27 Ways to Wear Black and Purple Hair Highlights

Table of Contents 

Black and purple hair can be almost subtle enough to look black indoors or bold enough to make violet the first colour you notice. Deep plum and eggplant create a darker, richer effect, while vivid violet, neon purple and pastel lilac produce much stronger contrast. 

Placement changes the look just as much as the shade. You can scatter purple through black hair as highlights, hide it underneath, concentrate it around the face or blend it gradually through an ombré or balayage. 

And if you normally wear your hair curly or coily, plan the placement around the way your hair actually sits when styled — not only while it is stretched or straightened. 

Here are 27 black and purple hair ideas to help you find the right balance of colour, contrast and commitment. 

27 Black and Purple Hair Ideas 

1. Black Hair With Purple Babylight Highlights 

Fine violet babylights create small flashes of purple through a predominantly black base. 

Because the sections are narrow, the colour feels more blended than chunky black and purple hair highlights. On straight hair, the fine ribbons can appear evenly distributed, while waves and curls let them appear and disappear as the hair moves. 

Choose a deeper violet if you want the purple to stay relatively subtle, or a brighter tone for clearer contrast. 

2. Black-to-Purple Ombré Hair 

Keep the roots black and gradually introduce purple through the mid-lengths and ends. 

A black-to-purple ombré can move into deep plum, vivid violet or even pastel purple depending on how light the underlying hair becomes. 

Long hair gives the gradient more room, but the same idea can work on medium lengths if the transition begins higher. 

For a softer grow-out, keep the black root intentionally visible rather than trying to take purple directly to the scalp. 

3. Black Hair With Purple Underneath 

Keep the surface black and place purple through the lower layers. 

With black hair with purple underneath, the colour can stay almost hidden when the hair is worn loose and become much more noticeable in a ponytail, bun, half-up style or braid. 

A narrow underlayer gives occasional flashes of purple. A larger lower section creates a stronger two-tone effect. 

4. Chunky Black Hair With Purple Highlights 

Chunky highlights give the purple much more visual weight than babylights. 

Use wide violet sections through the top layers, around the face or through selected areas of the lengths. Against a black base, thicker pieces remain easy to see from a distance. 

This is one of the clearest ways to interpret black hair with purple highlights without colouring an entire half of the head. 

5. Black Hair With a Purple Money Piece 

A purple money piece keeps the brightest colour around your face. 

Colour both front sections for a balanced frame, or use one wider piece for an intentionally asymmetrical result. 

Violet, amethyst and magenta-purple create strong contrast. A deeper plum gives you a darker interpretation that can sit closer to the black base. 

For curly or coily hair, consider where the front curls actually sit when dry before deciding how wide the coloured section should be. 

6. Black Hair With Purple Balayage 

Purple balayage lets the lighter colour appear at different heights instead of starting every section from the same point. 

Keep plenty of black between the purple pieces so the result remains dimensional. 

Deep violet or plum creates a darker blend, while a brighter purple towards the ends gives the balayage a more obvious fashion-colour finish. 

7. Black and Purple Hair Without Bleach: Deep Plum Underlights

If your aim is a subtle purple effect rather than a bright violet, a deposit-only deep plum can sometimes create a visible tint or sheen on dark hair, depending on the product and starting base. 

Keep the colour underneath the black surface for an even more discreet result. 

This is particularly useful if you are interested in purple highlights on black hair without bleach but understand that the result may read as plum, wine-purple or eggplant rather than bright neon violet. 

8. Midnight Black and Purple Galaxy Colour Melt 

Blend several depths of purple instead of using one shade throughout. 

Start with black around the roots, move through deep eggplant or midnight violet and introduce a brighter purple towards the lower lengths. 

The aim is a fluid gradient rather than clearly separated stripes. 

On waves or curls, the different purple tones can create even more movement through the finished style. 

9. Half-Black, Half-Purple Split Dye 

Divide the hair through the centre and keep one half black while colouring the other purple. 

This makes both colours equally important and creates one of the boldest two-tone options in the list. 

Vivid violet gives the sharpest contrast. Deep eggplant produces a darker version, while lilac creates an especially high-contrast split if the underlying hair can realistically support such a pale result. 

10. Black Textured Hair With Pastel Lilac Ombré 

Pastel lilac creates a much lighter contrast than plum or dark violet. 

