We Dyed a Model's Hair Pink! Here's Everything You Need to Know About Pulling It Off for Yourself
Lately, we've seen plenty of celebrities experimenting with vibrant, unusual hair colors. (See: Katy Perry, Kristen Stewart, Kylie Jenner.) But when we caught wind that model Jessica Forrester would be trading in her natural blonde locks for all-over pink with the legendary celebrity colorist Aura Friedman, we thought: Why not document it? In the following slides, Friedman takes us through the necessary steps and pointers for pulling off the pastel trend in a pretty, healthy, and sensible manner. Click through and watch as this blonde beauty embraces her brand-new look.
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1/7Courtesy of New York's top colorist, Aura Friedman
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2/7Pre-Paint
Our blue-eyed, blonde-haired model Jessica didn't flinch at the prospect of going pink! "I explained to her that I wanted her new color to have a very natural feeling," Friedman says. "It's important, especially with unique shades of hair dye, to emulate nature—keep the ends lighter and the root darker. It gives the hair a more luxurious look."
Although, not all of us are blonde—nor will pink work on everyone! Here, Friedman's guide to picking the pastel that's right for you.
1. Know your undertones. You can ask a makeup artist or a hair stylist what color your face "pulls"—you may be neutral, yellow, pink, or blue. "Cool-toned hair, for example, will enhance the warmth in the skin," Friedman says. "You want to follow the complementary color theory."
2. If you're brunette, embrace pink, lavenders, and seafoam green. "You'll obviously have to get your hair bleached first," says Friedman. "Start with ombré for an easier, less-damaging way to interpret this trend." However, if you're not available to frequently visit your colorist, skip out on all shades of blue. "It will end up turning green, since lifting dark hair often results in a yellow color," she explains. Either way, every sensibly-minded professional will tell you the same thing: Don't bleach your own hair at home. A salon appointment is mandatory.
3. If you're a redhead, you can pretty much do it all, but bleaching will still be required. The coolest way to rock the trend, according to Friedman? "Coral feels so cool right now! It would look so good on any redhead because it's like an amplified version of your natural color."
4. If you're blonde, the world is your oyster. "But if you're fair and cooler-toned, avoid coral, peach, and yellow." The best part about being fair-haired? You can skip the color and head straight for the Manic Panic.
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3/7Mix Master
"I mid a few different bowls of color so there would be a variation of pink tones. The gradation is key because it adds more life and dimension and flatters the face. Plus, the more layers there are, the more interesting it is to look at!" Friedman says. You can see just a few of the mixtures next to Jessica here, which include cool, warm, light, and dark pinks, as well as a few shades of coral. Before you book your salon appointment, ask your colorist if mixing multiple bowls will cost you extra. You don't want any surprises at the checkout counter!
"For fun colors like this, I like to use Pravana's pre-mid pastel dyes and Manic Panic," Friedman reveals. "I never apply a pre-packaged color, though. I prefer to mix my own. I do recommend buying Manic Panic's Clear Mir in Virgin Snow—it's violet-based, so it neutralizes yellow, which is helpful. You can also grab the brand's new neon dyes by adding conditioner to them and then applying it all over. It basically dilutes it, so you get a saturated, neon-esque pastel, which is really fun."
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4/7The Painting Technique
Friedman began by lightening Jessica's blonde base while also bestowing a slight tint of rosy-pink. "Most colorists by now have adopted the balayage, or painting, technique," she says. Make sure you call your salon ahead of time and seek out an expert with experience in this particular process. It will make a world of difference. "It just gives a more realistic end result," Friedman says. (That's key when working with outlandish shades like blue and green, believe it or not. You don't want to look like you're wearing a wig—you paid good money for this appointment!)
"Pink behaves similarly to blonde," Friedman says. "So I tried to mimic her natural color's expression and pattern with my dyes. That meant I used the lightest, most diluted pinks for the front of the face. This brightens her complexion, but it's also wise to use less saturated hues here because it's the first place hair dye fades. That's generally because of heat styling or washing our faces!"
"Closer to the root, I added a cooler-tone pink and a slightly darker pink mid with a bit of conditioner. That way, I'm adding depth and the illusion of shadow, but I'm also neutralizing the warmth that naturally occurs during the lifting and dyeing process," Friedman explains. (Ever heard of "hot roots"? We don't recommend Google-ing that.)
"Towards the ends, I had fun. I played with lively, warm pinks and bright corals. This makes it more natural-looking, but also adds movement and overall vibrancy."
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5/7The Rinse
"Once the color was rinsed, I glossed her with a pink tone using a tint. The gloss is a semi-color that I keep on for a short amount of time. It processes in 10 minutes," Friedman says.
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6/7The Cut
Travis Speck gave the very lucky Jessica a quick trim, snipping away any dead ends so the hair would move and bounce, showing off the new color to maximum effect.
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7/7The Big Reveal
Jessica instantly fell in love with her new color—just look at that smile! She paired the look with a bold lip and a quick dash of mascara, courtesy of makeup artist Nicky Cayot.
But Friedman didn’t let her hit the street without a couple of goodies first. "Before she left, I gave her a custom conditioner with a little bit of pink in it. I just took the leftovers of my dye, threw them all in one bottle, and added a little conditioning treatment," she explains. "I told her to make sure she gives herself a mask with it once a week, applying the mixture all over and letting it sit for 30 minutes." If your colorist isn’t so generous, just mix your go-to conditioner with some Manic Panic for a similar effect.
"In terms of at-home maintenance, I also gave her Nexxus Pre-Wash Primer, which locks in the dye and repels water, so you don’t see it all wash down the drain when you shampoo," Friedman adds.
