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Pastel Blue Hair Is The Icy Shade That'll Make You A Total Knockout

pastel blue hair

Whether it’s your natural dark brown hair or salon ash blonde, neutral hair colors are everyone’s go-to for playing it safe. If you’re looking to dip your feet into the wild side of hair color, however, it might be time to try a pastel shade.

If you’re new to pastels, it can be challenging to know which of the muted fantasy shades is right for you—we get it, there are a ton of gorgeous options out there! If you’re looking to keep your mane on the cooler side, however, you can’t go wrong with pastel blue hair.

Ready to take the plunge into pastel blue hair? Keep scrolling for the ultimate guide to trying the icy, cool-toned hue for yourself.

What is pastel blue hair?

To achieve pastel blue hair, your colorist will need to begin with a light blonde base before painting your strands with the pastel hue. If you’re beginning with a darker base, your colorist will use bleach to lift your color completely before applying the pastel blue shade. Bleaching your hair will always cause damage, but the right colorist will be able to improve the look and feel of your strands before you leave the salon.

How do you take care of pastel blue hair?

As with any pastel hair color, you’re going to need to make some changes to your hair care routine to keep your new hue looking its absolute best. First, we suggest using a shampoo and conditioner system formulated for color treated hair. We recommend the Redken Nature + Science Color Extend Shampoo and Conditioner, which features silicone and sulfate-free, gentle non-stripping formulas to enhance vibrancy on color-treated hair.

Pro tip: Try rinsing your hair under cool water to extend the life of your pastel blue hue. When shampooing with steaming hot water, your hair cuticle can open up, potentially causing your hair color to fade more quickly.

While there’s no way to completely avoid damage after bleach, the right hair care products can help improve the look and feel of your strands. We recommend incorporating a weekly hair mask like the Redken Extreme Strengthening Mega Hair Mask into your routine. The two-in-one strengthening hair mask is both a treatment and care extender designed specifically for your damaged hair.

Pastel blue will require you to head to the salon for touch-ups every four to six weeks. If you’re not ready for a high maintenance hue, why not try a temporary hair color? It will vanish completely after just a few washes, making it a great way to try pastel blue hair on hair that’s already light without the commitment.

Who should try pastel blue hair?

Those with pale skin will love pastel blue hair—although the shade can be worn cooler or a bit deeper to flatter darker skin tones.

Ready to give pastel blue hair a try? If you need a little inspiration before you head to the salon, keep scrolling for 10 of our favorite pastel blue looks.

Pastel Blue Hair Ideas

Icy Pastel Blue

This pastel blue shade might give you serious ice queen vibes, but the good news is it’s still totally wearable for summer!

Gray Blue

This moody color combo is perfect if you’re looking to tackle two major color trends at once. If you’re already sporting gray hair, ask your colorist to incorporate strands of pastel blue throughout your mane for a subtle pop of color.

Just like other fantasy hair colors, gray hair will need an extra bit of TLC between salon appointments. We recommend picking up Redken Color Extend Graydient Shampoo to neutralize unwanted yellow and orange undertones.

Smoky Pastel Blue

If you’ve ever thought about trying a smoky hair color, now’s the time—after all, Matrix artistic director Chrystofer Benson predicted they’ll be sticking around for the rest of 2019!


Two-Toned Balayage

Why opt for only one shade of blue? If you can’t decide between a super pale hue or something a bit brighter, embrace both colors with a two-toned balayage.

Mint

This green-blue hue is cool and refreshing—just like the herb it’s inspired by! While mint hair color looks great on any hair length, pair the hue with a very short haircut for maximum impact.

Mermaid

If summer beach days have you wishing you were a mermaid, let them inspire your next hair color change! Opt for this dazzling blend of pastel blue hair colors and pop in some hair extensions to really channel your inner mermaid!

Short And Curly

Who says girls with curls can’t pull off pastel blue? We love this pastel blue hue paired with a curly pixie cut.

Purple To Blue Balayage

When it comes to cool hair colors that blend perfectly together, there aren’t many that can stand against purple and blue. If you’re looking for a trendy way to combine the two shades, ask your colorist for a purple and blue balayage.

Turquoise

While turquoise hair is typically as vibrant as can be, we love this toned-down, pastel variation of the greenish-blue hue.

Denim

Who knew a hair color inspired by your favorite pair of jeans could be so flattering? Not too subtle and not too bright, denim hair is the perfect in-between shade if you’re just getting into pastel blue hair.

Looking for more expert hair color tips? Use our salon locator to book an appointment at a salon near you.


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