We all want to dye our hair pink at some point in our lives. Whether it’s pastel or fuchsia, light wash or permanent, thirteen or thirty, it’s a rite of passage for colour fans. Baby pink hair might come with connotations of youth but take it from legendary makeup artist Mary Greenwell - who finally took the plunge at 59 - you’re never too old to dye your hair your favourite colour!

There’s an entire spectrum of pink hair colours out there waiting to be discovered. Which is why we asked the expert - senior Bleach stylist Freddie - to share her edit of the best pink shades and how to create them. So, whether it’s pastel, dusty, fiery, Barbie, bubblegum or something else – there’s a shade for everyone. Hue knew!?

Not only have we got your colour inspiration covered, but Freddie’s also here to manage your expectations. Different pinks require different bleach blonde bases for the best colour result. Getting that pure pastel pink dream is going to require bleaching your hair almost white, which won't always be possible for people with very dark hair to do in one session. Don’t worry, though! There are other rose-tinted options!

Take our Hair Quiz to choose the right bleaching kit and amount of product for your hair and check out our guide to getting your dream hair colour where we break down how your bleach affects your end result.

If you’ve been on the fence about taking the pink plunge, let Freddie convince you with this baby Rosé shade. “I love this translucent pink with pale rosy tones: I’ve never seen this colour look bad on anyone,” she says. “It adapts to all skin tones and fades out super easily to a nice creamy blonde.” Exactly what we like to hear!

The most important thing to consider with pastel pink is that it requires a super light bleached blonde base – we’re talking almost white hair, old lady in Titanic vibes – so it’s probably gonna be a no if you’re naturally very dark haired, because lightening your hair that much in one session may not be possible. If you're very dark but you've got your heart set on this baby pink (or any other super light pastel shade) book a free consultation with one of the Bleach stylists to discuss your options.

Get this soft pink easily at home! Lighten hair to a very pale yellow with one of our Bleach Kits, then apply Champagne Super Toner all over to banish unwanted yellows and create an even blonde base. Shampoo with Rosé Shampoo, then add Rosé Super Cool Colour and finish with Rosé Conditioner for real depth of colour.

“I love this colour because it reminds me of the inside of a seashell,” says Freddie.

This is pastel pink’s edgier sister; a little more lived in, a little grungier, she’s seen things, you know? Much like baby pink, you’re going to need a really light base to make this work and any signs of yellow bleach needs to be banished with White Toner before adding colour, Freddie says. Truly worth it for violet and silver undertones that you get with the end result though.

Cool-toned pink is a good transition shade if your baby pink is fading and you’re feeling a little more rebellious. Or if you want to add a little something extra to your Ice White Blonde. It washes out easily and you'll have an entire colour spectrum to explore once again.

To get this dusty pink, lighten your hair to a very pale yellow using your preferred Bleach Kit, then neutralise yellows with White Toner before finishing with Pearlescent Conditioner.

If your quick-fix pastel pink dreams have been dashed because of the need for a white blonde bleach base, one look at this burning bright shade will mop up those tears. Ideal for darker skin tones, this vibrant magenta shade with strong rosy leaves behind a stunning hot pink, which takes your hair game up a notch. “The vibrancy of this colour makes your hair look healthier,” says Freddie.

Fiery pink can be achieved over a yellow/orange bleach base, so you don't have to lighten your hair to platinum for this shade – great for those with darker locks. It also lasts longer than its pastel variants, and goes through a sunset of pinky oranges as it fades. Once the pink's gone, you can then explore the spectrum of peach hues. Who said pastels had to have all the fun?

For flaming hot pink, bleach your hair to yellow – make sure you leave some warmth in. Tone with Rosé Toner, shampoo with Rosé Shampoo, then smoosh The Big Pink with a dash of Tangerine Dream Super Cool Colour through. Finish with Rosé Conditioner. If you want to add more warmth, add a little more Tangerine to the mix. Do a strand test before applying all over to test the colour – just apply a dot of the mixture to a strand of hair and pull it close to your face.

This peachy pink with golden undertones is a softer version of the popular rose gold colour we’ve been seeing a lot of this year. This shade has become highly-requested in salon thanks to how easy it is to achieve. “I love this colour because almost everyone can have it and you don’t need to bleach the hair too light,” says Freddie. Basically, it’s a way to get that pastel pink vibe we all love, without bleaching the hell out of your hair. Your ends will thank you!

Get golden touch pink from a fresh yellow/orange base by first toning with Champagne Super Toner and shampooing with Rosé Shampoo. Then mix half Rosé and half Odd Fuchsia or Gobby Pink Super Cool Colour, smoosh it on and and finish with Rosé Conditioner.

If you've got more of a pale yellow/white base, shampoo with Awkward Peach Shampoo, mix half Awkward Peach and half Rosé Super Cool Colour and finish with Rosé Conditioner.

The original 90s Gwen Stefani pink and still as iconic as ever, just ask Freddie who says this hot pink is her favourite out of our entire edit. As it’s a true magenta with slightly cool, violet undertones you’re still going to need a light bleached base with most of the yellows removed to achieve this. Just make sure you totally saturate your hair in product to get the truest version.

Just like fiery pink, this shade will last longer than pastel hues because it’s much more pigmented. “It’s really popular with pink fanatics who want something that hangs around longer than the paler pinks,” explains Freddie. So, rather than washing out in a few days or weeks, Barbie pink can actually last a few months. If, unlike Barbie and Ken, you want to make a commitment to the pink life and never look back, this is your colour.

For barbielicious pink, bleach your hair to a pale yellow blonde and tone with White Toner to eradicate yellows. Shampoo with Rosé Shampoo, then add The Big Pink Super Cool Colour and finish up with Rosé Conditioner.

This bubblegum shade is midway between Barbie and baby pink. Vivid, with neon, highlighter pink undertones, it’s slightly translucent making it a little softer and less deep than straight magenta. “This one has been really popular lately,” Freddie says. “It’s a real TikTok favourite. Probably because it’s reminiscent of the 00s: it has a very Paris Hilton/Juicy Couture vibe.”

If such iconic references don't sign you up to go a Hubba Bubba hue, we don’t know what will. Again, you’re going to need a light base to truly see the neon undertone in this, so probably not one for super dark-haired people. Must be accessorised with a flip phone, ideally a pink Motorola Razr. That's hot!

Over a pale yellow base, tone using Pearlescent Shampoo or White Toner (leave this one on for half the time so you don't deposit too much cool ash colour). Then add Gobby Pink or The Big Pink mixed with Rose Super Cool Colour and finish with Rose Conditioner.

Words by: Laura Capon