The first thing we must remember is temporary color is a product that does not have to be mixed with another substance. For example if you were using a semi, or permanent color you would expect to be mixing two products together. This would be a solution of peroxide which enables the color to penetrate the hair shaft and lock in the chosen color. People with grey, or white hair will find temporary color a good way of trying out new tones, as this way you can easily jump over to the more permanent color when you find one that suits you best. With a temporary colour you will still need to have just as good a coverage, which means applying the product evenly over the entire head of hair, making sure you have left no unsightly patches. There are several hair colors that fall within this category which include.

• Color shampoo
  
• Coloured mousse
  
• Setting lotions
• Toners
• Shades
• Spray in hair colour
• Hair mascara
  

You can also find temporary hair color in certain brands of shampoo. These can be used to tone down, or enhance your existing hair color. It is very rare to become allergic to these products because they have none of the harmful ingredients sometimes found in permanent colors, but a skin test may well be recommended by the manufacturer to cover themselves and you as the consumer. Temporary color is a splendid way of experimenting with a few different colors in preparation for you moving on to the next stage in your colouring needs.

It should wash out within a few shampoos, but according to the porosity of your hair they can sometimes stain, or take longer than expected to wash out. If you are dark and trying to get a lighter shade then you will be disappointed with a temporary color as this will not lift the shade of your hair, but only tone the color of your hair. If you have a light base shade and would like to go darker, this is ideal, as you can tone, shade, and color your hair with a different color each time as long as your hair isn't bleached, as again this is very porous hair, and can lead to staining.

Always thoroughly massage the product into the scalp, and comb through so as not to miss areas and cause patches. Getting someone else to apply the color will also help to reduce patches as it is difficult to see for yourself sometimes.

Because temporary color sits on top of the hair shaft, they can stain clothing and bedding as the color is not penetrated into the hair like a permanent color would be. Spray in temporary colors are the worst offenders, and I would recommend you washing your hair before bedtime to avoid staining. Temporary color is a lot weaker than other colors, and because of this do not be surprised if the colour on the packaging comes out a lot weaker than you may have anticipated. This is solely dependant on the natural base shade of your hair, and the porosity can change the depth of color too. More hair style advice can be found here if you need it.

The best product to tone down grey, or white hair is the coloured mousse, as it's easy to apply and comb through the hair. It can be blow dried, unlike setting lotions which work best with rollers. Spray colors are best applied once the hair is dry, as they are a lot like a normal can of spray color you would use for craft work, and normally they would not work all that good on damp hair.

Toners and shades are used once you have shampooed your hair, and would be left on for the time stated on the packaging. These last a little longer, and all the others are wash in wash out products. Hair mascara is a cool way of transforming your look for a night out, and can be applied to strands of hair to give a highlighted, or low lighted effect.

For best results when applying a temporary color, use a tint bowl, and a tinting brush. Both of these items can be bought very cheap online, and will make life a lot easier. The tint brush is a more controlled hairdressing tool, as it allows you to paint the color onto the hair. Use an old towel and clip this around your neck to protect clothing. If you can ask someone else to apply then do so. Starting at the front take sections and paint the mixture onto the scalp. Once you have covered the whole head, using gloves massage firmly into the scalp, and finish with a wide toothed comb to obtain the most even coverage you can. This can be applied to most temporary colors, but the sprays and hair mascara will be used as directed on the product instructions.

As a hairdresser I would always advice you to take some professional advice from your own hairdresser, as she will know your hair best, and can advice on your porosity and whether a temporary color would work well for you. I hope I have given you a little insight on how to use temporary color, and remember most of the products I have spoken about today, can be found to buy at all good beauty supply shops online and offline.