Permanent colors are sometimes called oxidative tints with ammonia.

Permanent colors are sometimes called oxidative tints with ammonia.

• A. Temporary colors
• B. Semi-permanent colors
• C. Oxidative tints with ammonia
• D. Oxidative tints without ammonia

Answer: (C)

Permanent colors rely on an oxidative process using a developer and ammonia. The ammonia opens the hair cuticle and helps lift natural pigment, while the developer oxidizes dye precursors so they form larger, lasting color molecules inside the cortex. That combination—oxidation plus ammonia—explains why these colors are described as oxidative tints with ammonia. Temporary colors coat the outside of the hair and wash out, without causing a chemical oxidation. Semi-permanent colors deposit color with little to no lifting and generally don’t rely on the ammonia-oxidation system. Oxidative tints without ammonia would lack the ammoniacal lifting step, so they wouldn’t be true permanent colors.

Permanent colors rely on an oxidative process using a developer and ammonia. The ammonia opens the hair cuticle and helps lift natural pigment, while the developer oxidizes dye precursors so they form larger, lasting color molecules inside the cortex. That combination—oxidation plus ammonia—explains why these colors are described as oxidative tints with ammonia.

Temporary colors coat the outside of the hair and wash out, without causing a chemical oxidation. Semi-permanent colors deposit color with little to no lifting and generally don’t rely on the ammonia-oxidation system. Oxidative tints without ammonia would lack the ammoniacal lifting step, so they wouldn’t be true permanent colors.