Best semi permanent hair dye for a short-term switch up of your look

One of the best things about L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss Semi-Permanent Hair Dye is how fast it works: designed to deliver vibrant colour without the extra effort and taking less than 30 minutes from start to finish.

Offering a quick, effective way to refresh your look and achieve a glossy finish that looks and feels natural, these budget-friendly hair dyes are the perfect solution to trying a new colour without hours of trial and error in the bathroom or an expensive salon trip. Bonus points: this dye is also free from ammonia, making it kinder to your strands, while also leaving them seriously smooth.

Schwarzkopf’s LIVE range is one of the best for vibrant shades and this LIVE Shocking Pink 093 Semi-Permanent Hair Dye is a top contender for festival season or anyone who’s done with more conventional shades.

A semi-permanent vegan formula hair dye designed for bleached blonde to light brown hair, it comes with a few options: use the colour cream alone to achieve an intense colour, add conditioner for a pastel shade or mix multiple shades to create your own new colour, lasting up to 15 washes.

dpHUE is home to problem-solving hair care heroes that prove you can emulate that fresh-from-the-salon bounce without the fresh-from-the-salon price tag. Specifically centred around the needs of coloured hair, trust these talented formulas to fight fading, brighten your tone and remedy unwanted roots while also doubling as a semi-permanent hair dye and deep conditioning treatment.

A little more curated than your standard semi-permanent colour, it works by staining the exterior of your strands with pigment, enhancing and deepening your current shade rather than achieving dramatic change.

BLEACH LONDON’s semi-permanent dyes come in a huge range of colours, meaning endless opportunities for trying a new shade. Arriving in a kaleidoscopic spectrum of mesmerising hues, this cream mask transforms (fair or pre-lightened) hair in just 30 minutes, into a show-stopping mane of brilliant colour from fire engine red and turquoise to soft lavender and dusty rose – whatever suits your mood. It’s also vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.

Another option that’s ideal for gentle colour and a less harsh experience for your precious mane, this Clairol Natural Instincts Semi-Permanent No Ammonia Hair Dye is a top choice for natural colours across the blonde and brunette spectrum. Made with 80 per cent naturally derived ingredients, this semi-permanent formula lasts for up to 28 washes and won’t damage your hair the same way that more permanent dyes can.

Looking for something a little more nourishing than your standard hair dye? Try Moroccanoil’s Colour Depositing Mask: a shine-boosting, colourless hair mask that combines the benefits of an at-home deep conditioning treatment with a professional-strength gloss service.

The high-powered formula includes ArganID technology to help repair and seal the cuticle for hair that’s silky soft and radiantly healthy-looking. This pigment-free mask can also be mixed with other Colour Depositing Mask shades to customise shades or pastel hues.

Award-winning Josh Wood Colour is one of the best brands for salon-ready results and this gorgeous Colour Glaze Pink Quartz shade is one you’ll run to if you’re a fan of pastel tones. Professionally formulated to last up to 3-5 washes, the dye creates a modern pink pastel with subtle violet undertones. It’s ammonia-free, vegan and full of shea butter and pequi oil for hair that’s nourished, conditioned and shiny.

Maybe you’re not ready to re-dye your whole head but your roots need a refresh. Enter: L’Oreal Paris’ Magic Retouch Black Root Touch Up. This low-commitment spray is ideal for those in need of a quick fix between home colourings and salon appointments or the sudden appearance of grey hair. Suitable for people who use permanent or semi-permanent hair dye, it can be matched with your hair colour (or your salon colour) for a natural-looking finish and lasts until you wash your hair next.

This Wella Professionals Care Color Fresh Semi-Permanent Colour Mask is ideal for those looking for a temporary change and combines conditioning care with semi-permanent colour. Available in a variety of shades from natural to bright, the mask works to revive the appearance of faded colour with zero damage.

Working in just 10 minutes, the mask is packed with conditioning ingredients like avocado oil to offer rich care, leaving your tresses feeling smooth and moisturised. Better yet, its temporary colour fades gradually with no harsh grow-out lines, offering the perfect low-commitment home transformation.

Redken’s Shades EQ Demi Permanent Hair Colour Red Kicker is one of the best hair colour changers around and lasts for up to 28 washes. Called “demi-permanent” rather than “semi-permanent”, it’s ammonia-free and pH balanced for reliable, even colour without the harsh chemicals. The high-shine-giving liquid formula is perfect to gloss, refresh, tone and correct with no lift in as little as 20 minutes, making it ideal on days when you really need a quick refresh but don’t have much time.