Top 10 Expert-Approved Semi-Permanent Hair Colors – 2024

Dyeing your hair is always trendy, but getting permanent hair color may not be the friendliest choice for your hair. Instead, you may try the top semi-permanent hair colors ideal for transforming your hair color into the hue you are looking for.
We can see most Instagram or TV celebrities dying their hair in a certain pattern or sometimes even using a spectrum of colors. The hair looks awesome. Even you can achieve such hair by using a hair color from our list of the best semi-permanent hair colors. Check them out below!

What Is Semi Permanent Hair Color?

Semi permanent hair color deposits color onto the surface of your hair and brightens up your mane. It does not penetrate the cortex the way permanent hair dye does. Therefore, the color you end up with will be at the same level as your natural hair, or darker. So, boo, if you think you can go from brunette to blonde in just a jiffy, that just ain’t happening. What it can do is add a bright pop of color, intensify and add a shine to your natural hair color, and cover up gray hair.

While permanent hair dye can last for months, semi permanent hair dye does not have that kind of lasting capacity. It fades little by little with each wash, and is almost completely gone after 15-20 washes.

Now, the hair care aisles in drugstores are stocked up to the hilt with all kinds of semi permanent hair colors. And choosing one from among them can be pretty overwhelming. But have no fear! Because I am here! With my list of top 10 best semi permanent hair dye brands that will give you the hair color of your dreams!

10 Best Semi Permanent Hair Colors

1. Best For Gray Hair:Clairol Professional Beautiful Collection

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Image: Clairol Professional

BUY ON AMAZON | $7.9

The Clairol Professional Beautiful Collection is a range of semi-permanent cream hair colors that also works as a conditioner. It is designed to give your hair an instant color boost that can last up to 8 washes. This hair color formula is enriched with hydrating and nourishing ingredients such as jojoba oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E to deeply nourish your hair and make it soft and silky. The collection comes with 15 different shades that can give a rich color to your gray and dull hair. It is available for both blonde hair and dark hair. Do not apply it to soaking wet hair, instead apply to towel-dried tresses. According to multiple reviewers, this product does the job beautifully and has been consistent in its performance over the years.

Pro Tip

Refrain from using shampoo for 24 hours after its application.

2. Best Gentle Formula:L’Oreal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color

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Image: L'oréal Paris

Now 8% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $10.99

Have fun with beautiful trendy shades with the L’Oreal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color that comes in a wide variety of shades such as pink, violet, indigo, blue, peach, turquoise, etc. If you want to add that vibrant color to your blonde hair, this is for you. It works best on pre-lightened hair. This semi-permanent hair color is formulated with pure dye in a base of conditioning mask, making it gentle on your hair. This hair color comes in a tube with a blendable creamy texture. This hair color is suitable for blondes, brunettes, dyed hair, bleached hair, or highlighted hair. This video of the reviewer’s experience will give you a better insight into the qualities of the product.

Pro Tip

Apply the product on damp hair, staring from the roots for the best results.

3. Best Long Lasting:Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye

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Image: Arctic Fox

BUY ON AMAZON | $18.49

If you are in a typical island holiday mood, check out the Arctic Fox Virgin Pink hair color. This high-pigment hair dye will give light brown hair a deep magenta tint. If you have pre-lightened your hair, this color will make your hair a vibrant pink. The best part of this semi-permanent color is that it can be mixed with deeper pinks or lighter base colors to make a variety of experimental customized shades. The formula also offers excellent conditioning to the hair so you can say goodbye to dry and frizzy colored hair. It is gentle on the hair and, therefore, can be used frequently. This hair color is crafted with natural ingredients and does not bleed or stain. Although it is a semi-permanent color, this formula lasts long and leaves the hair feeling hydrated and healthy. It is available in a cream form with a sweet scent. This deep conditioning product works well for both dark hair and light hair. This product has great reviews for being vibrant and beginner-friendly.

Pro Tip

Use pre-lightening shampoo before its application for the best results.

4. Best Vegan:Iroiro Premium Natural Semi-Permanent Hair Color

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BUY ON AMAZON | $15.6

For anyone who is super conscious about only using products that have not been tested on animals (which should be all of us, really), Iroiro’s range of semi permanent hair colors is the perfect choice. This vibrant range of colors that comes in 14 shades is 100% vegan and cruelty free. They also contain natural organic coconut oil that ensures that your hair is moisturized throughout the coloring process. But that’s not all! Iroiro is also committed to making its hair colors free of parabens, ammonia, peroxide, and synthetic preservatives and fragrances.

5. Best Beginner-Friendly Kit:INH Semi Permanent Ruby Red Hair Color

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Image: Inh

BUY ON AMAZON | $18

Spruce up your style this season with the INH Semi Permanent Ruby Red Hair Color! This semi-permanent color will give your dull, boring hair a fresh, vibrant, attractive tint. It comes in a cream form and gently deposits bright pigments of red tints on the hair strands. To top it all, the formula is a conditioning hair mask that nourishes the hair while coloring it. It offers hydration to the roots and makes the tresses silky and soft with a shiny appearance. This beginner-friendly kit is ready to use out of the jar and works best on lighter hair. The deep conditioning formula leaves your hair soft after use. It requires no mixing with lighteners or developers. The full-coverage, temporary dye is chemical-free and safe for all hair types and has not been tested on animals.

