The 5 Best Temporary Hair Dyes

I love changing my hair color, but I’m not always ready for a full-on commitment. That’s where temporary hair dye comes in. It’s the perfect way to try out a wild new shade for a festival or just shake things up for a few weeks without totally wrecking your hair.

Over the years, I’ve tried just about everything. From chalks that wash out in a day to semi-permanent colors that stick around for a month or two. Some left my hair feeling like straw, while others faded into weird, swampy colors.

So I put together a list of the ones that actually work. These are the best temporary hair dyes I’ve found that deliver great color without turning your hair into a mess.

 

 

My Favorite Temporary Hair Dyes

Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color

A bottle of Arctic Fox will run you about $18. If you want bright, intense color that lasts, this is the one. I used this on my pre-lightened hair and the color payoff was incredible. It was so vibrant and didn’t immediately wash out after the first shampoo.

What I really like is that it’s a vegan, cruelty-free formula that feels more like a conditioner than a dye. My hair always feels soft and healthy after I use it, not dry and brittle. And the colors fade out pretty gracefully over several weeks.

The Downside: You really need to have light or bleached hair to get the true color shown on the bottle. On my darker, unbleached roots, it barely showed up at all.

 

 

Manic Panic Semi Permanent Cream Hair Color

For around $12, Manic Panic is a classic for a reason. It’s my go-to for bold, punk-inspired colors that I don’t want to keep forever. The color is super vibrant and sticks around for about 4 to 6 weeks, which is a decent amount of time.

It’s really easy to apply straight from the tub, and since it’s vegan and has no ammonia, it doesn’t have that harsh chemical smell. It also gives your hair a nice conditioning treatment while it sits.

The Downside: If you have long or really thick hair, you might need two tubs to get full, even coverage. One tub just wasn’t enough for me.

 

 

oVertone Color Depositing Treatment Mask

At $32, oVertone is more of a splurge, but I think of it as a deep conditioner that also happens to deposit color. It’s fantastic for refreshing faded color or just adding a tint to your hair while giving it some serious hydration.

This stuff is packed with ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter, and you can feel it. My hair felt incredibly soft and looked so much shinier after using it. It’s a great way to add color without causing any damage.

The Downside: The price is definitely a bit high compared to other dyes. It’s more of a treatment than a simple dye job.

 

 

L’Oreal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color

This one is about $12 and is probably the easiest one to find at any drugstore. I think it’s perfect for anyone just dipping their toes into temporary color, especially if you have light hair and want to try a soft pastel shade.

The color payoff on my bleached ends was really pretty and it lasted longer than I expected. It’s a straightforward, no-fuss option for a quick and easy color change at home.

The Downside: Be careful with this one because it can stain. I mean it stains your skin, your tub, your towels… you get the idea. It also seemed to fade a lot faster than Arctic Fox or Manic Panic.

 

 

Good Dye Young Semi-Permanent Hair Color

Good Dye Young costs about $14 a tube. This brand delivers some seriously bright, highly pigmented color. When they say “ultra-bright,” they aren’t kidding. The texture is thick and creamy, almost like a hair mask.

One of the best things about it is how nicely it fades. It doesn’t turn into a weird, muddy color as it washes out; it just becomes a lighter, pastel version of the original shade. Plus, my hair felt super conditioned and healthy after I rinsed it out.

The Downside: It’s not sold in every store, so you often have to order it online. The shipping costs can make it more expensive than some of the other options.

At the end of the day, playing with temporary hair dye is all about having fun and expressing yourself without a huge commitment. Just remember that for the brightest, truest colors, you’ll almost always get the best results on hair that’s been lightened first.

So go ahead and try that wild pink or electric blue you’ve been eyeing. If you don’t like it, it’ll wash out soon enough. And if you do, you just found a fun new look.