How long does semi-permanent hair dye last?

09 Jul 2019

Main Image Credit:
Adam Harvey, The Chapel Sevenoaks

Whether you're getting your hair done at The Chapel hairdressers, or you're trying an at-home dye kit, you might be looking to find out just how long your colour will last. The thing is, it can be difficult to tell. There are a number of factors at play when it comes to how long semi-permanent hair dye might last. In this post, we share our thoughts on how long the dye might stay in your hair.

1. The colour of your current hair

Both the colour of your hair at the moment and the colour you are choosing to dye your hair have an effect on how long the die will last. Natural hair holds on to colour well, and with most semi-permanent colours you can hope to have a strong colour for 5-10 washes with Redken's City Beats, for example, often even longer. However, don't confuse this for demi-permanent colours such as Redken's Shades EQ and HDR which can last up to 40 washes.

If your hair has been bleached multiple times, it may struggle to hold on to the colour, particularly colours such as pink, blue, green or silver.

If you're dying over another colour, it can be difficult to predict the outcome, but a professional hairdresser will be able to advise you.

2. The colour of dye you choose

Fashion colours have become increasingly popular over the years, with many influencers choosing to go every shade under the sun for just a few weeks or even the weekend. But if you choose to go pink for the weekend, would it be gone by the time you went to work on Monday? That depends. On very light coloured hair, fashion colours tend to lose their vivacity pretty quickly, particularly pinks. Blues and greens can be tough to scrub away completely, but generally don’t last longer than non-fashion colours. With fashion colours you can expect them to last from anywhere between a few days to up to six weeks, depending on the brand.

If you're choosing to go black or red, be prepared for these colours to stick around for a while. This is perfect if you're looking for a low-maintenance solution for up to 4 months.

3. The type of dye you choose

Not all hair dye is made equal or made to last. Semi-permanent can mean anything from one wash to up to 15 washes as it can range from a vegetable base to henna dye, so it is important to choose wisely and have a professional talk you through options that would work for you.

The professional dye used in the salon is much less harmful to your hair, and your hairdresser will be able to give you the best indication of how long it might last.

The best way to ensure your colour works for you is to pop into the salon and have a relaxed chat with an expert stylist.

4. How you look after your hair

Finally and arguably most importantly, you have the ability to accidentally reduce or hopefully extend the life of your colour with a few small choices.

Spending extended periods of time in the sun damages your hair anyway, which speeds up the fading process. We always insist on using heat protectants when heat styling or blowdrying, but it actually applies to the summer's natural heat too. Redken's One United spray is fabulous for keeping in a bag and preventing UV-A and UV-B damage.

You may have noticed that we measure the length of time by washes, not guaranteed weeks. Every wash will ever so slightly fade the colour, so depending on your hair type and many other factors, you could find out with your stylist how often you should optimally wash your hair.

As you can see, there are a great number of factors to consider when working out how long a semi-permanent dye might last. The best way to ensure your colour works for you is to pop into the salon and have a relaxed chat with an expert stylist.