Pink Hair is All the Rage!
After chemo, when my hair started growing in, I really didn’t know what to expect of its color. For years, I had been coloring it a spicy auburn shade. From my roots, I knew I had gray in my hair…I just wasn’t prepared for how much gray I had: My natural hair fit squarely in the “salt-and-pepper” category. And though I received compliments on it, I just wasn’t ready to embrace that look on me. I played around with some options, like semi-permanent lilac (which lasted only one wash) to total aubergine (wasn’t what I was asking for, but the colorist took way too much liberty with my request) to chunky purple streaks. Nothing really clicked for me until I moved to a reddish-brown base with vibrant hot pink highlights.
My hair stylist, Amanda White from Loka Beauty Studio, and I rocking our pink hair!
Suddenly, I felt like me – fun, playful, spunky, and more youthful! And unconsciously but conveniently, I made the change to pink in October 2023, Breast Cancer Awareness Month! I immediately began receiving so many compliments on my hair, mostly from total strangers. For those who struck up a conversation about it, I told them I was a breast cancer survivor and got even more support. This whole experience has been a blast! As we now once again approach October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, now really is the best time to get on board! I can say I’ve seen more pink hair than ever -- is it just me, or is pink hair trending? Don’t let me be the judge – let’s check it out!
The History of Pink Hair
Pink hair has been around for decades. “It's a symbol of self-expression, once rooted in punk and alternative subcultures but now embraced by people of all backgrounds,” writes Melbourne Australia’s Chumba Concepts Salons. The pop sensation Pink sported pink hair back in the early 2000s, also the early days of her career.
Fast-forward to modern days. Pink-everything certainly ruled the world in the summer of 2023 with the smash movie success, Barbie, and it seemed to ignite a pink hair craze. By the summer of 2024, “Millennial pink” seemed to be the hair color of choice by celebrities and influencers. But that didn’t mean everyone had to sport that shade of pink.
This weekend while shopping at my local ULTA beauty store, I happened to find myself in the aisle with all the hair coloring products. I was amazed by all the DIY pink hair options added even since I considered going pink myself!
Shades of Pink
One thing about pink hair is how much it can vary. From brilliant magentas to barely blush tints, from saturated color to ombres, from chunks to tips-only to a few strategic highlights, pink hair offers so much versatility. Pink can also be colored to suit almost any skin tone, which is another reason it has so much appeal. “Cool skin tones like ivory, ebony, or fair, look best with pure pinks, while warm skin tones, like olive, brown, or rosy, look best with dusty pastel pinks,” advises hair company Garnier.
Shades of pink range from pastel to dark fuchsia, like the Aletta Wig by Ellen Wille and Midnight Berry Wig by Hairdo!
Maintaining Pink Hair
Achieving pink hair and maintaining it is another story altogether. If you’re light-haired, pink will take to your hair fairly easily. If you’re dark or gray haired, as I was, you will need to have color stripped or bleached in order for the pink color to attach to your hair strands and shine through. There are pink washes, semi-permanent pink dyes and shampoos, and full-on permanent pink hair coloring. Pink hair appreciates a good conditioner. In fact, if your hair doesn’t get really greasy when it’s dirty, skip the shampoo and just opt for conditioner every other wash. Some pink hair colors will wash or fade out fairly easily, while deeper tones will probably need to be cut or grown out.
All the Pink, None of the Commitment
Not ready for a go-pink-hair commitment? There are a few ways you can ease into going pink:
- Just get a little taste – You can get a single pink streak anywhere in your hair: down one side of your face, just on a few end tips, or even underneath your hair so the pink only shows when you wear a ponytail or updo.
- Try highlights – Most women get blond or honey highlights, but why not try a few pink ones in the mix?
- Get pink clip-in hair extensions - Clip-in hair extensions are one low-level, no commitment way to go pink. Just get and use as many in your hair as you’d like. Put them in and take them out, easy as pie! One day you can have pink streaks and the next day you don’t!
- Wear a pink wig – Get a no commitment way to go pink and have a completely different hair style to boot! For our hair loss sisters, this is an especially great option for you right now! NOTE: Pink wigs are purchased on a special order basis with a 7-10 day lead time. If you want your pink wig for October to show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ORDER SOON!
Come October, in support of breast cancer awareness, pink will be the color seen around the world. If the spirit strikes you, join the hot trend: sport some pink hair, and share your ‘shots on your social feeds with the hashtag #pinkheadcovers4bc so we can re-share it for you!