How to Keep Pink Hair

Co-authored by Charlie Adams and Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: August 23, 2021 References

Dyeing your hair pink is a trendy fashion choice. Unfortunately, this light color doesn't have a reputation for staying vibrant very long. You'll need a professional dye job to get color with staying power—home kits typically only last a few weeks. Once you've got the rosy shade of your dreams, it only requires a little more effort than usual to keep it looking its best.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Shampooing and Conditioning

1
Wait 72 hours after dyeing before you wash your hair for the first time. Dyeing your hair opens the cuticle layer of the hair follicle, allowing the color to penetrate more thoroughly. It can take several days for that layer to close. If you wash your hair within a day or two after you've dyed it, you risk washing all of your color down the drain.^{[2]
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- If you're uncomfortable waiting this long to wash your hair, use a dry shampoo to absorb oil so your hair doesn't look greasy or dirty.
2
Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair. Many shampoos and conditioners claim to be "color-safe," but if you really want to protect your color, choose one that is sulfate-free. Check the ingredients and be on the lookout for "sodium laureth sulfate" or "sodium laureth ether sulfate," which will cause your color to fade faster.^{[3]
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- Sulfates simply create the foaming effect for your shampoo. Unfortunately, they also strip your hair of its natural moisture (and your color along with it).
- Stay away from high-detergent shampoos, too.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Charlie Adams
  Professional Hair Stylist & Board Certified Haircolorist
  Expert Interview. 21 July 2021.}
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3
Wash your hair with warm water and rinse with cold to prevent fading. Use lukewarm water to wash your hair, which will activate the shampoo and open hair follicles enough to ensure a good cleaning. Then, switch to cold water to rinse. The cold water closes the cuticle layer so no color escapes.^{[5]
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- If you enjoy hot showers, wash your hair separately to protect your color. The steam from a hot shower can also cause color to bleed from your hair.
4
Add dye to your conditioner to refresh your color. Pink dye in your conditioner re-dyes your hair a little with every wash, so you can potentially put back in a little of what was washed out. Keep the conditioner on your hair for at least 10-15 minutes to enhance this effect.^{[6]
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- Leaving the conditioner on your hair longer not only allows the color to penetrate but also allows the conditioner to really soak into your hair.
5
Limit shampoos to 3 times a week or less to keep color vibrant. Most home dyes tell you how many shampoos your dye will last through, so the less often you wash your hair, the longer your color will stay. While you want your hair to look clean and healthy, try to wash it no more than once every other day to preserve your color—less often if you feel you can get away with it.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Charlie Adams
Professional Hair Stylist & Board Certified Haircolorist
Expert Interview. 21 July 2021.}
- If your scalp gets oily, try using a dry shampoo to absorb oil without damaging your color.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Styling and Care Tips

1
Avoid using heat to dry or style your hair to keep your color bright. Let your hair air dry rather than using a blowdryer to keep your color from fading.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Charlie Adams
Professional Hair Stylist & Board Certified Haircolorist
Expert Interview. 21 July 2021.} If you normally use curling irons, try curlers without heat to style your hair without the heat that can cause your color to fade.^{[10]
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- Heat also damages your hair, which causes the color to fade more quickly than it would if your hair wasn't damaged.
- If you just can't survive without a blowout or curling iron, spray your hair with a heat protectant before styling to prevent the heat from fading your color.^{[11]
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  Expert Source
  