Keep the roots black and move into lilac towards the ends, allowing the transition to follow the shape of the curls or waves. 

Because pastel colour needs a much lighter underlying canvas than deep purple, this is one of the more involved black-and-purple transformations. 

On textured hair, plan the transition around the finished curl pattern rather than placing a perfectly straight horizontal line across stretched hair. 

11. Black Hair With Neon Purple Highlights 

Neon purple is designed to be seen. 

Use vivid pieces through a black base, concentrating them around the face or distributing them through the top and lengths. 

The brighter you want the purple to appear, the more important the underlying base becomes. Do not assume a neon dye applied directly over very dark hair will produce the same result shown on a pale swatch. 

12. Black Hair With Burgundy-to-Purple Balayage 

Use burgundy as the bridge between black and purple. 

The hair can move from black roots through a rich red-purple tone before becoming more clearly violet towards the ends. 

This is a useful option if you like purple but prefer a warmer transition rather than jumping directly from black into blue-violet. 

13. Black Hair With an Eggplant Purple Gloss 

Eggplant is one of the darkest purple families, so it can create a subtle result over dark hair. 

Rather than looking obviously purple in every light, it may appear predominantly dark until stronger lighting reveals the violet-red tone. 

This suits readers who want black and purple hair without a high-contrast fashion-colour result. 

14. Black Hair With a Purple Half-Underlayer 

Instead of colouring the full underneath section, use purple through roughly half of the lower hair. 

It creates more visible colour than a narrow peekaboo stripe but still lets the black top layer dominate when the hair is down. 

Pull the hair into a high ponytail and the purple underneath can become much more prominent. 

15. Reverse Purple-to-Black Ombré 

Turn the usual gradient upside down by placing purple closer to the roots and allowing the lengths to become progressively darker. 

This makes the purple much more noticeable around the scalp and face. 

Because new growth can be more obvious with root-based vivid colour, discuss how the placement is likely to grow out before committing. 

16. Black Hair With Frosted Purple Tips 

Keep the black base intact and colour only the tips purple. 

On a short cut, the effect can emphasise texture and movement. On longer hair, the purple ends can create a light dip-dye feel without moving far into the lengths. 

Use bright violet for strong contrast or muted mauve for something softer. 

17. Black Hair With Purple Peekaboo Stripes

Hide several narrow purple sections beneath the black surface. 

Unlike one solid underlayer, peekaboo stripes allow black hair to remain between the coloured pieces. 

They can stay subtle when the hair is loose and appear more clearly when you move, braid or tie the hair up. 

18. Purple Money Piece With Hidden Peekaboo Colour 

Combine two placements rather than choosing one. 

Use a visible purple money piece around the face, then repeat the shade in hidden underneath sections. 

This ties the front of the style into the colour underneath and gives you visible purple even when the hidden sections are covered. 

19. Black Hair With Geometric Purple Panels

Use clean, deliberately shaped purple sections rather than traditional highlights. 

Diagonal, triangular or wide rectangular panels can create a more editorial result, especially on straight or sleek styles where the section boundaries remain visible. 

Bring a visual reference to your colourist because the exact shape is part of the design. 

20. Black Hair With a Purple Skunk Stripe 

A skunk stripe is wider and more graphic than a standard highlight. 

Place one thick purple section around the parting or front hairline and leave the surrounding hair black. 

A vivid violet stripe creates obvious contrast, while dark plum gives the placement a more understated finish. 

21. Purple Hair With a Smudged Black Root 

Keep the root dark and allow it to blend softly into purple through the lengths. 

A smudged root avoids a hard dividing line and keeps black deliberately present within an otherwise more purple-dominant look. 

It can also make the transition from new dark growth into the purple feel more intentional. 

22. Black Hair With Muted Mauve Balayage 

Mauve gives you a softer and dustier alternative to vivid violet. 

Paint muted purple through a black base while preserving plenty of darker sections. 

The pink-beige influence in some mauve shades can create a warmer, less neon interpretation of black and purple hair. 

23. Black Hair With Amethyst Purple Highlights 

Amethyst sits between very dark plum and bright neon violet. 

Use medium-to-rich jewel-toned purple highlights through the black base, concentrating them through the top layers or around the face. 

The result is obvious enough to read as purple while still feeling deeper than pastel lilac. 

24. Black Hair With a Purple Fringe 

Keep most of the hair black and use purple only through the fringe. 

