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If you've always wanted to experiment with a trendy shade before committing to it for the long term, temporary haircolor can be a great at-home solution. "Temporary hair dye washes out within five to 10 shampoos," says Trey Gillen, a stylist at Ceron Hair Studio in Houston. In addition to costing less than a salon visit, temporary at-home hair color tends to be gentler than permanent dye, says Fae Norris, a stylist at KaRu Salon in Austin. "The result is typically softer and shinier hair."
When shopping, it's important to note there are many different types of temporary haircolor to choose from, including "direct dyes," like sprays and chalk, semi-permanent dyes, tinted shampoos and conditioners, henna, and toners. All of them deposit color onto the surface of the hair, but their application methods and longevity differ. Sprays, crayons, powders, and chalks offer instant full coverage—and then rinse off as soon as you shampoo. Tinted shampoos or conditioners deposit a subtle hue that lasts for weeks; the more you use it, the brighter the color becomes. Semi-permanent colors and henna stain the hair upon application and stay vibrant for four to six weeks.
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Best Conditioning
Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Semi-Permanent Haircolor
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2
Best Variety of Colors
Keracolor Clenditioner Color Depositing Conditioner Colorwash
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Best Natural Colors
dpHUE Color Boosting Gloss + Deep Conditioning Treatment
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5
Best Vibrant Color
Punky Colour Semi-Permanent Conditioning Haircolor
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Best for Styling
Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel
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Best for Silver
Overtone Vibrant Silver Daily Conditioner
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No matter what type of temporary color you choose, it's important to note that these types of dyes are great for darkening hair, says Norris, so don't expect dramatic results if you're looking to turn dark brown a shade of pink. It’s also good to remember that some formulas can be drying. To counteract this, Norris suggests limiting shampoos and using a conditioning hair mask once per week to nourish and moisturize the strands.
Think you're ready to give it a go? Whether you want to go pink, black, or simply cover up gray roots, stylists say these are the best temporary dyes for the job.
1
Best Conditioning
Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Semi-Permanent Haircolor
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Best Conditioning
Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Semi-Permanent Haircolor
Keep your hair colorful and conditioned with this full-coverage semi-permanent hair dye that's available in 27 shades. Its formula contains fatty acids and vitamins to keep hair feeling moisturized and soft to the touch.
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Best Variety of Colors
Keracolor Clenditioner Color Depositing Conditioner Colorwash
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Best Variety of Colors
Keracolor Clenditioner Color Depositing Conditioner Colorwash
Now 24% Off
With 18 different shades to choose from, this color-depositing wash is ideal for anyone who likes frequent change. And it has no shortage of rave reviews—over 41,000 Amazon customers give the product a collective five stars, noting it works like magic, smells amazing, and leaves hair soft and shiny.
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Best Spray
L'Oreal Paris Colorista 1-Day Temporary Haircolor Spray
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Best Spray
L'Oreal Paris Colorista 1-Day Temporary Haircolor Spray
Now 18% Off
"If you're looking for low commitment, use this highly rated spray," says Fred Connors, owner of FRED salon in NYC. It comes off after just one wash, so you can experiment with highlights or allover color in a range of hues.
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Best Natural Colors
dpHUE Color Boosting Gloss + Deep Conditioning Treatment
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Best Natural Colors
dpHUE Color Boosting Gloss + Deep Conditioning Treatment
This semi-permanent haircolor is great for boosting your natural or color-treated hair. It also gives an enviable shine that makes your hair look healthy and radiant with each use.
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Best Vibrant Color
Punky Colour Semi-Permanent Conditioning Haircolor
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Best Vibrant Color
Punky Colour Semi-Permanent Conditioning Haircolor
This semi-permanent color is safe enough to use on kids, but vibrant enough to satisfy any cravings for color, says Norris. Just note: It can stain skin, so consider applying plenty of barrier cream, like Vaseline, onto the ears and hairline. Let it sit for about 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing to ensure color is as bright as can be.
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Best Hair Mask
Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask
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Best Hair Mask
Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask
These conditioning tinted hair masks come in a gorgeous range of color options and deposit a saturated hue and hydrating benefits, thanks to apricot oil and an amino acid blend.
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Best Cream
Manic Panic Semi-Permanent Haircolor Cream
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Best Cream
Manic Panic Semi-Permanent Haircolor Cream
This longer-lasting option gets rave reviews because it's easy to use and apply. Though results are dramatic, like all semi-permanent dyes, the color doesn't penetrate the hair's cortex, so color gradually fades in about four weeks.
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Best Pink Color
Pravana Chromasilk Vivids Pink
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Best Pink Color
Pravana Chromasilk Vivids Pink
"As someone who personally has tried every single pink on the market, my favorite is Pravana light pink," says Norris, who calls it the "perfect pink"—not too purple and not too bright.
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Best for Styling
Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel
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Best for Styling
Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel
This works double duty as a temporary haircolor and a styling gel, so you can get a beautiful new hue and hairstyle with one formula. Apply it like any other hair gel; you'll see an immediate pop of pigment that then washes out in one rinse.
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Best for Silver
Overtone Vibrant Silver Daily Conditioner
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Best for Silver
Overtone Vibrant Silver Daily Conditioner
Silver, icy hair is all the rage, but if you don't want to commit to a full head of gray, this semi-permanent dye comes in an array of silver shades. Those with blonde hair will see more prominent results, says Norris. However, other hair shades will experience a neutralized and shiny hue.
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Best for Dark Hair
Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Haircolor Dye
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Best for Dark Hair
Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Haircolor Dye
If you have dark brown hair but want to go pink, try this vegan and cruelty-free option. It's highly pigmented to help yield results that will actually show up on naturally darker hair.
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Best for Root Cover-Up
L'Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up
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Best for Root Cover-Up
L'Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up
When your goal is to hide your roots, Gillen recommends this popular spray. It comes in eight shades—from dark black and brown to light blonde and red—so just about anyone can use it to conceal regrowth instantly.
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Best Long-Lasting
Hally Hair Color Cloud
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Best Long-Lasting
Hally Hair Color Cloud
Select one of seven neutral and fun shades that lasts for up to six weeks with this temporary color kit. Each kit comes with your color of choice, a foaming developer, and latex gloves for easy and mess-free application.
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Best for Kids
KMS Style Color Spray-on Color, Inked Blue
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Best for Kids
KMS Style Color Spray-on Color, Inked Blue
"When you want to get your kids involved, spray-on color is the most convenient option," says celebrity stylist Michelle Cleveland, who recommends this spray; it comes in nine different shades, has intense pigmentation for a noticeable change, and washes out in just one wash.
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Best Vegan Hair Color
Iroiro Premium Natural Semi-Permanent Haircolor
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Best Vegan Hair Color
Iroiro Premium Natural Semi-Permanent Haircolor
For vivid, bright, fun colors, Gillen recommends this vegan and cruelty-free color line. The formulas are made with pure coconut oil and natural ingredients, yet yield impressive results in an array of vibrant hues.
Brigitt Earley
Contributing Writer
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
