How Long Hair Dye Lasts

Dyeing long hair
Photo: Schankz/Shutterstock
Q: How long do hair dyes last? How fast does hair color fade and how often will I need touch ups?
 
A: The duration of the color depends on the type of hair color. Temporary color only lasts until the next shampoo. Semi-permanent and demi-permanent colors last 8-12 shampoos. Permanent hair color, however, is just that: permanent. It lasts indefinitely.
 
Depending on the color chosen, there may be some fading, but the primary concern is going to be new growth and the need to color the naturally pigmented hair once it has grown out enough to become visible and problematic.
 
Some color choices (specifically some reds) may fade more readily than others, but in general, the colors won't need refreshing before the point at which you need to address the new growth issue. Because of this, you can simply do your retouch service at the usual time (5-8 weeks) and then bring the color through the hair at the end of the processing for the retouch in order to refresh the color.
 
The variance in the length of time between retouches is largely dependent on the rate at which your hair grows. The average rate of growth for the hair is one-half inch per month, but some people may have slightly faster or slower rates of growth. Feel free to simply gauge when it's time for a retouch service by when you see new growth in your style. This will ensure that your hair looks good on your schedule.
 
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See also:
 
Hair color and sun fading
 
The different hair color types
 
How to prevent red hair from fading too fast
 
Why does my hair color wash out so fast?
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