Always wanted to colour your hair a bold new hue but not sure if it’ll suit you, or not willing to splurge at the salon? Try this new trend that’ll have you looking like your favourite Korean stars in no time – temporary hair dyes!

They’re easy to use, low-commitment, totally affordable and you can use them from the comfort of your home. What’s not to like? They also usually don’t contain ammonia, so you’re not left with a lingering stink in your hair and bathroom.
With the festive season fast approaching, refresh your hair colour and beat the salon crowd (and CNY surcharges) with these 10 temporary colour dyes and treatments:
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Customising your hair colour just got a whole lot easier, with nine pastel and vivid shades to play with including lilac, burgundy, rose gold and turquoise. This semi-permanent hair dye colours your hair while conditioning it at the same time, so your tresses feel soft and cared for. Colour gradually fades over one to two weeks, depending on how often you wash your hair. Mix them up for Instagram-worthy #unicornhair or simply use your one desired shade; it’s up to you to be as creative as you want although it’s worth noting that most of these colours work best with bleached or highlighted hair. Available at Watsons.
If you’re just looking to change your hair colour for one particular day of visitations (or any other day, really), this hair colour spray is right up your alley. Available in seven different bright and fun shades such as Hot Pink, Pastel Blue and Mint Green, each pump deposits a lightweight powder pigment onto your hair, and shows up well even on dark tresses. Simply wash it out at the end of the day with a deep-cleansing shampoo to ensure that there’s no residual colour. Easy! Available at Watsons.
Revive faded hair colour, eliminate brassiness and minimise multiple salon touch-ups (which can get expensive) with this new and unique rinse-off treatment dye that penetrates colourants into your hair without damaging it, thanks to cutting-edge technology and formula that uses nourishing Argan oil and silk essence. It’s available in three variants – Ash, Brown and Pink – to suit the colour of your hair. Apply it on towel-dried hair once or twice a week and rinse thoroughly, before using your conditioner or hair mask. Available exclusively online at Watsons.
Need a little root retouching (grey or otherwise)? This nifty lightweight spray, available in Light Brown, Auburn, Dark Brown and Black, is designed to instantly and seamlessly blend into your hair when applied onto regrowth areas, without leaving residue. It contains no sulphates or parabens, and is formulated with shine-enhancing ingredients like orange peel oil and tangerine peel oil. Just like make-up, the colour will dissolve after a single wash. Available at selected salons.
Leave this semi-permanent hair dye on for ten minutes and emerge from the shower with a fresh new K-pop star-worthy look. The longer you leave it on, the more vivid the colour you get. There are five shades in the range, including Mysterious Purple, Spicy Red, Pale Pink, Forest Green and Fantasy Blue, and you can mix and match as you like. It’s formulated with nourishing and scalp-safe products, and lasts for about a week on average. The trick to extend the life of your colour is to reapply it before it completely fades away. Best used on light or bleached hair. Available online at Althea.
This silicone-free, treatment-based temporary hair dye is made with special dyes and plant moisture formulas that help strengthen and care for your hair (even permed or chemically processed hair!), so you don’t have to worry about spoiling your tresses or irritating your scalp. Choose from a range of seven colours, which will gradually fade after one to two weeks, so you can switch up your look often. Available online at Althea.
Fans of this Korean beauty brand will be glad to know that it also has a line of non-damaging temporary hair dyes that are designed to condition your strands while adding colour. Five colours are available, from baby pink to natural ash, and will last up to seven days or a week. Of course, expect better colour payoff on light hair, as compared to dark hair. Those with longer hair may need to use more than one tube at a time. Available at Hermo.
Give your hair a tint-over with this semi-permanent hair dye treatment that leaves your mane soft and smooth to the touch. Due to its small packet size, it’s probably best used on highlights or for the tips of your hair that have been bleached before; for the whole head, you may need to buy a few more packets. Leave it on for about five to 10 minutes before rinsing with warm water and blow-drying until perfectly dry. It’s available in a range of trendy and chic colours too! Available online at Althea.
This gentle, 100 per cent vegan hair dye contains no harmful chemicals or animal by-products which claims to make it safe enough to be used often without fear of damaging your mane. It’s recommended for those with very light, bleached hair, and there are more than 10 vibrant hues to choose from, including silver. Available at KAMS Singapore.
With a wide range of colours available, create your own unique shade that reflects your individuality with this semi-permanent hair dye that lasts about six to eight washes. You can even mix it with conditioner so that it’s more nourishing to your strands. A single tub generally covers shoulder-length hair. Available at Venus Beauty.
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Text: Elizabeth Liew