What Is Temporary Hair Color?

Temporary hair color can be applied via spray, gel or cream and washes out of the hair. Some temporary color products wash out immediately, and others wash out gradually over six to eight weeks. Certain conditions, such as the texture and general condition of the hair, can affect how long it takes a temporary color to wash away.

History

Temporary hair colors have been around for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt, hieroglyphics illustrate how older Egyptians would mix black charcoal with animal fat and comb it through the hair as a temporary colorant, probably to hide gray hair.

Types

At Halloween, temporary hair color is available in every grocery store in the form of vibrant spray colors. During the rest of the year, the beauty aisle carries products called "color rinse" that are used to cover gray or to tone down a bad bleach job.

Features

Rinse-in temporary hair color generally cannot lighten the hair. On darker hair, its effects may be imperceptible. Spray colors can be seen on dark hair. Neither are water-resistant.

Benefits

With temporary hair color, you can experiment with different tones and shades without a long-term commitment. Since the pigment settles outside the hair shaft, temporary hair color can make your hair feel thicker and look shinier.

Warning

If the hair is damaged or very blond, temporary hair color can stain the hair shaft. In this case, it can take up to eight weeks to wash out, with the color getting progressively lighter each time the hair is washed. If you plan to use temporary hair color on very blond hair, you can reduce the odds of being stained, and improve hair texture, by using a deep-conditioning treatment.