A full blunt fringe creates a clear colour block, while a smaller purple section through the bangs gives you a more restrained accent. 

This works particularly well on short and medium-length cuts where the fringe already has a strong visual role. 

25. Black-to-Purple-to-Pink Colour Melt 

Introduce a third colour at the ends. 

Keep the roots black, move into purple through the mid-lengths and finish with pink or magenta. 

The success of the look depends on the transitions feeling intentional rather than like three unrelated blocks. 

If you like both combinations, this also naturally connects the black-and-purple palette with black-and-pink hair. 

26. V-Shaped Black-to-Purple Ombré 

Use the haircut to strengthen the colour placement. 

On long hair cut into a V shape, allow the purple gradient to become strongest towards the point at the back. 

Add a few face-framing purple pieces if you want the front to connect visually with the colour through the ends. 

27. Black and Purple Oil-Slick Hair

Oil-slick colour uses several dark jewel tones through a black base. 

Purple can sit alongside deep blue, magenta or violet so the colours appear differently as the light hits the hair. 

Keep the overall palette dark enough that black remains the anchor. 

If selected underneath sections need to be lightened first, treat this as a chemically processed colour look rather than assuming “oil slick” automatically means no lightening. 

Black and Purple Hair Overview 

Which Purple Shade Works Best With Black Hair? 

Purple is not one colour. The shade you choose can make the result look barely-there or intensely vivid. 

Plum 

Plum is deep, rich and often red-influenced. Against black hair, it can produce a subtle transition and may appear more obvious in strong light. 

Eggplant 

Eggplant is another dark purple family with noticeable red or wine undertones. It suits glosses, underlights and subtle colour changes where you do not want a bright neon result. 

Violet 

Violet gives you a clearer, cooler purple. It works well for highlights, split dye, money pieces and ombré when you want the purple to be immediately visible. 

Amethyst 

Amethyst sits in a rich jewel-toned middle ground. It is brighter than plum but deeper than pastel lilac. 

Mauve 

Mauve is muted and dusty, often with pink or beige influence. Use it if vivid purple feels too bright for the overall look. 

Lilac 

Lilac is much lighter and more pastel. The paler the target shade, the lighter the underlying hair generally needs to be for the result to look similar to the reference. 

Neon Purple 

Neon is designed for high visibility. It gives you strong contrast against black hair but usually relies on a sufficiently light underlying canvas for the brightest payoff. 

Purple-Black 

Purple-black sits closest to the dark base. It can read predominantly black indoors and reveal more purple in stronger lighting. 

What About Skin Undertone? 

Undertone can be used as styling inspiration, not a rule. 

Cooler violet, blue-purple, lilac and amethyst may appeal if you prefer cooler shades around your face. Plum, eggplant, burgundy-purple and magenta-purple create warmer alternatives. 

Choose the shade you actually enjoy seeing against your skin, clothes, makeup and black base rather than treating an undertone chart as a restriction. 

Black and Purple Hair Highlights: Which Placement Should You Choose? 

If you want black and purple hair highlights without colouring large sections, the placement changes how much purple is visible. 

Babylights 

Best for fine, scattered colour. Use narrow violet pieces if you want purple to appear almost like a shimmer between black strands. 

Chunky Highlights 

Best for strong contrast. Wider sections stay easier to see through layers, curls and movement. 

Money Piece 

Best for keeping purple concentrated around the face. It also gives you a clear purple focal point while most of the head remains black. 

Peekaboo Highlights 

Best if you want the colour to be partly hidden. Purple sits underneath black and becomes more visible when the hair is tied or moved. 

Balayage 

Best for an irregular, blended placement. Purple starts at different points through the lengths rather than forming a regular highlight pattern. 

Can Purple Show on Black Hair Without Bleach? 

Yes — but the result depends heavily on which purple you want and which product you use. 

A deep deposit-only plum, eggplant or purple-black can create a visible tint or sheen over some dark hair without lightening it first. 

That is very different from trying to create pastel lilac or vivid neon violet. 

Purple Highlights on Black Hair Without Bleach 

If you specifically want purple highlights on black hair without bleach, set realistic expectations. 

On naturally very dark hair, a deposit-only purple may: 

It will not necessarily turn black strands into bright violet. 

Adore Semi Permanent Hair Colour is a useful Cosmetize example because it is a deposit-only semi-permanent colour and does not lighten the natural shade. 

