Hair Coloring - Alternative Hair Colorants

Alternative Hair Colorants

A minority of hair coloring products are designed to create hair colors not typically found in nature. The available colors are diverse, including green and fuchsia.

These dyes are typically sold in punk-themed stores (such as comic book and music stores), with brand names like "Beyond The Zone", "Splat", 'Fudge Paintbox' 'Crazy Colors' "Clairol Jazzing", "Manic Panic", "Special Effects", "Punky Colour", "Stargazer", "La Riché Directions". A permanent alternative in some colors (such as bold red and dark, inky purples and blues) are available from big haircare brands. Some alternative color shades are blacklight reactive, to show up under nightclub lighting.

The chemical formula of alternative color dyes typically contain only tint and have no developer. This means that they will only create the bright color of the packet if they are applied to light blond hair. People with darker hair (medium brown to black) will need to use a bleaching kit prior to tint application. Some people with fair hair may benefit from prior bleaching as well. Gold, yellow and orange undertones in hair that has not been lightened enough can adversely affect results, especially with pinks, blues and greens. Although alternative colors are semi-permanent in the cases of some colors, such as blue and purple, it could take several months to fully wash the color from bleached or pre-lightened hair.