diff --git a/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialAutoCompleteTextView.java b/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialAutoCompleteTextView.java
index 3d169fc9..bde3b084 100644
--- a/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialAutoCompleteTextView.java
+++ b/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialAutoCompleteTextView.java
@@ -155,6 +155,16 @@ public class MaterialAutoCompleteTextView extends AutoCompleteTextView {
    */
   private boolean singleLineEllipsis;
 
+  /**
+   * Always show the floating label, instead of animating it in/out. False by default.
+   */
+  private boolean floatingLabelAlwaysShown;
+
+  /**
+   * Always show the helper text, no matter if the edit text is focused. False by default.
+   */
+  private boolean helperTextAlwaysShown;
+
   /**
    * bottom ellipsis's height
    */
@@ -344,6 +354,9 @@ private void init(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
     iconLeftBitmaps = generateIconBitmaps(typedArray.getResourceId(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_iconLeft, -1));
     iconRightBitmaps = generateIconBitmaps(typedArray.getResourceId(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_iconRight, -1));
     iconPadding = typedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_iconPadding, getPixel(8));
+    floatingLabelAlwaysShown = typedArray.getBoolean(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_floatingLabelAlwaysShown, false);
+    helperTextAlwaysShown = typedArray.getBoolean(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_helperTextAlwaysShown, false);
+    typedArray.recycle();
 
     int[] paddings = new int[]{
         android.R.attr.padding, // 0
@@ -358,7 +371,7 @@ private void init(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
     innerPaddingTop = paddingsTypedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(2, padding);
     innerPaddingRight = paddingsTypedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(3, padding);
     innerPaddingBottom = paddingsTypedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(4, padding);
-    typedArray.recycle();
+    paddingsTypedArray.recycle();
 
     if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN) {
       setBackground(null);
@@ -382,9 +395,12 @@ private void initText() {
     if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(getText())) {
       CharSequence text = getText();
       setText(null);
+      setHintTextColor(baseColor & 0x00ffffff | 0x44000000);
       setText(text);
       floatingLabelFraction = 1;
       floatingLabelShown = true;
+    } else {
+      setHintTextColor(baseColor & 0x00ffffff | 0x44000000);
     }
   }
 
@@ -518,6 +534,24 @@ public void setCurrentBottomLines(float currentBottomLines) {
     initPadding();
   }
 
+  public boolean getFloatingLabelAlwaysShown() {
+    return floatingLabelAlwaysShown;
+  }
+
+  public void setFloatingLabelAlwaysShown(boolean floatingLabelAlwaysShown) {
+    this.floatingLabelAlwaysShown = floatingLabelAlwaysShown;
+    invalidate();
+  }
+
+  public boolean getHelperTextAlwaysShown() {
+    return helperTextAlwaysShown;
+  }
+
+  public void setHelperText(boolean helperTextAlwaysShown) {
+    this.helperTextAlwaysShown = helperTextAlwaysShown;
+    invalidate();
+  }
+
   @Nullable
   public Typeface getAccentTypeface() {
     return accentTypeface;
@@ -1076,7 +1110,7 @@ protected void onDraw(@NonNull Canvas canvas) {
 
     // draw the bottom text
     if (textLayout != null) {
-      if (tempErrorText != null || (hasFocus() && !TextUtils.isEmpty(helperText))) { // error text or helper text
+      if (tempErrorText != null || ((helperTextAlwaysShown || hasFocus()) && !TextUtils.isEmpty(helperText))) { // error text or helper text
         textPaint.setColor(tempErrorText != null ? errorColor : helperTextColor != -1 ? helperTextColor : getCurrentHintTextColor());
         canvas.save();
         canvas.translate(startX + getBottomTextLeftOffset(), lineStartY + bottomSpacing - bottomTextPadding);
@@ -1105,10 +1139,10 @@ protected void onDraw(@NonNull Canvas canvas) {
       // calculate the vertical position
       int floatingLabelStartY = innerPaddingTop + floatingLabelTextSize + floatingLabelSpacing;
       int distance = floatingLabelSpacing;
-      int position = (int) (floatingLabelStartY - distance * floatingLabelFraction);
+      int position = (int) (floatingLabelStartY - distance * (floatingLabelAlwaysShown ? 1 : floatingLabelFraction));
 
       // calculate the alpha
-      int alpha = (int) (floatingLabelFraction * 0xff * (0.74f * focusFraction + 0.26f));
+      int alpha = (int) ((floatingLabelAlwaysShown ? 1 : floatingLabelFraction) * 0xff * (0.74f * focusFraction + 0.26f));
       textPaint.setAlpha(alpha);
 
       // draw the floating label
diff --git a/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialEditText.java b/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialEditText.java
index 15fbec0d..c1fa754d 100644
--- a/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialEditText.java
+++ b/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialEditText.java
@@ -28,15 +28,12 @@
 import android.view.Gravity;
 import android.view.MotionEvent;
 import android.view.View;
-import android.view.ViewGroup;
 import android.widget.EditText;
 
 import com.nineoldandroids.animation.ArgbEvaluator;
 import com.nineoldandroids.animation.ObjectAnimator;
 import com.rengwuxian.materialedittext.validation.METValidator;
 
