Let’s explore what semi-permanent and permanent color is, to better understand which will work best for your color needs.

What is Semi-Permanent Hair Color?

Semi-permanent hair color, adds shine and refreshes or changes tone without lightening or darkening your hair.

Semi-permanent color will

• refresh your color in between permanent color applications
• boost, refresh or balance the tone of your hair
• add new or brighter tones at your existing color level
• temporarily add depth to your color

Semi’s won’t

• provide full gray coverage
• lighten your base color

Semi’s add color to the surface of your hair but don’t permanently change hair color or structure. Semi-permanent color is blended with our gentle 5 vol developer and will last 6-12 washes, depending on the porosity of your hair.

They are a great option to refresh or balance faded tones, adding a boost of shine, or for short-term color changes —like if you’re considering trying one of our gorgeous red hair glosses, Palermo or Portofino.

What is Permanent Hair Color?

Permanent hair color is activated by a developer which will penetrate the hair cuticle and permanently change its color.

They can

• lift and lighten your natural color level
• penetrate and permanently cover grays
• deposit color to darken your color
• change the tone of your hair

They can’t

• be washed out
• lift pre-existing permanent color pigments
• and should only be used for those who are absolutely sure about their hair color change and want something that is going to last indefinitely until of course, they need their roots touched up.

Permanent color blends with a developer which is strong enough to permanently change the hair color.

We offer two developer options for permanent color change – 20 vol developer which is the industry standard to achieve permanent color coverage, or a 27 vol developer which is helpful to provide more lift than 20 vol, and to cover colour-resistant grays.

The blend of color and developer will lift the outer cuticle layer of the hair, allowing the color to enter the hair and be permanently deposited within the hair. Permanent colors provide the best and longest-lasting gray coverage.

Every one of our colors can be blended with a developer which will leave either a permanent or semi-permanent color finish.

Our multi-dimensional formulas are free of ammonia and designed to bring out your hair’s natural radiance, letting your gold, copper, mahogany, or ash tones shine. Unlike traditional permanent hair color, our color range does not include PPD, ammonia, parabens, phthalates, gluten, SLS, and titanium dioxide. Our colors also include natural, nourishing ingredients including aloe vera, argan oil and ginseng root that helps your hair stay healthy-looking. Win-win!

From a semi-temporary color to long-lasting permanent dye, The Shade has gorgeous, easy-to-use hair color solutions to get you—and your hair—looking and feeling your best. Happy coloring!

I am sooo happy! The Shade is so easy to use, the results look like they were done by a professional, it doesn’t make my scalp itchy or dry and my hair always feels shiny and soft afterwards!

Carolina Briscoe

I am tired of spending a fortune on salon charges. I am so pleased with the results. I feel like I have just stepped out of the salon. My hair is a lovely natural color and has been left so soft and shiny. I can’t recommend enough.

Sandra Firth

The Ash Brown has left my hair without the ghastly red tone, soft and manageable a month on. Thanks for fast delivery and quality product.

Maxine Cross