What is Demi-Permanent Hair Colour? Everything You Need to Know

Now you've got the full lowdown on demi-permanent colours, one question remains: Color Touch or SHINEFINITY? While both are ideal options for your next salon session, here's how to make the right colour product choice for you...

Choose Color Touch If...

… you want a demi-permanent formula with rich vibrancy and stunning shine. It’s one of our most iconic colours for good reason, delivering low-commitment intensity across 80+ intermixable shades. The finish is bolder than SHINEFINITY, so it's ideal for more dramatic colour transformations. Plus, it lets you blend grey hairs, making it your go-to demi shade when softening regrowth is your goal.

Choose SHINEFINITY If...

… you want a translucent coat of colour with a radiant shine you can feel. This zero lift, zero damage, ammonia-free formula is ultra glossy, with a wide range of shades to enhance every base colour. Ask your colourist to use this product when you want kind-to-strands enhancement that looks and feels healthy. It's great for boosting your shade, correcting brassiness, defying dullness, and creating your dream colour through pre-lightened hair.

What Makes it Different to Semi-Permanent Colour?

It's more than a letter that sets them apart. Semi- and demi-permanent hair colours are vastly different, as they each interact with the hair cuticle in their own unique ways. While, as we mentioned above, a demi shade slightly lifts the outer cuticle to deposit within the hair shaft, a semi-permanent colour, like Color Fresh, only tints the surface layer of each hair strand. For this reason, semi-permanent hair colours tend not to last as long as demi hues, but they're great for a quick colour fling with more mileage than a temporary hair colour.

How is it Different to Permanent Hair Colour?

Like a demi-permanent shade, permanent colours deposit colour molecules inside the hair shaft. But because they open the cuticle wider, permanent shades offer a more intense and longer-lasting result. So, when it's a concentrated colour you want, with up to 100% grey coverage, ask for a permanent formula like Koleston Perfect or, for stunning light reflections, request Illumina Color. But, if you want softer blending of greys, go for a demi-permanent shade, like Color Touch or SHINEFINITY. 

Demi-permanent hair colour is suitable for all hair types, so generally speaking, it works for everyone. But, whether it's right for you comes down to your lifestyle and colour preferences. Your colourist will be able to advise on the right product to meet your hair goals. Here are just some of the reasons and ways they might use a demi-permanent colour: 

For Root-to-Tip Radiance

Whether you’re subtly enhancing your natural hair colour or going for a dramatic makeover, demi-permanent hues shimmer from root to tip in a range of show-stopping shades. Your colourist can apply your dream shade directly onto your hair, or pre-lighten strands first with bond-strengthening BlondorPlex to ensure your demi shade pops.

To Correct Brassy Hair

When you’re dealing with brassy blonde, brunette or red hues, a demi-permanent colour can be used to neutralise excess warmth as part of a colour correction service. We love SHINEFINITY Color Glaze for this, as the translucent formula helps to banish yellow and orange brassy tones while respecting the natural highs and lows in your hair.

For a Natural-Looking Root Touch-Up

Demi-permanent colours are great for creating a beautifully blended root shadow or blending away first greys while appearing completely natural. Ask for Color Touch Plus to enjoy up to 70% grey coverage that softens and disguises salt 'n' pepper strands.

To Tone Balayage or Highlights

Personalise your balayage or highlights by asking your colourist to tone your pre-lightened hair with a kind-to-strands demi formula, like SHINEFINITY. Whether it's pastel, rainbow, brunette, red or blonde hair you're hoping for, it will make every highlight shine with boundless vibrancy.