So excited to share my hair transformation using evo Hair with you all! Wanting to try something new, I went for a rich, cool toned pink using a custom mix of their Staino professional customizable direct dyes in Fuchsia, Flame, and Clear (my friend Dori says it looks like raspberry sorbet)! I also wanted to get you guys involved in the fun, so I’m giving away evo Hair’s Fabuloso, their color boosting treatment over on my instagram! Have you ever colored your hair a bright color before?
This post is made in collaboration with evo Hair. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Mermaidens possible!
By far my most asked question is what hair dye I use, so I wanted to compile some of my most asked questions all about my pink hair in one convenient place!
What hair dye do you use?
I have been using Special Effects in Cupcake Pink, diluted with a bit of opaque white or cream conditioner, for years now and highly recommend it!
Do you have to bleach your hair?
My natural hair color is a dark blonde, and in order to have pastel colors bleaching is mandatory. It actually took me a couple years to get it just right.
I've had pink hair for a couple years now, but I've always struggled with finding the perfect products for treating ultra damaged, bleached hair. I'd try products and like them, but I wasn't really blown away by anything, you know? But finally, I feel like I've found a really solid selection of hair products I love enough to recommend!
Hair Care Products
Having pastel hair is hard, but these products make it easier! I still haven't found the perfect shampoo that doesn't make my bleached, damaged hair feel TERRIBLE, sadly - if you have any recommendations please let me know!
Ritual Salvation Repairing Conditioner *
About a month ago I was sent some evo hair products to try out, and the first time I used the conditioner I was immediately struck by how lovely it lathered up, smelled, and my hair felt after rinsing it out. Over time, it's helped my hair stay tangle free and has become my holy grail conditioner!
OverTone Pastel Pink Daily Conditioner *
Truly a must have for any vibrant or pastel hair owner, OverTone is PERFECT for keeping your hair color vibrant in-between dye touch-ups. Besides dry/damaged hair, having the color rinse out fairly quickly is one of my biggest pastel hair related pet peeves, but OverTone's conditioners and products help so much! (If you are wondering, the Pastel Pink is a little blue toned. Down the road I'd like to mix the Pastel Pink with an orange shade of their conditioners for a more peachy toned shade).
The Great Hydrator Moisture Mask *
An incredible mask that adds so much moisture to my hair! My hair hasn't been anywhere near as dry since using this mask, and makes it so much easier to comb through every night! Their product description is pretty spot on too: "This product is like a patient friend, gently combing out the knots in your hair while another friend lays petals upon the ground to soften your walk to the morning bus".
Trader Joe's Coconut Oil
Like everybody else I am OBSESSED with coconut oil, and my friend Roanne's recommendation of Trader Joe's coconut oil was spot on - it's been working wonders! (please excuse the grubby jar - I've had it for a while now and I got it out of the shower for this photo!)
BONUS: L'Oréal's Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm & Total Repair 5 Extreme Instant Therapy Mask
These aren't pictured because I *just* ran out, but I've had great luck with the affordable and accessible L'Oréal Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm and Total Repair 5 Extreme Instant Therapy Mask! And they both smell PHENOMENAL.
Hair Styling Products Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer
Now if you also have bleached hair, I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING HEAT STYLING. But sometimes, I don't have time to pin curl or put foam rollers in my hair - so I have to make do! That said, I feel like this Bumble and Bumble primer does a pretty good job as a heat protective! Besides that, it's a great all around hair styling product - it soothes frizz, has a sweet, gentle scent, and is formulated without paragons and phthalates.
Batiste Dry Shampoo
A recommendation from my sister, we both are incredibly impressed with Batiste's dry shampoos! Another must have product imo - affordable, easy to find (I get mine at Ulta or Target), and it WORKS. I had tried a few in the past and didn't get why everybody loved dry shampoo, until Batiste! The cherry scent is my favorite 🍒
Sebastian Shaper Plus Extra Hold Hairspray
Finally, this is the hairspray I've been using. I actually started using it because it was my mom's favorite in the 80s! I like using this for extra volume. (NOTE: please use in a well ventilated area...!)
Phew - I had more to say then I thought haha! I get so many questions about my hair, I really hope this helps some of you! I am not an expert by any means, but these are the products I've been loving lately. If you have any hair recommendations, comments, or questions, please leave them below! I also am planning on sharing some hair tutorials soon - so let me know if you have any requests!
As it's getting very close to time I rebleach and pink my hair, I thought it would be the perfect time to post a hair FAQ!
I tried to answer the most frequently asked questions I receive regarding my hair, but if you have any more feel free to comment or tweet me and I'll reply to the best of my ability! :)
What color did you have your hair before pink?
A super ugly faded black! Inspired by Louise Brooks era flappers, I had a very short black bob which I loved dearly! Over time, though, I decided I really wanted pink hair. Going from black to pastel pink is the absolute worst, though…! I let my roots grow out for months and months before using a bleach and pink hair kits from the grocery store. There was still A LOT of black at the ends, (see: May 2012 picture!) and I had no idea the pink dye I had gotten would be so vibrant, but in the end I LOVED it!
Bleach How do you bleach your hair?
After a busy summer where I running around with pretty ugly roots and fading pink hair, I finally was able to get close to the perfect shade of peachy pink when, following Arabelle's advice, I started using Clairol's BW2 Powder Lightener and Clairol's Pure White Creme Hair Color Developer 30 Volume. Both of these products can be found at Sally's Beauty Supply and are a lot cheaper then buying boxed bleach at home kits. However, they are a bit scary and heavy duty, so I HIGHLY recommend getting your hair bleached at the salon if you can!
I usually keep the bleach on for about 20 minutes and then am careful to wash it all out.
Who bleaches/dyes your hair?
My mom, who has a long history of dyeing/bleaching her own hair as well as various family members and friends - so I was pretty confident she wouldn't ruin my hair…!
Will my hair be damaged?
Of course - your hair is going to be pretty dry after and I would recommend looking into various deep conditioners etc after!
Pink What dye do you use?
I use a combination of Special Effects' Cupcake Pink and plain ol' white conditioner! Adding white conditioner dilutes the dye and even though it looks like a blue pink, diluted it turns a beautifully peachy pastel color! Add as much or as little as you want - though the whiter it is, the faster it will fade.
In order to help it last, I try to wash it in the coldest water I can stand (which, since it's been freezing here lately, I haven't been doing *cough*).