The range currently includes purple-family shades such as African Violet, Lavender, Purple Black, Purple Rage, Rich Eggplant and Violet Gem. 

That makes it useful for experimenting with deeper purple tones, particularly where you understand that a deposit-only dye cannot create the same bright result on black hair as it can on a pre-lightened base. 

When Lightening Becomes Relevant 

If your target is: 

the selected sections may need a lighter underlying canvas. 

Naturally black hair and hair that has been permanently dyed black are not identical starting points, so tell your colourist about previous colour before deciding how much lightening may be appropriate. 

How to Choose Black and Purple Hair by Length and Texture? 

Short Hair 

Short styles work particularly well with: 

Because there is less length for the colour to disappear into, even one purple section can make a strong visual difference. 

Medium-Length Hair 

Bobs and shoulder-length hair suit: 

Long Hair 

Longer hair gives you more space for: 

Straight Hair 

Straight styles make split dye, panels and skunk stripes particularly easy to see. 

Wavy Hair 

Waves soften boundaries and work naturally with balayage, ombré and colour melts. 

Curly and Coily Hair 

Curls and coils change how coloured sections sit. 

Plan the purple around the finished curl pattern rather than assuming a section positioned on stretched hair will remain in exactly the same place once the hair dries. 

Black and Purple Hair for 3C, 4A, 4B and 4C Hair 

Curl type can help you plan the visual placement of purple. It does not tell you which chemical process to use. 

3C Hair 

Defined spirals can showcase individual amethyst or violet curls clearly. 

Try a purple money piece, wider ribbons or selected coloured spirals through a black base. 

4A Hair 

Purple can sit through selected coils, around the face or underneath the crown. 

Consider how much colour you want visible when the hair returns to its normal coil shape. 

4B Hair 

Larger purple ribbons or panels can remain easy to see through a fuller silhouette. 

Fine highlights are still possible, but they may create a more scattered effect. 

4C Hair 

Black and purple can work through wider face-framing sections, coloured ends or added hair. 

Black-and-purple braids, extensions and other pre-coloured added-hair options also let you explore the combination without chemically lightening your natural strands. 

If colour processing leaves you reassessing your routine, our guide to deep conditioning 4C hair can help you think about conditioning alongside the rest of your care routine. 

The 4C label itself does not determine bleach strength, developer volume or processing time. 

How to Prepare for a Black and Purple Colour Change? 

Preparation starts with knowing your current hair, not simply choosing an inspiration photograph. 

Tell Your Colourist Your Full Colour History 

Mention previous: 

Artificial black colour can change how the hair behaves during a future colour transformation. 

Be Clear About Which Purple You Want 

“Purple” is not specific enough. 

Bring visual references showing whether you mean: 

Consider the Hair's Current Condition 

If the hair is already heavily processed, the brightest or palest reference may not be the most realistic immediate target. 

A deeper purple or smaller placement may still give you the colour combination with less lightening. 

Strand Testing Can Be Useful 

Where previous colour or significant lightening is involved, a colourist may use a small test section to see how the hair responds. 

Follow Product-Specific Patch-Test Instructions 

Do not assume every hair colour has identical patch-testing instructions. 

Follow the directions supplied with the actual product. 

Do Not Borrow Somebody Else's Bleach Formula 

There is no one developer strength, mixing ratio or processing time for “black hair to purple”. 

If lightening is part of the plan, follow the exact product directions and consider your starting colour and condition. 

Our guide to how long to leave bleach in hair explains why processing time cannot be reduced to one universal number. 

How to Maintain Black and Purple Hair? 

Maintenance depends on whether your purple is deposit-only, applied over lightened hair or used beside freshly dyed black sections. 

Choose Colour-Aware Cleansing 

A cleanser intended for colour-treated hair can fit naturally into the routine. 

Cosmetize currently lists Directions Colour Protecting Shampoo specifically for colour-treated hair. Final live variant availability should still be rechecked before publication. 

Do not force yourself into one universal washing schedule. Choose a frequency that works for your scalp, texture, styling habits and the colour product used. 

Condition Chemically Processed Sections 

If some sections have been lightened to achieve vivid purple or lilac, conditioning becomes particularly relevant. 

Use a conditioner that suits your hair's current condition rather than assuming every fashion-colour routine needs the same mask. 

