The 5 Best Temporary Hair Colors, Tested and Reviewed

Mar. 15, 2025

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleOur Top PicksReviewsOthers We TriedThings to ConsiderHow We TestedFAQWhy Trust PEOPLE?What Is PEOPLE Tested?

In This ArticleView All

In This Article

View All

Our Top Picks

Reviews

Others We Tried

Things to Consider

How We Tested

FAQ

Why Trust PEOPLE?

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

Photo:People

People

Temporary hair color is there when you want the results of dying your hair a fun and vibrant hue without the actual commitment of going bold. These colorful dyes usually have a simple application process, very little downtime, and are often much less damaging on strands than traditional hair dyes (especially when it comes to box dyes). Whether you’re looking to temporarily transform your locks for a concert or music festival or want to refresh your already dyed strands with a toning formula, temporary hair color is the way to go.To find the best temporary hair color, we recruited a team of 12 testers to try out 15 at-home dyes over a six-week period.We spent about 360 hours in total testing each product’s ease of use, effectiveness, and longevity and evaluating the overall results.Keep reading to discover the best temporary hair color on the market, including full-coverage semi-permanent formulas, single-use applications, glosses, and color-depositing masks.Our Top PicksBest Overall:Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye at Amazon$17Jump to ReviewBest for Dark Hair:Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color at Amazon$14Jump to ReviewBest Single-Use:Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel at Amazon$15Jump to ReviewBest Gloss:dpHue Gloss+ at Amazon$38Jump to ReviewBest Mask:IGK Color Depositing Hair Mask at Amazon$29Jump to Review

Temporary hair color is there when you want the results of dying your hair a fun and vibrant hue without the actual commitment of going bold. These colorful dyes usually have a simple application process, very little downtime, and are often much less damaging on strands than traditional hair dyes (especially when it comes to box dyes). Whether you’re looking to temporarily transform your locks for a concert or music festival or want to refresh your already dyed strands with a toning formula, temporary hair color is the way to go.

To find the best temporary hair color, we recruited a team of 12 testers to try out 15 at-home dyes over a six-week period.We spent about 360 hours in total testing each product’s ease of use, effectiveness, and longevity and evaluating the overall results.

Keep reading to discover the best temporary hair color on the market, including full-coverage semi-permanent formulas, single-use applications, glosses, and color-depositing masks.

Our Top PicksBest Overall:Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye at Amazon$17Jump to ReviewBest for Dark Hair:Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color at Amazon$14Jump to ReviewBest Single-Use:Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel at Amazon$15Jump to ReviewBest Gloss:dpHue Gloss+ at Amazon$38Jump to ReviewBest Mask:IGK Color Depositing Hair Mask at Amazon$29Jump to Review

Best Overall:Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye at Amazon$17Jump to ReviewBest for Dark Hair:Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color at Amazon$14Jump to ReviewBest Single-Use:Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel at Amazon$15Jump to ReviewBest Gloss:dpHue Gloss+ at Amazon$38Jump to ReviewBest Mask:IGK Color Depositing Hair Mask at Amazon$29Jump to Review

Best Overall:Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye at Amazon$17Jump to Review

Best Overall:Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye at Amazon$17

Best Overall:

Best for Dark Hair:Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color at Amazon$14Jump to Review

Best for Dark Hair:Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color at Amazon$14

Best for Dark Hair:

Best Single-Use:Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel at Amazon$15Jump to Review

Best Single-Use:Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel at Amazon$15

Best Single-Use:

Best Gloss:dpHue Gloss+ at Amazon$38Jump to Review

Best Gloss:dpHue Gloss+ at Amazon$38

Best Gloss:

Best Mask:IGK Color Depositing Hair Mask at Amazon$29Jump to Review

Best Mask:IGK Color Depositing Hair Mask at Amazon$29

Best Mask:

Best OverallLime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage Semi-Permanent Hair Color DyePHOTO: People$17 at AmazonView on Limecrime.com$17 at Sallybeauty.com

Best OverallLime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye

Best Overall

Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye

PHOTO: People

$17 at AmazonView on Limecrime.com$17 at Sallybeauty.com

ProsThe color comes pre-mixed, so it’s a simple one-step process.A little goes a long way, so you can get several applications out of one jar.The color lasts between 6 to 8 shampoos.It has a fresh, citrus aroma, which isverypleasing compared to the usual hair dye scent.If you have darker hair with highlights, the color is vibrant on your highlights while remaining undetected on your base color.ConsIt does stain the scalp (but washes away after shampooing).

