Change your hair, change your life? For those unable (or unwilling) to snag an appointment with a stylist, the best semi-permanent hair color offerings are useful. Low-commitment and often affordable, these glosses and glazes hydrate strands while depositing subtle pigment that lingers for a few washes.
Vogue’s Favorite Semi-Permanent Hair Colors:
Think of them as a quick way to revive dullness, enhance shine, and refine tone without fully committing. Just keep in mind: Semi-permanent hair colors work best on natural or lightly treated hair; deeper bases may see only a slight tonal shift. Ahead, two experts share what separates a great formula from a forgettable one, how long you can expect results to last, and the key trade-offs to consider—along with a few standouts worth adding to your shower.
In This Story:
- Do hairstylists recommend semi-permanent hair color?
- What semi-permanent color lasts the longest?
- What to look for in a semi-permanent hair color
- What are the disadvantages of semi-permanent hair dye?
- How we tested
- Meet the experts
Best Overall: dpHUE Gloss+
- Why We Love It: According to celebrity hairstylist Sunnie Brook, the dpHUE gloss is an approachable option for refreshing tone at home. It deposits a sheer wash of color while delivering noticeable shine, and its conditioning base helps keep hair soft and fluid. That said, it won’t dramatically shift your shade or fully cover grays, but it does excel at enhancing depth and polish between salon visits. “Most clients see results last several washes with weekly or bi-weekly use for maintenance. I like using these for my brunette clients who tend to go brassy between services. It does a great job of neutralizing unwanted warmth.”
- Editor’s Experience: “Over the years, I’ve retired emotional hair dyeing as a coping strategy. Unfortunately, that phase left me with some questionable highlights and brassy, fading strands. Thankfully, this gloss doubles as a deep conditioner, delivering shine and softness without peroxide or ammonia. Results typically last around eight washes, though the more frequently you shampoo, the faster it fades.” —Iman Balagam, contributor
- Key Ingredients: Colorants, argan oil
- How to Apply: Apply to clean, damp hair. Leave on for 3 to 20 minutes, depending on desired intensity, then rinse thoroughly.
- How Long the Color Lasts: 8 washes
- Shades: 13
Best Gloss-Meets-Conditioner: Glaze Supergloss Color Conditioning Gloss
- Why We Love It: For those who aren’t ready to commit to permanent dye, Brook notes that Glaze leans heavily into shine enhancement, making it ideal for hair that looks dull but doesn’t need major correction. The pigment payoff is intentionally subtle, so think of it as a polish rather than a true toning treatment. “It is very beginner-friendly and difficult to over-apply, though those needing significant brass correction may want something more pigmented. Expect a soft fade over a few washes.”
- Editor’s Experience: “At under $20, this is much more of a gloss-meets-conditioner than a true dye. It’s formulated for natural, virgin hair rather than highlights, bleached strands, or grays, so the effect is subtle and shine-focused. Now that I’ve retired from regular dye jobs, I like to use it to give my dark brown strands a little extra vibrancy before big events. Just know it can get messy, so gloves are highly recommended.” —Iman Balagam, contributor
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin E
- How to Apply: Shampoo first; then apply the gloss to clean, towel-dried hair. Wearing gloves, saturate from root to tip, leave on for 10 minutes, and rinse thoroughly for added shine and softness.
- How Long the Color Lasts: 10 washes
- Shades: 16
Best Boxed Dye: L’Oreal Paris Colorista Semi Permanent Hair Color
- Why We Love It: A more traditional at-home boxed dye, Colorista delivers more visible pigment deposit, particularly on pre-lightened hair, where it performs best, per Brook. “I like it for playful tonal shifts or fashion color moments, but results can vary depending on porosity,” she notes. On highly porous ends, pigment may cling longer, so strand testing is important. Longevity typically ranges from 4 to 15 washes, depending on the shade and overall condition of the hair. And for those with commitment issues (every man in New York), colorist Jacob Sirianno describes it as a true “no-commitment fade.”
- Key Ingredients: Dyes, amodimethicone
- How to Apply: Divide hair into sections, apply color directly where desired, and massage. Process for 15 to 30 minutes, or up to 60 minutes for a more intense result, then rinse thoroughly.
- How Long the Color Lasts: 4 to 15 washes
- Shades: 17
Best for Dry Hair: Maria Nila Colour Refresh Hair Mask
- Why We Love It: A bestseller in Sweden, where Maria Nila originated, this is one of the more pigment-rich options in the category, according to Brook. And it works beautifully for maintaining vibrant tones while conditioning the hair. “The mask base delivers noticeable softness, which makes it especially helpful for dry or color-treated textures.” Because the pigment load is higher than a traditional gloss, the results tend to last longer (roughly 4 to 10 washes), particularly on porous hair. Brook notes that it’s best suited for visible tone reinforcement rather than a subtle refresh. “Their selection is limited and not as corrective as I like, but the pearl pink is a fun one to play with if you’re blonde or have highlights and want a change without a commitment.”