Consider Bond Care After Significant Chemical Processing 

For hair that has undergone substantial lightening, Paul Mitchell Bond Rx Treatment can be considered as supportive care for chemically treated hair. 

Bond care does not make repeated lightening risk-free or guarantee that breakage cannot occur. 

Use Comfortably Cool or Lukewarm Water 

Avoid unnecessarily hot rinses when maintaining vivid colour. 

There is no need for freezing water. 

Be Sensible With Heat 

Lightened sections have already been chemically processed. 

Use heat protection where appropriate, follow your styling tool instructions and use the lowest effective setting for the style rather than relying on one universal temperature by curl type. 

Think About the Placement as Well as the Pigment 

Root-based purple, a hidden underlayer and black-to-purple ombré do not grow out in the same way. 

Ask separately: 

What to Do When Purple Hair Starts to Fade? 

Purple losing intensity does not automatically mean the hair needs to be lightened again. 

If the Purple Simply Looks Softer 

A colour refresh may be more relevant than another lightening service if the underlying base is already suitable. 

Follow the directions for the actual colour product being used. 

If Different Sections Fade Unevenly 

First work out whether you are dealing with: 

Adding more purple does not solve every underlying unevenness. 

If a Pastel Purple Changes Quickly 

Pastel lilac contains much less visual depth than dark plum, so even a modest change in pigment can alter how pale it looks. 

That does not mean every fading pastel section needs bleach again. 

If You Are Using a Deposit-Only Colour 

Check the manufacturer's refresh instructions rather than inventing a universal number of washes or weeks. 

How to Keep Black and Purple Sections Separate When Washing? 

This matters most when fresh black dye and purple sit directly beside one another. 

Think: 

During rinsing, freshly deposited pigment can move into neighbouring sections. 

Follow the aftercare guidance for the actual colours used. Depending on the placement and formulas, your colourist may recommend more controlled rinsing during the early washes. 

This is particularly important where a pale lilac section sits beside freshly coloured black, because staining is much more noticeable than it would be between black and deep plum. 

Common Black and Purple Hair Colour Mistakes 

Assuming Deep Plum and Pastel Lilac Need the Same Starting Base 

They do not. 

A dark purple can remain deliberately deep, while pastel lilac relies on a much lighter underlying canvas. 

Expecting Deposit-Only Purple to Lighten Black Hair 

A semi-permanent deposit-only dye adds pigment. 

It does not automatically lift dark strands into a brighter base first. 

Re-Lightening Every Time Purple Fades 

Pigment fading and insufficient underlying lightness are different issues. 

Do not automatically apply another round of lightener every time vivid colour loses intensity. 

Ignoring Previous Black Dye 

Artificial black colour changes the starting point. 

Tell your colourist about it even if the colour was applied months ago. 

Treating Every Purple as the Same Tone 

Plum, eggplant, violet, mauve and lilac have noticeably different colour directions. 

Choose the shade intentionally. 

Ignoring Colour Transfer 

Fresh dark colour beside light lavender or lilac requires more care than black beside dark plum. 

Treating Curl Pattern as a Chemical Formula 

3C, 4A, 4B and 4C describe curl patterns. 

They do not provide a bleach strength or processing time. 

What to Ask Your Colourist? 

Use the consultation to discuss what the inspiration photograph actually requires. 

1. Is My Black Hair Natural or Dyed? 

Tell your colourist whether the base is your natural colour or comes from permanent/semi-permanent dye. 

2. What Is My Complete Colour and Chemical History? 

Mention: 

3. Which Purple Do I Actually Want? 

Bring references for: 

4. How Visible Do I Want the Purple to Be? 

Decide whether you want: 

5. Does My Target Purple Need Lightening First? 

Ask: 

“How light does this section realistically need to be for the purple in my reference?” 

6. What Will the Placement Look Like When I Wear My Hair Naturally? 

This is especially useful for curls and coils. 

7. Can We Keep Some Dark Root? 

If you want a more lived-in transition, ask whether a smudged root, ombré or balayage placement would suit the result. 

8. How Much Maintenance Does This Specific Look Need? 

Do not rely on a generic vivid-colour timetable. 

Ask about your actual dye and placement. 

9. How Should I Wash the Black and Purple Sections? 

Important where high-contrast sections sit directly beside one another. 

