Hair tint may refer to a number of things; in general, tint refers to a very semi-permanent color, which is added to the hair, but does not truly dye it or cover gray. However, some people refer to all hair dye as tint, whether they are permanent, demi-permanent, or semi-permanent, which can be confusing. For the purposes of this article, the first definition of hair tint will be used: a semi-permanent dye that washes out in a few days or weeks.
One of the advantages to choosing a hair tint rather than a more permanent hair color change is that it allows you to experiment more with your hair without fear of mistakes. It is generally not capable of drastically changing the hair color; rather, it will slightly enhance a color, add some highlights, or slightly darken or lighten a hair color. It is not possible to go from dark brown hair to blonde with a hair tint, however, so keep that in mind. Some people choose to tint their hair with bright colors such as pink, purple, or blue.
In addition, when choosing a tint color for the hair, keep skin tone in mind. People with cool skin tones generally look better with cooler hair colors, such as dark brown, for example, whereas people with warmer skin tones may look great with red highlights or reddish blonde hair. If unsure, a stylist will be able to help you determine your skin tone, and choose a corresponding hair color; this will help you to avoid looking unnatural, or avoid making the hair look brassy.
In addition, when choosing a hair tint, keep in mind that it will not cover grays. It will be necessary to select a more permanent hair dye in order to cover grays. Hair tint generally looks best and brightest within the first few days of coloring the hair, and will then gradually wash out over the next few weeks. The benefit to this is that the color simply fades gradually, and does not noticeably grow out when new roots come in.
In addition, hair tint is often gentler on the hair than more permanent hair dye, because it is not necessary to bleach the hair first. Be sure to read the instructions on the package, however, and only apply tint as often as needed to avoid drying out the hair. One way to choose the best tint color is to consider the seasons; for instance, you might want the hair to appear lighter and more sun-kissed in the spring and summer, but warmer and darker in the winter. It is important to always make sure the color looks natural, no matter what color you choose.
