Wyoming State Board Cosmetology Practice Exam 2026 - Free Cosmetology Exam Questions and Study Guide

Semi-permanent hair color is formulated to add color to the hair without lifting the natural base color. Unlike permanent hair color, which contains ammonia and can penetrate the hair shaft to lighten the natural pigment, semi-permanent products typically do not contain ammonia and are designed to deposit color only. They generally last for a shorter period, usually fading after several washes, and because they do not lift melanin, they can only enhance or alter the existing shade of the hair.

In contrast, permanent hair color is capable of both depositing and lifting color, while bleach is specifically designed to lift hair color by removing pigment entirely. Temporary hair color, while it can add vivid colors, also does not affect the natural base in terms of lifting but is more about superficial application on the hair shaft.