ProsThe color comes pre-mixed, so it’s a simple one-step process.A little goes a long way, so you can get several applications out of one jar.The color lasts between 6 to 8 shampoos.It has a fresh, citrus aroma, which isverypleasing compared to the usual hair dye scent.If you have darker hair with highlights, the color is vibrant on your highlights while remaining undetected on your base color.

The color comes pre-mixed, so it’s a simple one-step process.

A little goes a long way, so you can get several applications out of one jar.

The color lasts between 6 to 8 shampoos.

It has a fresh, citrus aroma, which isverypleasing compared to the usual hair dye scent.

If you have darker hair with highlights, the color is vibrant on your highlights while remaining undetected on your base color.

ConsIt does stain the scalp (but washes away after shampooing).

It does stain the scalp (but washes away after shampooing).

Since it is a semi-permanent formula, the color lasts around six to eight shampoos, which is pretty good compared to some other options we’ve tried. While it does stain your scalp at first, that is common for colorful hair dye and goes away after the first shampoo.

In addition to an all-over look, we love this formula for those who have darker hair with bright highlights. While testing, we found that the color only really sticks to the highlights without muddying brown locks or giving them a dingier version of the desired hue.

Colors:26 |Type:Semi-permanent |Size:6.76 oz.

PHOTO: People / Candace MadonnaPHOTO: People / Candace MadonnaPHOTO: People

Best for Dark HairArctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair ColorPHOTO: People / Tatiana Kennedy$14$13 at Amazon$19 at Ulta$20 at Sallybeauty.comProsThis color is compatible with platinum blonde, light blonde, medium brown, and even light brown base colors.The color goes on bold but also fades beautifully over time — we were never unhappy with the shades, even when the color appeared fully faded.It has a long-lasting formula that can transform hair color for up to six weeks (and even longer if you don’t wash your hair as much).ConsThe formula has a chemical scent that lingers for the first 24 hours (similar to traditional hair dye).Think you can’t use a fun pigmented color on dark hair? Think again. The Arctic Fox Hair Color is designed to transform a range of colors, including medium and light brunette hair. While you’ll need to start with a blonde base to achieve a bold hue, we love this option because it gives brunettes a nice tinge without creating a muddy look.In addition to its color compatibility, this semi-permanent hair dye features bold tones that fade beautifully over time. From the initial dye to the fully faded look, we were happy with how this color transitioned with every wash. Speaking of which, this stuff stays in your hairreallywell. During the testing period, it faded but wasstill noticeable six weeks after the initial application.Colors:24 |Type:Semi-permanent |Size:8 oz.PHOTO: People / Tatiana KennedyPHOTO: People / Tatiana KennedyPHOTO: People

Best for Dark HairArctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair ColorPHOTO: People / Tatiana Kennedy$14$13 at Amazon$19 at Ulta$20 at Sallybeauty.com

Best for Dark HairArctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color

Best for Dark Hair

Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color

PHOTO: People / Tatiana Kennedy

$14$13 at Amazon$19 at Ulta$20 at Sallybeauty.com

ProsThis color is compatible with platinum blonde, light blonde, medium brown, and even light brown base colors.The color goes on bold but also fades beautifully over time — we were never unhappy with the shades, even when the color appeared fully faded.It has a long-lasting formula that can transform hair color for up to six weeks (and even longer if you don’t wash your hair as much).ConsThe formula has a chemical scent that lingers for the first 24 hours (similar to traditional hair dye).

ProsThis color is compatible with platinum blonde, light blonde, medium brown, and even light brown base colors.The color goes on bold but also fades beautifully over time — we were never unhappy with the shades, even when the color appeared fully faded.It has a long-lasting formula that can transform hair color for up to six weeks (and even longer if you don’t wash your hair as much).