-import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
-import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.regex.Matcher;
@@ -158,6 +155,16 @@ public class MaterialEditText extends EditText {
    */
   private boolean singleLineEllipsis;
 
+  /**
+   * Always show the floating label, instead of animating it in/out. False by default.
+   */
+  private boolean floatingLabelAlwaysShown;
+
+  /**
+   * Always show the helper text, no matter if the edit text is focused. False by default.
+   */
+  private boolean helperTextAlwaysShown;
+
   /**
    * bottom ellipsis's height
    */
@@ -347,6 +354,9 @@ private void init(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
     iconLeftBitmaps = generateIconBitmaps(typedArray.getResourceId(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_iconLeft, -1));
     iconRightBitmaps = generateIconBitmaps(typedArray.getResourceId(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_iconRight, -1));
     iconPadding = typedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_iconPadding, getPixel(8));
+    floatingLabelAlwaysShown = typedArray.getBoolean(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_floatingLabelAlwaysShown, false);
+    helperTextAlwaysShown = typedArray.getBoolean(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_helperTextAlwaysShown, false);
+    typedArray.recycle();
 
     int[] paddings = new int[]{
         android.R.attr.padding, // 0
@@ -361,7 +371,7 @@ private void init(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
     innerPaddingTop = paddingsTypedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(2, padding);
     innerPaddingRight = paddingsTypedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(3, padding);
     innerPaddingBottom = paddingsTypedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(4, padding);
-    typedArray.recycle();
+    paddingsTypedArray.recycle();
 
     if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN) {
       setBackground(null);
@@ -385,9 +395,12 @@ private void initText() {
     if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(getText())) {
       CharSequence text = getText();
       setText(null);
+      setHintTextColor(baseColor & 0x00ffffff | 0x44000000);
       setText(text);
       floatingLabelFraction = 1;
       floatingLabelShown = true;
+    } else {
+      setHintTextColor(baseColor & 0x00ffffff | 0x44000000);
     }
   }
 
@@ -521,6 +534,24 @@ public void setCurrentBottomLines(float currentBottomLines) {
     initPadding();
   }
 
+  public boolean getFloatingLabelAlwaysShown() {
+    return floatingLabelAlwaysShown;
+  }
+
+  public void setFloatingLabelAlwaysShown(boolean floatingLabelAlwaysShown) {
+    this.floatingLabelAlwaysShown = floatingLabelAlwaysShown;
+    invalidate();
+  }
+
+  public boolean getHelperTextAlwaysShown() {
+    return helperTextAlwaysShown;
+  }
+
+  public void setHelperText(boolean helperTextAlwaysShown) {
+    this.helperTextAlwaysShown = helperTextAlwaysShown;
+    invalidate();
+  }
+
   @Nullable
   public Typeface getAccentTypeface() {
     return accentTypeface;
@@ -1079,7 +1110,7 @@ protected void onDraw(@NonNull Canvas canvas) {
 
     // draw the bottom text
     if (textLayout != null) {
-      if (tempErrorText != null || (hasFocus() && !TextUtils.isEmpty(helperText))) { // error text or helper text
+      if (tempErrorText != null || ((helperTextAlwaysShown || hasFocus()) && !TextUtils.isEmpty(helperText))) { // error text or helper text
         textPaint.setColor(tempErrorText != null ? errorColor : helperTextColor != -1 ? helperTextColor : getCurrentHintTextColor());
         canvas.save();
         canvas.translate(startX + getBottomTextLeftOffset(), lineStartY + bottomSpacing - bottomTextPadding);
@@ -1108,10 +1139,10 @@ protected void onDraw(@NonNull Canvas canvas) {
       // calculate the vertical position
       int floatingLabelStartY = innerPaddingTop + floatingLabelTextSize + floatingLabelSpacing;
       int distance = floatingLabelSpacing;
-      int position = (int) (floatingLabelStartY - distance * floatingLabelFraction);
+      int position = (int) (floatingLabelStartY - distance * (floatingLabelAlwaysShown ? 1 : floatingLabelFraction));
 
       // calculate the alpha
-      int alpha = (int) (floatingLabelFraction * 0xff * (0.74f * focusFraction + 0.26f));
+      int alpha = (int) ((floatingLabelAlwaysShown ? 1 : floatingLabelFraction) * 0xff * (0.74f * focusFraction + 0.26f));
       textPaint.setAlpha(alpha);
 
       // draw the floating label
diff --git a/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialMultiAutoCompleteTextView.java b/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialMultiAutoCompleteTextView.java
index 9190d5fd..116071e5 100644
--- a/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialMultiAutoCompleteTextView.java
+++ b/library/src/main/java/com/rengwuxian/materialedittext/MaterialMultiAutoCompleteTextView.java
@@ -152,6 +152,16 @@ public class MaterialMultiAutoCompleteTextView extends MultiAutoCompleteTextView
    */
   private boolean singleLineEllipsis;
 
