Differentiate between temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent color in terms of deposition and longevity?

• A. Temporary coats the cuticle; semi-permanent penetrates superficially, lasts through several washes; permanent colors penetrate cortex via oxidation and last until hair grows out or is recolored.
• B. Temporary colors penetrate the cortex; semi-permanent coats the cuticle; permanent colors sit on the surface and wash out quickly.
• C. All three deposit pigment identically but vary only in scent.
• D. Temporary is only for men; semi-permanent for women; permanent for both.

Answer: (A)

How deposition depth and the chemical process determine color longevity is being tested. Temporary color stays on the outside of the hair, coating the cuticle so it can be washed away quickly—no penetration into the cortex. Semi-permanent color goes a bit deeper, entering the outer structure and depositing pigment that fades after several washes because it doesn’t engage in the long-lasting chemical changes that oxidize and lock pigment in. Permanent color uses oxidative chemistry to lift the cuticle and allow pigment molecules to penetrate into the cortex, where they form stable bonds that endure until new hair growth or another coloring is done. That explains why temporary fades fast, semi-permanent lasts through multiple washes, and permanent remains until you recolor or grow out the color. The other ideas don’t fit because they misstate where the pigment goes, how it deposits, or who uses it.