This color is compatible with platinum blonde, light blonde, medium brown, and even light brown base colors.

The color goes on bold but also fades beautifully over time — we were never unhappy with the shades, even when the color appeared fully faded.

It has a long-lasting formula that can transform hair color for up to six weeks (and even longer if you don’t wash your hair as much).

ConsThe formula has a chemical scent that lingers for the first 24 hours (similar to traditional hair dye).

The formula has a chemical scent that lingers for the first 24 hours (similar to traditional hair dye).

Think you can’t use a fun pigmented color on dark hair? Think again. The Arctic Fox Hair Color is designed to transform a range of colors, including medium and light brunette hair. While you’ll need to start with a blonde base to achieve a bold hue, we love this option because it gives brunettes a nice tinge without creating a muddy look.

In addition to its color compatibility, this semi-permanent hair dye features bold tones that fade beautifully over time. From the initial dye to the fully faded look, we were happy with how this color transitioned with every wash. Speaking of which, this stuff stays in your hairreallywell. During the testing period, it faded but wasstill noticeable six weeks after the initial application.

Colors:24 |Type:Semi-permanent |Size:8 oz.

PHOTO: People / Tatiana KennedyPHOTO: People / Tatiana KennedyPHOTO: People

Best Single-UseCurlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling GelPHOTO: People / Margo Suckow$15 at AmazonView on Curlsmith.comProsIt completely washes away in one shampoo.Since it’s a temporary gel color, it’s easy to create a mix of color styles.It’s formulated for all hair colors, including dark brown and black.It provides hair with lots of volume.ConsWe wish it were available in more color options!If semi-permanent hair color isn’t temporary enough for you, we recommend the Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel. This one-time hair color is formulated to provide pigment to your hair and then completely wash out with one shampoo — and it does exactly that.Since it’s a temporary gel color, we love this option for those who want to play with their hair color, whether you want to add some colorful face-framing pieces, dye your whole head, or go for a combination look. It’s also an excellent option for those with darker hair colors (including dark brunette and black) who want a more vibrant color tone without bleaching a piece of your hair.In addition to providing hair with temporary color, this formula also works well as a hair styling gel. During the testing period, we noticed thatit gave our hair a lot more volume and shape.Colors:5 |Type:Temporary |Size:1 oz.PHOTO: People / Margo SuckowPHOTO: People / Margo SuckowPHOTO: People

Best Single-UseCurlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling GelPHOTO: People / Margo Suckow$15 at AmazonView on Curlsmith.com

Best Single-UseCurlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel

Best Single-Use

Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel

PHOTO: People / Margo Suckow

$15 at AmazonView on Curlsmith.com

ProsIt completely washes away in one shampoo.Since it’s a temporary gel color, it’s easy to create a mix of color styles.It’s formulated for all hair colors, including dark brown and black.It provides hair with lots of volume.ConsWe wish it were available in more color options!

ProsIt completely washes away in one shampoo.Since it’s a temporary gel color, it’s easy to create a mix of color styles.It’s formulated for all hair colors, including dark brown and black.It provides hair with lots of volume.

It completely washes away in one shampoo.

Since it’s a temporary gel color, it’s easy to create a mix of color styles.

It’s formulated for all hair colors, including dark brown and black.

It provides hair with lots of volume.

ConsWe wish it were available in more color options!

We wish it were available in more color options!

If semi-permanent hair color isn’t temporary enough for you, we recommend the Curlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel. This one-time hair color is formulated to provide pigment to your hair and then completely wash out with one shampoo — and it does exactly that.

Since it’s a temporary gel color, we love this option for those who want to play with their hair color, whether you want to add some colorful face-framing pieces, dye your whole head, or go for a combination look. It’s also an excellent option for those with darker hair colors (including dark brunette and black) who want a more vibrant color tone without bleaching a piece of your hair.

In addition to providing hair with temporary color, this formula also works well as a hair styling gel. During the testing period, we noticed thatit gave our hair a lot more volume and shape.

Colors:5 |Type:Temporary |Size:1 oz.

