Pastel hair can be an eye-catching trend that adds an element to any ensemble, whether casual or formal wear. But before taking the plunge and dyeing your pastel strand, it is essential to understand its benefits and drawbacks.
Establishing pastel hair requires light bleaching of strands to achieve your desired shade. April Gent, who specializes in balayage and vivid colors at her salon co-owner April Gent’s Salon specializes in, warns that keeping pastel hues can be challenging to manage over time.
Rose Gold
As you browse Instagram or TikTok, it’s hard to miss seeing pastel hair color inspirations that catch your eye. Before going into a salon yourself to have this same pop of color done professionally, you must understand some essential information first.
April Gent of Tallahassee salon, which specializes in balayage and vivid hues, says pastel hair requires commitment: It needs a light blonde base that takes 4-8 weeks to grow out ultimately and can cause your locks damage – Garrett suggests using high-quality color-safe shampoo and conditioner to extend its pastel hue as much as possible.
She notes that for those with fair skin tones, cool-toned pastel hues like blues and purples will look fantastic; for darker complexions, though, warmer hues that highlight your glow by contrasting against its yellow or olive undertones should be chosen instead – minty green or lavender shades, in particular, could provide flattering results that are also readily available as home-dyes.
Violet
If you’re considering pastel makeup, consult a colorist to select the ideal shade for your skin tone. Pastel hues complement most skin tones as long as they don’t come across too bright; blue and purple hues generally work well on warmer complexions, while orange or peach tones may work best with cooler tones.
Manic Panic Creamtones Velvet Violet offers an eye-catching soft violet shade perfect for spring. Reminiscent of an Easter robin’s egg hue, it looks fantastic when worn with a bob crop hairstyle or pulled back into a sleek ponytail.
Remember, pastel hair requires lighter strands as a base and may need additional touchups than an all-over color job. If commitment is an issue for you, ask your stylist about temporary at-home dye for an easier transition between washes – one such product would be our sulfate-free shampoo, explicitly designed to maintain color-treated locks to extend its longevity as much as possible.
Strawberry Blonde
Strawberry blonde is an exquisite pastel take on classic hair color. Also known as Venetian blonde, its pale reddish hue pairs beautifully with fair to medium skin tones and can lean either warm or cool depending on what shade additions and styling techniques are employed – an excellent option for both blondes wanting a vibrant shade and redheads looking to lighten without losing their natural glow.
Strawberry blonde can provide incredible value when applied correctly; all it takes to maximize the effect is adding many highlights in various shades, from soft cotton candy pink to deep copper hues. It looks fantastic on all hair textures and lengths!
If you’re new to blonde, why not start small with caramel-hued shades that fade into light tangerine hues as they fade? This warm and buttery shade makes an excellent Autumn hair color choice and works perfectly when worn with loose waves.
Pink
Pastel pink adds an eye-catching pop of color for balancing out warm complexions. Additionally, pastel pink is one of the more accessible pastel shades – making it an accessible way to experiment without taking on full head coloring just yet.
Garrett recommends starting out with lighter shades, such as lavender or blush pink, before progressing toward your desired hue. She notes that more golden hues tend to lift faster and easier for natural blondes or those with previously lightened locks than darker brown ones.
Gent recommends minimizing washing and using color-extending shampoos and conditioners for pastel hair color to extend its longevity, including heat styling and washing with cool water, which she believes will also expand its longevity. She suggests scheduling weekly toner refreshes as well as using the Oway Hmelt Mask hair mask to extend its longevity between appointments; for optimal results, it should be visited by your stylist every 2-3 weeks to maintain vibrant looks.
