Hair Color: Permanent, Semi-Permanent, and Demi-Permanent
When it comes to coloring hair, there are many options to consider. Not only do you have a variety of colors at your disposal, but you also have many techniques and products. One thing clients must decide on before dyeing their hair is if they want permanent, semi-permanent, or demi-permanent hair color.
HICI Go offers a variety of courses, including hair coloring, via live in-person courses, live webinars, and online video courses to assist current and aspiring hairstylists in learning about the most modern and advanced techniques. Here, we discuss the differences between permanent, semi-permanent, and demi-permanent hair dyes.
What Is Permanent Hair Color?
Permanent hair color is designed to permanently change the color of your hair through oxidation. It works by penetrating your hair’s cuticles to transfer permanent color. Permanent hair colors contain ammonia, which helps open up the hair cuticle to allow permanent color to be inserted. Combining it with hydrogen peroxide allows oxidation to occur, which changes the structure of the hair’s fibers. It also eliminates the hair’s natural color and pigments and replaces them with a new color.
Although permanent dyes permanently dye your hair, they can still fade and become washed out over time. This means permanent hair colors must be maintained and re-colored often for a fresh look.
Permanent hair coloring products are great for hair that’s never been dyed before. This is because hairstylists can more accurately predict how a color will come out when using permanent dyes. Permanently dyeing hair that’s already been colored can create many issues in the hair dyeing process, like unpredicted colors, splotchy patches, and uneven tones.
Permanent hair dye on virgin hair can also lighten it up to two shades without the use of bleach, which can preserve the hair’s healthy elements. Using permanent hair dye can also be a great option for covering gray hairs and roots. This is because the permanent hair dye works to permanently change the hair’s natural colors, meaning the hair requires less maintenance in the long run.
What Is Semi-Permanent Hair Color?
Semi-permanent hair color is a more temporary solution to dyeing hair. It works by coating the hair’s surface to change the color versus permanently altering the hair’s cuticle. It allows clients to try out different colors without the commitment of permanent hair dye. It can also be a lower-maintenance option.
While permanent hair dye permanently changes the hair’s structure, semi-permanent hair dye washes out in about three weeks. This is because it doesn’t contain peroxide or ammonia, chemicals used in permanent hair dyes to help open the hair cuticle. Semi-permanent dye can also be mixed with conditioners to keep natural hair healthy and shiny.
Semi-permanent hair colors can also be a great solution to adding shine back to hair using certain hair gloss and glaze products. It is a common hair treatment for revitalizing color and bringing life back to hair between major coloring appointments.
Semi-permanent hair dye can also be great for those who have never colored their hair before. This is because it can allow clients to try out new hairstyles without permanently altering their hair. It also gives clients the time they need before making larger hair decisions, like switching to permanent dye.
While semi-permanent hair dye can be ideal for those who want to experiment with their hair, it may not be the best solution for clients who want a more permanent and significant change. The longevity of your semi-permanent hair dye can depend on many factors, like your hair’s porosity and texture. Talking with your hairstylist can help you learn hair techniques that work best with your hair type or your clients’ hair types.
What Is Demi-Permanent Hair Color?
Demi-permanent hair color is a type of dye that temporarily colors your hair. It is less permanent than permanent hair dye but more long-lasting than semi-permanent hair dye. Instead of interrupting the hair shaft’s cuticle, like with permanent dyes, it creates a film around the hair cuticle that is washed away through time. Like semi-permanent hair color, demi-permanent hair color is designed to be free from ammonia, which can help preserve healthy hair. It lasts anywhere from 12 to 24 wash cycles.
This type of hair dye can be a great option for clients who want to try out a certain tone or hair color. If a client does not like the color, it easily washes out within a few months. If a client enjoys the color, they can have it reapplied. Clients can even switch to permanent hair color at any time. However, making the switch from permanent hair color to demi-permanent is more difficult. This is why starting with a demi-permanent hair color can be beneficial.
Hair Coloring Courses at HICI Go
HICI Go offers a variety of courses for hair, nails, massage, and other subjects in the cosmetology and wellness industries. We ensure that each student is equipped with the knowledge needed to stay relevant and successful in their endeavors. We offer live webinars and on-demand online video courses for students across the United States. We also partner with Cortiva Institute and Hollywood Institute for in-person courses in Florida, Texas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
Our course listings are updated frequently, so professional hairstylists and enthusiasts are encouraged to check back often for new offerings. To learn more about hair color and other courses we offer, contact us today.