You have been sitting in a salon chair for three hours (and gave a good part of your money to the hairstylist) to get the perfect color. The very first question that everyone asks is how long hair color lasts before it loses its color? Just to put it briefly, the duration depends on the "commitment level" of the dye you chose.
It is worth noting that different hair color products have different life spans. In fact, the following will give you an average time of the duration of your color depending on its chemical nature:
|
Dye Type |
Typical Lifespan |
Best For |
|
Temporary |
1–3 Washes |
Events or "trying" a fun shade |
|
Semi-Permanent |
6–12 Washes |
Gloss, shine, and subtle tints |
|
Demi-Permanent |
24–28 Washes |
Blending greys and refreshing tones |
|
Permanent |
Until it grows out |
100% grey coverage and big changes |
Even with the use of permanent hair dye, the shade you go for still matters a lot in the longevity of your hair color. For instance, red pigments have the biggest molecules among the others. They keep on letting go of the hair shaft in which they are firmly embedded, hence, your flame red hair can turn into a light reddish-brown in only three weeks. Whereas, conversely, dark browns and blacks contain smaller molecules which are better at "sticking" and, therefore, they can last much longer without being dull.
To make your salon visit worth the money, you should observe the first three days of the trip carefully. It takes roughly three days for the hair shaft to be completely closed and to keep the pigment inside. Washing the hair the next morning after coloring is the same as throwing the money out of the window. Be patient, use dry shampoo if you can't wait, and always rinse with cold water if you want the cuticle to be closed properly.
To make a long story short, "permanent" doesn't mean "perfect forever." The color will remain for a certain time in the hair, but it will gradually lose its vibrancy. Typically, people have to do a refresh or a root touch-up every 4 to 8 weeks if they want their hair to look freshly done.
Q: Does sun exposure affect my color?
A: Yes. UV rays have a bleaching effect but are very mild. Therefore, if you spend the whole day under the sun, protect your hair with a hat or a hair mist with UV protection to avoid "fading" by the sun.
Q: Why is my color fading after one week?
This is generally the case if your hair is highly "porous" (heated or bleached hair). In such a situation, the hair works like a sponge with big holes and color can find its way out just after entering in it. Your solution is deep conditioning.
Q: Will swimming in a pool ruin my color?
Chlorine is a chemical disinfectant that very quickly removes pigments. Be sure to wet your hair with normal tap water before getting into the pool; this will not allow your hair to absorb the chlorinated water like a sponge.