Trying to find the best in-home hair color can be an overwhelming experience. No matter where a person looks, at the drug store, grocery store, beauty supply store, department store, or even online, there is a vast number of possibilities. In addition to finding the best brand but also the right color and formula becomes a very difficult task, especially for the person who has never used commercial hair color products before.
As shown with the information provided, most people look for the best semi-permanent hair color over other product formulas. The reason for this is provided below but no matter which type of hair color is preferred, spending time researching the company, as well as ingredients used is important. Keep in mind that for the best semi-permanent hair color along with all other hair color options, an individual could choose between conventional products made with chemical or natural products made with pure or organic ingredients.
Considerations When Buying Hair Color
Of course, an individual should purchase the best product that can be afforded but in saying this, just because hair color has a high price tag does not mean the quality is any better than a product that costs less. However, the opposite also applies in that a cheap product does not automatically the quality is poor when compared to the more expensive hair color products. Even so, name brands from reputable companies are generally the best option.
Another consideration is color. There are many wonderful colors, which includes numerous shades for each. Again, the actual color that most top brands produce are general richer, longer lasting, and more true to the color represented. However, the comparisons found on commercial packaging or sample hair strips can be deceiving. For this reason, experts recommend choosing a color that is never more than two shades different from natural hair color initially.
Formula for Commercial Hair Color Products
An individual would also need to decide on the exact formula most interested in. The following are the options available with a brief description of each.
- Temporary Hair Color – The first formula for commercial hair color is temporary. This comes in a variety of delivery systems to include shampoos, rinses, gels, and foams. Typically, this type of hair color is used by someone who wants a change for an upcoming special event or occasion or as a quick touchup. Because molecules of pigmentation are quite large, the cuticle layer of hair cannot be penetrated so color remains on the hair shaft, which washes out in just a few shampoos.
- Semi-Permanent Hair Color – This is the second and most preferred choice, which is described in more depth below. For this, molecules of pigmentation are smaller than those in temporary hair color so some penetration of the hair shaft occurs. The best semi-permanent hair color products will keep hair looking fresh and vibrant for about five shampoos at which time color begins to fade.
- Demi-Permanent Hair Color – In this case, color contains some type of alkaline opposed to being formulated with ammonia. In addition, this type of hair color is made with a developer although hydrogen peroxide concentration levels are less than what permanent hair color would be comprised of. Now, the alkaline agents are not as effective in removing hair’s natural pigmentation than products made with ammonia so while the color of a person’s hair would change, no or very little lightening would occur. Because of this, the color of a person’s hair cannot be taken one shade lighter. However, for covering gray, this is without doubt the best choice.
- Permanent Hair Color – For this type of commercial hair color, an oxidizing agent or developer along with an alkalizing agent ammonia are used, making this the strongest but also longest-lasting of all options. Along with new color, permanent hair color does lighten because of the peroxide breaking up melanin whereby new color would replace the melanin. Just as the name implies, permanent hair color cannot be shampooed out although within six to eight weeks, color begins to fade.
Semi-Permanent versus Permanent Hair Color
There are actually several reasons why the best semi-permanent hair color is the preferred choice, with the following being perfect examples.
- Although color will fade, for most people new hair color stays vibrant for about five weeks, not much less time than with permanent hair color
- Because the hair shaft is only partially penetrated, the treatment is not as harsh as treatment with permanent color
- Levels of developer, whether ammonia or peroxide are lower. As a result, any damage done to hair would be significantly less.
- With the best semi-permanent hair color also produces beautiful yet subtle highlights although the degree would depend on a person’s natural color but also how porous hair is, making the new color look more natural. With permanent products, hair is covered with a solid color all-over, which is not as attractive as what semi-permanent color would produce.
- Gray hair is the most difficult natural color to cover but the best semi-permanent offers the best solution. The reason goes back to the way in which hair shafts are penetrated with semi-permanent hair color, producing various highlights opposed to it being a solid cover. What happens is that gray strands end up being spread out more, which actually makes then blend in with the newly colored hair whereby the gray color is more efficiently transformed.