  Charlie Adams
  Professional Hair Stylist & Board Certified Haircolorist
  Expert Interview. 21 July 2021.}
2
Use a leave-in UV protectant to keep the sun from fading your color. Leave-in treatments help seal in your hair's moisture, which prevents it from getting damaged when you're out in the elements. The UV protectant shields your hair from the color-fading effects of the sun's rays.^{[13]
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- Look for a leave-in treatment with UV protectant online or wherever you buy hair styling products. You can also buy other styling products with UV protection, so if you normally use gel or mousse, just look for one that also has a UV filter.
3
Limit your hair's exposure to chlorine. The chlorine in pools may keep that pool water fresh and clean, but it also does a number on your dye job. Avoid pools at all if you want to keep your color looking its best. If there's no escaping the pool, use a swim cap to keep the water away from your hair.^{[14]
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- Another option is to wet your hair in the shower before you get into the pool. Then, apply conditioner to the damp strands but don't rinse it out. The conditioner provides a barrier that keeps the chlorine from getting to your color.
4
Get regular trims to get rid of damaged hair. Dyeing your hair damages it, especially if you have to bleach it first. Since color fades more quickly in damaged hair, use frequent trims to keep your color looking its best.^{[15]
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5
Embrace the dynamic nature of pink hair. Pink is an "unnatural" hair color. No matter what dye you use or how well you care for your hair, it will fade over time. Instead of trying to fight it, try to enjoy the fact that your hair is a slightly different color every week!^{[16]
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Expert Source

Charlie Adams
Professional Hair Stylist & Board Certified Haircolorist
Expert Interview. 21 July 2021.}
- This can be a blessing if it starts out at a shade that you're not thrilled with. But even if you love your hair right after you dye it, you can still learn to love it as it changes.
- For example, your vibrant pink may fade to a pastel color after a couple of weeks. Pastel pink might be very flattering on you, though!

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Home Dyeing

1
Use a deep-conditioner before dyeing your hair to help hold color. Do a deep-conditioning treatment once a week for at least a month before you get your hair colored. This ensures that your hair is as healthy as possible, so the color will stay vibrant for longer.^{[18]
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- Look for deep conditioning kits online or wherever haircare products are sold. You don't necessarily have to buy the most expensive product available—choose one that suits your hair type and fits in your budget.
2
Consult a professional if you've never bleached your hair before. Even if you have light-colored hair, your pink will be brighter and more vibrant if you bleach your natural color first. However, bleaching is a chemical process that not only removes the color but also changes the texture of your hair. You could damage your hair and scalp if you do it on your own without experience.^{[19]
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- Many colorists will do online consultations for a fraction of what you would pay if you went into the salon, so that's something to consider if you're unable to visit a salon in person.^{[20]
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- Talk to your friends! If you know someone who's bleached their hair before, they might be willing to help you out.
3
Choose your dye based on the shade rather than the brand. While there are many different brands of hair color, most of them have the same ingredients. Look at pictures of the color on models that have a complexion and hair texture similar to yours to get a better idea of how it will look on you. Then, choose the one you like the best.^{[21]
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- Since models typically have their color done by a professional, look for reviews online as well. Many people post before and after pictures of themselves, which can help you get a better idea of how your hair might look after you do it yourself at home.
4
Apply color on dry hair from roots to tips. Start with dry hair that's combed out well. Use a color brush to apply the color starting from the roots down to the tips of your hair. If your hair is thick or long, clip it in sections so you can apply the color thoroughly.^{[22]
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- Keep checking in the mirror to make sure you're applying the color evenly throughout your hair. It helps to have a friend get those hard-to-reach spots on the back of your head.
- Even if you have relatively short hair, buy at least 2 packages of dye so you don't have to worry about running out.
5
Cover your head with a plastic shower cap while the color develops. Once you've applied the color, put a plastic shower cap over your hair. The heat will help the color penetrate your hair more thoroughly. Take the shower cap off after 30 minutes and allow your hair to "breathe" for at least 5 minutes before you rinse out the color.^{[23]
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- Follow the instructions on the dye regarding development time. Leaving the color mixture on your hair longer than recommended might damage your hair.
6
Recolor your hair after 24 hours to add vibrancy. The day after you've colored your hair, decide if you like it the shade it is or you want it a little brighter. If you want more vibrancy, color it again right over top of the original color.^{[24]
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- Follow the same procedure you did when you dyed it the first time. Make sure to rinse thoroughly with cold water.

Warnings

Be careful bleaching your hair at home, especially if you've never done it before. If you're not able to see a professional colorist, consider at least doing an online consult to make sure you get it right.^{[25]
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