About Semi-Permanent Hair Color and Relaxer

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By Carole Vansickle
eHow Contributing Writer

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Semi-permanent hair color and semi-permanent hair relaxers are both used to temporarily alter the state of your hair. Many people use them in conjunction with each other because hair relaxer can change the color of the hair, and hair color can alter the texture of hair. However, to use these two products together safely, you must be very aware of the proper care and procedures for coloring and relaxing hair.

History

Since the beginning of time, women and men have been altering their locks. Irons and ironing boards used to be used to straightened curly tresses, while various chemicals, minerals and herbs were applied to hair to make it different colors. Now, these types of products come in semi-permanent forms, which means that the effects do not wash or wear out immediately, but rather gradually over time.

Function

Semi-permanent hair color applies a coat of color over your natural color. Unlike permanent hair color, it does not actually alter the chemical makeup of your hair. In a similar manner, semi-permanent relaxers temporarily loosen the structures in your hair that make it curly. However they do not break these bonds permanently as do permanent hair relaxers. Over time, both of these products wear off and your hair will return to its natural texture and color.

Features

Many people opt to relax their hair and then add semi-permanent highlights.
Semi-permanent hair color and hair relaxers tend to be gentler on hair than permanent ones. Either product can also be used more effectively in conjunction with a permanent version of the other product. Semi-permanent hair color will wash out usually over the course of ten to twenty shampoos, while semi-permanent hair relaxer will generally last a week to 10 days, depending on how often you style and wash your hair.

Benefits

Many people prefer semi-permanent styling tools like color and relaxers to the permanent kind because they do not want to alter their appearance irrevocably. Semi-permanent color and straightening allows you to enjoy a new look without being stuck with it forever. Also, if you are trying to grow your hair out, you should definitely stick to semi-permanent products because they cause much less damage to hair.

Time Frame

When you color your hair with semi-permanent color, you should generally not relax it on the same day. Instead, allow 24 hours or more for your hair to recover, then treat your hair with a semi-permanent relaxer. You should be able to get a good 10 days of both your color and your relaxer together using this timeline.

Warning

Never dye your eyelashes or your eyebrows with semi-permanent hair color. If you must have any hair on your face colored for any reason, you must see a professional. The FDA actually prohibits eyelash and eyebrow coloring in many states (see Resources below).