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What you need to know before dyeing your hair pink

Photo credit: Randy Holmes
Photo credit: Randy Holmes

From Red Online

I’ve done it. My boss has done it. And even my mother’s thinking about it. But it seems as though we’re not the only ones to have fallen for the fashion and beauty world’s new hair colour craze. We’ve seen the prettiest rose gold balayage on Julia Roberts, creamy raspberry ripple highlights on Katy Perry and Rita Ora, and Hayley Atwell recently rocked striking ombre.

Choosing pink interrupts the ‘same as usual?’ conversation so many of us have with our colourists. Technological developments mean they’re now working with a new palette, creating shades that weren’t previously available – and they feel more grown up, a world away from Millennial mermaids.

Ergo Josh Wood’s nuanced shades and the latest ‘smokey pink’ on offer in salons such as Percy & Reed, which Adam Reed, editorial ambassador for L’Oréal Professionnel, describes as soft and sooty with cool, sophisticated undertones. ‘If you add a cool grey root to a smokey pink, it suits most skin tones and gives pink hair a modern and elegant update.’

Photo credit: Daniele Venturelli - Getty Images
Photo credit: Daniele Venturelli - Getty Images

On a practical level, pink delicately fades without staining. ‘Due to their large size, the red colour molecules needed for pink hair aren’t able to penetrate the cuticle as deeply as other shades, so will quickly leach out during washing,’ says colourist Daniel Galvin Jr.

And there’s the rub. Pink doesn’t last. It’s almost the colouring equivalent of a one-night stand. ‘I loved everything about my bright pink streak, which peeked through when I tucked my hair behind my ear,’ says Red’s group beauty director, Eve Cameron. ‘It was a talking point, and added interest to my usual highlights, but I was disappointed that it faded after the first shampoo. By shampoo three, it had virtually gone.’

Yet, one woman’s disappointment is another’s raison d’etre. ‘Colour isn’t for life any more,’ insists Josh Wood, ‘These tones allow every woman to have fun.’ Pink, powerful and on-trend – who’s in?

What you need to know before you dye your hair pink

You'll need to lift your base first

The good news is that pink suits all skin tones. But if you’re anything from dark blonde to dark brunette, you’ll need bleach to lift your base colour. Lighter blondes and greys should be able to apply colour straight on top.

You'll need colour-preserving products

Maintaining your pink starts in the shower. A colour-preserving shampoo and conditioner are must-haves; alternating the shampoo with a toning wash, like Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Blush Wash in Strawberry, will boost the colour, thanks to its semi-permanent pigments.

You could also mix a little semi-permanent dye, such as Bleach London Super Cool Colour in Smoky Rosé into your conditioner to keep the colour fresh, or for a small charge, some salons will give you your bespoke dye.

You don't need to go pink all over

If a full head of pink seems daunting, ease into the trend with some subtle ombre colour or balayage. ‘A few face-framing streaks of pink give a grown-up, super-flattering look,’ says Nicola Clarke, colour director at John Frieda.

You can try pink hair before you commit

Dip a toe with temporary spray-in tints. Their staying power ensures colour won’t transfer on to fabrics, but they’ll still wash out easily with a shampoo. Add light pink accents to buns, ponytails and plaits with L’Oréal Colorista Spray Rose Gold Temporary Hair Colour.

For a bolder opaque finish, a chalk-based formula, such as Superdrug Pick & Mix Spray Hair Chalk in Pink, is your go-to.

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