Changing your hair color can do everything from subtly enhancing your natural shade to completely transforming your look.
But with so many different hair coloring techniques available, understanding the process behind your desired look is important for achieving the right results and keeping your hair healthy.
Here, we’ll break down what single process color is, how it differs from double process color, and the kinds of looks you can achieve with it.
What is single process color?
Single process hair color is just what it sounds like: achieving your desired color with a single application of color to your hair.
That “single application” might involve a few different products applied at the same time or in quick succession, but if it’s considered one coloring service, it’s a single process.
Single process color can lift, deposit, or tone your hair in one step.
How it works
Typically, single process color involves a permanent or semi-permanent dye applied to your whole head of hair or just to certain sections to create highlights or lowlights.
The color is allowed to process, and then your hair is rinsed and conditioned.
Examples
Single process color is often used to cover gray, add depth with lowlights, or enhance natural color with highlights on hair that hasn’t been dyed before.
Applying an all-over permanent color to your hair is another example of single process color.
Even toning your hair as part of a highlighting service can be considered a single process, as long as it’s all done in the same appointment.
Single process vs. double process: key differences
The terms “single process” and “double process” refer to how many steps are involved in the hair coloring process. The most basic difference is that single process involves one step, while double process involves two.
Single process hair coloring is often enough for subtle color changes, covering gray, or enhancing your existing color.
Double process, on the other hand, is typically needed for dramatic lightening, significant color correction, or when you’re trying to achieve a vibrant fashion color.
For example, double process often involves bleaching your hair to remove the existing pigment, followed by toning or applying a new color. It almost always takes a double process to go platinum blonde or achieve pastel shades.
Corrective color often requires a double process, too, when it involves significantly lightening and re-toning the hair.
When is single process the right choice?
Single-process color can be a great option for some people and some situations. Here are a few examples:
- Virgin hair. If you’ve never dyed your hair before, single-process color can work well because your hair hasn’t been previously treated and should take the color easily.
- Subtle changes. If you just want to add a few highlights or lowlights, or if you’re covering just a little gray, single-process color can often do the trick.
- Going darker. It’s usually easier to dye hair darker than lighter, and it’s less damaging.
- Gradual lightening. You can use single-process color to gradually lighten your hair over time, in multiple sessions.
Single process color ideas
Here are some examples of what you can do with single process color:
- Gray coverage: Dying gray hair with a color that’s close to your natural shade.
- Highlights or lowlights: Adding depth to your hair with colors a few shades lighter or darker than your natural color.
- All-over color: Enhancing your natural color. For example, going from light brown to chocolate brown. Popular shades include chocolate brown, espresso, dirty brunette, and black sapphire.
- Gloss or glaze: Adding shine and tone to your hair.
Things to consider before you get single-process color
Single-process color is easy and fast, but it has a few potential drawbacks:
- Limited lightening: It can only lighten your hair a few shades, so it won’t work if you want a dramatic change.
- Color fading: Single-process color tends to fade over time, especially if you wash your hair often or spend a lot of time in the sun.
- Hair damage: It’s less damaging than double-process, but it can still cause some damage, especially if you use permanent dyes.
Talk to a professional stylist to decide if single-process color is right for you.
Wrapping Up
Single process hair color is a versatile way to enhance your natural color, cover gray, or add subtle dimension. Knowing what single process color can and can’t do, and talking with a professional stylist, is essential for beautiful, healthy results.
Whether you want a minor tweak or a major transformation, exploring your options with a talented stylist is the best way to get the hair you want.