Sometimes, we just desire a change in our looks, and we try to do that by dying our hair. It can be quite simple – we go to a hair salon and just get it done – or a bit more tricky if we dye our hair at home. In the second situation, there is a broad range of hair color products that we can choose from. It is so wide that we might often feel overwhelmed by it. But don’t worry – here we will tell you everything that you need to know about hair color products. By understanding them, you’ll be able to choose the right ones!
Permanent Hair Color Products
The first group that we will focus on is permanent hair color products. When we think about dyeing our hair, this is what usually comes to our minds. They are designed to provide a long-lasting color change.
Permanent hair color products react chemically with the melatonin inside our hair. The particles from hair dyes, namely ammonia and peroxide, enter the hairs’ cortex and expand so that they cannot be washed out. As a result, the natural color is changed, though it still impacts the final shade, and you may get back to it only after your hair is re-grow. Mind the fact that hair dye enters the base of each hair – this is why after extensive coloring, it might be difficult to return to the exactly same color as you had naturally.
Demi-Permanent Hair Color Products
These are the most tricky color products – they lie in between permanent and temporary ones. It usually takes up to 30 shampoos to wash them off, so they can change your appearance for a considerable amount of time, but with no far-reaching consequences.
Demi-permanent dyes work similarly to permanent hair colors – the difference is that they form smaller molecules after entering the hair’s cortex. Thus, it is possible to wash them out of it. Yet, they are still sizeable enough to survive several washes. Do you wish to change your looks for a season rather than for half a year? Demi-permanent hair dyes are the way to go!
Semi-Permanent Hair Color Products
Semi-permanent or temporary hair color products are great when you want to dye your hair for a week or two. Unlike the previous two, they do not interact with the natural pigments. Instead, they add small molecules to your hair’s cortex that are unable to remain there for a longer period of time – it usually takes up to 6 washes to get them out.
Temporary hair dyes are wonderful when you want to add some additional sparkle to your looks. You can use them to create a colorful streak or to change your hair into a unique, standing-out color, such as pink. After all, you probably wouldn’t like to walk with such hair for months.
Highlights vs. Bleaches
Highlights and bleaches are the two most popular hair color products used to make your hair lighter – especially if your natural hair color is strong and hard to change. Let’s look at the differences between these two:
- Bleaches – Used on your whole hair or large parts of it, they make your hair equally light more quickly than the highlights. Yet, this method is a bit more invasive, so it should be done by professionals.
- Highlights – This range of hair color products is used to make particular strands or sections lighter and build contrast. Highlighting your hair usually takes more time than bleaching but is less invasive and allows for a unique coloring.
The Takeaway
You should now understand what are the different types of hair color products and when to use them. We hope that we’ve dispelled all your doubts and that you are ready to change your looks consciously!
