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Best pink hair dyes for a punkish mane
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Not content with solely dominating our interiors, Pepto-Bismol pink has taken on the beauty world, from packaging to haircare.
In particular, there has been a huge surge in interest in rose-hued hair tones, and cool candy shades are popping up all over our FYP page. Credit to Kylie Jenner for the latest celebrity post featuring pink hair to send Gen Z into a frenzy.
But whether you opt for soft pastel peach or bolder and brighter bubblegum, it is more wearable than it may originally appear, especially when you consider the sheer range of colourways that are possible. There is a shade to suit all skin tones and enhance your natural hair colour.
There’s no two ways about it though, pink hair is an edgy style. So if you’re going to do it, do it right. Alex Brownsell, co-founder and creative director at Bleach London explains, “Pink is one of the easiest colours to use as it fades out to a pretty pastel and then back to your original blonde without staining or damaging your hair”.
The colour may have traditional associations with femininity, but when it comes to hair, it takes on a whole new meaning with connotations of the punk movement. Whether rocking some pastel E-girl stripes or a full head of neon fuschia locks, pink locks are guaranteed to turn heads.
But how does one achieve such statement tresses? As a temporary fix, pink is a fun pigment to experiment with. Yet for a long-term switch-up, the colour is hard to nail without the risk of it fading or washing out.
Brownsell offers some advice for going pink:
- Mix it up: “You can use a custom mix of Bleach London Super Cool Colours to mix up your pink. Try a little Violet Skies mixed with Rosé for lavender pink or add a drop of Twisted Lemon to The Big Pink for a bold, hot pink.”
- The right haircare is essential: “Always maintain with Rosé Shampoo and Conditioner to keep the colour looking vibrant and Reincarnation Mask once a week to keep hair healthy.”
- For brunettes: “Darker blondes and lighter copper/brunette hair colours can still go pink without lifting their hair and for this I’d recommend using The Big Pink Super Cool Colour. This has the strongest pigment of all the Bleach London pinks so will give a glossy pink hue to darker hair or give a vibrant long-lasting pink to blonde hair.”
From blondes to brunettes, stars including Helen Mirren, Kate Hudson and Hailey Bieber have all championed varying shades of pink. Model Kaia Gerber exclaimed via Instagram that “pink is punk” when showing off her faded candy-hued ‘do. But pink isn’t just for the girls. Perhaps even more outlandishly, men have started to join the bright side en masse.
Rapper Machine Gun Kelly is a big fan, regularly rocking a fluorescent pink barnet. The star even titled his 2022 biopic Life in Pink. Jonah Hill, Zayn Malik and Joe Jonas have all joined MGK’s ‘think pink’ club, with the latter doing so in order to raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
While pink is often sported by those teetering on the fringes of society or subcultures, the shocking hair colour was surprisingly an upper-class luxury during the 17th and 18th centuries. Pastel pigments for wigs meant the bourgeoise could zhush up their manes with some punchy pink colouring.
Think back to Kirsten Dunst in Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film Marie Antoinette. In one scene, the actress appeared as the iconic French queen with a strawberry-tinted wig. This wasn’t total fiction, as it is said that the extravagant royal would self-colour her hair using natural ingredients such as turmeric and rhubarb to achieve that rose-tinted glow.
So if you’re tempted to try it, here are the best at-home hair dyes to achieve the perfect pink shade.
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Bleach London The Big Pink
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Dull locks are out of the question with Bleach London’s The Big Pink dye. Transform your hair in just 30 minutes with the non-permanent colour cream which promises a radiant shade of pink.
Apply the vegan product to clean, towel-dried hair wearing the gloves provided and comb through the mid-lengths. Leave in for half an hour and rinse for a colourbomb new look.
Schwarzkopf LIVE Shocking Pink 093 Semi-Permanent Hair Dye
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If you’re not searching for a permanent fix, we’d recommend Schwarzkopf LIVE’s Shocking Pink dye. For just £5, you can treat yourself to a beauty revamp with the dye, which is designed for bleached blonde to light brown hair. Long, thick locks require two packs, each one lasting up to 15 washes.
Josh Wood Colour Semi Permanent Treatment Glaze
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Josh Wood’s Semi Permanent Treatment Glaze promises the prettiest pastel shine. It lasts up to three to five weeks and is deeply conditioning. To use, slip on the gloves provided and massage small amounts of the product gradually onto washed, damp hair. Avoid the scalp and comb through the roots to the ends for even distribution. Leave on for five minutes, rinse and voilà!
Good Dye Young Semi Permanent Hair Colour
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Reinvigorate your mane with pink accents thanks to Good Dye Young’s colour range. One that works best for light or bleached hair, the product is part of the brand’s uber-radiant range. Cover your hair with the combined colour from the mixing bowl provided and use gloves to avoid skin stains. Leave in for half an hour, avoiding shampooing your hair for the next day, and let your new look take centre stage.
Wella Professionals Colour Fresh Semi-Permanent Colour Mask
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Dying your hair can be very damaging, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Wella Professional’s offering is a damage-free, pigment-depositing mask for a short-term colour switch-up. In just ten minutes, pre-lightened hair can turn a pretty pink in the comfort of your own home. The colour fades gradually, leaving users with a beachy Malibu Barbie balayage.
Shrine Drop It Hair Colourant
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Hair dye in droplet form, Shrine’s colourant delivers a bolt of bold colour. The temporary product offers up to 30 full-head applications, meaning you can retain your pink prowess for months to come. Mix with your current conditioner and add to towel-dried hair. Leave in for ten minutes, rinse well and marvel at the results.
Fudge Paintbox Hair Colourant
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If you really want to experiment, then why not combine two shades of colour? Fudge’s hair colourant can be blended with a contrasting pastel hue to create a customised blend. The dye is infused with keratin proteins and moisturising ingredients to minimise damage and leave freshly-coloured tresses looking sleek and striking.
L'Oréal Paris Permanent Hair Colour
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Does the idea of eight weeks of radiance appeal? We bet it does. Well, that’s what L’Oréal offers with its permanent, affordable hair colourant. Choose from 14 stunning shades that are designed to last. Follow a step-by-step guide for successful application including mixing, covering and topping off with deep condition.