PHOTO: People / Margo SuckowPHOTO: People / Margo SuckowPHOTO: People

Best GlossdpHue Gloss+PHOTO: People$38 at Amazon$38 at Nordstrom$38 at Ulta

Best GlossdpHue Gloss+

Best Gloss

dpHue Gloss+

$38 at Amazon$38 at Nordstrom$38 at Ulta

ProsIn addition to providing a richer-looking color, the dpHUE Gloss+ also leaves hair looking shinier and smoother.The color lasts up to 8 washes, which is quite impressive for a temporary hair color formula.It has a super hydrating formula that supports hair health.ConsThis semi-permanent gloss is designed for more natural hair colors. (If you want something more colorful and vibrant, we recommend theLime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage.)

ProsIn addition to providing a richer-looking color, the dpHUE Gloss+ also leaves hair looking shinier and smoother.The color lasts up to 8 washes, which is quite impressive for a temporary hair color formula.It has a super hydrating formula that supports hair health.

In addition to providing a richer-looking color, the dpHUE Gloss+ also leaves hair looking shinier and smoother.

The color lasts up to 8 washes, which is quite impressive for a temporary hair color formula.

It has a super hydrating formula that supports hair health.

ConsThis semi-permanent gloss is designed for more natural hair colors. (If you want something more colorful and vibrant, we recommend theLime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage.)

This semi-permanent gloss is designed for more natural hair colors. (If you want something more colorful and vibrant, we recommend theLime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage.)

For a gloss option, consider the dpHUE Gloss+ Semi-Permanent Hair Color and Deep Conditioner. This formula is designed to help with color maintenance and provides strands with a healthy-looking shine. While it doesn’t come in bright colors, it’s a fantastic option for those looking for ways to deepen and tone more traditional colors like brown, black, and even blonde.

Colors:12 |Type:Semi-permanent |Size:6.5 oz.

PHOTO: People / Samantha AronsonPHOTO: People

Best MaskIGK Color Depositing Hair MaskPHOTO: People / Chantia Murphy$29 at Amazon$15 at Walmart$29 at Ulta

Best MaskIGK Color Depositing Hair Mask

Best Mask

IGK Color Depositing Hair Mask

PHOTO: People / Chantia Murphy

$29 at Amazon$15 at Walmart$29 at Ulta

ProsThe formula has two different application processes that allow you to either achieve a sheer color transformation or something a little bolder.It’s formulated with nourishing hair ingredients such as squalane, prickly pear cactus, meadowfoam oil, and quinoa.The mask comes in both natural and colorful hair tones.ConsThe formula only lasts two to three washes.

ProsThe formula has two different application processes that allow you to either achieve a sheer color transformation or something a little bolder.It’s formulated with nourishing hair ingredients such as squalane, prickly pear cactus, meadowfoam oil, and quinoa.The mask comes in both natural and colorful hair tones.

The formula has two different application processes that allow you to either achieve a sheer color transformation or something a little bolder.

It’s formulated with nourishing hair ingredients such as squalane, prickly pear cactus, meadowfoam oil, and quinoa.

The mask comes in both natural and colorful hair tones.

ConsThe formula only lasts two to three washes.

The formula only lasts two to three washes.

Colors:18 |Type:Semi-permanent |Size:6 oz.

PHOTO: People / Chantia MurphyPHOTO: People / Chantia MurphyPHOTO: People / Chantia Murphy

Other Temporary Hair Colors We Tried

Things to Consider When Buying Temporary Hair Color

Base Color

If you’re going for a brighter color, such as pink or purple, your base color is worth considering. Blonde bases usually work best for temporary hair colors, though some colors can work with brunette hair. “For brunettes, I recommend using cooler tones like purple, blue, or green and adding product as you go to achieve a brighter pop of color,” Dimitris Giannetos, a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Megan Fox, Cindy Crawford, Joey King, Camila Cabello, Britney Spears, Amal Clooney, and more, tells PEOPLE.

For a temporary hair color designed to work on most bases — including brown hair — we recommend theArtic Fox Hair Color. This temporary hair color comes in lots of fun hues and is made for application on platinum blonde, light blonde, medium brown, and even light brown.

