Best Hair Color Salons in NYC; Permanent, Semi & Demi Permanent Colors

Just one hair color? In the age of ombre, highlights, and hair mascara, it sounds crazy, but the look is catching on among a few trendsetting actresses. The phrase “single process hair color” might conjure thoughts of bad home dye jobs or retro beauty icons, but today’s version is a far cry from inky or lackluster color. The most basic and commonly referred to color service is something called a single-process or one-process color. It’s a type of color – permanent, semi-permanent or demi-permanent – that’s applied to the entire head to create a new base color. Single-process color enables us to produce a high-gloss shine and even tone, roots to ends. Being in fall season and going towards winter, more people are moving away from the dip-dye look. If you’re worried that a single color will make your hair lack depth, ask for “hair shading”.

Of course, with a full head of color you’ll have to have your roots touched up every four to six weeks, but it’s worth it for shiny, vibrant, statement-making color that’s anything but one note. Permanent color is the only type of color capable of covering gray one hundred percent. The other types of color can only partially cover gray, creating what seems to be a translucent stain on those areas. But this staining effect isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Many women who have only a scattering of gray like the look that a non-permanent colors provides: The slightly stained strands can actually look like highlights! Permanent color has another advantage. It’s the only color that contains ammonia – or an ammonia derivative – which is a necessary ingredient (along with hydrogen peroxide) in the lightening of natural hair color (as high as four levels, in some cases). The ammonia works by softening the hair so that the cuticle swells, thus allowing the color to penetrate and deposit into the hair shaft, as opposed to only temporarily coloring the cuticle, or outer layer of the hair.

Non-permanent colors, on the other hand – such as semi- and demi-permanents – have traditionally been valued for their no-ammonia and, in the case of semi-permanent colors, no-peroxide, content, which makes them more gentle on the hair.  In addition, semi-permanents are true, non-committal colors, since they wash out of the hair after a number of shampoos. Those concerned with ammonia or other additives should consult their colorist.

Lifting Hair Color to a Higher Level of Hair Color

A double process is necessary to exceed four levels of lift.  In this procedure, a color lightener is used to remove natural color from the hair, and then a toner is applied for color. This is the procedure necessary for turning someone with black hair into a platinum blonde!