What type of hair color does not penetrate the cuticle layer?

Temporary hair color is specifically formulated to coat the outer cuticle layer of the hair without penetrating it. This type of color is often used for short-term effects, such as changing the hair color for a special event or simply experimenting with different shades. Temporary hair color typically washes out after a few shampoos, making it a non-committal choice for individuals looking to try a new look without the longer-lasting effects of other types of hair dyes.

In contrast, permanent hair color and semi-permanent hair color both involve some degree of penetration into the hair shaft. Permanent color uses an oxidative process that opens the cuticle to allow color molecules to embed deeply within the hair, resulting in a lasting change that cannot be washed out. Semi-permanent color, while not as long-lasting as permanent, still allows color to penetrate more than the outer cuticle layer, providing a longer-lasting change than temporary color.

Oxidative hair color refers to permanent and some semi-permanent dyes that require a developer to activate the dye process, leading to deeper penetration into the hair structure. Therefore, temporary hair color remains the only option that strictly does not penetrate the cuticle layer, making this the correct choice.