The Hottest Hair Hue For 2019

Sported by Julia Roberts and countless models on the SS19 runway, pink has been recast as this season’s most-wanted hair shade. We caught up with John Clarke, Master Colourist at top London salon Nicola Clarke at John Frieda, to discover how we can make it work, regardless of age or skin tone…

Find Your Perfect Pink Hue & Stick To It

Pink is considered part of the ‘red’ family, so technically, there is a red for everyone, be it rose, peach or even fuchsia. As a rule, if you’re cooler in tone (you suit silver jewellery, have blue/green eyes and pale skin) then often cold pinks such as cotton candy, cyclamen and mink can look beautiful. For warmer complexions, (those who tan easily with warm, brown or hazel eyes) should look to peach or coral. Another good trick is to think about what lipstick suits you – this is an easy indication of the tonal direction you want to head in.

You Don’t Need To Have A Full Head Of Colour To Look Chic

An understated way of playing with pink is to have subtle pieces of colour running through the hair – balayage is a fantastic technique for this. It is a grown up way of wearing the shade. You can concentrate the colour through the lengths and ends of hair and keep it more natural around the face (which is flattering against older skin), or just have some face-framing balayage which is more of a statement, but still not as dramatic as a full head. I also recommend just having your ends dipped in pink. That way, if you want to get rid of it, you just chop your ends off. 

It’s Easy To Make Pink Hair Go The Distance

Pink doesn’t fade in an unflattering way, compared to other hair dyes. I think you get more bang for your buck as it disperses into interesting tones. Say you start at flamingo pink, it’ll then wash to a candy hue, then to baby pink, finally ending up with a blush-toned finish. If you don’t want it to fade, it’s essential to use a shampoo specifically for coloured hair. Try not to wash it every day either to avoid the colour being sucked out. Another top tip is to ask your colourist to add a little pink toner to your conditioner – this way you can top it up at home whenever you want.

Be Realistic With How Pink You Can Go

Most hair colours can be turned pink, but for anyone darker than very light blonde or grey, you’ll have to bleach the hair first. After that, you can apply your chosen hue, but be sure to use nourishing treatments such as Olaplex or a hydrating product like Virtue’s Restorative Treatment Mask to keep hair in peak condition. If you’re fair skinned and want to get a great shade of pink but are worried about damage, ask your colourist to use a high-lift tint to lighten your hair instead of bleach. This is a far less damaging process and can create beautiful results.

Anyone Can Wear This Trend With Ease

The reason so many celebrities have taken to pink is that when you get the shade right, it can add instant life and youth without draining the complexion because it’s so soft. It’s a fun way to express creativity without looking too theatrical, and I really believe all ages can carry off the look. If you want to ease yourself in, try using hair chalks or coloured sprays, not only are these a bit of fun, they’ll also act as a great guideline as to whether you’ll like the look.

You Don’t Need To Change Your Make-Up, Contrary To Popular Belief

If you’re keeping it soft and neutral, then you can still go with your usual make-up choices. The stronger the colour, the more you need to pare back on bold lipsticks or bright blush, but you can play and find what works for you. Switching to this shade certainly won’t mean you have to revamp your whole make-up bag.

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