Types of Colours for Hair

Colouring has expanded hugely over the last 10-15 years and has become a large money-making business in hair salons everywhere. It requires skill and knowledge to use it correctly and can result in major problems if not used appropriately. To make your life easier, in the professional colouring industry there is something called an ICC, or International Colour Code. This enables you to use any colouring product from a listed company knowing that their system of colouring numbers and codes should be similar.

Whether you buy colour from a supermarket or use it professionally, it is very important even if you are highly trained to follow each individual manufacturer’s instructions, as they can differ from company to company. Manufacturers go to a lot of trouble testing colours and instructing you on how to use them to get the correct results, so it makes sense to listen to their advice.

Colours generally come in five categories:

Temporary

These normally come in a mousse or setting lotion form, but are also now available in sprays. They usually add tones to white hair, for instance (such as pearl or honey-coloured tones), but they would not cover white hair completely. You don’t have to mix them – they are applied straight out of their container – and they only last until the long hair with layers is washed again.

Semi-Permanent

Normally these are lotions or come in a shampoo form and are never mixed with anything – you use them directly out of their applicator bottle or sachet. They last on average about 6-8 washes but this depends on the hair’s history and whether it already has chemicals on it, as this can cause the colour to last longer. They can only make the hair darker or stay the same colour, but can also add tones such ad reds, coppers and gold.

Quasi Colour

Long side swept bangs usually come in a gel, lotion or cream form but are mixed with a low oxidant or an activator in most cases. They gradually fade from the hair as opposed to being washed out or grown out, and last from 6-8 weeks. Quasi colours are in between semi and permanent colours and are known by some people as demi colours. They cannot lighten hair but can make it go darker or stay the same, adding vibrant tones such reds, coppers, gold or ashes.

Permanent

Normally always in cream or liquid form and always mixed with an oxidant of 20 volume (6 per cent) or above. This colour will permanently change the hair structure and colour and will either grow out or be cut out. Permanent colours can make hair lighter, darker, cover white completely, add strong tones to the existing hair colour, or change the tones completely.

Bleach

Normally a powder or cream-type paste and always mixed with an oxidant of 20 volume (6 percent) or above. This product removes natural pigment from the hair and any other colouring products, unless the hair is particularly dense. It permanently changes the hair colour and can only be cut or grown out. It always makes the hair go lighter but not necessarily evenly, so be careful when using it. Bleach can be found in chemists and grocery stores but only to certain strengths – salons can use a stronger solution of bleach as the staff will be professionally trained to do so.