- Key Ingredients: Pigments, argan oil, panthenol, sunflower seed oil
- How to Apply: Shampoo first, skipping conditioner. Towel-dry until damp and then apply evenly with gloves. Leave on for 3 to 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and finish with conditioner.
- How Long the Color Lasts: 4 to 10 washes
- Shades: 15
Best Toner for Brassiness: IGK Hair Gloss Toner
- Why We Love It: A pioneer in the hair space, IGK’s Hair Gloss Toner is well suited for neutralizing unwanted warmth while boosting shine and subtly adjusting tone for up to 10 washes. “It offers targeted toning without weighing the hair down, which makes it a nice option for blondes and brunettes looking to refine their shade between appointments,” says Brook. The finish is polished rather than dramatic. Sirianno adds, “It won’t cover gray or lift depth, but it’s effective for refreshing blondes or brunettes between salon visits.” As Brook puts it: “For my bright and platinum blondes, this is a hero!”
- Key Ingredients: Squalene
- How to Apply: Apply generously from roots to ends and comb through. Leave on for two to three minutes, rinse until clear, and style as usual.
- How Long the Color Lasts: 10 washes
- Shades: 18
Everything You Need to Know
Do hairstylists recommend semi-permanent hair color?
Yes, when used intentionally, says Brook. “Behind the chair, I often recommend semi-permanent color for refreshing tone, enhancing shine, or softly shifting depth without the long-term commitment of permanent dye.” It’s particularly useful between appointments or for clients who want to experiment without compromising hair health. The key, she notes, is understanding that semi-permanent color enhances tone rather than dramatically changing it. “When clients understand that distinction, the results feel far more predictable and polished.”
What semi-permanent color lasts the longest?
According to Sirianno, longevity has less to do with brand and more to do with your hair. “Porosity, overall hair health, heat styling, and how often you shampoo will determine how long the pigment holds. The better your at-home care, the longer the tone stays true.”
In Brook’s experience, deeper tones like brunettes, coppers, and reds naturally last longer, while highly porous or pre-lightened hair tends to grab and retain pigment more readily. Gloss formats typically fade more quickly, though often evenly and gracefully, whereas richer masks and direct dyes tend to linger. Most semi-permanent colors last anywhere from 8 to 20 washes, with the tone remaining visible for four to six weeks on porous or lightened hair. “If longevity is the goal, apply to towel-dried hair and be mindful of overusing clarifying shampoos, which can accelerate fading,” she adds.
What to look for in a semi-permanent hair color
According to Brook and Sirianno, the details that matter most include:
- Ammonia-free, deposit-only formulas
- A conditioning base that supports softness and shine
- The right pigment level for your goal, whether sheer or more corrective
- A formula known to fade evenly
- Compatibility with your hair’s density and porosity
- Accurate tone selection that complements your underlying color
Beyond the formula itself, application and tone selection are key. Sirianno stresses the importance of choosing the correct shade, noting that porosity dictates how color grabs. A cool blonde gloss on highly porous hair, for example, can pull overly ashy or dark. It’s also important to understand your base. These formulas enhance what you already have; they won’t lighten or dramatically shift depth.
If you’re unsure, he recommends diluting before committing. Mixing the pigment with a regular conditioner allows you to see how your hair absorbs the color and gives you more control over the result. As Sirianno notes, “The most common misstep I see is choosing a shade based on the box image rather than reading the undertone of the hair itself.”
What are the disadvantages of semi-permanent hair dye?
Semi-permanent color is one of the gentlest ways to shift tone, but it’s not without limitations. Brook explains that it offers minimal gray coverage and typically softens rather than fully conceals. On porous or compromised ends, pigment can grab unevenly. It also fades faster than permanent color and cannot lighten the hair. With repeated use, especially on blondes, subtle tone buildup can occur. “That said, for shine, tonal refinement, and low-commitment color maintenance, it remains one of the safest and most flexible tools we have,” she adds.
How we tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity hairstylists—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to semi-permanent hair color, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, shade range, color intensity, how long the color lasts, ease of application, and any additional hair-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the experts
- Sunnie Brook is a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles.
- Jacob Sirianno is a hair stylist and colorist who splits his time between New York and Los Angeles.
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