Going silver can be a fun and stylish change to your hair color. While permanent silver dyes can cause damage, semi-permanent options allow you to try the look without a long-term commitment. When choosing a semi-permanent silver hair dye, you’ll want to consider factors like shade options, ease of use, and duration. Read on as we discuss the top picks for semi-permanent silver hair color.
Best Overall: OVertone Extreme Silver Coloring Conditioner
For an easy-to-use option that delivers striking silver tones, OVertone Extreme Silver Coloring Conditioner is a top choice. This conditioning formula comes in a pretty purple jar and is applied like regular conditioner. It gradually deposits color with each use to build up bold silver hues.
Here’s an overview of the key pros and cons of OVertone Extreme Silver:
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If you’re looking for bold silver hues with minimal hassle, OVertone is a leading option. It allows you to gradually deepen the cool tones while keeping hair soft.
Best Value: Ion Color Brilliance Brights Semi-Permanent Hair Color
For an affordable at-home semi-permanent hair dye, Ion’s Brights line offers a great silver shade. The Ion Brilliance Brights Silver formulation provides intense medium to light cool tones on pre-lightened hair. It’s priced lower than many salon brands.
Here is an overview of Ion Brilliance Brights Silver’s main pros and cons:
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If you want to take your hair light blonde and add radiant silver tones without breaking the bank, Ion Brights Silver is a great drugstore option.
Best for Dark Hair: MANIC PANIC Ultraviolet
Finding a semi-permanent silver dye that shows up on brunette or black hair can be tricky. But MANIC PANIC Ultraviolet is specially formulated to deposit vibrant violet-silver tones on even the darkest hair.
Here are some of the main pros and cons for MANIC PANIC Ultraviolet:
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While it requires patience, MANIC PANIC Ultraviolet allows brunettes and raven-haired beauties to temporarily rock striking silver locks.
Best Toner: Wella Color Charm T18 Toner
To refine and neutralize brassiness as you transition your hair to silver, a toner is a must. The Wella Color Charm T18 Toner is a salon staple thanks to its brightening and toning abilities. After lightening your strands, this violet-blue toner neutralizes warm yellow undertones.
Here is a quick rundown of the key upsides and downsides of Wella Color Charm T18:
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As a toner between lightening sessions or for maintenance, Wella T18 helps perfect platinum and silver hues.
Best Shampoo for Toner: Fanola No Yellow Shampoo
To keep your silver hair bright between toning sessions, use a pigmented shampoo like Fanola No Yellow. The violet pigments in this shampoo help neutralize brassiness and yellow undertones as you cleanse your hair.
Below are some key pros and cons of the Fanola No Yellow Shampoo:
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Using Fanola No Yellow between washes keeps silver hair looking crisp and bright.
How Does Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Work?
Semi-permanent hair dyes coat the outside of your hair strands without penetrating the cortex. This means they won’t lighten or radically alter your natural pigment. Semi-permanent dyes wash out gradually over 4-12 weeks.
There are two main types of semi-permanent hair dye:
- Direct dyes – Intense toner colors that deposit pigment onto hair, great for fashion shades like silver.
- Tint dyes – Softer deposit-only tones similar to your natural color.
With semi-permanent hair dye, some key things to keep in mind are:
- Strands should be pre-lightened to reach platinum blonde for the best silver results.
- Porosity matters – More porous hair absorbs more dye for bolder results.
- cooler tones like silver fade the fastest.
- Frequent washing, sun exposure, and heat styling accelerates fading.
Benefits of Semi-Permanent Hair Dye
There are many advantages that make semi-permanent dyes a great option for temporarily coloring your hair silver:
- Less damaging – No developer or bleaching makes semi-permanent dyes gentler on hair.
- Easy application – Most semi-permanent dyes are quick and easy to self-apply at home.
- Fun colors – Semi-permanents allow you to play with trendy shades like silver without a long commitment.
- More natural look – The gradual fading of semi-permanent dye looks more believable than permanently colored hair growing out.
- Cost-effective – Semi-permanents are affordably priced, especially for temporary fashion shades.
How to Use Semi-Permanent Hair Dye
Using semi-permanent hair dye properly helps you get the best results. Here are some tips for applying and maintaining semi-permanent silver hair color:
- Lighten your hair to pale blonde first for the best canvas for silver tones.
- Wash hair with a clarifying shampoo before coloring for better dye uptake.
- Section clean, dry hair and use petroleum jelly to protect skin before applying dye.
- Apply dye evenly following the product directions, either blending or brushing through sections.
- Leave on for the recommended processing time based on your hair porosity and thickness.
- Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear and condition hair.
- Use a purple shampoo and conditioner to maintain tones between dye applications.
- Reapply the semi-permanent dye as it begins to fade out to maintain your preferred intensity.
The Takeaway
Playing with semi-permanent silver hair dye allows you to try this trendy shade without a drastic commitment. Options like OVertone, Ion Brights, and Manic Panic make it easy to watch your hair transform into beautiful silver locks. Pair semi-permanent dye with toners like Wella T18 and purple shampoos to perfect your silvery shade.
While semi-permanent silver hair requires some maintenance, the fun tone and lower damage potential makes it worth the effort. Take the plunge into silver hair with a quality semi-permanent formula made just for your hair’s needs.