How To: Pastel Pink Hair Color For October

October is here! And in my world, that means utilizing pink and purple colors into my hair to have some fun for Halloween as well as in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month! In this blog post, I’m going to share how to get a fun pink hair color, as well as some common questions you may have and solutions to problems you might run into along the way.

While I sometimes incorporate orange into my color for Halloween, I try to prioritize pink and purple because of my skin tone. My skin is relatively fair with neutral to warm undertones, which means warm colors can actually wash me out. Because of this, I try to stick to pink and purple instead of orange because they are slightly cooler shades.

To learn about your skin tone, see this post here. And to find what warmer shades will work best for you, see this post here.

How to dye your hair pink – tutorial

In the following sections I’m going to answer the most common questions asked about dyeing your hair pink as well as problems that may arise in the coloring process. But if you’re interested in watching how I accomplished this color visually, see my Youtube video below.

How to get vibrant hair color?

When dyeing your hair any vivid or vibrant color, the hair will need to be light enough in order to show up. This means that virgin hair is not going to take as well as pre-lightened hair will. If the hair is naturally blonde the dye may show up a little, but it won’t be as vibrant unless the hair is pre-lightened.

When the hair is pre-lightened, the cuticle (outer layer of the hair) is opened up. This allows the hair to absorb the dye much easier. So even if the hair is naturally blonde, the dye won’t take as vibrant as if the hair was pre-lightened even if just a little bit.

You can use a bleach-wash (bleach, developer, and shampoo) for just a few minutes beforehand to open the cuticle if the hair is naturally light enough or if you need to bump it up a level or two.

What level does the hair need to be for pink?

The level you need to lighten the hair to in order to take pink depends on what shade you’re going for. If you want a pastel or iridescent shade you’ll need to lighten the hair to a level 10.

But if you’re looking for a deeper pink–like a magenta color–you can get away with only lifting the hair to a level 7.

The color should say on the tube what level you need to lighten the hair to before applying.

Keep in mind that if the hair isn’t lifted to the proper level, the color will not come out the same, if at all. And it is better to be lighter that the necessary shade than darker.

Can I dye my hair pink without bleaching it?

If you don’t want to use bleach, you may still be able to dye your hair pink if you have VIRGIN hair. I am allergic to bleach, so I try to avoid it at all costs. My hair is naturally a level 6, so I can use hi-lift hair dye to lighten my hair to a level 10 platinum blonde.

If your hair is darker than a level 6, you won’t be able to get to a level 10 without using bleach. Bleach is the only type of hair color with a strong enough lifting power to get you to a level 10. But if your goal is a magenta color and only a level 7 is needed, then this will be a good solution.

It’s very important to note that if your hair is previously dyed, you cannot use hi-lift hair dye. In this situation bleach is necessary to remove the previous color molecules from your hair.

Below I’ve listed several posts on hi-lift hair color:

• How To Use Hi Lift Hair Color
• Your Top 8 High Lift Hair Color Questions Answered
• Comparing Hi Lift, Hair Color, And Bleach For Best Results

How to stop the hair color from bleeding?

If you are incorporating several different colors, or are keeping some blonde, you may run into some bleeding. Bleeding is where the colors will run and blend together in the rinsing process.

This means that if you have blonde with pink highlights, the blonde will take on some of the pink. For the most part, I don’t totally mind when this happens because it marries the colors together. But if this isn’t the look you’re going for, there are a few steps you can take to avoid it from happening.

1. If you’re keeping some blonde in the hair, soak the blonde with conditioner prior to rinsing. You’ll do this the same way as if you were “dyeing” the blonde with conditioner. Since the blonde has absorbed some of the conditioner, it won’t absorb as much of the pink.
2. Rinse the pink separately from the blonde. You’ll need to rinse, shampoo, and condition the pink prior to even getting the blonde wet. This can be difficult to do if you’re doing this yourself as well as the color pattern you used.
3. Use freezing cold water. Heat will open the cuticle of the hair, allowing the blonde to absorb the color molecules. Cold will close the cuticle, sealing the pink where it belongs and minimizing the blonde from absorbing it.

What products to use for coloring my hair pink?

***Since I’m sharing the products that I love to use with you guys, this page includes affiliate links to these products. If you take action and purchase a product through clicking one of my links, I’ll make some commission money from it at no extra cost to you. This enables me to be able to continue giving you awesome hair tips, so thanks! ***

Pravana is my absolute favorite color line, and this is what I use on mine and my clients hair. Below is a link to Pravana colors listed on Amazon, and you can select your color of choice.

Pravana Hair Color

How do you keep pink hair vivid?

You may find that your vivid hair dye fades relatively quickly. Keep in mind that the lighter and more pastel of a shade, the quicker the color will fade. This means that magenta will last much longer in the hair than a pastel pink will.

Below I’ve listed several tips for increasing the longevity of your color. For a deeper explanation, see this post here on how to increase the life of your hair color, and this post here for bad habits that are fading your color quickly.

1. Wash your hair less frequently. The more you shampoo your hair, the more you’re removing the color molecules from the hair
2. Use cold water when you shampoo. As I mentioned earlier, heat will open the outer layer of your hair, allowing those color molecules to slip out easier. For best results, wash your hair in the sink or tub before you get in the shower with as cold of water as you can stand. This works better because if you only rinse your hair in cold water, the steam from the shower has still opened the cuticle.
3. Use color depositing conditioners. If your pink dye is all over or you don’t have a lighter color that will absorb the pink, you can get away with using a color depositing conditioner. This product will allow you to deposit color each time you wash your hair. This eliminates the need for washing less frequently, as well as cold showers!

Conclusion

Dyeing your hair pink is a super fun way to spice up your hair whether you’re looking for a subtle iridescent tone, or a more vibrant magenta shade.

In order for the pink to show up, your hair will need to be pre-lightened. Depending on the tone you’re going for, you’ll typically need to lighten the hair to a level 7-10.

For the most part, bleach will need to be used to lighten your hair. But if you have naturally light hair and/or virgin hair, you can get away with using a hi-lift dye to lighten your hair.

One of the most common problems you may run into when dyeing your hair pink is the hair color bleeding. Pink can bleed into blonde hair during the rinsing process. This can be avoided by soaking the blonde in conditioner, rinsing the pink separately, and using cold water.

To keep pink hair vibrant, you should wash your hair less frequently, use cold water when you do shampoo, and consider using a color depositing conditioner.

If you have any further questions on dyeing your hair pink, leave them for me in the comments! And make sure to subscribe if you want to make everyday a good hair day!