With so many options on the market, changing your hair color is relatively simple nowadays. Hair dye eventually fades away, though all good things must come to an end.

What is the lifespan of hair dye? To that, there is no simple response. It depends on a variety of elements, including the dye’s caliber and your current shade. Additionally, the way you live your life could make the dye on your clothing fade too soon.

Depending on whether you’re covering gray hair or not, hair color typically lasts 6–8 weeks. Therefore, it doesn’t remain in your hair permanently.

Formulas for hair dye vary in how long they last. So if you’re curious to know how long your new look will last, keep reading. Here you will find out what impacts the longevity of hair dye and learn how to prevent your new color – and money – from going down the drain.

How Long Does Hair Coloring Last?

Hair dye lasts about four to six weeks, in general. Therefore, it won’t stay on your hair indefinitely; as your hair grows out, the dye loses its impact and intensity as your roots become visible. And now would be a good time to visit your preferred salon to have it refreshed or recolored.

However, how long it stays on your hair will depend on the type you use. Each type has a distinct function and can satisfy a particular hair styling need. Hair dye is available in more varieties than just temporary and permanent ones.

The main types of hair dye are:

• Permanent – best for people who want to stick to a color for longer, and for those who don’t mind sitting in the salon chair for a while. For the dye to penetrate deeper and prolong hair color for six to eight weeks, a difficult chemical procedure is required.
• Semi-permanent – best for people who want a bit more variety at certain times. This type of dye doesn’t typically contain ammonia and doesn’t require development. Therefore, you can buy a box from the store and color at home. How long does semi-permanent hair dye last? About eight washes.
• Demi-permanent – unlike semi-permanent hair dye, demi-permanent requires a developer. Instead of simply coating the hair shaft, it penetrates it. Demi-permanent is a wise choice if you want to devote more time to color.
• Temporary – best for people who want to do a bold color for the evening and return to a tone-down hue the next. This type of hair dye will last until your next wash, which is why it’s also called “wash out dye.”

Then you have a selection of other types that will spark your creativity for hair coloring:

• Henna – not just for the skin but for the hair, too. Henna is a typically hypoallergenic natural alternative to chemical hair dyes. But if you want to go lighter, it’s not what you’re looking for.
• Hair Bleach – if you want, for example, blue hair dye, bleach is a good choice. It brightens and lightens, but use it less frequently than other types because bleach could harm your hair.
• Balayage – it’s a highlighting technique that’s been around since It was first developed by French colorists in the 1970s. Your hair will have a natural, multi-tone finish thanks to the freehand coloring technique used. And it can work as a permanent hair dye because it can last for 12 to 14 weeks.
• Ombré – unlike balayage, ombre highlights at the roots, typically with a dark tone and fades into a lighter tone at the ends. This tone, however, can be reversed (i.e., lighter at the top, darker at the bottom).
• Highlights – if you don’t want to full coverage, highlights allow you to get the specific tone, shade, and depth with color. Because it’s permanent, this hair dye holds up well.

Textured highlights and root color are other types of hair dye. (Also check How Often Should You Condition Your Hair)

It’s obvious that you have a range of options for capturing a specific look. To achieve the tone and permanence you envision, the majority of these will require professional assistance, so book that appointment at the salon. You’re going to need a skilled colorist if you want Keke Palmer’s vibrant and attention-grabbing hair color or Katy Perry’s versatile, occasionally two-toned dyes.

However, an at-home treatment should work without incurring any expense if all you want to do is take your mane for a spin around the dye block.

Also Read: Does Hair Dye Kill Lice or Lice Eggs – Things You May Not Know!

Does Permanent Hair Dye Fade?

Permanent hair dye is interesting, because while it is indeed permanent (you’ll never be able to remove it completely from your hair without bleach), it does change color and morph over time. Permanent hair dye may not always maintain the exact same color, but it does last until the hair grows out. The color that it fades to and how quickly dye fades depends on multiple factors, including:

• The hardness of your water (if you have hard water, there will be tiny amounts of minerals deposited on your hair every time you wash, gradually changing its color)
• If you bleached your hair before you dyed it (and if you did bleach, how intensely you bleached – this matters because bleach neutralizes the pigments that were already in your hair)
• The color you dyed your hair (some colors fade faster than others, depending on the size of the pigment particle)
• How damaged your hair was before you dyed it (if your hair is damaged it’s easier for the pigment to fall out through the hair cuticle)
• How much damage your hair sustained from being dyed
• Your hair’s original color (did you bleach out the other pigments? If you didn’t, they might show through over time)
• If you heat style (causes extra damage or hair loss to the hair follicle, making it easier for pigment to fall from the hair)
• How often you wash your hair and whether you use a shampoo that is color safe are important factors because every time you wash your hair, you run the risk of a slight fading. Gentler shampoos fade colors more slowly than a shampoo that contains sulfates)
• How much sun your hair receives (sunlight changes colors; if you’ve ever seen a piece of faded, old paper, you know how this works!)
• If you use a pigment depositing shampoo/conditioner/hair mask (puts a little more of the original color back in your hair or a pigment that tones your hair to make it resemble what it looked like when freshly dyed)… (Check here to learn if it’s a good idea to mix hair dye with conditioner)

The list is endless. It can be difficult to predict exactly how long a dye job will last before a touch-up is required because there are so many factors that can affect the rate at which hair color fades (and the precise color that it fades to). Of course, that’s assuming that the person actually wants a retouch – it could be that they love the color that their hair faded to (this really does happen! Don’t mind having roots that are obviously grown out (fading colors can look pretty cool).

