10 Hot Pink Hair Ideas We Can't Stop Staring At
If you're here, it’s because you don’t want pink hair – you want hot pink hair. You’re ready to go bold and turn heads with a shade of magenta, fuchsia or raspberry. But what does it really take to work hot pink locks, and how do you get the look? Let’s plunge into the punchiest pinks of all with 10 ideas to inspire you…
But, First – How Do You Get Hot Pink Hair?
First, find your nearest Wella salon. When it comes to bold brights like hot pink, it takes an expert to achieve the ideal base and intense color you crave. Unless you already have light blonde hair, they’ll need to pre-lighten your current color first. For this, our bond-strengthening pre-lightener BlondorPlex is perfect, as it gives you up to nine levels of lift - even through brown hair or dark hair - and also delivers up to 97% less breakage¹.
Then, your colorist can mix up your pink with one of these color products:
For a Bold Permanent Hair Color: Koleston Perfect
For the longest-lasting burst of pink with stunning intensity, there's no better pick than Koleston Perfect. Your Wella colorist can use it for highlights, balayage or an all-over wash of color, and you'll enjoy rich shine that goes the distance from wash to wash. It's also infused with Metal Purifier technology, so any metals lurking in your hair (believe us, they're there!) are neutralized, giving you a true-to-tone result.
For a Vibrant Demi-Permanent Hair Color: Color Touch
This vegan, ammonia-free² demi-permanent color is your answer to true-to-tone vibrancy – no matter your hair's condition – giving you a glossy hot pink with every service. Color Touch is also ideal if you're someone who likes to change your tone regularly, as it's ultra-gentle on strands and fades beautifully over 28 washes.
For a Long-Lasting, Semi-Permanent Hair Color: Color Fresh CREATE
Damage-free and head-turningly bright, our Color Fresh CREATE semi-permanent color gives you a low-commitment hot pink that pastelizes true to tone. So, as your color fades, it won't appear dull or drab, like other formulas might. Instead, it softens to a pastel pink that still looks fresh and fun.
10 Hot Pink Shades to Try
Hot Pink and Pastel Hair
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
Sounds like an oxymoron, right? But look – hot pink and pastel hair is possible. The secret is applying the two side by side, so the hot pink brightens the pastel, and the pastel softens the hot pink. Ideal for anyone who wants to work a few lighter hair ribbons, it's just on the edge of neon, with shades of demi-permanent Color Touch bringing all the brightness.
Magenta Pink Hair
Image Credit: @jim_wellamcr
Flaunt a darker shade of hot pink with this bright magenta hue; a bold look created by sweeping Color Fresh CREATE through the entire hair. A light hair shade of platinum blonde forms the base so the semi-permanent tones stand out. This is your pick for an almost-purple hair color that's unforgettable.
Pink Sunset Hair
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
The secret to radiant hair? Taking inspiration from golden hour, when the sky is ablaze in gilded hints of amber, rose and fuchsia. Ask your colorist for Wella's Golden Hour Glow service to unlock the look, and show them this color drench of peach and strawberry, created using SHINEFINITY. The zero lift, zero damage color glaze will not only inject your pre-lightened hair with sunset-inspired brilliance, but it will also glow with an undeniable shine you can feel.
Hot Pink Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @mermaid.hairbeauty.x
Look closely and you'll see that this Color Touch creation segues seamlessly from neon roots to softer pink ends, with our iconic demi-permanent color delivering show-stopping vibrancy. This is no one-tone wonder; it's a hot pink that turns ombre hair on its head, giving the technique a vivid makeover that puts it back at the top of trends lists.
Pink and Purple Hair
Image Credit: @glam.by.heather
Call it mermaid hair, call it unicorn hair, call it whatever you want, but one thing's for sure: this pink and purple masterpiece is the ultimate head-turner. Your colorist can recreate the look using Color Touch for true-to-tone vibrancy. This is one trend to try if you're blessed with ultra-long, healthy hair, so you can give the two shades the attention they deserve as they melt into one another.
