Do you love the look of pink, purple, or teal locks, but don’t want to risk long-term hair damage? Vibrant hair colors often require bleach and frequent redyeing. With these alternatives and hair-care tips, you can get rainbow strands without split ends.

By Jayne Turner – Staff Writer

Low-Damage Methods

Semi-permanent dyes: Semi-permanent vibrant hair colors are temporary, developer-free dyes that stain the hair shaft, rather than penetrating it. They last for a few weeks, and last longer the less you wash.

Popular brands include Arctic Fox, Pulp Riot, and Manic Panic. Do some research to see which brand has the color for you!

Color-depositing masks: Overtone is a brand that makes color-depositing treatment masks. They claim to be suitable for darker hair colors. It is also semi-permanent, but the longer you leave the dye on your hair, the more saturated it will become.

Pro tip: these masks can be a great secondary method for protecting and maintaining hair once it is dyed!

Check out these top skincare products of 2025.

High-lift hair color: This is a permanent dye that lightens natural hair by several levels and tones it in a single step! It is less harsh than bleaching but is more effective on virgin hair. It also won’t lift color as effectively on dark hair. This method is ideal for light brown hair, at the darkest.

The reality is that to achieve a vibrant hair color, bleaching is necessary. Unless you have naturally light blonde hair, the color just won’t pop. In that case, hair care is essential!

Tips for Maintenance

Wash with cold water: Using warm or hot water opens up the hair cuticle, allowing the pigment to leak out. Cold water seals it, boosting not only the color, but the shine and moisture. It contributes to overall hair health.

Another method is to wash less often. Less washing leads to less pigment loss. Invest in a good dry shampoo to extend the time between washes! I like this color-safe one.

Limit heat: Using heat will fade color faster, so opt for air drying and heatless styling techniques. If you use heat, make sure to get a good heat protectant!

The same goes for sun exposure, since UV rays will fade the color too. A new product on the market is hair sunscreen, which protects against UV damage and color fading. They are designed to be lightweight, non-greasy, and don’t leave white residue.

Use plenty of conditioner: Keeping your hair moisturized is important for maintaining vibrant hair color and reducing damage. A good conditioner in the shower and a leave-in conditioner after the shower will protect your strands from split ends.

A color-depositing conditioner can help to maintain the color for longer by continually refreshing the color with every wash while nourishing your hair.

Find out why a silk pillowcase is another great tool for hair protection here!

The most important thing to remember is that maintaining vibrant hair color long-term is a commitment! While minimizing damage is possible, it is not a guarantee. If you are worried about long-term hair damage, opt for short-term coloring.