Understanding Hair Dye: Why Permanent Dark Box Dye Stops Fading After a While for 13-Year-Olds

When you dye your hair with permanent dark box dye, you're using a product that is designed to last a long time—hence the word 'permanent.' Here's a step-by-step explanation of what happens:

1. Hair Structure: Hair is made of a protein called keratin and has three layers: the cuticle, cortex, and medulla. The cuticle is the outer layer that protects the inner layers.
2. Dye Penetration: Permanent hair dye contains small dye molecules that can penetrate the cuticle and enter the cortex. This process changes the color of your hair.
3. Color Absorption: When you first dye your hair, a lot of the dye molecules are absorbed, which is why the color appears bright and dark at first.
4. Initial Fading: Over time, some dye molecules wash out with shampooing and conditioning, which is why you might notice your hair color fading at first.
5. Settling Changes: After your hair has been dyed a few times, the dye molecules start to settle more evenly in the hair. This means that they’re less likely to wash out quickly because they form a better bond with your hair.
6. Stability of Color: Eventually, as you continue to care for your hair, the color becomes a bit more stable and doesn't fade as much. This is because the remaining dye molecules are now well-integrated with your hair structure.

While your hair color may stop fading as quickly, it’s still important to use color-safe shampoo and conditioner to help maintain your beautiful color for as long as possible!