Semi permanent dye is the low commitment way to change your hair colour, because it fades over weeks rather than growing out. This page compares seven creme and cream colours on what each listing actually says: how long the colour lasts, whether it is made for conditioning, and which hair it suits. Every rating below comes from the listing, and several are shared across all the shades on one listing.
The picks range from bold fashion shades to a natural Darkest Brown, so start with the shade you want, then check the catch on each pick. If you want to look after the colour afterwards, our purple shampoo guide and hair mask guide are good next reads.
Best overall: Manic Panic Classic High Voltage
Best semi permanent hair dye overall: the Manic Panic Classic High Voltage Semi Permanent Hair Colour Cream, because it is a cream colour built for a dramatic look and has by far the most buyer ratings here.
The listing describes a high voltage semi permanent hair colour cream with a rich blend to enhance dark or light hair. It says the colour gradually fades in 4 to 6 weeks and brings a dramatic look to your locks. The tub holds 118 ml, and the shade shown is Vampire Red. It holds 4.2 stars from more than 54,000 ratings, the most of any colour on this page.
It suits anyone who wants a well known fashion colour with a clear fade time. The honest catch: the rating is shared across every shade on the listing, so one shade can score differently from the average.
Best rated fashion colour: IROIRO Premium Natural Semi Permanent
Best rated fashion colour: the IROIRO Premium Natural Semi Permanent Hair Colour, because it holds 4.6 stars from more than 1,700 ratings, level with the Joico on score and ahead of it on ratings.
The listing describes a 100% vegan and cruelty free cream based colour with 95% natural ingredients and pure coconut oil, in a yuzu cranberry fragrance. It says the formula is free from ammonia, peroxide, PPD, parabens and alcohol. The shade shown is 310 Neon Pink in an eco pouch of about 118 ml, and the listing recommends pre lightening to Level 10 or above for silver, platinum or pastel shades. It holds 4.6 stars from 1,726 ratings.
It suits people who read ingredient lists and want a vegan formula. The honest catch: the pouch of about 118 ml costs more than the other picks here, so it is the dearest way to colour a small amount of hair.
Best salon brand colour: Joico Vero Colour Intensity
Best salon brand colour: the Joico Vero Colour Intensity Semi Permanent Hair Creme Colour, because it pairs intense pigments with a 4.6 star rating from over 1,000 ratings.
The listing says it gives you the power to create beautiful, vivid shades, with intense pigments, and that it can be applied straight from the tube. It describes leaving hair shiny and soft. The tube holds 118 ml and the shade shown is Amethyst Purple. It has 4.6 stars from 1,019 ratings.
It suits anyone who wants a purple or fashion shade from a salon range without mixing anything. The honest catch: each shade is its own purchase, so the rating you see belongs to the Amethyst Purple listing, not to every Joico colour.
Best conditioning colour: Punky Colour Conditioning Hair Colour
Best conditioning colour: the Punky Colour Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Colour, because it is sold as a conditioning colour with Keratin Complex and has more than 7,000 ratings.
The listing describes a conditioning colour that needs no added peroxide, with a colour enhancing Keratin Complex. It says the colour fades in up to 35 shampoos and is applied from roots to ends with a tinting brush, left on for approximately 15 to 30 minutes, then rinsed out. The pot is 100 ml in Alpine Green, with 4.2 stars from 7,203 ratings.
It suits anyone trying a green or multi tonal look, since the listing mentions ombre and holographic hues. The honest catch: it ties for the lowest rating on this page at 4.2 stars, and the listing gives its own fade time of 35 shampoos, not a number of weeks.
Best vegan colour: Good Dye Young Semi Permanent
Best vegan colour: the Good Dye Young Semi Permanent Hair Colour, because the listing calls it vegan, cruelty free and conditioning, with colour that lasts up to 24 washes.
The listing says the colour is deposited on top of the hair shaft and acts like a stain that fades each time you wash. It mentions bergamot fragrance and a sunflower extract. The tube of about 148 ml is a Magenta Pink, rated 4.2 stars from 1,510 ratings. The listing says to wear gloves and do a strand test.
It suits people who want a bold pink on already light hair. The honest catch: the listing says it shows best on level 10 light blonde hair, so it is a poor match for dark hair that has not been lightened.
Best known everyday brand: Adore Shining Semi Permanent
Best known everyday brand: the Adore Shining Semi Permanent Hair Colour, because it is sold across many shades and has more than 12,000 ratings.
The listing describes a vibrant shining colour with a blend of natural ingredients, vibrant and vivid shades, and a soft, silky finish with enhanced shine. The tub holds 118 ml and the listing gives Australia as the country of origin. The shade shown is Ruby Red, and the rating of 4.2 stars from 12,361 ratings is pooled across shades.
It suits anyone who wants a familiar brand and a wide shade choice. The honest catch: the listing is short on detail, with no fade time and no lightening advice, so you learn less here than from the Manic Panic or Punky listings.
Best for natural shades: L'Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss
Best for natural shades: the L'Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss Semi Permanent Hair Colour in 300 Darkest Brown, because it is the lowest priced pick here and the listing describes ammonia free colour with grey coverage.
