How to Maintain and Wear Pink Hair

When I was a junior in my all-girls Catholic High School I bought the most disgusting pink paste that turned the tips of my long, curly highlighted hair bright pink and sticky. Because that wasn’t actually part of the dress code, I would tuck it up into a bun every day before walking into homeroom, only pulling it out once that final class bell had rung. 

A year later I died my hair black and put my pink hair behind me. Then during my sophomore year as an acting student in NYC, all at once I suddenly chopped my long curls into a bob, dyed it blonde, and my side bang baby pink. I felt like myself again. 

Over the years as I graduated from college, entered and left grad school with my master’s degree, and got my first job in television, I got the feeling that pink hair was unprofessional. But in 2016, I decided that “unprofessional” was a stereotype when it came to creatively colored hair. So I took the leap and dyed the tips of my blond bob a deep pink. Ever since then I’ve alternated between dying my tips and my whole head every shade of pink imaginable and it’s never held me back from nailing a job or impressing a client. 

In fact, it’s often served as a conversation starter, not to mention all the compliments I’ve received! And now it’s become something I’m known for in my networking circle as well as an integral part of my brand. Here is how I maintain and wear pink hair.

Regular Sessions at the Salon

My stylist, Heather Normandie of The Hair Society, makes my pink hair dreams come true every time I see her, which is more often than most people hit the salon. I usually visit every five to six weeks. I love how every time I leave my pink is just a bit different from the time before. It’s what keeps it interesting for me. Sometimes I have a deeper shade, more like fuschia, other times it’s baby pink, and other times still it’s a peachy rose gold. When it comes to having a creative hair color, I need it to constantly be changing to keep my ADHD in check. Thank you, Heather!

Purchase Products that Keep it Looking Fresh

There are so many coloring shampoos and conditioners on the market now, but I love the Viral Colorwashes. I have the shampoos and conditioners in light pink, rose gold, and lavender and I mix them depending on the shade I leave the salon with. Since I have blonde on top, I use a clarifying shampoo on just my roots down to right before where the pink starts, and then I use the colorwashes on the bottom. I also love Kristen Ess’s Rose Gold Temporary Tint. A note for washing your hair – make sure that you wait at least four to five days post coloring before washing to allow the dye to really soak in. 

Don’t Let Creative Colored Hair Hold you Back Style-Wise

When I started dying my hair pink, I thought that I had to pare back my wardrobe to neutrals and pinks and ditch any type of complicated pattern. While that is the safe route, as someone who likes to go bold, I found myself becoming bored very quickly. While I do wear a lot of black and pink, I am not afraid to break out the cheetah print and have even come to love sporting a red lip with my pink tresses!

So what’s holding you back? If I haven’t convinced you to take the pink plunge, I’d love to hear why not so DM me!