How to Get Pastel Pink Hair at Home[a]

Pastel pink is a soft, gentle color. If you imagine characters with pink hair, fairies and mermaids come to mind. The good news is you can become a part of a fairy tale with the right pastel pink hair dye and a few hours of free time. Here is how to achieve and keep this shade of hair without going to a salon.

Get a Clean, Light Base

Unfortunately, pastels don’t work on darker hair. On light brown, brown, or black locks, applying pastel pink dye may produce little visible change. So, to ensure you don’t waste money and time, it is necessary to get a light base first.

This can be achieved through bleaching. Even if you are naturally blond, lifting the shade first will create a clean slate for an even result. You can apply a toner after lightening to neutralize unwanted tones for a cleaner base before the dyeing process in case the goal is a lighter pink.

Pick the Dye and Color Your Hair

Next, prepare the formula, then apply it to your strands. Arctic Fox offers a few shades to choose from:

Vi Hair Color;
Virgin Pink;
Frosé;
Electric Paradise.

You can either go with the pastel shade like Frosé right away or grab a brighter one to blend with conditioner for a different level of brightness. With semi-permanent dye, you can even combine a few shades for a custom color that suits the desired result. Once the dye is ready, it’s time to color the hair at home.

Grab a bowl and put the dye in. Mix the shades you need thoroughly to achieve the desired consistency^[c]. Then, ensure your hair is clean and fully dry. Avoid putting any product in your hair because conditioners or masks will make it harder for the color to properly coat the strands.

When your hair is parted and ready for application, put on a pair of gloves before starting. With pastel pink, you should still be careful, as it can stain your skin or scalp. It may also transfer to light-colored clothes. Put your hair in a bun or wear a shower cap and leave the dye on your hair for at least 30 minutes — the longer, the better.

You can rinse the dye out after 30 minutes. Make sure to use either cold or lukewarm water since hot temperatures will flush the pigment right out. Dry, style it as usual, and you’re done. Now, you’re a pastel pink princess!

Maintain the Pastel Pink

Just like any other vivid color, pastel pink requires maintenance. Unfortunately, pastel shades wash out faster than others and won’t stay in your hair for more than 4 weeks. But if you wash it with hot water, style with hot tools, or use sulfate products, it will be gone much faster.

So, avoid hot water at all costs. Use only cold or lukewarm water with color-safe shampoo and conditioner to treat your strands. When possible, air-dry it and wear it without styling. Apply dry shampoo consistently to minimize washing out the pigment.

You Have Achieved Your Dream Shade

Pastel pink hair can make it look like you have stepped straight out of a fairy tale. It’s soft, delicate, and suits almost everyone. More importantly, it’s not that hard to achieve at home. But you have to maintain it properly for the pigment to last. So, avoid excessive heat styling when it is possible. Wash your locks with cold or lukewarm water using color-safe shampoo. Then, you’ll be able to enjoy your pastel pink for up to 4 weeks.