We love beautifully light blondes and softly enhanced brunettes. But sometimes, you just want to step beyond the natural hair color box and experiment with a rainbow shade or some stylish mermaid locks.
Mixing it up with bright colors is all the rage; just take a look at social media to see what we mean. What’s wonderful about diving into a more vibrant dye? The bulk of the choices available are semi-permanent, which means they will fade over the course of many weeks/shampoos. In other words, you may easily go bold without committing to a serious color scheme.
Keep in mind that the base color you start with will have an impact on the outcome; usually, bright tones look best on bleached or blonde hair. If you’re starting with a darker hue, you might want to lighten it first or look for products designed exclusively for brown hair.
If it’s the former, make sure the bleaching is done by a qualified professional to avoid harming your hair, says Kristen Fleming, color director at 3rd Coast Salon in Chicago.
List of The Best Dyes For Bright Hair Color In 2023
1. Manic Panic Classic High Voltage Hair Dye Color – Best Overall
This is one of the best—and brightest—formulas available when you want to go all out. There are almost 40 different colors to pick from, featuring neons that sparkle under black light. The vegan color is also soft on hair, free of ammonia and PPD, and packed with nourishing elements.
What We Like
- Glows in the dark
- Gentle formulation
- Moisturizing
What We Don’t Like
- It doesn’t last long, according to reviewers.
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2. L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Color – Best Drugstore
We love this cheap find for white or bleached hair; the five colors pop even more on a lighter basis. It’s ammonia- and peroxide-free to reduce damage, which is a major plus if you already have colored hair, and it’ll last anywhere from four to eight shampoos. While it is easy to apply all over, it also comes with a brush that allows you to create rainbow-inspired highlights.
What We Like
- Affordable
- Gentle formulation
- The applicator brush is included.
What We Don’t Like
- It might not look good on darker hair.
3. Brite Instant Color – Best Bargain
It seems sensible that you wouldn’t want to spend a lot of money on vivid hair color, especially if you’re not sure you’ll like your brilliant strands (and/or you’re doing it as a one-time novelty). Enter this incredibly affordable, semi-permanent color. You receive a creamy, conditioning solution that gives brilliant tones that last up to 30 washes for less than ten bucks. It is also vegan, cruelty-free, and devoid of ammonia and the chemical paraben.
What We Like
- Affordable
- Moisturizing
- Gentle formulation
What We Don’t Like
- A little quantity; may not cover the entire head
4. Got2B Metallics – Best Metallic
Consider a bright metallic instead of a bright colour to create a true impression. Another uncommon permanent compound, the dye comes in blue, red, and purple hues with a metallic sheen. (A metallic shine enhancer in the mix is responsible for this one-of-a-kind finish.) The collection is completed with gleaming steel and silver tones.
Pick up two boxes if your hair extends over your shoulders for the most comprehensive and even treatment.
What We Like
- Affordable
- Has a shiny luster
- Long-lasting
What We Don’t Like
- It might not look good on darker hair.
5. Splat Midnight, No Bleach, Semi-Permanent Hair Color Kit – Best for Brown Hair
According to our earlier point regarding strong colors being more difficult for brunettes, this recipe provides the greatest answer. No bleach is required to produce any of the five electrifying tones, which are specifically designed for folks with brown hair. Magenta, blue, red, green, and ruby are all unexpectedly bright colors.
What We Like
- It looks well on darker hair.
- Affordable
What We Don’t Like
It can be a hassle.
Who Wins?
Bright hair tints are a great way to change up your style. There are other low-commitment solutions available, such as our favorite, the Manic Panic Classic High Voltage Hair Dye Color (see at Sally Beauty), a semi-permanent option available in a variety of hues that lasts four to six weeks. Want to make an even smaller commitment?
The Shrine Drop It Kit (available at Sally Beauty) comes in easy-to-use drops that let you to personalize the strength of your shade and lasts two to ten washes, but the Got 2B Playful (available at Ulta) is washable with just one round of shampoo.
While most bright tones look best on really light hair, the Splat Midnight, No Bleach, Semi-Permanent Hair Color Kit (available at Bed Bath & Beyond) wins our selection for the unique tones particularly developed to show up on brown hair without pre-bleaching.
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FAQ
How Long Does Bright Color Hair Last?
This is an important component of the puzzle. If the product is branded “temporary” or “washout,” it is a one-time-use item that will come with shampoo or two. Semi-permanent or demi-permanent color (which is commonly included in many color-depositing conditioners, FYI) will fade gradually as you wash your hair, typically lasting five to thirty washes. If you truly want to commit to your bright hue, go for permanent choices that require growth.
How long do vibrant hair colors last?
Bright colors fade the fastest, according to Fleming, since “most are merely put on top of the hair and scarcely penetrate the hair shaft.” Furthermore, if you’re coloring pre-lightened hair, it’s more porous, which contributes to water swiftly pulling direct dyes out of the hair, she says.
What vivid hair coloring color is the most difficult to remove from hair?
“Red color molecules are the largest, which means it fades the fastest but also makes it more difficult to remove from the hair,” Fleming explains.
Are bright hair colors bad for your hair?
Bright hair colors like pink, purple, blue, and green, according to Fleming, aren’t harmful in and of themselves. The difficulty arises when you have to unnecessarily bleach your hair to attain that ultra bright finish, which might ruin it, she explains, emphasizing the need of only having professionals color your hair.
