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

Now you've got the full lowdown on demi-permanent colors, one question remains: Color Touch or SHINEFINITY? While both are ideal options for your next salon session, here's how to make the right color 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 color lines for good reason, delivering low-commitment intensity across 80+ intermixable shades. The finish is bolder than SHINEFINITY, so it's ideal for more dramatic color transformations. Plus, it lets you blend gray hairs, making it your go-to demi shade when softening regrowth is your goal. Color Touch also contains a new built-in metal purifier for true-to-tone vibrancy no matter your hair condition. The vegan, ammonia-free formula* lasts for up to 28 washes.

Choose SHINEFINITY If...

… you want a translucent coat of color 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 color. Ask your colorist 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 color through pre-lightened hair. The clean, vegan formula with balanced pH technology also provides up to six weeks of long-lasting color with reliable true-to-tone results. Request it to add a touch of shine to every service.

What Makes it Different to Semi-Permanent Color?

It's more than a letter that sets them apart. Semi- and demi-permanent hair colors 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 color, like Color Fresh, only tints the surface layer of each hair strand. For this reason, semi-permanent hair colors tend not to last as long as demi hues, but they're great for a quick color fling with more mileage than a temporary hair color.

How is it Different to Permanent Hair Color?

Like a demi-permanent shade, permanent colors deposit color 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 color you want, with up to 100% grey coverage, ask for a permanent formula like Koleston Perfect or, for dimensional, natural-looking color that's luminous in every light, request Illumina Color. But, if you want a softer blending of grays, go for a demi-permanent shade, like Color Touch or SHINEFINITY.

Demi-permanent hair color 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 color preferences. Your colorist 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 color:

For Root-to-Tip Radiance

Whether you’re subtly enhancing your natural hair color or going for a dramatic makeover, demi-permanent hues shimmer from root to tip in a range of show-stopping shades. Your colorist 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 color can be used to neutralize excess warmth as part of a color 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 colors are great for creating a beautifully blended root shadow or blending away first grays while appearing completely natural. Ask for Color Touch Plus to enjoy up to 70% gray coverage that softens and disguises salt 'n' pepper strands.

To Tone Balayage or Highlights

Personalize your balayage or highlights by asking your colorist 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.