If you color your hair, you know the frustration of having your bright, beautiful hue fade way too quickly. There’s nothing worse than seeing your salon-perfect color turn dull and muted after just a few washes.
So what hair color lasts the longest between touch-ups? While no dye will remain permanently vibrant forever, some formulas do have better longevity than others.
In this guide, we’ll explain what factors affect how long hair color lasts. We’ll also recommend the best long-lasting hair dye products and techniques to extend the life of your color.
What Affects How Long Hair Color Lasts?
Many different variables determine how long your hair color will remain looking fresh before needing a touch up. Here are some of the top factors:
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Your natural hair color – Colors that match your natural shade will last longer than drastic color changes. For example, black dye lasts longer on natural brunettes than platinum blonde would.
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Porosity – Porous hair with damage absorbs dye quickly so it fades faster. Healthier strands retain color longer. Using protein treatments can help strengthen hair and close the cuticle.
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Dye type – Temporary, semi-permanent, demi-permanent, permanent – the type of hair dye makes a big difference in longevity. More on that next.
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Your hair care routine – Frequent washing, heat styling, swimming, and other lifestyle factors speed up fading.
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Tone – Warm, vivid shades like reds, oranges, and neon hues fade the quickest. Cooler tones like ash browns and platinum blondes last longer.
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Coverage – Touching up just the regrowth will show less because the previously colored length of your hair helps blend any fading at the roots.
Which Type of Hair Dye Lasts the Longest?
There are a few main categories of hair dye based on how long the color lasts. Let’s compare the different types:
Temporary Hair Dye
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Lasts 1-2 shampoos
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Deposits color that sits on the outside of the hair shaft
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Ammonia-free and peroxide-free
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Colors include spray-on, gels, rinses, etc.
Semi-Permanent Hair Dye
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Lasts 4-8 shampoos
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Penetrates the cuticle slightly for longer lasting results
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Still ammonia and peroxide-free
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Used to enhance natural color or go a shade lighter
Demi-Permanent Hair Dye
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Lasts up to 24 shampoos
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Uses a low volume developer to partially penetrate the cuticle
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Less damaging than permanent color
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Subtly lightens and enhances natural shade
Permanent Hair Dye
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Lasts up to 4 months or more
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Uses high volume developer to penetrate deep into the cortex
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Lightens up to 3-4 shades lighter than natural
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Longest lasting results but most damaging
As you can see, permanent hair dyes have the longest longevity, followed by demi-permanent and semi-permanent formulas.
Permanent color lasts the longest because the ammonia lifts the cuticle to deposit dye inside the hair shaft. Semi-permanent only coats the outside.
If your priority is extending the time between salon visits, permanent color is your best bet. It comes with a trade-off of being most damaging though.
For the least commitment, temporary and semi-permanent dyes are great, but you’ll need to re-color more often.
How to Make Your Hair Color Last Longer
To help your hair color last as long as possible before needing a touch-up, follow these tips:
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Use a sulfate-free shampoo – Sulfates strip color faster so switch to a gentle, color-safe formula.
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Wash less frequently – Cleansing less often preserves your color. Aim for every 3-4 days instead of daily.
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Rinse with cool water – Hot water opens the cuticle causing dye to run out. Use the coolest temperature you can tolerate.
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Limit heat styling – Allow hair to air dry when possible and turn down the temperature on hot tools. Heat fades color.
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Gloss treatments – Occasional clear glosses seal the cuticle to prevent fading between coloring.
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Avoid chlorine – Swimming in pools requiring heavy-duty cleansing afterward to strip out chemicals that eat away at color.
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Use color-protecting products – Shampoo, conditioner, masks, etc. specifically formulated to lock in color last longer.
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Get a shade similar to your natural – The closer the color is to your natural base, the longer it will look seamless as it grows out.
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Touch up roots regularly – Re-coloring regrowth as needed keeps your whole head saturated and prevents obvious fading at the top.
Top Longest Lasting Hair Dye by Brand
Now that you know what to look for to extend the longevity of hair color, here are some of the top brands that offer long-lasting dye formulas:
Madison Reed Color Reviving Gloss
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Ammonia-free, damage-free formula
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Small color molecules penetrate hair
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Adds shine and smoothness
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Refreshing clear gloss treatment seals in color
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Extend color vibrancy between salon visits
Overtone Coloring Conditioner
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Deposits pigment over time
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Temporary daily coloring conditioner
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Available in every hue and shade
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Non-damaging way to preserve unnatural colors
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Allows you to gradually modify your color
Clairol Natural Instincts
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Permanent hair dye made with aloe vera
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Gel-crème texture evenly saturates hair
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Up to 80% naturally derived ingredients
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Free of parabens, gluten, and mineral oil
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Conditions as it colors for smoothness
Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Semi-Permanent Dye
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Vegan and cruelty-free formula
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No harsh chemicals – won’t damage hair
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Vibrant, long-lasting fantasy shades
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Stays true even after many washes
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Softens and hydrates hair while coloring
Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Dye
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Deeply conditions and nourishes hair
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Free of damaging chemicals and additives
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Easy to use – no developer required
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Ultra long-lasting vivid neon shades
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Leaves hair feeling healthy and soft
Common Questions About Long-Lasting Hair Dye
Still have questions about which hair color options last the longest? Here are answers to some common questions:
Does permanent or semi-permanent last longer?
Permanent dyes last much longer – up to months vs weeks for semi-permanent. But permanent color is more damaging to hair health.
Do highlights or all-over color last longer?
All-over permanent color lasts longer since the regrowth is less obvious. Highlights show fading at the root sooner. Gloss treatments help.
Should I avoid washing to make it last?
Infrequent washing does help maintain color but skipping washing altogether can lead to scalp issues. Find a balance using dry shampoo between washes.
Can I make semi-permanent dye permanent?
No, there is no way to make semi-permanent color last as long as permanent. If longevity is your priority, go for permanent dye. Re-touch semi-permanent more often.
What makes hair dye fade out quickly?
Hot water, harsh shampoos, heat tools, sun exposure, swimming, not following instructions, and improper mixing all speed up fading of hair color.
Maintain Your Dazzling, Long-Lasting Dye Job
Now that you know all about how the different types of hair color compare in longevity, you can select the best formula for your needs.
The most crucial factors in extending the life of any dye job are proper hair care and touch-up maintenance. But choosing a long-wearing color formula certainly helps too.
With a bit of TLC for your strands, you’ll keep your fabulous color looking freshly done for weeks and months between salon visits!