Hair Dye for Dark Hair | Semi-Permanent Hair Color for Dark Hair (2024)

Hair Dye for Dark Hair

It can be challenging to find semi-permanent hair dyes for dark hair: Most dyes—especially those of the rainbow variety—show up best on pre-lightened, light blonde locks. Thankfully, we get this struggle and are here to help. Whether you’re looking for a total hair transformation or simply want to spice up your dark hair color with a subtle, inky tint, we’ve got the dark hair dye to suit your needs. Our ultra-conditioning semi-permanent hair dyes are available in 35 different shades, from rich blood reds to moody midnight blues.

Try ourUnicorn Hair Full Coverage collection for saturated shades. We even offer temporary hair color sprays for those looking to add drama to their ‘do without commitment.

What Colors Can I Dye My Dark Hair?

If you’re looking to add color to your darker tresses, reach for our pigment-packed full-coverage dyes. While the lighter shades are unlikely to show up on dark strands, you’ll find that the more saturated dark hair dyes will impart your mane with a rich, bold tint. Specifically, you can try Chocolate Cherry, Sea Witch, Mystic, Valentine, Flaming Red, and Anime. Head to our hair guide to see our full range of products that can help ensure you never blend in.

How Long Does Hair Dye Last In Dark Hair?

Unlike permanent hair dye, which has to grow out, our semi-permanent hair dyes fade gradually over time, so you can change up your look as often as you want. To minimize fading and keep your color looking vibrant for longer, we recommend washing your hair less frequently and rinsing with cold water. When you do lather up, use hair products formulated specifically for colored hair, like our Unicorn Hair Color Shampoo and Unicorn Hair Color Conditioner. This must-have duo preserves pigment to help your color look its best for as long as possible.

What Is The Best Hair Dye For Dark Hair?

For dark hair that hasn’t been pre-lightened, stick with highly-pigmented hair dyes, like the deeper hues in our full-coverage collection. If you have an idea of the look you’re going for, you can shop by hair color to help narrow down your search. Alternatively, try our temporary hair sprays first to get a better idea of which hue is right for you.

For the answers to more common color questions, check out our Unicorn Hair FAQ page.

Hair Dye for Dark Hair | Semi-Permanent Hair Color for Dark Hair (2024)

FAQs

Does semi-permanent hair color work on dark hair? ›

Don't be afraid to try out a new color, wash it away and try again with semi-permanent colors, or make things more permanent with one of the aforementioned L'Oréal Paris at-home box dyes. Whichever you choose, the results will be vibrant dark hair without the potential bleach damage.

What color shows up best on dark hair? ›

If your hair is quite dark, you may see that the reflections are bluish. This is the famous raven hair. People with this hair colour look their best when wearing intense, cool tones, especially close to their face. Your colours of choice should be optic white, black, electric blue, bottle green or burgundy.

What color can you dye dark brown hair without bleaching? ›

If you are looking to add a touch of warmth and youthfulness to your look, auburn is the best no bleach hair colour. It pairs beautifully on naturally dark hair. Colouring dark hair with auburn hair colour gives it a beautiful reddish-brown hue. It livens up the hair and adds dimension to it.

What happens if you put semi-permanent dye on black hair? ›

You could but you probably wouldn't be able to see it. Maybe you would see a small amount of tone but not if it were truly black. Semi-permanent hair can only go darker because you are depositing color. Anytime that you go lighter, it is always permanent (because you are lifting color out).

What is the best semi-permanent hair color for brown hair? ›

Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Color

Numerous shades — especially dark hair like brunettes and reds — from Clairol's popular demi-permanent drugstore color impressed the GH Beauty Lab in evaluations.

What happens if you put lighter hair dye on darker hair? ›

- Using a lighter color over your last hair color will not work and will create unnecessary stress to your hair. - You cannot inflict hair color over hair color on your hair or it may just break. Wait at least one month before dyeing your hair again.

Can you put light brown dye over dark brown? ›

If you try to apply color over hair that's already been dyed, it's only going to get darker. To dye over a dark hair dye, you can choose a simple method, such as adding highlights or color sprays to your hair.

What is the difference between chocolate brown and dark brown hair? ›

As you can see, Mocha Brown is a rich, dark brown shade, while Dark Brown is a more muted brown shade. Chocolate Brown has the largest amount of red undertones, while Chestnut Brown is a lighter shade with golden undertones. Finally, Ash Brown is our coolest-toned brown.

Do brunettes look better in white or black? ›

Whether you have a cool, neutral or warm complexion with dark hair, black is one of your best colors — hands down. Wearing white is like giving dark hair center stage and a spotlight. The high-contrast pairing is neutral but without being boring. And — fun fact — soft white is, in fact, a universally flattering color.

How to choose hair color for dark hair? ›

“If you have a warm undertone, rich shades like deep chocolate brown or warm chestnut can complement your complexion. For cool undertones, shades like espresso or blue-black can create a striking contrast. Neutral undertones can generally pull off a wide range of dark hair colors.”

Can dark brown hair go light brown without bleach? ›

However, if you're looking to go from dark brown to light brown or dark blonde to light blonde, this may be possible with dye alone. There are few things to consider before deciding whether to just dye your hair or if you need to bleach it to achieve your desired result.

How to turn dark brown hair to light brown without bleach? ›

If you have dark hair but want to avoid using bleach, you can use a hair dye that is specifically designed to lighten hair. If you're going for a particular look or you want to include multiple colors, your best bet might be to visit a hair salon.

What happens if you put grey hair dye on brown hair? ›

If your hair is brown, you may need to bleach it more than once before you apply the grey dye. It's important you get your hair as light as possible before you attempt to turn it grey – this will help ensure a more even tone and vibrant, all-over colour.

How long does semi-permanent hair dye last on dark hair? ›

The typical lifespan of a semi-permanent shade is usually around 6-8 washes, which means you can enjoy your perfect color for a few weeks before it gradually fades. We work with the highest quality ingredients in our semi-permanent dye, Clairol Color Gloss Up.

How long does semi-permanent hair dye last on black hair? ›

Typically, semi-permanent hair color fades over time, typically after 4 to 12 washes. It is a good choice for people who want to experiment with color without committing to a permanent change. There are also some semi-permanent hair dyes that contain conditioning agents to help nourish and moisturize the hair.

Does temporary hair dye show up on dark hair? ›

Let's arrive at the main point of discussion now. Does a temporary hair color actually work on dark hair? The answer is yes, it does.

Will semi-permanent dye make your hair lighter? ›

Semi-permanent colors cannot lighten or lift hair, if you want to go lighter you'll have to bleach it then tone it down, or if your hair is uncolored you can try using a light brown shade with a higher volume of developer (20 volume for one to two shades lighter, 30 volume for 2–3 shades lighter).

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