ARCTIC FOX Vegan and Cruelty-Free Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye (4 Fl Oz, VIOLET DREAM)

I have been buying Arctic Fox hair dye for a couple of years and keep returning to it due to its reliability and long-lasting colors for a semi-permanent dye. I've had different experiences with the different colors, having tried purple rain (now discontinued), virgin pink, and sunset orange colors. I will focus this review primarily on my experience with the virgin pink variety, as it is the one I purchased from this site and the one I am including photos of, but I will briefly touch on the other colors later in this review. I absolutely love the shade of virgin pink! It is a bright, electric pink. I lightened my hair to a level 8-ish light blonde using the bleach kit by Arctic Fox beforehand (not included with dye purchase). I found this to be a suitable level to start with, as I've tried dyeing over "virgin" (unbleached) brown hair before and the color didn't show up very well, though with a lighter brown I would assume that the pink would still show up, though perhaps not as vibrantly. The pink dye did temporarily stain my sink and some skin, but I was able to completely remove it from all surfaces using acetone-based nail polish remover for solid surfaces and oil-free makeup remover for skin. I only dyed the bottom half of my just-longer-than shoulder-length hair, and I used the whole 8oz bottle of dye. My hair is also pretty thick, so even after dividing it into 4 sections and applying dye to one section at a time, I had to be careful to make sure all strands were coated with the dye. When I've dyed my hair before, I don't remember using that much dye, so it's possible that I overdid it and possible that I dyed less hair in the past, but using the whole bottle seemed to achieve the shade I wanted and evenness I wanted this time around. While my hair was dyed, my hair care routine consisted of washing my hair about 2 times per week. I am fortunate enough that I did not require more than this. I used Arctic Fox shampoo and conditioner, purchased separately. For the first few weeks, I only applied the conditioner (no shampoo) to the ends, where the dye was concentrated. With the virgin pink variety, I could visibly see the water run pink in the shower each time I washed my hair, and the color did fade over time. I had no issues with dye staining the shower. I only once had dye stain a towel, and it washed out with regular detergent and oxygen bleach (note: oxygen bleach is not the same as standard laundry bleach). The week after dyeing my hair pink I spent a substantial amount of time hiking in full sun exposure, and the color appears even more vibrant in the sun. I did have some dye bleed onto the neck of a couple of shirts due to sweat that week, but it all washed out, again using detergent and oxygen bleach. I would not count on dye washing out of fabric, and I think I was lucky in this regard, but it's worth noting that I didn't have a problem with minor amounts of dye washing out of clothes when treated quickly, and this only happened that first week of having it dyed. It lasted about 2.5 months between when I first dyed it and when it had faded back to blonde (almost) entirely. It did not fade evenly. Personally, I did not mind this, and I liked the pink/blonde look. By my rough estimates, my hair was "completely pink" for 4 weeks and "mostly pink/some blonde" between weeks 4 and 7. It faded more rapidly after that, washing out each time I washed my hair, and I decided to redye my hair a different color after 13 weeks, at which point there were still a few pink streaks but my hair was mostly back to the bleached shade. I had a similar experience with purple rain (now discontinued) in terms of vibrancy and how long it lasted. After the virgin pink I tried sunset orange color and it's far surpassed the others in terms of duration. I am going on 4 months with sunset orange and it's still even and obvious. I have maintained the same hair care routine with the orange that I did with the pink, and the only difference that I can think of is that my hair was pink during the summer and orange during the fall/winter. Unsure if the season had an effect or if the orange is just longer-lasting. Either way, I was pleased with my experience with virgin pink and would purchase again. I would recommend this brand and color.

I have been using this product in various colors for years. Even though my hair is quite a dark brown, the color manages to show up really well, especially in the sun, and lasts a long time (even beyond what the package promises). It makes my curls pop and I feel that it really hydrates my hair after using it. Great product. The smell is a sort of strong grape smell but it doesn't last.