10. What Should I Do When the Purple Fades? 

Ask whether pigment refresh, tonal adjustment or another approach is appropriate before assuming more lightening is needed. 

11. What Is the Alternative if My Hair Cannot Reach the Reference Shade Right Now? 

A deeper purple, smaller placement, extensions or a staged colour change may still give you the black-and-purple effect. 

Final Thoughts 

Black and purple hair can be as subtle as a dark eggplant gloss or as bold as a half-black, half-neon-purple split. 

If you want purple that is visible but not dominant, highlights, a money piece, underlights or peekaboo sections keep most of the black base intact. Ombré and balayage create a more blended transition, while geometric panels, skunk stripes and split dye make the colour deliberately graphic. 

The purple shade matters just as much as the placement. Plum and eggplant stay closer to black, amethyst and violet give clearer jewel-tone colour, and pastel lilac creates the strongest dark-versus-light contrast. 

And if you want to experiment without lightening your natural hair, black-and-purple braids, extensions and other added-hair options can recreate many of the same placements. 

FAQs About Black and Purple Hair 

Does Purple Show on Black Hair Without Bleach? 

Some dark purple shades can create a visible tint or sheen on black hair without bleach, particularly deposit-only plum, eggplant or purple-black formulas. 

The result will usually be much darker than the same dye on light hair. 

Bright violet, neon purple and pastel lilac generally need more contrast from the underlying base to appear clearly. 

Can You Get Purple Highlights on Black Hair Without Bleach? 

You can create purple highlights on black hair without bleach using a deep deposit-only purple, but the result may look subtle rather than bright. 

On very dark hair, expect more of a plum, eggplant or violet sheen unless the selected strands are already lighter. 

For a strong vivid-purple highlight, lightening may be needed first depending on the product and target result. 

What Purple Shade Works Best on Black Hair? 

There is no single best shade. 

Plum and eggplant create dark, rich results. Violet and amethyst give clearer purple. Mauve is softer and muted, while lilac creates a much lighter contrast. 

Choose according to how bold you want the purple to look and what your current base can realistically support. 

How Long Does Purple Hair Colour Last? 

There is no universal lifespan for purple colour. 

Permanent, demi-permanent and semi-permanent formulas behave differently, and fading is influenced by the starting base, formula, hair condition and routine. 

For a specific product such as Adore, follow the current manufacturer's/Cosmetize guidance rather than applying one generic wash count to every purple dye. 

Is Black and Purple Hair Hard to Maintain? 

It depends on the placement and shade. 

Deep plum over a dark base can be less visually demanding than pale lilac beginning directly at the root. 

Ombré, balayage and hidden underlayers can also make new growth less central to the design. 

The purple pigment itself may still need refreshing before the placement needs to be recreated. 

Can You Put Dark Purple Hair Dye Over Black Hair? 

Yes, but a deposit-only dark purple does not necessarily make black hair visibly bright purple. 

A purple-black, eggplant or plum shade may add a tint or sheen, especially in stronger light. 

Check the starting-base guidance for the exact product before assuming the bottle shade will look identical on black hair. 

What Is the Difference Between Plum, Eggplant and Violet Hair? 

Plum is usually a deep red-purple family. 

Eggplant is similarly dark but can lean even richer and wine-like. 

Violet is clearer and often cooler, with more obvious blue-purple character. 

Exact shade names vary between brands, so compare actual swatches and product descriptions rather than relying only on the label. 

Can Black and Purple Hair Work on 4C Hair? 

Yes. You can use face-framing purple sections, larger ribbons, purple ends or added-hair options such as black-and-purple braids. 

The 4C classification itself should not determine bleach strength or processing time. Chemical suitability depends on the individual hair's condition, colour history and products involved. 

What Black and Purple Hair Highlights Work on Short Hair? 

A purple fringe, skunk stripe, chunky highlight, money piece or frosted tips can all work on short black hair. 

On a pixie or crop, concentrate purple through the longer top or fringe while leaving closely cut areas dark. 

Is Permanent Dark Purple Hair Dye Better Than Semi-Permanent Colour? 

Not automatically. Permanent and semi-permanent colour serve different purposes. 

A semi-permanent deposit-only product can be useful when you want temporary pigment or to experiment with a shade without relying on a permanent formula. Permanent colour may suit someone looking for a different type of longevity or coverage. 

The right choice depends on your starting hair, target result and willingness to maintain or grow out the colour.