also great for those looking to go with a darker dye because demi-permanent dyes don’t contain hair-lightening agents like bleach or hydrogen peroxide.

Semi-Permanent vs. Demi-Permanent vs. Permanent

Semi-permanent hair dye has no ammonia and deposits color without bleaching or lightening. The dye coats hair stands with color and can last for up to eight washes. Permanent hair dye contains ammonia, allowing the cuticle layer to open and letting the color deposits penetrate the hair’s cuticle, cortex, and medulla– leaving you with a permanent color change. Demi-permanent hair dye falls in between the two.

Demi-permanent hair dye is mostly ammonia-free and contains a developer, which allows it to penetrate the outermost cuticle of the hair. The color from a demi-permanent dye lasts longer than semi-permanent options because of the developer, but not as long as permanent options because it doesn’t completely penetrate the hair shaft.

What to Consider When Buying Demi-Permanent Hair Dye

Coverage

Demi-permanent hair dyes only provide moderate coverage because they only pierce the outermost layer of the hair. If you’re looking for fuller, longer-lasting coverage, permanent hair dyes are a better option, especially if you’re looking for a more dramatic color transformation.

Gentleness

The chemicals involved in the coloring process can be harsh on the hair, potentially causing damage, dryness, or breakage, especially if you don’t implement a hydrating haircare regime. If you’re concerned about damaging your hair by dyeing it, look for dyes that specify that they won’t mess with your hair’s pH, porosity, or natural curl pattern.

Maintenance

Demi-permanent dyes wash out after 20-24 washes, so think about how you plan on styling your hair and how often you plan to shampoo & condition it. Also, styles that require a lot of manipulation and heat (like blowdrying, straightening, or curling) can make hair dyed with a demi-permanent dye lose its color much faster. If you’re looking for long-lasting coverage, you’ll have to keep buying (and applying) demi dye every two months or so. One of the best ways to maintain your color is to wash your hair using cold water.

Longevity

There are many ways to extend the longevity of demi-permanent dyed hair. To minimize damage, wash your hair a maximum of 2-3 times per week, avoid using shampoos and conditioners with sulfates in them, and avoid fully submerging your head in chlorinated water. Both sulfates and chlorine will quickly strip the dye off your hair. You should also avoid using excessive amounts of heat on your hair, washing your hair in hot water, and having your hair in prolonged, direct sunlight.

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