Hot Raspberry Pink Hair
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
What if we told you this look was created with a conditioning hair color? Yep, our tinted Color Fresh Mask in Pink is the product behind these dreamy curls. If you want to try it, darker hair will need pre-lightening in the salon to achieve the right base, but after that, you can even use the pigment-depositing mask at home to maintain this fun color. All you need to do is smooth it through clean, damp hair, let it develop for 10 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. Reapply it weekly for a quick pink refresh.
Hot Pink Highlights
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
If you've got dark hair and you want to keep your base in place, try hot pink highlights. Against a deep brown hair color, a bolt of fuchsia seriously pops – especially when it's focused through the face frame. You might need to take your existing color darker to get that almost-black and pink contrast, but Koleston Perfect will help your colorist reach the right level of intensity for both shades.
Candy Pink Hair
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
A shag haircut in a candy pink shade means ticking off two trends in one. So, if you've got a sweet tooth, ask your colorist to mix up this tone for you with Koleston Perfect. It's the definition of dopamine hair color, and just looking at it makes us feel happier. So, imagine what it feels like to wear the look – especially through the summer months.
Hot Pink Rainbow Hair
Image Credit: @nikkiclifford_hair
Why work one neon hue when you can wear five? Hot pink teams up with violet, orange, gold and blue in this multicolored, mesmerizing mane. Once your colorist has lifted your hair to a cool blonde, you'll be ready for this scattering of SHINEFINITY shades – and if you're feeling really brave, you could ask for a few more to take the look next-level. Just make sure those lower layers can be seen by pairing the color with some tousled styling, courtesy of EIMI Ocean Spritz.
Hot Pink and Coral Hair
Image Credit: @chiriac.ionela
Hot pink shades usually have a cool, slightly bluish undertone, but if warm hues suit your skin tone better, ask for a bright pinky-coral shade like this. Vivid and vibrant, it’s a strawberry and peach fruit cocktail that’s bringing all the festival vibes. And the best part is, you can ask your colorist to make it more pink or more coral depending on what suits you.
How to Maintain Hot Pink Hair
It takes a range of products to keep your hot pink hair in check, from color-safe shampoos to tinted masks. So, let's delve into the home hair care regimen that ensures pink tones pack a punch...
1. Make it Shine
Beautifully nourished, glossy hair is the dreamiest canvas for a hot pink hue, so introduce shine-enhancing care products to your wash day regimen. ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo and ULTIMATE SMOOTH Conditioner are your two-step essentials for irresistible radiance, as they illuminate even parched strands with a dose of Squalane and Omega-9. Use the duo for every wash, then add the ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask as a weekly treatment. The cream formula bathes dry hair in nourishment to leave it soft, silky and glowy.
2. Refresh Tones at Home
While a hot pink transformation is safest in the hands of a Wella pro, you can top up the tone at home with the tinted Color Fresh Mask in Pink. On its own, it delivers a soft wash of color, but layered over pre-colored hair, it ups the vibrancy. Plus, the damage-free conditioning hair color develops in just 10 minutes for the speediest refresh. Apply it through clean, damp hair, let it absorb for the full 10 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly to reveal your powered-up pink.
3. Repair and Glow
Damage and frizz are guaranteed to dull your pink glow, so try this power pair to keep hair healthy and nourished after washing:
- Mist ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue from root to tip. The supercharged leave-in treatment repairs hair damage in 90 seconds³ while preventing future wear and tear with its skincare-inspired blend of AHA and Omega-9.
- Layer ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum over the top. The hybrid hair oils-meets-serum gives you nourishment in 30 seconds and smoothness that lasts up to 3 days⁴ – plus, it protects against hot tools.
Now you've got the full lowdown on hot pink hair, discover more trending looks with our round-up of the most covetable hair colors. We've got all the inspiration you need for a next-level look.
¹ When using Wellaplex N°2 with Blondorplex, versus Blondorplex alone.
² Except Color Touch Plus which is low-ammonia.
³ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
⁴ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.