+  /**
+   * Always show the floating label, instead of animating it in/out. False by default.
+   */
+  private boolean floatingLabelAlwaysShown;
+
+  /**
+   * Always show the helper text, no matter if the edit text is focused. False by default.
+   */
+  private boolean helperTextAlwaysShown;
+
   /**
    * bottom ellipsis's height
    */
@@ -341,6 +351,9 @@ private void init(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
     iconLeftBitmaps = generateIconBitmaps(typedArray.getResourceId(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_iconLeft, -1));
     iconRightBitmaps = generateIconBitmaps(typedArray.getResourceId(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_iconRight, -1));
     iconPadding = typedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_iconPadding, getPixel(8));
+    floatingLabelAlwaysShown = typedArray.getBoolean(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_floatingLabelAlwaysShown, false);
+    helperTextAlwaysShown = typedArray.getBoolean(R.styleable.MaterialEditText_helperTextAlwaysShown, false);
+    typedArray.recycle();
 
     int[] paddings = new int[]{
         android.R.attr.padding, // 0
@@ -355,7 +368,7 @@ private void init(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
     innerPaddingTop = paddingsTypedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(2, padding);
     innerPaddingRight = paddingsTypedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(3, padding);
     innerPaddingBottom = paddingsTypedArray.getDimensionPixelSize(4, padding);
-    typedArray.recycle();
+    paddingsTypedArray.recycle();
 
     if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN) {
       setBackground(null);
@@ -379,9 +392,12 @@ private void initText() {
     if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(getText())) {
       CharSequence text = getText();
       setText(null);
+      setHintTextColor(baseColor & 0x00ffffff | 0x44000000);
       setText(text);
       floatingLabelFraction = 1;
       floatingLabelShown = true;
+    } else {
+      setHintTextColor(baseColor & 0x00ffffff | 0x44000000);
     }
   }
 
@@ -515,6 +531,24 @@ public void setCurrentBottomLines(float currentBottomLines) {
     initPadding();
   }
 
+  public boolean getFloatingLabelAlwaysShown() {
+    return floatingLabelAlwaysShown;
+  }
+
+  public void setFloatingLabelAlwaysShown(boolean floatingLabelAlwaysShown) {
+    this.floatingLabelAlwaysShown = floatingLabelAlwaysShown;
+    invalidate();
+  }
+
+  public boolean getHelperTextAlwaysShown() {
+    return helperTextAlwaysShown;
+  }
+
+  public void setHelperText(boolean helperTextAlwaysShown) {
+    this.helperTextAlwaysShown = helperTextAlwaysShown;
+    invalidate();
+  }
+
   @Nullable
   public Typeface getAccentTypeface() {
     return accentTypeface;
@@ -1073,7 +1107,7 @@ protected void onDraw(@NonNull Canvas canvas) {
 
     // draw the bottom text
     if (textLayout != null) {
-      if (tempErrorText != null || (hasFocus() && !TextUtils.isEmpty(helperText))) { // error text or helper text
+      if (tempErrorText != null || ((helperTextAlwaysShown || hasFocus()) && !TextUtils.isEmpty(helperText))) { // error text or helper text
         textPaint.setColor(tempErrorText != null ? errorColor : helperTextColor != -1 ? helperTextColor : getCurrentHintTextColor());
         canvas.save();
         canvas.translate(startX + getBottomTextLeftOffset(), lineStartY + bottomSpacing - bottomTextPadding);
@@ -1102,10 +1136,10 @@ protected void onDraw(@NonNull Canvas canvas) {
       // calculate the vertical position
       int floatingLabelStartY = innerPaddingTop + floatingLabelTextSize + floatingLabelSpacing;
       int distance = floatingLabelSpacing;
-      int position = (int) (floatingLabelStartY - distance * floatingLabelFraction);
+      int position = (int) (floatingLabelStartY - distance * (floatingLabelAlwaysShown ? 1 : floatingLabelFraction));
 
       // calculate the alpha
-      int alpha = (int) (floatingLabelFraction * 0xff * (0.74f * focusFraction + 0.26f));
+      int alpha = (int) ((floatingLabelAlwaysShown ? 1 : floatingLabelFraction) * 0xff * (0.74f * focusFraction + 0.26f));
       textPaint.setAlpha(alpha);
 
       // draw the floating label
diff --git a/library/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml b/library/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml
index 26886ba1..ecd7ce5e 100644
--- a/library/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml
+++ b/library/src/main/res/values/attrs.xml
@@ -45,5 +45,9 @@
     <attr name="floatingLabelTextSize" format="dimension" />
     <!-- The bottom texts' size. 12sp by default. -->
     <attr name="bottomTextSize" format="dimension" />
+    <!-- Always show the floating label, instead of animating it in/out. -->
+    <attr name="floatingLabelAlwaysShown" format="boolean" />
+    <!-- Always show the helper text, no matter if the edit text is focused. -->
+    <attr name="helperTextAlwaysShown" format="boolean" />
   </declare-styleable>
 </resources>
\ No newline at end of file