How Long Does Store-Bought Hair Dye Last in Your Hair?

Boxed hair coloring comes in temporary and permanent formulas, so it should have the staying power of the dye you’ve chosen. Some temporary hair dyes can even last up to seven washes and can be applied in just 40 minutes. Others are as simple to use that you can dress like Lady Gaga one night and then be your normal self the next.

Therefore, the duration of drugstore hair dye may not be as important as how long it takes to dye hair at home. You really don’t want to spend too much time applying the dye since you’re doing all the work yourself.

Choose the semi-permanent or demi-permanent formulas if you don’t mind making a commitment to your store-bought dye. If you shampoo every day, your red velvet or smoky ice dye would only last for about four weeks. These dyes can withstand up to 28 shampoos.

Chemicals are used in the majority of hair dyes sold in drugstores. If you’re looking to make a switch to “natural,” henna would be a good option. Apart from the lawsonia inermis, or henna, this hair dye is made of natural components like cocoa butter and essential oils, and it lasts for a long time.

How Long Does Henna Hair Dye Last?

It will last four to six weeks because henna hair dye is thought of as permanent. You must be dedicated to the hair color because your chosen shade will remain vivid for that long.

Henna dyes work only for darker colors; it’s best suited for adding gloss or boosting black, red, or brown hair. However, it won’t work to lighten hair; if you style your hair as frequently and differently as Katy Perry or Lady Gaga, you might want to hold off on using henna. If you’re expected at a corporate event, you don’t want to be forced to wear a bold hair color for too long.

The benefit of choosing this natural substitute is that you won’t have to worry about chemicals harming your hair. If you use too much hair dye for too long, it can be harsh on your hair.

How Often Can You Dye Your Hair?

If you have virgin hair, you are free to dye it as frequently as you like. If you have never dyed your hair or given it any chemical treatments, it should be damage-free.

But if you’ve colored your hair before and you do it as frequently as a pop star, give your hair six weeks to recover before your next coloring appointment.

Delay dyeing until you’ve given your mane a health boost by getting a salon treatment or treating your scalp with natural remedies if your hair appears to experience some breakage, dryness, or brittleness. The starting color of your hair also plays a role in causing hair damage, in addition to the frequency of dyeing. If you have dark hair and are wearing the complete opposite (i.e., brunette to icy blonde), you may be damaging your strands. If you need to go from dark to light, follow the general guideline of six weeks before your next hair dye.

How often you dye your hair will also depend on the type of dye. Wait four to ten shampoos if it’s semi-permanent before changing the color. If it’s permanent, hold off until your roots emerge.

To retain the vibrancy of your hair color, follow these steps:

1. Use a shampoo without sulfates. Sulfate removes buildup and dirt from hair, as well as your dye, simultaneously. The color will still look electrifying even if it isn’t in your shampoo.
2. Choose products that are best for color-treated hair; some will be specific to your hair color. Sprays that protect the color of your hair from damaging UV rays are among these products.
3. You also need to shampoo at the roots and then through to the ends; condition starting at the ends and then through the roots. When you wash your hair the right way, your hair dye lasts long.

Focus on aftercare for your hair rather than whether you should shampoo before getting it colored. This is what any experienced colorist would tell you when you call in to ask, “Should I wash my hair before dyeing it?” This doesn’t mean coming in for your appointment with dirty hair. Unwashed hair is preferable for dyeing because the oil shields your scalp from irritation, but too much oil can render the dye ineffective.

Washing your hair gently 12 to 24 hours before your appointment will protect your scalp and help the color penetrate well, giving you the shade you want.

But what if you did everything you had to and you end up with a bad dye job? It’s not something you have to put up with forever. With products or kitchen pantry essentials, you can get rid of it or fix it.

How Do You Remove Permanent Hair Dye Naturally?

Permanent hair dye can be removed without chemicals. One method calls for mixing vitamin C tablets with hot water until it forms a paste. Apply it to your wet hair and cover it with a shower cap.

White vinegar and hot water are combined in a different trick. Use a shower cap and drench your hair in the mixture. Rinse after 15 minutes.

Since white vinegar’s acidity can remove the dye without damaging your scalp, and vitamin C is non-abrasive (and salons do use it), both hacks are generally safe and effective.

However, using natural methods to remove permanent hair dye may not be as efficient as hiring a professional. They would have the knowledge and tools to assist you in fixing a poor dye job.

Not all dye remover kits will be made with chemicals; some won’t use bleach or ammonia, and others will use natural ingredients like avocado and aloe vera to remove the offending color while causing the least amount of breakage or damage.

Hair color treatments can be good for your tresses. Know how long the dye will last and how it will affect your hair over time before committing to a specific shade. Despite the fact that you can always fix a bad dye job, it’s better to be cautious about the treatments you subject your hair to.

Learn how to remove dye from different places:

• How to Remove Hair Dye from a Sink – Try These Easy Methods
• How to Get Hair Dye Off Stains with Effective Ways
• How to Get Hair Dye Out of Carpet – Vinegar or Baking Soda?
• 6 Simple Ways to Get Hair Dye Out of Clothes

Conclusion

How long does hair dye last? This question’s response is based on a number of variables. One of the important considerations when estimating color longevity is the type of hair dye.

However, all hair color may be subject to premature fading without proper care. As a result, be sure to purchase the right items, exercise caution in the heat, and wear a hat when you go outside. Avoid allowing bad habits to cause your vibrant color to fade.

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