Ace the Virginia Cosmetology Test 2025 – Style Your Skills and Shine Bright!

Permanent hair color is designed to provide long-lasting results by penetrating the hair shaft and altering the natural pigment. This type of color contains a developer that activates permanent color molecules, allowing the dye to bond with the hair structure. As a result, permanent hair color can endure through multiple washes and typically requires regrowth touch-ups rather than frequent reapplication.

In contrast, semi-permanent hair color deposits color on the hair cuticle without the use of a developer, leading to less durability. It fades gradually over time, usually lasting for about 4 to 12 shampoos. Temporary hair color, while vibrant, washes out after a single shampoo, making it even less long-lasting than semi-permanent options. Oxidative hair color encompasses both permanent and semi-permanent formulations but does not necessarily refer to a color that lasts longer than semi-permanent coloring. Highlighting hair color refers specifically to techniques used to create contrast in the hair and is not categorized by its longevity compared to semi-permanent colors.