10 wash-out hair colors that let kids express their creative side

Color as much of your hair or as little of your hair as you want with this spray-on color by L’Oreal. You simply can’t beat the good, ol’ fashioned spray-on color—it’s basically a rite of passage in childhood. This spray comes in a variety of different hues and washes out after a day. No commitment, no mess. We love a good color hair spray for kids!

This hair color chalk lasts for three days and comes in a variety of metallic, sparkly colors. You can even layer them and blend them together! Your child can experiment with different looks and it lasts less than a week. The chalk seals in the hair color within 60 seconds and covers large areas of your hair. You can style your colored hair with a flat iron or curling iron without making a mess, too, which is pretty cool for tweens. I’ve used this on my 6-year-old though, and she agrees it’s awesome to switch up the colors (temporary hair color for kids FTW).

A name that’s bound to induce a giggle or two, the Unicorn Snot Hocus Pocus Hair Color goes on clean, dry hair like the chalk above. Just swipe it from the ends up for a temporary look that lasts until you wash it out. Since it’s paint and not dye, it’s great for day use but will definitely transfer to whatever it touches.

This hair color wax comes in six different colors, it’s easy to use, it’s clean, and long-lasting. (Make sure when you’re applying it, your child is wearing an old shirt you don’t mind getting colored.) The consistency is a little like a hair paste, giving hair a bit of hold if you apply a larger amount. It washes out completely after about 1-2 shampoos and can transfer a bit, so we recommend using it for day use for things like Spirit Days and costumes. The colors can also mix to create something new. Add in bold streaks, or do a whole-head color! The choice is yours.

If dyeing their actual hair isn’t in the cards, you can choose your color and pick your length with these clip-in colorful hair extensions. You can also heat-style them, which is perfect for a dance recital or any special occasion. This package includes 24 pieces of 22-inch hair extensions in a dozen brilliant colors. This is probably the easiest, most mess-free way to play around with temporary hair color for kids.

Maybe your kiddo is looking for a color to last all summer long, but will be washed out long before school starts again. If that’s the case, then this Punky semi-permanent, conditioning hair color is a great choice. There’s no need to add peroxide or bleach, and this hair color is safe for all hair types, though it’s definitely more muted on darker hair. Applying it isn’t difficult, but it’s a process and can get a bit messy, so be sure to have towels that can get stained on hand, wear gloves and try to avoid getting it directly on the scalp. Because it’s conditioning, it prevents breakage and over-drying, and it fades after no more than 35 shampoos.

Lime Crime’s sweetly-scented dye is similar to Punky Color in that it’s a more involved application, but delivers semi-long-lasting color and doesn’t damage hair. The pre-mixed hues can be brushed on and whatever you don’t use can be saved for later. It works on a range of hair colors and while it can be pretty vibrant at first, it fades relatively quickly. (Looking for something even more short-lived? Try the temporary version which washes out after one wash instead!)

With 19 colors to choose from and over 40K 5-star ratings, the Keracolor Clenditioner Hair Dye is infused with color and keratin, coconut oil, shea butter and jojoba oil to leave hair healthier than when you started. Just apply it like conditioner, wait and rinse. It can be used solo for a tint or to extend the life of a salon job if your kiddo talks you into going the professional route.

This spray-on temporary hair color for kids can be sprayed directly onto the section of hair you want to transform. It comes in over 10 different shades including fun glitter options. Make sure to shake the can before use and apply it onto dry hair that’s already styled.