I used ARCTIC FOX Semi-Permanent Hair Dye in the shade Ritual for years whenever I dyed my hair, and it was my go-to. My hair was bleached and naturally wavy, and this color gave a rich, dark mauve purple that looked vibrant and smooth every time. The color payoff was excellent, and I loved the scent. Application was easy and consistent. While neon shades generally need pre-bleached hair to really show, Ritual turned out beautiful on my blonde hair. The only thing to watch for is staining—this dye sticks well to skin, clothes, and surfaces, so be careful during application. This product is perfect for beginners or anyone looking to try fun, bright colors at home. It’s affordable, vegan, and cruelty-free, which is a bonus for anyone who wants to support animal-friendly brands.

I’ve used Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color a few times now, and overall, I’m really happy with the results! The color payoff is bold and vibrant, especially on pre-lightened hair. It goes on smoothly, smells amazing (like grape candy!), and doesn’t have that harsh chemical scent that a lot of other dyes do. One of the things I really appreciate is that it’s vegan and cruelty-free, and the conditioning formula actually leaves my hair feeling softer and more hydrated after coloring—which is rare with hair dyes. It’s gentle enough that I feel comfortable using it more frequently for touch-ups or experimenting with different shades. The only reason I’m giving 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the fading. While it holds well for a semi-permanent dye, especially if you use cold water and sulfate-free shampoo, the color does fade faster than I hoped—especially on parts of my hair that weren’t as porous or lightened. Some shades (like red or teal) tend to bleed more during the first few washes too, so be prepared to protect your towels and pillowcases. That said, it’s still one of the better semi-permanent dyes out there in terms of color range, ingredients, and overall hair health. If you go in with the right prep and maintenance, you’ll get stunning, long-lasting results. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to add a fun, vibrant pop of color without the damage!

First, understand this is probably a full day process if you want electric blue. I assume you either have naturally white hair, or you have already bleached the heck out of it. Here’s the process: - Wash your hair the day before & don’t put product in it - Put ample color blocking jelly (I use aquaphor) on your whole face, your ears, your neck, your shoulders, your arms, your friends… anything that might touch the dye. Don’t put it on your temples because sideburns are a beast. - Wear real rubber gloves, not hair dye gloves or latex gloves. - Work in sections, starting at the most visible places first. Your bangs, your part, and the back of your head (I have forgotten it and it was embarrassing) - Pause to wonder why you’re doing this. Is this worth it? Too late. Carry on. - Put extra coloring around these high visibility areas and, with your fingers, work it through the hair sections thoroughly. Don’t miss your sideburns. - Move on to the rest of your hair, working in sections so you can track where you are. Use clips. Use rubber bands. Use anything. Run out of clips. Find your binder clips from the office. So many sections. These chips don’t need a clip. How did you get so much hair? - Panic every time you drip dye on the sink. Wipe it up quickly. Put toothpaste on it if it left a mark. No, I’m not kidding. - Once you have fully colored your hair (probably with 8 full oz), slowly and painfully work the dye through every section of your hair. The thing is, this is important. It feels like overkill, but it is not. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up with weird and blotchy dye, and that isn’t good. You’re going for a nice, natural blue, just like you were born with. - Wonder again, “is this worth it?” Too late for this. Now you’re an hour into a six hour commitment. No turning back now. Also, yes, it’s worth it. Because you’re an icon. - Put your hair into a bun or two. Now, we are going to bake your head, and we’re going to use your own troubled thoughts as fuel. Did I forget to mention this is therapy? I meant to. - Find a shower cap. Put it over your weird, Medusa-themed mass. - Find a towel you don’t like. Perhaps the one you used last time. We’ll call him Mark. Mark and you are spending the day together. Wrap Mark around your shower-capped head with the tension of Mike Pence in the presence of a non-wife female. The point is to contain heat, like Mike Pence does, but perhaps less toxically (this is Arctic Fox, after all). - Some people like to add extra heat, but I find that my own bonnet of bees provides enough raw friction to sufficiently heat the situation. I should mention it is summer in Nevada. Our existence is the surface of the sun - I hang out with Mark in my head sauna for a minimum of FOUR HOURS, but usually more like six. I clean, I dance, I watch TV, I sort pens, I fold clothes. I write Amazon reviews. We all have hobbies right? - I don’t know your life, but if you can, sleep in it. - Rinse in a sink you don’t like (the laundry room sink is my go-to), USING YOUR RUBBER GLOVES, and use THE COLDEST WATER YOU CAN. People say we aren’t tough, but my dear, you and I are NAILS WITH NAILS. We bleed for days and don’t die… every month! No one is tougher than we are. Valkyries are our sisters. Cold water. Until it runs clear. Don’t miss your sideburns and behind your ears. - I usually am about to die at this point. I’m not gonna lie. It’s a process. It’s spiritual, it’s mental, and it’s physical. So I find Mark’s cousin Stacie and wrap her around my head and go to bed. You do you. If you have to shower (at this point, all that aquaphor has made you either so soft or so slimy), wear rubber gloves. You may dye your shower. I have no advice except toothpaste. (Someday, I’ll have to tell you about the time I stayed in a Berlin hotel and when I showered, my hair bled on their fancy porous tile. I got 10 tubes of toothpaste from Aldi and spent all night painfully smearing toothpaste on their light gray tile that looked like it was in a Smurf murder… But when I checked out, it was pristine and totally fine. looks like that someday was today) The color lasts about 3 - 6 weeks and fades quickly if you’re in the sun. Wash your hair as infrequently as you can. Pro tip: get matching fingernail polish because your fingernails might turn blue and blue fingernail polish makes that look intentional. If this seems like “a lot,” or “not possibly worth it,” you don’t understand how good this color is.

