Semi Permanent Hair Colour & Dyes

Semi-permanent colour is a staple on any salon back bar. It lets you take a client into a bold fashion shade, refresh a fade, or add dimension without the commitment of permanent colour. The difference between a cheap dye and a professional one shows in the result, professional semi permanent hair colour holds brighter, fades more evenly, and treats the hair more gently.

This collection brings together the semi permanent and demi permanent shades a colourist reaches for, so you can buy semi permanent hair colour from the brands you trust in one place.

Semi, Demi and What Sits Where

Knowing the line between the two helps you match the formula to the service.

• Semi-permanent is a direct dye, so the colour coats the hair shaft without a developer. It needs no mixing, stays gentle, and fades gradually with each wash, which suits bold shades and clients trying something new. A semi hair colour like this is the easiest way to experiment.

• Demi-permanent uses a low-volume developer to set the colour a little deeper. It holds longer than a semi permanent dye and fades softly rather than growing out, which makes it a strong choice for toning, refreshing and adding shine.

Neither one lifts the natural pigment, so both work best on hair that is already light or pre-lightened, and neither is a permanent colour. Colour sits on a spectrum, from temporary hair colour that washes out in a few shampoos, through semi and demi, to permanent hair dye for full grey coverage and a lasting change. Semi and demi sit in the middle, more staying power than temporary, less commitment than permanent.

How to Choose the Right Formula for Your Client

Match the product to the result the client wants, and the collection has a formula for each.

• For bold, creative colour, reach for a semi-permanent direct dye. These are ready to use with no developer or mixing, so they suit fashion shades and experimentation. The range runs deep here, from Adore's forty-odd ammonia-free shades to Crazy Color's UV brights and Matrix SoColor Cult for longer wear.

• For custom pastels, dilute a shade with a clear mixer or a pastel adjustor for a softer, more subtle result. Muk Vivid's Pastel Clear and the Limitless DyeVerse kits are built for exactly this kind of mixing.

• For toning and shine, a demi-permanent gloss adds a subtle wash of colour without the commitment, ideal between full colour services.

• For a quick refresh, a colour-depositing conditioner or mousse tops up tone as it cares for the hair, an easy way to hold vibrancy between visits.

Tips for Making It Last in the Salon

A few habits get the most from every application.

• Apply to clean, towel-dried hair, since buildup stops the dye from taking evenly.

• Leave it on for the full recommended time so the colour can properly stain the hair.

• Rinse with cool water to keep the cuticle closed and the colour in.

• Then send the client home on a sulphate-free routine from the coloured hair care products range and advise washing less often, since every wash takes a little colour with it.

Complete Your Colour Kit at AMR

AMR brings the full professional range of semi and demi colour together in one place, from Adore and Crazy Color to Matrix, Muk Vivid and Limitless DyeVerse. A good colour service runs on more than the dye, though. Reach for the hair colouring tools to keep your application clean and controlled, and add the hair developers your demi shades need to activate properly. When a service calls for something the semi- and demi-range does not cover, the wider hair colour range offers permanent shades and lighteners to finish the job. And if your client would rather colour at home, the semi permanent hair colour at home range is made for exactly that, with shades suited to self-application. AMR ships Australia-wide, so restocking the back bar requires a single order.