The listing describes a Glycolic Gloss Complex for an ultra glossy, long lasting colour and flawless grey coverage, with a gloss that lasts through 32 washes. It says glycolic acid intensely conditions as it colours, and that the colour has no ammonia for a pleasant smell. It holds 4.8 stars from 58 ratings.
It suits anyone after a quiet, natural brown with some grey coverage rather than a fashion shade. The honest catch: only 58 ratings so far, so the 4.8 is a thin score, and Darkest Brown is a natural shade, not a fashion colour.
How to choose a semi permanent hair dye
What semi permanent means
Semi permanent colour fades with washing instead of growing out. The Good Dye Young listing describes colour that sits on top of the hair shaft like a stain, and the Punky listing says no peroxide needs to be added. That is why fade times are quoted in weeks or in washes, and why the shade you pick matters more than with a colour you plan to keep.
Match the shade to your starting colour
The listings are clear that light hair shows colour best. IROIRO recommends pre lightening to Level 10 or above for silver, platinum or pastel shades, and Good Dye Young says its pink shows best on level 10 light blonde hair. Manic Panic says its blend enhances dark or light hair, and L'Oreal Darkest Brown is a natural shade made for darker tones.
Compare how long the colour lasts
The picks measure wear in different units, so line them up first. Manic Panic says 4 to 6 weeks, Punky up to 35 shampoos, L'Oreal 32 washes and Good Dye Young up to 24 washes. How fast it fades in your hair depends on your wash routine, so treat each figure as the listing's claim.
Some listings give a lot of detail and some give none. IROIRO lists what it is free from, including ammonia and peroxide, and L'Oreal calls its colour ammonia free. Punky and Good Dye Young describe conditioning colour. Joico and Adore describe shine and a soft finish. If the listing is silent on something you care about, treat that as unknown, not as a yes.
Vegan and cruelty free options
IROIRO and Good Dye Young both say vegan and cruelty free in their listings. If that matters to you, choose between them on shade and starting hair colour: IROIRO has the higher rating, and Good Dye Young is the one built around a bold pink.
How to read the ratings
Manic Panic and Adore have pooled ratings across shades, so a score of 4.2 is an average, not a promise for your shade. L'Oreal has a high score on a small count. The strongest evidence on this page is IROIRO and Joico, both 4.6 stars from more than 1,000 ratings. For the follow up routine, our clarifying shampoo guide covers the reset step before your next colour.
Good Dye Young says to wear gloves, and Punky describes using a tinting brush with a 15 to 30 minute wait. If the listing gives instructions, follow its wording, since the shade and the formula are different on each product.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arctic Fox or Manic Panic better?
Arctic Fox is not one of the seven picks, so we cannot compare the two from listings. Manic Panic Classic High Voltage is our top pick: a cream colour the listing says gradually fades in 4 to 6 weeks, with far more buyer ratings than any other semi permanent colour here.
What type of hair dye is semi permanent?
A semi permanent dye is a colour that fades with washing rather than growing out. The Good Dye Young listing says its colour is deposited on top of the hair shaft like a stain and fades each time you wash. The Punky listing says no peroxide needs to be added.
Is there an Australian made semi permanent hair dye?
The Adore Shining Semi Permanent listing gives Australia as the country of origin, and none of the other six listings does. It is also the pick with the most ratings after Manic Panic, 4.2 stars from more than 12,000, pooled across shades. The listing is short, so read the Manic Panic or Punky listings for fade times and application detail.
What is the best demi permanent hair colour to use at home?
None of the seven listings use the word demi permanent, so we stay with the semi permanent label. The closest option is the L'Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss in 300 Darkest Brown, which the listing calls ammonia free with Glycolic Gloss Complex. It has only 58 ratings so far.
What is the best semi permanent hair dye to cover grey in Australia?
The L'Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss is the pick whose listing mentions grey, describing flawless grey coverage and a gloss that lasts through 32 washes. It comes in a natural Darkest Brown shade. It holds 4.8 stars, but from only 58 ratings, so treat the score as early.
What is the best professional hair colour brand in Australia?
For a salon brand on this page, the pick is Joico Vero Colour Intensity: the listing describes intense pigments and a creme colour you can apply straight from the tube, and it holds 4.6 stars from more than 1,000 ratings. The shade shown is Amethyst Purple, and each shade is bought separately.
How long does semi permanent hair dye last?
It depends on the colour. The Manic Panic listing says it gradually fades in 4 to 6 weeks, Punky Colour says up to 35 shampoos, L'Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss says 32 washes, and Good Dye Young says up to 24 washes. Your results depend on your hair and how often you wash it.
Which semi permanent hair dyes are vegan?
Two picks say so in their listings. IROIRO describes itself as 100% vegan and cruelty free, made with 95% natural ingredients and pure coconut oil. Good Dye Young calls its Magenta Pink vegan and cruelty free, with up to 24 washes. Check the listing for the shade you are buying.
Do I need to lighten my hair before using semi permanent dye?
It depends on the shade. The IROIRO listing recommends pre lightening to Level 10 or above for silver, platinum or pastel shades, and the Good Dye Young listing says its Magenta shows best on level 10 light blonde hair. The Manic Panic listing says its blend is made to enhance dark or light hair.
