8 Pink Ombre Hair Formulas to Mix Up Right Now
What do you get when you melt blonde roots into blush ends, or vibrant fuchsia into candyfloss lengths? Pink ombre hair – one of the dreamiest takes on bolds and pastels in the salon world. As a colorist, playing with pigment-popping tone and dimension like this is as fun as it gets. (Just think of the ‘before and after’ shots!) So, let’s embrace la vie en rose with an ombre twist. Here’s exactly how you can create pink ombre hair for your clients with the No. 1 Salon Color Brand in the World*…
Try These Pink Ombre Hair Formulas
Hot Pink to Pale Pink Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @brianacisneros and @jhair_stylist
From the legendary dream team that is Briana Cisneros and James Earnshaw comes this blossoming blush pink ombre through the most voluptuous curls. The pair revealed the look at the Heart of Hair event in Las Vegas; a dazzling celebration of hair artistry, where passion and inspiration collide. It’s hard to believe this color began on a deep burgundy base; a shade that was first lifted with BlondorPlex + 6% to create a light canvas. Next up, the root area was pre-toned with permanent Koleston Perfect 10/3 + 10/6 + 44/65 + 1.9%. Then, when the formula had been rinsed and neutralized, semi-permanent Color Fresh CREATE was used for the pops of pink. You're seeing High Magenta + Pure Violet + Tomorrow Clear on the roots to mid-lengths, and High Magenta + Tomorrow Clear on the lengths and ends.
Fuchsia to Pastel Pink Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @kennyhairartist
From vibrant fuchsia to pastel pink hair, this ombre is unforgettable – and it all comes courtesy of a zero damage, zero lift Shinefinity Color Glaze. Lighten the mid-lengths and ends of hair with BlondorPlex first, so the pink tones appear lighter through this section. It’s our bond-strengthening lightener, which gives your client up to 97% less hair breakage**. Then, from root to tip, paint with Shinefinity 09/65+ 00/66. Because of your lightener placement, this single formula will melt from dark to light for a sweeter-than-candy glow.
Rose Brown Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @dimozlatarov
Who says your dark-haired clients can’t try pink ombre hair? For them, a rose brown masterpiece is the answer, teaming brunette tones with a touch of blush through the lengths. This pinky-violet mane features a Shinefinity glaze for a translucent glow through pre-lightened mid-lengths and ends. If you’re creating the look on a brunette mane, keep the root natural, lift the lengths with BlondorPlex, then glaze with 09/61 + 07/75 + 00/89. Et voilà – a rosé dream come true.
Candyfloss Pink Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @jamiekeikohair
This is the definition of candyfloss color; a pink so sweet and shimmery that we’re getting a sugar rush just from looking at it. Teaming a beachy texture with depth on the root and luminous lightness through the ends, it’s a hue you can recreate with shades from the Shinefinity Color Glaze collection. Starting with a pre-lightened base, try it with a blush-tinted violet like 06/6 on the roots to mid-lengths, then melt that into a pink shimmer such as 09/65 through the mid-lengths to ends. You can even pastelize it with 00/00.
Magenta Pink to Peach Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
Who knew magenta and peach colors could be such a winning combo? This pink ombre doesn’t just play with tone, but with two very different palettes that, together, melt more seamlessly than you might think. So, how do you craft the look? When you’re lightening right on the root, start with Blondor Soft Blonde Cream, which lends a gentler lift that’s kind to even sensitive scalps. Then, follow up with Color Touch 9/97 + 55/65 +1.9% for the bright pink, and 10/6 + 7/4 + 55/65 + 1.9% for that strawberry-tinted peach.
Pink Ombre on Short Hair
Image Credit: @reysalehair
Ombre hair is possible on an ultra short buzz cut, but instead of painting pink tones through lengths, you’re melting them from dark to light across the whole of the head. This one sees the color fade from light through the crown to bolder near the nape of the neck and the face. A guaranteed show-stopper. Close-to-the-scalp lifting is needed for this look, so make sure you apply Marula Oil Blend Scalp Primer first to protect the skin from irritation. Then, after lightening with BlondorPlex for up to nine levels of lift, try our semi-permanent Color Fresh CREATE palette of shades. High Magenta is perfect for this look, as you can pastelize it with Tomorrow Clear for the lighter section, then apply it solo for the boldest pigment through the front, back and sides.
Ivory Blonde and Pink Ombre Hair
Image Credit: @jordannacobella
We love seeing an ombre through bangs – especially retro bangs like these. In this head-turning look, the color melts from ivory blonde in the roots to a peachy pink that adorns the ends of hair. To recreate the look, you’ll need to lift and tone hair to a bright blonde first, which can be achieved with Koleston Perfect Special Blonde 12/81. Then, after that high lift color formula has been rinsed and neutralized, sweep a soft pastel shade, like Color Fresh CREATE in Nu-Dist Pink, from the mid-lengths to ends.
Pink Sombre (Subtle Ombre) Hair
Image Credit: @charlesjuniorlouw
When your client wants a gentler transition from dark to light pink tones, give them sombre hair – AKA subtle ombre hair. This melt is delicate, yet adds enough dimension to really boost the shape of those beautiful curls. On the roots, you’re seeing Color Touch 5/71 + 5/97, a deeper blend of rosy pinks that enhance the appearance of volume. Then, on the mid-lengths to ends, hair has been adorned in 10/0 + 8/81 + 55/65 for a dose of brightness that’s soft yet statement-making.
How to Maintain Pink Ombre Hair
When your client heads out the salon door with their new pink ombre look, make sure they’ve got all the maintenance tips they need to help their color last. These are the tricks to know…
1. Apply the Pinks in Bolder Shades
Before your client reaches the maintenance stage – and even before you’ve mixed up their color – ask them if they’re happy to start with shades of pink that are a touch brighter than their reference photos. A bolder beginning means your client’s color will take longer to fade than, for example, a soft pastel hue. They’ll still achieve the shade they crave, but it will last for longer.
2. Pick the Perfect Color-Depositing Mask
A color-depositing treatment is a must in every pink-haired client’s kit. Even fuchsias are prone to fading, but a pigmented mask will let them top up their tone at home. Recommend the Color Fresh Mask in Pink (for true pinks), Rose Blaze (for deeper, duskier tones) or Peach Blush (for peachy pinks), which will revive their ombre any time it needs a pick-me-up. All they have to do is apply their chosen shade to clean, damp hair, allow it to develop for 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, then enjoy the results.
3. Boost Nourishment with ULTIMATE REPAIR
The most covetable colors happen when hair is in its best condition, so remind your client how important it is to keep their strands nourished in between salon appointments. The ULTIMATE REPAIR regimen transforms even the driest damaged hair, while offering color-safe care. Plus, it’s suitable for all hair types – straight, wavy, curly and coily. The ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo and ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner kick-start the replenishment of brittle hair, with a blend of AHA and Omega-9 that rebuilds bonds from the inside out. Then, the secret weapon comes in: ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. In 90 seconds, this spray-on, leave-in treatment repairs damage***, giving your client 12x smoother hair with 99% less breakage****.
Ready to share your own pink ombre hair masterpieces? Post them on Instagram and tag us @WellaHairUSA and @WellaEducation. You might even appear in one of our future round-ups!
* Based on Wella Master Brand USD sales on the 2022 Salon Hair Care Study for the hair coloring products category published by Kline.
** When using Wellaplex N°2 with BlondorPlex, versus BlondorPlex alone.
*** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
**** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.
