Permanent Colour

What is a permanent hair colour?

A permanent colour changes the colour of the hair deeply and does not wash out with shampoo. It is prepared by mixing two products: a colouring cream and a developer based on hydrogen peroxide. This mixture opens the surface of the hair, then the pigments form inside and stay trapped there.

It is different from semi-permanent colour, which does not use hydrogen peroxide. That type only coats the hair and fades with washing, within a few weeks. Permanent colour is therefore the right choice when you want a stable colour, with no touch-up before the roots grow out.

The colour therefore stays in place until the hair is cut. Only the grown-out roots show your natural shade, at a rate of about 1 cm a month. It is the family of colour that covers white hair best, even when there is a lot of it.

On hair that has never been coloured, it can also lighten by 1 to 3 tones. However, a colour does not remove another colour: to go from brown to blonde on lengths that are already dyed, you need a bleach, ideally done by a hairdresser. If you are looking instead for a bright red, purple or blue that fades with washing, see our fantasy colour range.

How do you choose a permanent colour to cover white hair?

The number on the box is your best guide. The digit before the point indicates the level of lightness, from 1 for black to 10 for very light blonde. The digit after the point gives the tone: .1 for ash, .3 for gold, .4 for copper. Choose a shade equal to your natural colour, or a little lighter if there is a lot of white hair. The grown-out roots are then much less noticeable. For clear coverage, the natural shades, often marked .0, are the safest.

We stock the big ranges you know. L'Oréal Excellence is designed for white hair and supplies a treatment to apply before and after the colour. Schwarzkopf Palette offers a wide choice of intense shades, and Garnier Nutrisse has lightening shades to make natural hair blonder.

Also think about quantity. One box is enough for short to medium-length hair; allow two boxes for long or thick hair: a mixture that is too tight leaves areas poorly covered. For a first time, a shade close to yours avoids bad surprises.

For a beard, a moustache or a man’s temples, formulas that are quicker to apply can be found in our men’s hair and beard colour range.

How do you apply and look after a permanent colour?

Do an allergy test 48 hours before each colouring, even with a brand you have used for a long time. Place a little of the mixture behind the ear, without rinsing, then wait. Redness, itching or swelling means you must not do the colour.

Apply the mixture to dry hair, starting with the roots, where the white hairs hide. Respect the development time given in the instructions, then rinse until the water runs clear. Always wear the gloves provided in the box.

To keep the shine, wash with a shampoo for coloured hair and with lukewarm water. Between two colourings, a gloss in the same shade revives shine and tones without touching the roots.

Each colouring is a little demanding on the lengths. To go gentler, colour only the roots when touching up, and draw the mixture through the lengths only for the last minutes of development. Also avoid very hot straighteners in the days after colouring. Bright colours, care products and all the other families of shades are waiting for you in our hair colour range.