3 Low-Commitment Ways to Try a New Hair Color
Changing your hair’s hue used to mean major commitment, but now there are ways to try something new for a few days or weeks—with zero damage.
Photo: RuslanDashinsky/iStock
The latest and greatest temporary products tend to be vibrant, bold shades (think beyond basic blonde, brunette and red). Don’t like the result? Just wash it out. The options:
Powders
These are like eyeshadows, but for your strands. Use the applicator to apply streaks of color wherever you want it. The powder washes away with your next shampoo.
Try: Rusk Deepshine Color PopFX ($40; LoxaBeauty.com)
Sprays
Spritz on highlights, or cover your entire head. To make spray-on color look even, work in at least three sections: ear to ear, the crown of your head, and the hairline.
Try: Orlando Pita Play Recast Tinted Oil Spray Glaze ($28; Ulta.com)
Liquids
These semipermanent formulas go on like traditional permanent treatments but contain no developer, ammonia, or peroxide—which means they don’t penetrate the cuticle and will wear off after several washes. But you should still do a strand test first to make sure you like it. And pick up two boxes—“you don’t want to run out midapplication,” says Kyle White, lead colorist at the Oscar Blandi Salon in New York City. To prevent dark or bold colors from staining your skin, rub petroleum jelly around your hairline, then section your hair in quadrants and tackle one area at a time. If you have virgin (non-color-treated) hair, apply the liquid evenly from roots to tips. If you have highlights or damaged ends from previous dye jobs, the color may be more concentrated in spots, so focus on your roots and run it through the ends last, letting it sit for no more than five minutes.
Try: Clairol Color Crave Semi-Permanent Color ($11; drugstores)
Powders
These are like eyeshadows, but for your strands. Use the applicator to apply streaks of color wherever you want it. The powder washes away with your next shampoo.
Try: Rusk Deepshine Color PopFX ($40; LoxaBeauty.com)
Sprays
Spritz on highlights, or cover your entire head. To make spray-on color look even, work in at least three sections: ear to ear, the crown of your head, and the hairline.
Try: Orlando Pita Play Recast Tinted Oil Spray Glaze ($28; Ulta.com)
Liquids
These semipermanent formulas go on like traditional permanent treatments but contain no developer, ammonia, or peroxide—which means they don’t penetrate the cuticle and will wear off after several washes. But you should still do a strand test first to make sure you like it. And pick up two boxes—“you don’t want to run out midapplication,” says Kyle White, lead colorist at the Oscar Blandi Salon in New York City. To prevent dark or bold colors from staining your skin, rub petroleum jelly around your hairline, then section your hair in quadrants and tackle one area at a time. If you have virgin (non-color-treated) hair, apply the liquid evenly from roots to tips. If you have highlights or damaged ends from previous dye jobs, the color may be more concentrated in spots, so focus on your roots and run it through the ends last, letting it sit for no more than five minutes.
Try: Clairol Color Crave Semi-Permanent Color ($11; drugstores)
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