I got this to dye the streaks of white in my dark hair. The initial color was gorgeous. I loved the way it swirled out of my natural hair color. I did research, did dry shampoo to extend the time between washing my hair, and after just two, it's started to rinse out of my hair. I only used a little, so I can renew it, but this makes me really frustrated.

Base: dark brown roots + left over copper and red from a box strawberry blonde I'd been using for the last two years + color remover used a week prior to bleaching. I bleached using 20 dev + ION creme lightener and ended up with light yellow bangs/money pieces in the front (9.5/10), level 10 bright yellow roots even though I did those last, and dark yellow/strawberry blonde in the back (8.5 w/ ends around 7.5). To me, the front and back sections looked like the first and third photos on the before/after pics from AF. So I decided to try the first bottle of Arctic Fox to see if I even needed to do another lift. Answer: Yes, I did. But it probably wouldn't have worked anyway, because: 1. I should have gone to a salon for the bleaching part. My hair is wavy, thin but plentiful, super porous, and in the back it's close to my waist. That's a lot of hair to try and bleach in one session and it did not go well. I had to bleach the missed sections separately a week later and try to blend them with the already bleached sections. It was a mess, and one I didn't want to have to repeat. 2. My bleached hair ended up mostly yellow. Purple cancels yellow and so, after all the work I did to remove the existing color, bleach, repair, then apply AF, I just ended up with a pretty golden blonde that looked almost exactly like the box dye I'd already been using. If I had gone to a salon, they probably would have told me to expect that. 3. Don't use conditioner of any kind before applying this. I used a hair repair mask after bleaching but a few days before I applied AF so thought it would be okay. It wasn't. On dry hair, I saturated completely using about 10 oz of the AF and left it in for 40 minutes. Even in the places it should have been bright purple versus simply toned, it barely showed up. If this has any chance of working at all, you have to shampoo ONLY, avoid any masks for at least two prior washes, let your hair air dry overnight then apply. Rinse using ice cold water and avoid any and all heat sources including the sun. Final verdict: The product itself is excellent. The smell and conditioning aspects are amazing, so I'm giving it 5 stars. It's not AF's fault I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Unless you've already done this before, go to a salon and/or know that if you're starting anywhere other than a level 10 platinum/white blonde and/or have long hair, this is probably going to take multiple bleach sessions, multiple application sessions, and after all that, it might only last a week. As soon as I stepped in the sun, it started to fade (and I haven't even washed it yet). It's been five days and it's already a pretty pink color (versus lilac) in the places you can actually see it. That's just the result of my hair being my type of hair and it has nothing to do with the product itself. P.S. Go to a salon. P.P.S. Go to a salon.

Been using it for 10 years now! Love it, best dye I’ve ever used. Smells nice for the first week or so, stays in and vibrant for a month even when I take hot showers and when it fades it’s still a beautiful magenta shade I get daily compliments on! Amazing product 10/10