Whether you're looking for a quick change, a subtle enhancement or a bold transformation, this guide for hair colouring is for you. From temporary hair colours to permanent ones, this guide is for hair colour enthusiasts as much as those looking to learn more about maintaining coloured hair. Discover insider tricks for how to keep your colour fresh and vibrant with essential hair colouring tips. Keep reading for more.
Temporary Hair Colouring
If you're not quite ready to commit to a permanent hair colour change, temporary hair colours are a fantastic option to experiment with different looks without the long-term commitment. Temporary hair colours allow you to switch up your hair colour as often as you like without any lasting effects.
One of the major benefits of temporary hair colours is their ease of use. They typically come in the form of sprays, gels, or mousses that can be applied directly to the hair. These products are designed to coat the hair shaft with colour, effectively changing the appearance of your hair without damaging or altering its natural pigment. They can be easily applied at home, allowing you to experiment.
Another advantage of temporary hair colouring is its versatility. Whether you want to add a few streaks of vibrant blue to your hair or create a fun ombré effect for a special occasion, temporary hair colours allow you to achieve a wide range of looks.
While these colours offer a fun way to add colour to your hair, the results may not last as long as with permanent or semi-permanent hair colours. Depending on the product and your hair type, they may fade after just one wash or last for several days.
Semi-permanent hair colouring
If you're looking for a longer-lasting option that provides flexibility, semi-permanent hair colours may just be what you need. These shades offer a subtle change that can last for weeks. Unlike temporary colours, semi-permanent dyes penetrate the hair shaft and gradually fade over time, minimising harsh regrowth lines.
Like temporary dyes, semi-permanent ones are also versatile. They come in a wide range of shades, allowing you to try different tones and intensities. These dyes can be customised to suit your preferences, allowing you to achieve the exact look you desire. While the results may not last as long as with permanent hair colours, the gradual fade of semi-permanent dyes allows for a more seamless transition between shades.
Unlike some permanent dyes that contain harsh chemicals, semi-permanent formulas can be ammonia-free and contain conditioning agents. This approach to colouring may minimise the damage, but these hair colours cause damage nonetheless.
Permanent hair colouring
While temporary and semi-permanent colours offer their own advantages, sometimes you crave a more permanent transformation. That's where permanent hair colours come in, with enhanced vibrancy and longevity.
With permanent dyes, you can go from cool brunettes to striking blondes or from natural shades to eye-catching reds. Permanent hair colours provide the advantage of long-lasting effects. Unlike their temporary counterparts, permanent dyes penetrate the hair shaft and bind to the hair's natural proteins, ensuring that the colour stays vibrant and true for an extended period. This means fewer touch-ups and less maintenance, freeing you from the constant worry about fading or dullness.
However, embracing permanent hair colouring does come with some considerations. Due to the nature of these dyes, achieving the desired result may require some preparatory steps, such as lightening the hair or removing any previous colour. This requires a combination of chemicals, such as para-phenylenediamine (PPD), hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, that are to blame for permanent changes in the hair. They alter the hair’s overall structure, proteins and lipid barriers, weakening and damaging it over time.
Keeping Your Colour Fresh and Vibrant: Hair Care for Coloured Hair
Regularly caring for your coloured hair is essential to not only not only maintain its vibrancy and keep it looking its best but also protect your hair’s health. Regardless of the type of hair colour you use, a common side effect is hair damage. Some of the noticeable signs include dryness, roughness, loss of hair strength, brittleness, etc. With the right hair care routine, you can ensure your coloured locks remain vibrant while also strengthening and protecting your hair for the long term. Here are a few steps to care for your newly coloured hair.
First of all, it's important to choose hair care products specifically formulated for coloured hair. The Complete Colour Lock System from iluvia is one such set of products made with coloured hair in mind. The professional hair care system, which comes with the Colour Lock Shampoo, Colour Lock Mask and Hair Protection Serum, is made especially for coloured, pigmented (semi-permanent & permanent), bleached and highlighted hair types.
This shampoo for colour treated hair is mild, pH-balanced and checks all the right boxes – it effectively cleanses the hair, prevents frizz, dryness and damage and leaves hair softer, silkier and more manageable. What sets this shampoo apart is that it actively reduces colour bleed and prevents the degradation of colour molecules, thereby enhancing the colour’s vibrancy for much longer.
After shampooing your hair, apply the deep conditioning hair mask that works together with the shampoo to enhance hair colour and protect the hair. Besides helping to retain colour and prolonging colour life, the mask combats damage, frizz and dryness.
The last step in this routine is massaging a few drops of the Hair Protection Serum to your strands. The serum prevents environmental damage caused by pollutants, UV rays and moisture, all affecting hair colour. Prolonged exposure to these stressors can cause your colour to fade and make your hair prone to dryness and damage.
Unsure if this is the right hair care system for you? Take iluvia’s 3 wash challenge.
Finally, the last of these hair colouring tips include getting regular trims crucial for maintaining the health and vibrancy of your coloured hair. Trimming away split ends and damaged hair prevents breakage and helps your colour appear fresher.
For more on colour-treated hair, click here.
Now that you have the tools and knowledge to safely colour your hair, it’s time to unleash your hair's true beauty and transform your look. Let your true colours shine!
Head to iluviapro.com for more hair care secrets worth knowing.