What are the four types of hair color?

Hair color offers you endless ways to express style and confidence. Whether you’re covering gray, trying a bold shade or refreshing your look, understanding the four main hair color types helps you pick the right formula for your needs. In this ultimate guide to hair color, you’ll dive into permanent, demi-permanent, semi-permanent and temporary options, learn how they work, weigh pros and cons, and choose the best fit for your lifestyle and hair health.

Permanent Hair Color

Permanent hair color delivers long-lasting change and total gray coverage in one application. It’s the go-to choice when you want a dramatic shift or vibrant hue that stands up to repeated washes.

How It Works

Permanent dyes use an alkali (usually ammonia) and an oxidant (developer) to open the hair cuticle and allow pigment precursors to penetrate the cortex. A chemical reaction produces your new shade, which cannot rinse out with shampoo (Salerm).

Key Benefits

• 100% Gray Coverage: Blends or hides grays in a single step
• Long-Lasting: No washout; only roots need touch-ups as hair grows
• Wide Color Range: From rich brunettes to vivid reds and pastels

Considerations

• Requires Root Maintenance: Touch-ups every 4–6 weeks
• Potential Damage: Oxidative process can be drying without proper care
• Strong Odor: Ammonia or alternative alkali smell during application

Brand Spotlight

Keyra Colors’ permanent line combines keratin and natural actives for vibrant, lasting color and fiber protection (Keyra Colors). Blust On PRO cuts processing time by 70% while actually nourishing hair with argan oil and provitamin B5 (Blust On).

Demi-Permanent Hair Color

Demi-permanent color sits between permanent and semi-permanent, giving you softer commitment and more conditioning benefits.

How It Works

Using low-volume developer (10–20 vol), demi formulas deposit pigment on the hair shaft without fully opening the cuticle. The result fades gradually over 20–28 shampoos.

Key Benefits

• Gentle Coverage: Blends grays and boosts natural depths without harsh lift
• Conditioning Effect: Often enriched with bond-builders and oils
• Subtle Change: Ideal for adjusting depth or adding shine

Considerations

• Limited Lift: Cannot lighten more than one level
• Shorter Wear: Requires reapplication every 4–6 weeks
• Shade Range: More limited than permanent dyes

Brand Spotlight

Blust On’s demi-permanent range offers intense true-to-tone pigments with bond-building treatments for softer, shinier strands (Blust On).

Semi-Permanent Hair Color

Semi-permanent dyes are your low-commitment option for a pop of color, gloss or to test a new shade before going permanent.

How It Works

These no-lift formulas coat the hair shaft with pigments that sit on the outer cuticle. They typically last 6–12 shampoos and don’t require developer.

Key Benefits

• No Developer Needed: Easier, gentler application
• Flexibility: Experiment with pastel or vibrant shades
• Conditioning: Formulas often include proteins and emollients

Considerations

• Fades Quickly: Frequent touch-ups if you want consistent color
• Partial Coverage: Not effective on white or heavily gray hair
• Color Shift: Can tone down or wash out unevenly on porous hair

Temporary Hair Color-What are the four types of hair color?

Temporary hair color gives you one-day or one-shower fun without any commitment—perfect for festivals, costumes or a quick change.

How It Works

These rinse-out products (sprays, chalks, mascaras) deposit large pigment molecules on the surface. You simply shampoo to remove.

Key Benefits

• Zero Commitment: Washes out in one shampoo
• Fun Shades: Neon, mermaid hues and color sprays
• Instant Transformation: No mixing or developer

Considerations

• Mess Potential: Can transfer onto clothing or pillows
• Uneven Coverage: May require careful application
• Short-Lived: Not ideal for long-term color needs

Compare Hair Color Types

Feature	Permanent	Demi-Permanent	Semi-Permanent	Temporary
Gray Coverage	100%	Blends	Partial	None
Durability	Permanent	20–28 washes	6–12 washes	1 wash
Lift Ability	Up to 4+ levels	Up to 1 level	None	None
Developer Needed	Yes (10–40 vol)	Yes (10–20 vol)	No	No
Damage Risk	Medium–High	Low–Medium	Low	Very Low

Choose Your Hair Color

1. Evaluate Your Goals: Cover gray, change tone or just experiment.
2. Consider Commitment: How often do you want to touch up?
3. Assess Hair Health: Stronger formulas need extra conditioning—use a PH acid shampoo and mask to maintain integrity (Keyra Colors).
4. Factor Lifestyle: Temporary options suit one-off events, while permanent dyes reward long-term looks.

With this guide in hand, you can confidently pick the right hair color formula for your style, schedule and hair health. The next step is to choose a salon professional or at-home kit—and enjoy your fresh, vibrant look.