How to Use Temporary Hair Dye

Temporary hair dye is an alternative to traditional hair dye but is much less harsh and does not harm the hair. Instead of penetrating deep into the hair core, the dye temporarily covers the outside of the hair and will gradually fade. In addition to being safer and easier to use, temporary hair dyes come in more vibrant and striking colors. If you’re interested in a little adventure with your look, this is probably the one for you. ^{[1] X Research Sources}^{[2] X Research Sources}

Table of Contents

Choose a dye

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6c/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-1.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-1.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6c/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-1.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-1.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Find a color you like. Many popular hair dye brands have hundreds of different colors that you can choose from. Temporary hair dyes are sold in many places, from supermarkets to fashion stores and professional cosmetics stores with a full line of products. Choose a color that you love, that blends best with your wardrobe and/or compliments your eye and skin tone. Temporary dyes can color all hair types, but will be most vibrant on light hair, and only very slightly on very dark hair.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/08/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-2.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/08/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-2.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Bleach hair first if necessary. The bleaching step will help the color stand out more for all hair types. If you have dark hair and like to dye it brightly, you will have to bleach your hair. Note that the bleaching process will be harmful to the hair.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/78/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-3.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/78/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-3.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Test skin reaction. This is an easy way to test allergies at home. This step is very important, especially if you have sensitive skin. You may experience an itchy scalp or permanent hair loss if you apply the dye all over your scalp without testing it first.

Dab a small amount of dye onto cotton tape and apply it to an area that is not too sensitive or not often exposed, such as the upper back.
Leaving the tape on the skin is equivalent to the time the dye stays in the hair (usually about 1 hour).
Peel off the patch and wash off the dye from the skin.
Wait another 48 hours before dyeing your hair.
Do not use the dye just tested if your skin is itchy, red, or swollen. If the skin starts to itch while the patch is still on, remove it immediately and wash off the dye with soap and water. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d0/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-4.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d0/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-4.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Try dyeing a few strands of hair first. Select a small section of hair in an inconspicuous area to test. Pre-dye this section of hair according to the instructions on the dye bottle. ^{[4] X Research Source} You can skip this step if you are not too concerned about the exact tone of your new hair. If you’ve never bleached your hair before, it’s a good idea to test the bleach first, then the dye.

Hair dying

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9d/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-5.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9d/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-5.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Wash your hair with a deep cleansing shampoo and blow-dry your hair. Normally, you should avoid drying your hair as it can make your hair dry and damaged, but the drier the hair, the easier it is for the dye to soak in. Don’t use conditioner before you’ve applied the dye and rinsed it out.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9b/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-6.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-6.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9b/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-6.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-6.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Protect skin and clothing. Although the hair will eventually fade, the dye is difficult to remove when it gets on most fabrics. Temporary hair dye that sticks to the skin is usually easy to wash off if scrubbed, but this can take several days. Preventing soiling is always less labor intensive than having to clean it up afterwards.

Wear clothes that you don’t regret if they get stained.
Lay a towel on the floor where you plan to dye your hair.
Wear medical gloves.
Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly (Vaseline cream) to the skin along the hairline.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9f/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-7.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9f/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-7.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Decide on the type of dye. You can dye your entire hair in one color or go for a more creative look. Here are a few options you might consider:

Highlight dye only. Many people with dark hair choose to dye their highlights with vibrant colors.
Only dye the ends of the hair. This style is called the “dipped dye” style, because your hair will look like it has just been dipped in color. Part your hair into sections with plastic clips. You can use different colors for this hairstyle.
Combine two colors of the same hair dye shop. You can dye the ends of your hair with one color, the ends near the roots another color, and blend the two colors in the middle to create an “ombré” hair color.
Try giving your hair a looser look with multicolored hair, or style it by leaving some sections of your hair undyed. Rub a little conditioner on the sections of hair that you want to keep.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9e/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-8.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-8.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9e/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-8.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-8.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Apply dye. Apply a thick layer of dye to the hair you want to dye. The best way to do this depends on the type of hair you’re going to dye:

If you want to dye a large area or the entire hair, the best way is to rub the dye with your hands. Squeeze a handful of dye into the palm of your hand and rub it into your hair as if you were shampooing your hair. If you have long hair, you will need to apply the dye a few times to cover the entire hair. If you have thick hair, you can dye each section one by one.
Use a dedicated hair dye brush if you want to dye small sections of hair. Dip the brush in the dye and spread it over your hair. The hair dye brush will help you to both control where to dye and distribute the dye evenly. Spread the dye over each section of hair a few times to ensure even coverage.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/dd/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-9.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-9.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/dd/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-9.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-9.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Wait for the dye to soak. Dye retention time on hair can vary from product to product, but is usually 30 minutes to 1 hour. Unlike permanent hair dyes, which contain harsh chemicals that can damage hair and skin, temporary hair dyes do not have a warning about how long they will stay “too long”. If you want to leave your seat to dye your hair, put a shower cap on your head to keep the dye from getting dirty.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/dc/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-10.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-10.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/dc/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-10.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-10.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:306,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:485,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Rinse off the dye. Rinsing your hair in the sink is less likely to stain your skin, but it can be inconvenient. It’s often better to rinse your hair in the shower, even with darker dyes.

Rinse hair thoroughly under running water. This step is even more important if you leave the dye in your hair for so long that it has dried.
Wash your hair gently with a shampoo specifically made for colored hair. Keeping your hair moisturized will help the color last longer.
Continue flushing until the water running down begins to clear. If the dye remains in the hair, it will stain anything that touches the hair.
Use hair conditioner. This step also helps to keep the hair moisturized.
Let hair dry naturally. If you blow dry too much, your hair will be dry and the color of newly dyed hair will fade faster.

Newly dyed hair care

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2a/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-11.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-11.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2a/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-11.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-11.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Limit shampooing. Temporary hair dye after each wash fades a little more. To make the dye last longer, you should try to limit washing your hair if possible. The thicker and less oily your hair is, the less you have to wash. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/62/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-12.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-12.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/62/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-12.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-12.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Use color-retaining shampoo. When you need to wash your hair, remember to use a shampoo that is less likely to fade the dye. Most major shampoo brands have at least one color retention product. If you can’t find a color-retaining shampoo at the supermarket, try going to a professional cosmetic store.

Color-added sulfate-free shampoos are best suited. For example, purple shampoo is great for blonde and silver hair.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b6/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-13.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-13.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b6/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-13.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-13.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Keep hair moist. Dry hair will fade more easily. You should use conditioner, normal or dry conditioner is fine. If your hair is curly or frizzy, try using shea butter.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d5/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-14.jpg/v4-728px- Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-14.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d5/Dye-Your- Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-14.jpg/v4-728px-Dye-Your-Hair-With-Semi-Permanent-Hair-Dye-Step-14.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Re-stain if needed. The nature of temporary hair dye is not permanent. You can re-dye your hair with the steps above when the color fades to a color you don’t like. You can also try dyeing a different color. If you have bleached your hair before, do not bleach it again, unless the roots have grown long.

Advice

Remember to clean up after dyeing your hair. Temporary hair dye does not permanently dye hair, but it can damage clothing, carpets, and furniture.
Not all drug products are created equal. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging carefully before use.

Steps

Choose a dye

Hair dying

Newly dyed hair care

Advice

Related Posts