If you love dyeing your hair in bright colors, then you’re probably familiar with Splat hair dyes.
They have a variety of fun hair colors that are great for pre-lightened or natural hair, so you’ll definitely see a couple of shades that you want to try out.
But as a hair color enthusiast, you know that you won’t stick to one hair color for an extended period of time.
So how long does it take for Splat to come out of hair? Well, you’ll have to read more to find out.
What is Splat hair dye?
Splat is a hair dye brand that offers vegan and cruelty-free vivid hair colors.
Their Original Complete Kit contains bleach and semi-permanent color where you can pick between 19 shades. Their Midnight line is compatible with light brown to blonde hair, as it includes 12 shades of highly-pigmented direct dye you won’t even need to bleach your hair.
But if you’re looking for longer-lasting color, you can select between 5 shades from their Double Lift Permanent Color line.
They also have temporary hair colors that you can remove after 1 or 10 washes. They don’t need bleach to apply, so they’re great for when you’re still experimenting with fantasy hair colors.
Lastly, they also have hair chalk or spray-on temporary dyes for when you want to add a pop of color to your hair without actually dyeing it.
Is Splat hair dye permanent?
Splat is famous for its semi-permanent hair dyes that should wash out of your hair.
Their pigments won’t alter your starting hair color since you’re not meant to use their dyes with a developer, so they won’t have the ability to open your hair cuticles completely.
Their semi-permanent colors will slightly open your cuticles to allow the dye molecules to coat the exterior of your hair. But some of those molecules will get into your hair cortex; that’s why some colors will stain your hair.
Since most of the pigments are sitting outside of your hair shaft, they gradually fade out of your hair every time you wash it, leaving the underlying pigments inside your hair cortex.
But some colors, like light and pastel hues, won’t leave any stains, so they’re easier to strip out.
READ: Splat vs Manic Panic
Does Splat hair dye fade fast?
If you like to change your hair color frequently, it’s sometimes nice to know how long a semi-permanent dye will last on your hair.
But since everyone’s hair is different, how long a semi-permanent dye lasts will depend on several factors, including your hair condition, porosity, and chosen color.
Splat estimates their semi-permanent dyes to last for 4-6 weeks. But depending on the mentioned factors and your aftercare, the pigments will fade out after 20-25 washes.
What color you choose will also determine how fast the pigments will fade out. Their blue and purple colors on blonde and pre-lightened hair tend to last the longest. While their red, green, and orange hues tend to fade out faster.
How long does Splat hair dye last without bleach?
If you want your hair color to appear brighter, it’s often recommended to pre-lighten your hair if it’s naturally dark.
But if you’re wary of bleaching your hair, it doesn’t mean you get to miss out on all the fun.
Splat’s Midnight line is compatible with natural light brown to blonde hair, so you won’t need to add the extra step of bleaching your hair.
So how many washes does Splat hair dye last on unbleached hair?
Opposite to their original kit, the cool shades in their Midnight line tend to fade the quickest. Where some experience having their blue hair color fade out after 5 washes on unbleached brown hair.
But their Ruby hair dye truly lasts for 30 washes, where it fades into a subtle red tint.
Splat hair dye tips and tricks
If you’re planning to try a Splat hair color, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of their product:
- If you want to pre-lighten your hair before coloring it, skip the conditioner when rinsing the bleach out. Since the conditioner will form a barrier on your hair, making it difficult for the color pigments to stick later.
- When preparing to dye your hair, cover the area you’ll be working in since Splat is notorious for staining your bathtub, sink, and floors.
- Apply a liberal amount of petroleum jelly on your hairline, ears, and neck since Splat will also stain your skin. You can also invest in those plastic or silicone ear covers to prevent your ears from matching your hair color.
- After applying the color, you can let it sit on your hair for 30-60 minutes, depending on how saturated you want the color to be.
- When rinsing the dye out, apply a sulfate-free shampoo to help the water rinse clear faster.
- If you want the colors to last longer, switch to sulfate-free products since these won’t strip the pigments out as much as commercial hair products.
- Avoid using heat styling tools since these will open up your hair cuticles, making the dye fade out faster.
- You can also freshen up your hair color with their Conditioning Color Masque. But if they don’t match your shade, you can also mix a bit of your leftover semi-permanent dye with your conditioner to create your own color-depositing mask.
Why should you not use Splat hair dye?
When it comes to picking out a semi-permanent dye, Splat is usually scoffed at by hair color enthusiasts due to some of the reasons below:
1. Rumored to contain fabric dye
For years, talk of Splat containing fabric dye has been circling around; that’s why the brand often gets a bad rap.
But if you look closely at the ingredients, you’ll see that their hair colors contain the same dye that other semi-permanent brands use. The only difference is that their formula isn’t diluted with conditioner to make their pigments appear more vibrant.
That’s why some feel like their hair isn’t as soft as when using hair colors from Arctic Fox or oVertone.
So the next time someone mentions that Splat consists of fabric dye, you’ll know that they’re misinformed.
2. Color bleeding
Another reason why hair color enthusiasts tend to turn away from using Splat hair colors is the amount of pigment that bleeds out of their hair.
You’ll notice that it takes a while for the water to turn clear when you first wash the dye out. That’s why it’s recommended to use a sulfate-free shampoo to speed the process up.
The pigments will also stain your bathtub, walls, and hands when rinsing, which can get annoying since you’ll also need to clean up afterward.
It will take 10-15 washes before your dyed wet hair stops staining your clothes and pillowcases, so you’ll need to avoid using light-colored fabrics until then.
Plus, to top it all off, sweating will also cause the dye to bleed out, so it’s best to avoid using Splat altogether if you tend to work out or sweat frequently.
3. Staining
Splat also has the reputation of fading out quickly but leaving underlying pigments to stain on blonde or pre-lightened hair, where their blue colors turn green and their purple hues turn pink.
Some colors will take months to go away, but you can strip most hues out with semi-permanent color removers, like the Joico color eraser. But their pink pigments tend to be impossible to remove, even if you bleach your hair twice.
That’s why some hairstylists also roll their eyes when they find out the awful stain on your hair is a result of using Splat.
So if you want to use any of their pink hair dyes, prepare to cover it with a darker hue when you want to transition to another color. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait for your hair to grow out or to cut it all off.
CHECK OUT: How to get Splat out of hair
The final takeaway
Like any hair product, Splat hair colors also have their own shortcomings.
They may fade out faster than other hair color brands or stain stronger than black hair dyes, but if you’re curious about how it will turn out on your hair, then there’s no harm in trying.
Since everyone’s hair is different, who knows, you might find another semi-permanent hair dye you’ll like.
Just remember to follow the tips mentioned above so you’ll enjoy your hair color longer.