Always fancied trying out pink or lilac hair colour? From candyfloss pink to rose gold, there’s a rainbow of pink and lilac shades tempting our hair to have fun right now. And it seems lockdown has bought out our playful side, with more of us tempted to add a shot of temporary colour to our hair, as pastel pink and purple hair searches are up 200%.
“Why not have fun at this time, colour can really lift the spirits,” says leading colour expert, Josh Wood. And while you may not be up for wearing it to the office, it's certainly a Zoom talking point!
The pastel trend
Lilac and pink is also right on trend. Josh and the team are know for their pastel creations, including the show stopping catwalk of pastel shades created for Marc Jacobs' catwalk show. Most recently, dip dyeing hair pieces in hazy, powdered pastels shades (below) that were added into ponytails for a swish of colour on Matty Bovan’s Spring Summer 2020 show.
Thinking of adding a hint of pink at home? Our experts share what you need to know...
It's all about the base
If you want the fun without the commitment, the best way to add colour is with a semi permanent dye, toner or gloss that will add a temporary shot of colour that washes out. But when it comes to pale pastel shades, blondes have an unfair advantage says Josh.
“Think of it in painting terms. If you add colour to a white wall you see the colour immediately, but add the colour to a brown wall and it just won’t show up as clearly," reveals Josh. It's the same principle with hair, the lighter your hair colour the easier it is to showcase a pale pastel hue.
"If we're creating pastels in the salon, we'd bleach the hair first to create a base,' says expert colourist Marley Xavier (@marleyxavier), who helped advise Victoria Beckham as she dyed her son's hair pink during lockdown. However, we wouldn't advise this pro technique at home. "It's hard to get right, so can be disastrous," Marley warns. Instead the best route is to pick a shade that will work on your existing base colour.
If you have naturally fair hair, or have highlights, balayage or a light tint, you can go for the soft, pastel shades. A darker rose pink or purple berry tone will complement brunette hair, adding a subtle hint of colour. Josh designed our new Rose Brunette and Berry Brunette Glosses to do just that.
A brush with colour
When it comes to application, semi permanent formulas tend to be straightforward to apply. Remember comb through hair to get an even colour result, wear gloves and add a barrier cream or Vaseline to the hairline and ears to prevent staining.
If you want to paint colour onto ends for a balayage or dip dye effect, a brush can help with precision. "Think of it as creating ribbons of colour running through the hair. It's a visual technique so use your eyes and hands to guide the placement of the colour. Have fun and experiment!" encourages Marley. To create the differentiation of colour, make like a colourist and cut tin foil strips. Place the section of hair you want to colour on top of the foil, paint colour on with the brush and then wrap and leave to process for the recommended time, before rinsing.
When it comes to looking after your new colour, be gentle and use a sulphate free shampoo as the colour will fade fast.
In need of a little more inpso? Watch as Josh and the team create the dip dyed, pastel ponytails backstage at Matty Bovan's show.
