Experiences with Semi-Permanent hair color?

Dec 23, 2011

Lindsey M.

I'm thinking about dying my hair red (like Kat from Victorious red) but I'm not ready to commit to something permanent. How long does semi-permanent colors usually last and does it go way and leave your hair absolutely the color it was before? Will it continue to always have a red tint until it grows out? Any brand recommendations?

Dec 23, 2011

Zoe C.

It depends what you prefer. Semi permanent fades out, and permanent grows out. Obviously with your dark hair, you're gonna have to bleach your hair if you wants Kat's red, so you will get some roots from the bleach depending on how fast your hair grows.

Also, red is the hardest colour to keep in your hair, so I'd say go permanent as it stays in your hair longer, and is a lot easier to touch up.

Schwarzkopf Live colour XXL is the best for red hair dye, my mum always uses it :)

Dec 23, 2011

Emma D.

If you are going red then Permanent is the way to go. I can't give any home dye recommendations but if you are going to a salon I can recommend Goldwell. The shampoo and conditioner for red hair is really good too. 

Dec 23, 2011

Zoe C.

I second Emma. Permanent is definitely the way to go with red. You can do it at home too, but for a vibrant colour and longer lasting results - head to a salon. It's also good if you're unsure of what you're doing and don't want to miss any patches. However, the salon is more costly. But to avoid extra costs, do touch ups at home, they're a lot easier to do and far cheaper.

Dec 24, 2011

Ashley G.

I went to the salon and paid 300+ to get my hair done red... biggest waste of money. It was out in a few weeks. After the first wash (with my 60$ shampoo and conditioner) it was already starting to fade. From now on, I'm only sticking to blonde... I will never go to any colour after that experience. 

Dec 24, 2011

Carina F.

Agreed with Emma and Zoe I've tried to do a true mahogany red with different dyes I'm still in search for a good semi-permanent. I tried Bigen Semi-Permanent in Intense Red it only showed on my tips but not of "intense red"

Before that I tried an at home permanant "L'oreal Paris Feria in Ruby Fusion" this gave a good amount red not exact but without having it bleached what can I expect. although my hair is naturally dark.

2 Years ago on my birthday I went to a salon and told the Stylist "Surprise me!" she gave me a red brown no bleaching included but it was exactly as described. I can't tell you your will get Kat's color without bleach but red is always worth getting done with a professional. I'm laying off sulfate products and excess heat styling so I can go back and consult with her hopefully soon.

Dec 25, 2011

Yurisahm V.

If your not ready to commit and are not sure how it'll look on you, why not go to a virtual makeover site? Just try out the red and see how you like it. taaz.com is my favorite. Semi color only deposits it cant lighten your hair and lasts about 12 washes, if your using red it will leave a tint for a while longer though. Make sure that if you do go for a semi red to choose a real bright Red and do a strand test before you apply to your whole head, color takes different on everyone. 

Dec 27, 2011

Courtney C.

I agree with the consensus here. As you can see from my profile pic, my hair is red. It varies from bright red to dark auburn depending on where I am in my dye cycle. This is what I do.

1. Go to the salon for red on top black on bottom. I asked for the most intense red possible and no, I don't bleach first. I go to an Aveda salon. I get permanent color there.

2. Keep washing to a minimum to maintain the red color and use color safe shampoos and red depositing shampoo. Yes, red is a bitch to maintain but for me, it's worth it.

3. When color starts to fade from vibrant to dark auburn, I apply Manic Panic in Vampire Red (semi-perm color) over the red dye. This sets on my hair for 3 hours and then I wash it out.

4. Continue to protect color with infrequent washings and dry shampoos!

Oh, and I am a natural brunette. My advice is that if you MUST have something non-perm, go with the manic panic but it's going to look brown with red you can only see in the sunlight. I would just take the jump and go perm. if you want to do the red and realize that it's hard to maintain but can be done. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Dec 27, 2011

Angela W.

If your hair is brown you probably won't be able to get the vibrant red it sounds like you're looking for. In order to do that you'll probably have to strip some of the brown out and then put the red back in. I went red from platinum blonde with a semi-perm and it faded pretty quickly (which was fine because I'm on my way back to a dirty blonde color). Super vibrant red is tricky- you gotta just jump in and go for it!

Dec 27, 2011

Fariha W.

i agree ,it's real my hair r brown natural i turnd them red but they r vissible and look different in full lights and sunshine .in dim lights they r nearly black or dark brown ,now i want to dye them golden one guy gave me opinion to use normal hair dye clairol nice n eassy 110 ,but i don't know will it work??

Dec 27, 2011

Jorden B.

Semipermanent hair color generally lasts about 6-8 weeks, but it can also depend on how porous your hair is. Since semipermanents only deposit (add) color and don't lift (remove) pigment your hair will be able to go back to your natural color. If you do use permanent it will be very hard to get your hair back to it's natural color. I like the red from Pravana and the reds from Manic Panic.

Dec 29, 2011

Alyssa S.

From the looks of your profile picture your hair is a dark brown. your best option would be to go to a salon and have them use a bleach soap cap to lighten it then use a permanent hair color over that. If you do not want to use bleach the best you'll get is a dark burgundy color. It may be easier to try the burgundy first to see if warm tones compliment your skin, eyes, and style. Definitely don't rush into something you aren't ready for. I did, and I had to cut off 6 inches of my hair. Good Luck!

Dec 30, 2011

Jennie A.

I love Loreal Hi color in reds for darker hair you can skip the bleaching all together this with Quantum Riveting reds shampoo also get the protein color filler use when coloring your hair plus great in between for a refresher!!!

Dec 30, 2011

Jen C.

If you're not sure, you may want to go demi-permanent. It won't lift your color and lighten, it only deposits red and will wash out eventually. Most people don't realize red is the HARDEST to keep and the HARDEST to get rid of. The maintenance level is huge. Honestly going to the salon is your best bet for the longest lasting red.

Dec 31, 2011

Angela W.

@Fariha - be super careful if you're planning on dramatic color changes. If you want vibrant red you're probably going to have to bleach. If you bleach, color red, and then want to go back to a "normal" color, you CAN, but it's tricky. WIth box color you'll want to look for an "ash blonde." If you do a golden blonde it's probably going to be orange-y. But you also have to be careful with the ash blondes- you could go greenish if there's not enough red to balance the color. Do a strand test no matter what you decide!! For the first time in my entire life I actually tested the color on a strip of hair and knew 100% that the blonde I was going to go to (from red) was what I wanted.  

Dec 31, 2011

Noelle M.

I used a semi permanent from garnier the one with the bamboo extract, it depends how often you wash your hair, if you wash your hair everyday(like me)(however I loved using a semi), not a great option, i'd say if you wash your hair more then twice a week don't hope for long lasting results. Semi permanent is nice if youre just trying to see something different though, it fades out over time in about 4-6 weeks or less maybe 20-26 shampoos depending if you do upkeep like mix in some of the color with your shampoo,etc.
If youre gonna go with permanent color it's gonna fade a bit like all color, esp reds though, it is something you will have to maintain regularly, and it has to grow out, you can color your hair back to its natural color though with more permanent color(an endless cycle! lol).

Just remember red is A LOT of upkeep. Often times what has kept me from doing things with my hair is the upkeep alone. lol