Spring is officially here! The dark and dreary days of winter are over, and in the next few months, we’re all going to enjoy brighter skies, warmer breezes, and flowers in bloom by the bushel. And since Gen-Z is bringing back all-things-90’s (think flared jeans and middle parts), why not kick it up a notch with some color inspiration a la Saved By The Bell....with pastel!
Most people might be getting ready to load up on jelly beans and Easter eggs, but here at Splat, we are on the HUNT for pastel-colored hair.
There’s something so effortlessly and undeniably cool about pastel hair. It’s edgy, but sweet…assertive, yet subdued...minimalist, but it still packs a punch. It’s a whole vibe that can really turn heads (including your own!) and there’s complimentary shades out there for everyone.
Celebs and influencers like Cara Delevingne, Jennifer Lawrence, Hailey Bieber, and Charli D’Amelio have all taken the pastel-colored plunge, but you don’t need to be a celebrity (or have a celebrity’s budget) to get the look all on your own. Achieving a baby-toned version of pink, blue, teal, green, or orange has never been easier to accomplish at home than now.
If you’re ready to spring into lighter, brighter hair color this season, try adding a bit of Splat’s Pastel Mixer together with your favorite Splat hair color.
Our vegan, cruelty-free formula is designed to work with any of our original color kits and semi-permanent dyes (including our Naturals collection, which gives you ultra-conditioned, 95% all-natural color that’s as easy as one-two-squeeze). So you can brighten things up by toning down the volume of your regular go-to color no matter how bold, deep, or vibrant it may be.
Each box of Splat’s Pastel Mixer kits comes complete with:
- Gloves
- Mixing tray
- Hair color brush
- 6 ounces of our pastel-mixer base
With Pastel Mixer, you can control your level of vibrancy depending on how much of the mixer you combine with how much dye. A good place to start is 3 parts mixer to 1 part color. And since this can vary depending on the color you’re using (lighter starting colors may be better at a 2:1 ratio), be sure to strand test your final mix first to see if you have it where you like. If you want it to be lighter, add a little more Pastel Mixer. For more color, just add more dye.
Once you have your mixture, simply apply as usual to your hair and let it sit for 30-45 minutes. Again, the lighter you process the lighter your results so the final look is totally up to you! Wash with cool water and color-safe shampoo, and voila - you’ll have a gorgeous toned-down version of your favorite color with a little spring in its step.
If you’re having trouble figuring out which shade works best for you, we recommend holding colorful clothes or scarves up against your face to see how they compliment your skin tone. If you’re looking for a fail-safe option, try a pastel version of your favorite pink, since pink is a shade that looks good on everyone.
And since our Pastel Mixer works with any of our semi-permanent products, you can even pastel-ize your own custom color mixed with two or more of Splat’s semi-permanent shades. We’ve tried and tested a number of different combos, so if you need a little inspo, take a look at the list below:
Whatever combo or color you’re craving, the point is that it can be pastel.
Keep in mind: since pastels are such light colors to begin with, they must be applied to pre-lightened, light or pale blonde hair for visible and most accurate results. And, if you’re new to color science, you may need to tone your hair to remove any unwanted brassy/yellow tones that can alter the results of the pastel look you’re trying to achieve.
And remember, even though you’re working with lighter, toned-down colors, you’ll still want to practice safe coloring techniques, so be sure to do the following:
Wear gloves! Always. Whenever you color your hair, wear gloves.
Apply Vaseline or petroleum jelly around your forehead, ears, and neck to keep the color from staining your skin.
Wear an old T-shirt or towel to protect your skin and clothes from any accidental spillage.
Use saran wrap or foils, when needed, to prevent color from bleeding.
Your color should fully develop within 30-45 minutes (depending on how much Pastel Mixer you use) but closely monitor and check regularly after the first 30 minutes.
Wash with color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.
Rinse with cold/cool water to seal your hair cuticle and lock in your color.
Since pastel shades tend to fade more quickly than other colors, you’ll be able to transition more easily into your next shade when you’re ready to re-color. Our Naturals collection and NEW Conditioning Color Masques are a great way to refresh your current color (in between color jobs) or to re-tone your color as it begins to fade.
If you want to skip the sugar this year (or at least cut back on it), you can shamelessly indulge in a sweet new pop of pastel color instead. We’re sure that Gen-Z would approve.
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