Quick Tip

Apply it first on your roots and then gradually move towards the length.

6. Best Cruelty-Free:Manic Panic

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Image: Manic Panic

Now 5% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $14.24

Manic Panic is nothing less than a pioneer when it comes to vegan and cruelty free products. These “high voltage” hair colors (as the brand calls them) come in a rainbow spectrum of 44 shades and are known to be super pigmented. It also makes the hair soft and shiny and prevents hair damage. Apply the color on damp hair but not on extremely wet hair. It works best when the base hair color is light. Besides having an extremely catchy name, Manic Panic is also free of para, gluten, and ammonia. So, it’s no wonder that it won NYLON magazine’s Beauty Hit List award for Best Hair color in 2017. This video of the tester’s experience will give you a better insight into the qualities of the product.

7. Best Alcohol-Free:Color X-Change Semi-Permanent Hair Color

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Image: Color X-change

Now 13% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $6.08

Enjoy salon-style at-home hair color with fragrance-free Color X-Change Semi-Permanent Hair Color. It is developed with concentrated color pigments that add shine to your hair and leave them looking bright. It is available in 13 different shades and the hair dye formula is super pigmented. This hair color takes 10 to 20 minutes to process the dye and provides long-lasting color. It works best on a lighter base shade. In addition, it comes in a ready-to-use form, and no mixing is required. Do a patch test before using it to avoid reactions and allergies.

8. Best Shade Range:Adore Creative Image Semi Permanent Hair Color

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Image: Adore

Now 60% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $6.36

Give your hair a beautiful and sensual feel with the Adore Creative Image Semi-permanent Hair Color. It provides a rich color and makes your hair shiny, soft, and silky. It contains nourishing ingredients such as argan oil, vitamin E, and ammonia. This liquid hair color needs 15 minutes to enhance your natural color or create trendy highlights. It intensifies your natural or current color to give it a healthy shine and leaves them in a better condition with a beautiful color. These semi-permanent hair colors are available in an impressive range of 56 shades.

9. Best Salon Quality:RAW Super Green Semi-Permanent Hair Color

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Image: Raw

BUY ON AMAZON | $15

The RAW Super Green Semi-Permanent Hair Color is a salon-quality dye that brings you a super green shade for a hot new look! The durable color lasts up to 45 washes or three to six weeks. This easy-to-apply formula is safe for the hair and offers a salon-like finish. It treats the hair with non-harmful chemical ingredients and restores the natural bounce of the locks. The innovative formula is ready-to-use and does not need mixing with any activators. It gives you a makeover that looks like it has been done by a professional hairstylist. Over weeks, the color fades to lighter shades of green and not patchy ugly tints. This salon style at-home hair color is suitable for all hair textures and types. It also works well on damaged hair. Squeeze and apply and in 15 minutes, you can have green hair!

10. Best For Color-Treated Hair:dpHUE Gloss+ – Color-Boosting Semi-Permanent Hair Dye & Deep Conditioner

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Image: Dphue

BUY ON AMAZON | $37

The dpHue Gloss+ is a semi-permanent hair dye and a deep conditioner that works on enhancing and boosting hair color along with giving your hair a conditioning boost for shiny and healthy hair. This vegan hair dye works both on natural as well as colored hair and comes in 11 versatile shades that can be mixed to match your hair color. Apply to damp and clean hair. Not using a conditioner after coloring can be a damaging option. The dye has a clean and hydrating formula with no sulfate, paraben, peroxide, or ammonia that leaves your hair feeling soft and hydrated. According to reviewers, this product imparts shine and covers grays.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The product has more than 2,920 reviews claiming its efficacy.

You can always hop onto the trend of semi permanent colors to transform your look. But, this celebrity look may cost you if adequate care is not taken. Besides, the best results for an awesome look, special hair care is a must to maintain the healthy glow of your hair. Here is how you can find the best semi permanent hair colors to jazz up your looks.

How To Find Semi Permanent Hair Colors

• Formula

Choose a blendable creamy texture with a nourishing formula to protect your hair from damage. A semi permanent color with a conditioning effect or vegan formula can also provide an effective result and leave your locks nourished and glowing. Opt for expert-recommended or professional hairstylist recommended products if you have sensitive skin and scalp.

• Ingredient

Always check the ingredient lists before purchasing a semi permanent hair color. A chemical-free, gentle product is your ideal option. Products enriched with organic and mild ingredients offer the best results without damaging your hair and may offer restorative care.

• Pigment

If you are looking for a vivid and bold hair color, go for a premium-quality product that offers great results on all hair types including unbleached hair. Check for ammonia-free semi permanent hair color products to reduce the irreversible impact of this harmful chemical that eventually makes your tresses dry and brittle.

