How Long Does Permanent Hair Color Last? (And Does Gray Coverage Fade Faster?)

How long does permanent hair color last? Well, the short answer is four to six weeks, but as the term implies it is permanent, meaning the color molecules will never truly leave the hair, so it won’t wash out. However, there are two things to consider when it comes to maintaining permanent color:

1. It is important to note that while the color will never fully fade out of the hair strand, the tone of the color can fade over time, losing its vibrancy and richness. Therefore, it will need to be refreshed at some point.

2. As your hair grows, new roots become more visible. It is different for everybody, but the typical timeframe in which you will notice regrowth and need a touch-up is after about four to six weeks. This, of course, will vary depending on how quickly your hair grows and how noticeably different your natural root color is from the color-treated hair.

Permanent color for gray coverage follows the same four-to-six-week timeline, with one difference worth knowing: gray hair can lose its tone a little faster. Here’s why – and how to keep both your color and your coverage looking fresh.

How Long Does Gray Coverage Last? 

Gray coverage from permanent hair color lasts about four to six weeks –  until new gray roots grow in. The coverage itself won’t wash out, but its tone can fade, and gray hair often fades a touch faster than pigmented hair because its coarser, more porous cuticle releases color and moisture more quickly. The fix is maintenance, not re-coloring your whole head:

• Refresh tone with a Gloss. Color Reviving Gloss revives faded color and adds shine on your mid-lengths and ends between colorings, so your overall color stays rich.

• Cover new gray roots with Root Perfection. This permanent root touch-up delivers 100% gray coverage at the roots in 10 minutes and buys about three more weeks between full colorings. It’s designed to cover just your most visible regrowth at the T-zone – the hairline and part – not every root: a quick fix that extends your color, not a full application.

For the full routine, see how to make hair color last longer on gray hair, and for everything on covering gray, our gray coverage guide.

Why does Permanent Hair Color Fade - and How Can I Slow it Down?

Even though permanent color is permanent as we mentioned above, the overall tone and vibrancy will fade over time. This could leave your color looking dull, brassy, or just a little too light depending on the shade and your preference to maintain its richness.

Washing (or rather, not washing): the more you wash your hair, the more color gets washed away; that’s why semi-permanent and demi-permanent hair colors usually fade after a certain number of shampoos. So, the less you shampoo, the longer your color will stay looking fresh and vibrant.

Avoiding heat and sun exposure: this goes for heat-styling tools, UV rays, and even hot water temperatures when washing your hair. If you are using heat-styling tools or basking in the sun, it is important to use thermal and UV protection. When washing your hair, opt for the coolest water possible – even room temperature – to help protect both your color and your hair’s overall health.

Using good hair care products: the better products you use while maintaining your hair, the more you will slow down the fading of your hair color. That’s why you should opt for shampoo, conditioner, treatments, and styling products that are color-protecting and free of harsh ingredients like SLSA (sodium lauryl sulfates), parabens, and phthalates.

Avoiding chlorine and sea water: swimming in chlorine pools or sea water tends to dry the hair out and can also distort the color of your hair (even natural, non-color-treated hair). If you are an avid swimmer or plan to spend extended periods of time with your hair in the water, wearing a swim cap or even applying some conditioner to your hair prior to swimming can help protect your color.

Understanding your hair texture: the more porous, coarse, or dry your hair is, the quicker your color may fade because the cuticle layer of your hair is more open (the scales of the cuticle are raised) which releases color and moisture faster. This is where your hair care routine comes into play to ensure your hair is staying nourished and hydrated.

For the deeper maintenance routine, see our tips for making your hair color last longer

Since Permanent Hair Dye Does Not Fade Completely, How Do I Remove It?

Even though permanent hair color can’t fade out of the hair completely, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with your color until you cut your hair – there are two main methods for removing it. 

One route you can take is to lighten your hair by getting highlights. This utilizes a bleach lightener to lift the color. Always remember the rule of "color can't lift color" though. Meaning, if you apply another permanent color on top of colored hair (even if it is lighter) it cannot lighten the hair. If anything, it may go darker. The only way to truly lighten hair is to use a bleach lightener.

The second option is to use a color remover. Such products are designed to remove the color molecule from within the cortex and cuticle layer of the hair.  However, it is important to note that there are many types of color removers on the market and some may be harsher than others.  Instead, we recommend using a semi-permanent or demi-permanent color to refresh the permanent color that has faded. Color Reviving Gloss is the perfect way to refresh faded color and add a ton of shine. You can use a gloss on the lengths of your hair at the same time you are touching up your roots, or any time your overall color just needs a refresh.

Some may use ingredients like ammonia, bleach, or peroxide, which can damage hair or leave you with unpredictable results. It’s best to use products that contain acidic-based ingredients such as citric acid, ascorbic acid, or glyoxylic acid. Although it may take more applications and patience to get to the level of lightness you want to see, we think the payoff in the end and maintaining the integrity of the hair is worth it! For best results, you want to only look for top-notch products here, such as Madison Reed Prime for Perfection™.

Most of the time, though, you don’t need to remove color at all — you just need to refresh it.

What Do I Use to Refresh Permanent Color When it Starts to Fade and When Do I Do It?

After about four to six weeks, your color will likely be due to be touched up. Now get ready, because this is the biggest tip we can give you and it’s what colorists live by: you do not need to apply permanent color all over the lengths of your hair again to refresh the color. Your new growth will need the permanent color since it is natural uncolored hair; however, the lengths of your hair already have color on it so you do not want to keep reapplying more and more permanent color on top. This can lead to your color going too dark and heavy. It can also cause the hair to dry out over time. 

Instead, we recommend using a semi-permanent or demi-permanent color to refresh the permanent color that has faded. Color Reviving Gloss is the perfect way to refresh faded color and add a ton of shine. You can use a Gloss on the lengths of your hair at the same time you are touching up your roots, or any time your overall color just needs a refresh. 

To keep your salon-fresh color vibrant at all times, it's wise to use a color-depositing Color Therapy Hair Mask to maintain that fresh-from-the-salon shade. These masks add color while conditioning the hair at the same time. You can use it in place of your regular conditioner every few washes or whenever your hair needs a pick-me-up.

For gray specifically: cover regrowth with Root Perfection between full colorings and explore our other temporary gray coverage products like The Great Cover up powder to conceal roots and fill in a thinning hairline or The Gray Escape mascara that targets stray grays for precise coverage of smaller gray areas.

If gray regrowth is the issue, cover it with Root Perfection between full colorings (see above), or reach for a temporary fix: The Great Cover Up Root Touch Up Powder conceals roots and can fill in a thinning hairline, and The Gray Escape Hair + Root Mascara targets stray grays for precise coverage of smaller areas.
 

The Takeaway

How long does permanent hair color last? It lasts until it grows out. Can permanent hair color fade completely? No, it fades gradually, but never fully disappears. Can you remove permanent hair color from your hair? Yes, with a high-quality hair color remover or highlights. Do you need other touch-ups? Yes, your regrown roots will require a touch-up after about four to six weeks depending on how quickly your hair grows. And permanent hair color used specifically for gray coverage? The same four to six weeks – with a tone that can fade a little faster on gray hair, which is exactly what a Gloss between colorings and a quick root touch-up are for.

Next: Tips for Making Your Color Last Longer