Staying Power

Temporary hair color is meant to be, well, temporary, so they usually don’t last beyond a few washes. If you are someone who washes your hair often and prefers the look of a bolder color, Giannetos recommends straying away from the dyes and opting for a one-time use spray or gel, such as theCurlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gel. This can help you prevent the inevitable fading that comes with washing while still getting to play with your hair color.

Ingredients

While it’s not always applicable, some formulas should feature nourishing ingredients that support hair health. For example, if you are shopping for a temporary hair color mask, the mask should act as a treatment in addition to depositing color into your hair. For a hair mask that revitalizes hair colorandhealth, we recommend theIGK Color Depositing Mask, which is formulated with squalane, prickly pear cactus, meadowfoam oil, and quinoa to strengthen, hydrate, and nourish strands.

To find the best temporary hair color, we researched dozens of formulas before selecting 14 options for real-world testing. From there, our PEOPLE Tested team began a six-week testing period where we tried each temporary hair color to gain first-hand knowledge and experience of their performance.

Once the six-week testing period was over, we compiled all of our notes and compared each experience. After much deliberation, we landed on 5 of the best temporary hair color formulas, plus a few extra honorable mentions worth sharing with our readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

This depends entirely on the formula and how often you wash your hair. “Depending on how strong the color formulation is, most will last two to three washes,” says Giannetos. “In other cases, some formulations can last up to six weeks.” With this in mind, Giannetos recommends reading the packaging and reviews to get a better understanding of how long the color will last.If you prefer something more short-term, a gel such as theCurlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gelor even a spray like theL’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Sprayis an excellent option. For longer-lasting temporary hair color, we recommend something more semi-permanent like theLime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage, which lasted between 6 to 8 washes when we tested it.

This depends entirely on the formula and how often you wash your hair. “Depending on how strong the color formulation is, most will last two to three washes,” says Giannetos. “In other cases, some formulations can last up to six weeks.” With this in mind, Giannetos recommends reading the packaging and reviews to get a better understanding of how long the color will last.

If you prefer something more short-term, a gel such as theCurlsmith Hair Makeup Temporary Color Styling Gelor even a spray like theL’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Sprayis an excellent option. For longer-lasting temporary hair color, we recommend something more semi-permanent like theLime Crime Unicorn Hair Full Coverage, which lasted between 6 to 8 washes when we tested it.

According to Giannetos, temporary hair color doesn’t usually mess up your hair — but it’s still important to make selections that are formulated with hair health in mind. Giannetos recommends opting for a hair color that is sulfate-free and free from other harsh chemicals to prevent any potential damage.While temporary dye doesn’t mess up your hair’s health, it can interfere with the color. In some situations, a dye can leave a long-lasting tone (especially in blondes) that is hard to remove.For example, if you have blonde hair and use a hot pink dye, the hair could be left with a very subtle peachy tone once it washes out. If you have concerns about your hair color when using temporary dye, we recommend consulting with your hairstylist to decide the best option for you.

According to Giannetos, temporary hair color doesn’t usually mess up your hair — but it’s still important to make selections that are formulated with hair health in mind. Giannetos recommends opting for a hair color that is sulfate-free and free from other harsh chemicals to prevent any potential damage.

While temporary dye doesn’t mess up your hair’s health, it can interfere with the color. In some situations, a dye can leave a long-lasting tone (especially in blondes) that is hard to remove.

For example, if you have blonde hair and use a hot pink dye, the hair could be left with a very subtle peachy tone once it washes out. If you have concerns about your hair color when using temporary dye, we recommend consulting with your hairstylist to decide the best option for you.

Meet our ExpertDimitris Giannetosis a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Megan Fox, Cindy Crawford, Joey King, Camila Cabello, Britney Spears, Amal Clooney, and more.

Meet our Expert

Dimitris Giannetosis a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Megan Fox, Cindy Crawford, Joey King, Camila Cabello, Britney Spears, Amal Clooney, and more.

We created thePEOPLE Tested seal of approvalto help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

source: people.com