• Shade Range

Love to be spoiled with the many choices of funky shades? Look for the best quality products that offer an array of amazing hair color shades besides offering great results. Although you can experiment all you want, but ideally, warm skin tones look great in warm colors and shades while cool skin tones look good in cool shades.

• Longevity

Whether you want a lasting celebrity look or to hide your gray hairs for a longer duration, if the long lasting effect is what you’re looking for, opt for products that last even after 25-28 washes.

• Color Coverage

If hiding gray hair is the sole purpose behind buying a semi permanent hair color, then color coverage is a vital factor to look upon. Opt for those products that provide good color coverage and help you conceal your unwanted gray hair. These also help touch up your roots, so you can avoid those frequent trips to the salon.

Now that you’ve gotten a fair idea of what semi permanent hair color you want to go for, let’s look at how you can color your hair right in the comfort of your own home!

How To Dye Your Hair With Semi Permanent Hair Color

(Note: You may need to pre-lighten your hair with bleach depending on which semi permanent hair color you are using to get optimum results.)

What You Need

• Semi permanent hair dye (Get 2 packs if you have long hair)
• Clarifying shampoo
• Hair brush
• Blowdryer
• Vaseline
• Rubber gloves
• Bowl
• Color-safe shampoo
• Conditioner

What To Do

1. Wash your hair with a color clarifying shampoo to remove all the build up and product from it. Do not condition it.
2. Brush out all the knots and tangles from your hair and blowdry it completely.
3. Apply vaseline on your ears and all along your hairline for a stain-free application.
4. Pick up a dollop of hair dye and run it between your gloved palms.
5. Massage the dye into your hair as if your were shampooing it. Keep doing this until you’re sure you’ve coated all your hair with the hair dye.
6. Leave the dye on to process for the duration of time indicated on the box.
7. Wash off the dye until the water runs clear and then shampoo and condition it with color safe products.

[ Read: 25 Tips, Tricks, And Hacks For Hair Coloring ]

Semi-permanent colors are versatile products that you need when you are experimenting with your look. These customizable products give you an idea of the look, which you can discard easily in a few weeks if you don’t like it. “However, never forget to use the correct shampoo and conditioner to help your hair color last longer,” reminds Alexandro Vasquez, a hairdresser who has served across the globe. Since these are not fade-resistant, learn what more you can do to enhance your semi-permanent color’s longevity. The infographic below lists the factors to keep in mind when you have semi-permanent dye on and some tips to make the color last longer. Scroll down and check it out!

Infographic: Semi-Permanent Hair Colors: Buying Guide And Tips To Make Them Last Longer

Semi-permanent colors are what you need when you are experimenting with your look. They give you an idea of the look, which you can discard easily in a few weeks if you don’t like it. If you are about to buy a semi-permanent hair color to give your hair a quick transformation, our infographic can help. It lists the factors to keep in mind when doing so and some tips to make the color last longer. Scroll down and check it out!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between permanent and semi permanent hair color?

Permanent hair color lifts the natural color of your hair and penetrates your hair shaft to add color to your hair. Semi permanent hair color, on the other hand, only deposits color on the surface of your hair shaft. Thus, permanent hair color lasts longer than semi permanent hair color.

How do you use semi permanent hair dye?

You can use semi permanent hair dye by massaging it into washed, dry hair and leaving it on for the developing time indicated on the box before washing it off.

How long can you keep semi permanent dye in your hair?

You can keep semi permanent hair dye in your hair for the developing time given on the box, which is usually anywhere between 15 to 45 minutes.

How do I keep my hair color from washing out?

You can keep your hair color from washing out by washing it as infrequently as possible, using color protecting shampoo, and by conditioning it regularly.

How long after you dye your hair can you wash it?

It’s best to wait about 72 hours (3 days) after dyeing your hair before washing it.

How long do you have to wait to dye your hair after you wash it?

You have to wait until your hair is completely dry before coloring it.

How many times do you have to wash your hair?

Wash your hair just once until the water runs clear, and then shampoo and condition it.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author, Shiboli Chakraborti, is a certified skin care coach and has a keen interest in hair care. She thoroughly researched and read many customer reviews on trusted online forums to compile this list of the best semi-permanent hair colors for her readers. These shortlisted products are the easiest way to transform your hair, providing good coverage. They are also easy to use and are available in various colors.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Alexandro VasquezHairdresser

   

Alexandro Vasquez has been a hairdresser since 1997 and has worked in various countries, including Brazil, Spain, Ireland, Indonesia, Singapore, and UAE. His experience spans salon brands such as Toni&Guy, Aveda, and Leekaja.

Read full bio of Alexandro Vasquez

Shiboli ChakrabortiCommerce Editor

 

Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.

Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti

Aditi NaskarAssociate Commerce Editor

Aditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.

Read full bio of Aditi Naskar

Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

Read full bio of Ramona Sinha