Low commitment, high impact color.

Temporary hair dyes make it easy to switch up your color using a non-permanent hair dye alternative — you’ll score tons of compliments, and the best part? It’s only temporary!

Is temporary dye bad for your hair?

Absolutely not! In fact, the less-damaging dye is the only dye you should be using on your hair outside of the salon. “Temporary hair color is a whole different ballgame,” says Diaz. “There is no possibility for damage.” Just make sure you switch to a color-safe shampoo to preserve any temporary color.

There’s a catch, though: If you have ultra-light, natural hair, even temporary color might wind up being more permanent. “The darker the temporary color and the lighter the hair, the longer it will take the color to wash out,” warns O’Connor. It won’t necessarily ruin your natural hair color, but it may alter it for a bit longer than you hoped for.

What is the best temporary hair dye?

Hair mascara isn’t just for covering up grays: it’s an easy technique to add a fun pop of bold color. Apply the wand directly to your hair and brush on some color. It’s the most temporary dye, lasting just 1-2 shampoos.

Hair chalk is great: because of its opacity, it typically shows up on every hair color. To use, simply wet your hair, separate it into sections, then run the chalk down your strands. It lasts 2-4 shampoos.

Colored hairspray is exactly what it sounds like — hairspray with added color! Each application lasts about 2-4 shampoos.

Semi-permanent hair dye lasts at least a week. “Semi-permanent hair color molecules are larger, so they don’t penetrate into the hair and instead act as a stain in the cuticle layer of the hair,” explains Diaz.

Vegetable dye is the longest lasting temporary dye. The chemical-free method can “last anywhere from 1-30 shampoos, depending on how dark or saturated the tone of color is,” Diaz says.