Permanent. Semi-permanent. Demi-permanent. Temporary. What should you use for your hair? Well different hair requires different things. Depending on the condition of your hair and the look you are trying to achieve will determine what type of color you should be using on your hair. Different types of color has it's benefits and downfalls for all hair types. I'm here to explain the differences among all these color choices, hopefully making your choices a bit easier.

Semi permanent hair color is great for those who like to change their hair color often. It is designed to last through six to eight shampoo's. If you use a semi permanent color and aren't that content with it you can know it will fade away shortly.The semi permanent hair color only partially penetrates the hair shaft which is the reason it only lasts for a short amount of time. It is a lot more gentle on the hair as it contains low or no peroxide and ammonia.

Demi permanent hair color is a deposit only color meaning it contains no peroxide or ammonia. This means it contains no "lifting" of the natural or synthetic hair color. It does no coloring to the actual hair strand but deposits the color on top of the hair strand resulting in a healthier look for your hair. Demi permanent color washes out within 20-25 shampoo's causing the regrowth of your natural hair to be less noticeable. It is also great for changing your color often.

Ah, permanent hair color has it all. It contains ammonia and peroxide and other oxidizing agents causing it to be permanent. The ammonia in permanent hair color actually opens the hair shaft allowing the color to bond with the hair strand The ammonia helps to speed up the process so it takes less to time to color with permanent. It is also more damaging. If you change your hair color often, then permanent hair color is not for you. If you don't like to change that often then stick with a permanent as it will give you longevity.

Temporary hair color is just that. Temporary. It is designed to rinse out shortly. It comes in many different forms such as gels, shampoo's, sprays and foams. These are designed more for like Halloween when you are wanting a "funky" color for just a night. You can spray it in, gel it in or shampoo it in and once your party's over, so is your color! Shampoo your hair before going to bed otherwise it will rub on to your sheets. Some temporary hair color may require a rinse and repeat when washing it out.

Henna hair color is a natural alternative to any hair color. It has been around since before time. Ok, not that long, but it has been around for a very long time. Henna is a dye that is used to color the hair different shades of reds from a deep auburn to a bright fire engine red. Results of the henna depend on the previous hair color. Henna is a good conditioner for your hair. It does eventually fade out but takes up to six months to be completely out. You cannot fade it from washing and you can't lift it out with bleach. I tried bleaching henna out of my friends hair once and she ended up looking like Carrot Top. Not a hot look for her. It is more of a stain and attaches itself to the collagen in your skin and hair.

Bleach! My best friend. From experience I have found this word terrifies people. It doesn't have to be scary. You just need to know what it means. Say you colored your hair a nice darker brown. Spring is approaching which means lighter and brighter hair. The only way in achieving the dark to light is, yep, bleach. Color doesn't work in the way that you just put a lighter color over the dark. There's more of an in depth chemistry to it. Bleach removes the natural and synthetic pigments on your hair strand. You must be careful with bleach as it doesn't stop processing until either washed out or it dries on the hair which you don't want to happen. I recommend leaving the bleaching to the pro's!

Clear now on the different types of color? Depending on the condition of your hair, the desired look, and the longevity you want, will decide what type of color is right for you. The professional hairstylists are trained to know what is best for your hair and it's condition. I would say always consult with a pro before doing anything at home. You can always book a free consultation with a stylist and get their advice and expertise on what is right for your hair.