Debunking the permanent hair color myths

We at Claude Thomas know that the idea of using a permanent hair color can be intimidating. But under the care of a salon professional, it doesn't have to be! Let's face your permanent hair color fears together, by setting the record straight on 4 of the most popular myths associated with long-lasting color.

WHAT IS PERMANENT HAIRCOLOR?

Permanent hair color works by interacting with the natural pigment of your hair and changing your hair’s structure. The dyes in permanent hair color are actually tiny colorless molecules. With the help of ammonia, they penetrate the hair cuticle, but it’s not until they’ve combined with hydrogen peroxide and create a chemical reaction known as oxidation that the magic happens. Through oxidation, the permanent hair color molecules turn complex and can embed themselves in the structure of the hair fiber. The result is what we know to be permanent hair color, or at the very least, hair color that can definitely withstand multiple washes.

One of the biggest reasons permanent hair color gets a bad rap is because it consists of more potent chemicals than demi-permanent hair color, which instead coats the hair, but doesn’t alter the structure of it. Permanent hair color also opens up the cuticle and needs to sit on the hair longer so hair texture might change slightly.

MYTH 1: IT DAMAGES YOUR HAIR

Permanent hair color contains chemicals that remove color from your strands as well as pigments that change your hair’s current color. And as mentioned before, since permanent hair color is meant to withstand many washes, the chemicals have to be stronger, and they’re left on hair longer.

Exactly how long does permanent hair color last? That depends on your hair growth rate, but you typically won’t have to retouch your roots for 4 to 6 weeks.

While it’s an understandable concern that permanent hair dyes can wreak havoc on hair strength and elasticity, permanent hair color and extreme damage don't go hand-in-hand when left up to a professional. After a professional permanent hair color service, your hair will still look and feel amazing, even while sporting a new shade.

When getting your hair colored with permanent hair color, make sure to opt for a salon service to protect your hair when it gets colored. Redken’s pH-Bonder protects bonds, helps restore the hair fiber and smooths the hair cuticle, so strands are stronger, shinier and softer.

There are also several things you can do at home keep your newly-colored hair in great shape, such as using a deep-conditioning hair mask, like Redken’s Color Extend Magnetics Mega Mask, on a weekly basis or using a shampoo for colored hair, also from Color Extend Magnetics, to gently cleanse and prevent fading.

MYTH 2: YOU'LL GET MONOCHROMATIC, DULL, FLAT COVERAGE THAT SCREAMS "FAKE!"

Women with grey hair color and brown

Opting for permanent hair color doesn’t have to mean coloring your hair just one shade. Dimensional color is a gorgeous possibility.

Since most people have natural highlights in their hair from the sun, opting for permanent dimensional hair color will add depth and promise more natural-looking results.

Redken’s original Chromatics, Color Fusion Advanced Performance Color Cream and new Cool Fashion Color Cream are all permanent hair color lines that provide a multidimensional, natural-looking finish. Chromatics is ammonia-free and leaves hair 2x stronger than before it was colored, while Color Fusion Advanced Performance Color Cream leaves hair shiny.

MYTH 3: PERMANENT COLOR IS ONLY MEANT TO COVER GRAY HAIR

Brunette model with golden balayage hair

Permanent hair color is a wonderful option for concealing gray hair since it’s typically available in a larger variety of shades and will provide longer-lasting results than a demi-permanent hair color. 

But covering grays isn't be the only reason to opt for permanent hair color. Trendy haircolor looks like ombre and balayage often incorporate permanent hair color at the root in addition to lightener for the ends so it can create a natural-looking gradient.

However, if you are looking to fully cover gray hair, Redken's Cover Fusion line of permanent hair color, a low-ammonia color cream with conditioning agents make gray strands stronger and more manageable post-service.

MYTH 4: IF YOU GO LIGHTER, YOUR HAIR COULD TURN BRASSY

Model with blonde hair and yellow

A slight Brassiness can happen whenever your new hair color starts to fade away and the natural pigments of your hair that weren’t lightened away with bleach or hair color start to surface.  We can combat any brassiness with producing the right level of lightning.

Carefully choosing the right shade at the beginning which makes the hair have the right amount of cool tones> This can avoid that dreaded orange tinge from later revealing itself.

Redken’s new Cool Fashion collection by Color Fusion, which features 14 new cool shades, aims to combat brassiness by starting off and staying cool for up to 8 weeks.

The best way to choose a permanent hair color that will compliment your undertones is to consult with your Claude Thomas’s stylist/colorist.