How to Dye Hair With Semi Permanent Hair Color – smartesthairstyles.com – Semi-permanent hair dyes are a significantly less aggressive alternative to traditional dyes that won’t damage your hair. Rather than penetrating the core of the hair, they semi-permanently coat the hair’s surface and wash out over time. Not only are semi-permanent dyes safer and easier to use, they also come in a wider range of bright, bold colors. If you’re interested in being a little more adventurous with your look, semi-permanent hair dye might be for you.
- Choice Of Your Dye
Find the color you want. There are many popular brands and hundreds of different colors to choose from. Semi-permanent dyes are available in many places, from grocery stores to specialty clothing stores, with the largest selection being found in beauty stores. Choose the color that suits you best, best suits your wardrobe, and/or is most flattering to your eye color and skin tone. Semi-permanent dyes work on all hair colors but are lightest on light hair. However, on very dark hair, they appear as a very subtle shine.
If necessary, bleach your hair. Bleaching the hair makes the color appear lighter on all hair types. If you want intense, bright colors and you have darker hair, you need to bleach it. Just remember that bleaching can damage your hair.
Run a patch test. A patch test is an easy way to check for allergens at home. This step is very important, especially if you have sensitive skin. Directly coloring your whole head without control can result in an itchy scalp or permanent hair loss.
Dab a small amount of dye onto a cotton sticky pad and place on an area of your skin that isn’t too sensitive or normally exposed, like your upper back.
Leave the patch on your hair for as long as you wish to keep the color in your hair (usually one hour).
Remove the patch and rinse the color off your skin.
Wait another 48 hours before coloring your hair.
Do not use this dye if your skin is itchy, red, or swollen. If your skin begins to itch while the patch is still on, remove it immediately and scrub off the paint with soap and water.
Do a strand test. Select a small strand of hair that is not on the surface of your hairstyle. Color this strand according to the instructions on the bottle. This step can be skipped if you don’t care about the exact shade of your new hair color. If you’ve never bleached your hair before, you might want to do a strand test with your bleaching method and then the color.
- Dyeing Your Hair
Wash your hair with clarifying shampoo and blow dry completely. Normally, you should avoid using a hair dryer as it can dry out and damage your hair. The drier your hair, the better your color will absorb. Only condition your hair after the color has been applied and rinsed out.
Protect your skin and clothes. While semi-permanent dyes will eventually wash out of the hair, they can be quite difficult to remove from other materials such as most fabrics. Semi-permanent dyes are usually easily removed from the skin with thorough scrubbing, but the process can take a few days. It’s less work to prevent a mess than it is to clean it up later.
Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting stains on.
Lay a towel on the floor in the area you are working on.
Wear examination gloves.
Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the skin along your hairline.
Find out the color placement. You can dye all your hair the same shade or get more creative. Here are some options to consider:
Color only your highlights. Many people with dark hair go for this look with light colors.
Color only the ends. This is called a “dip dye” look because it gives the appearance of having the hair dipped in dye. Section your hair with plastic clips and you can use multiple colors for this method.
Two colors of the same brand can be mixed. You can dye your tips one color, the hair near your roots another, and mix the two in the middle to create an “ombré” look.
Try a wild multicolored look or create a pattern by leaving certain areas of your hair uncolored. Put a little conditioner on the parts of your hair that you want to protect.
Apply the hair color. Apply a thick amount of hair color wherever you like. The best way to do this depends on your style:
If you’re coloring a large area or your entire head, it’s best to massage the color in by hand. Take a palm full of color and work it into your hair as if you were shampooing. If your hair is long, you’ll need to do this a few times with more dye to evenly distribute the color. You can also try coloring thicker hair in sections.
If you’re coloring a smaller section, use a special tool called a tint brush. Dip the brush in the paint and “paint” your hair. This will help you both control where the color goes and ensure all of your hair is coated. Go over each section a few times to make sure the color is even.
Let the dye work. How long you should leave it on varies by brand, but 30 minutes to an hour is typical. Unlike permanent dyes, which contain harsh chemicals that can damage your hair and skin, there’s usually no such thing as “too long” with semi-permanent color. If you decide to leave your work space while the paint is curing, tuck your hair into a shower cap to avoid a mess.
Rinse out the paint. Flushing in the sink reduces the chance of discoloring your skin, but can be inconvenient. Rinsing off in the shower is usually fine, even with dark colors.
Thoroughly soak your hair with running water. This is more important if you’ve left the paint in there long enough for it to dry.
Wash your hair gently with color care shampoo. Keep your hair moisturized to keep the color.
Rinse your hair until the water runs clear. If you leave dye in, you’ll end up staining everything that touches your hair.
Apply conditioner. This also helps keep your hair moist.
Allow your hair to air dry. Blow drying will dry out your hair too much and make your new color fade faster.
- Keep your new look
Minimize hair washing. Semi-permanent dye fades more with each wash. To keep the color longer, wash your hair as infrequently as possible. The thicker and less greasy your hair is, the less often you need to wash it.
Use color-protecting shampoo. When washing your hair, be sure to use a shampoo that minimizes fading. Most major shampoo brands have at least one color protectant product. If you’re having trouble finding one at the drugstore, try looking at a beauty supply store.
Sulfate-free shampoos that match your color are your best bet. For example, a purple shampoo is great for blondes and silver tones.
Keep your hair moisturized. Dry hair is more prone to fading. Use conditioner, whether for rinsing or soaking. If you have very textured, curly hair, try shea butter.
Repeat coloring as needed. The nature of semi-permanent hair color is that it doesn’t last forever. Once your hair fades to a color you’re not entirely happy with, use the same steps above to color your hair. You could also try a different color. If you have previously bleached your hair, do not bleach it again unless your roots have grown out.
