Another Y2K trend that’s making a comeback, Bubblegum Pink has been seen all over the runways and is now making its way into hair colour. So much so that Goldwell even named it their 2022 Color of the Year!
“We wanted to have a colour that’s more inclusive—it works on men, women, anyone,” says Didier Lachapelle, owner of Avenue Atelier Coiffure in Trois-Rivières, Que., and a national artist for Goldwell. “Considering the last two years we’ve had, it’s a fun colour. Even the name makes you think of childhood. It’s really fresh for spring and summer.”
Power of Pink
While there have been variations of pink shades trending in hair colour before—ranging from rose gold to neon—Bubblegum Pink straddles the line between warm and cool, making it a versatile tone for all clients.
“The difference with Bubblegum Pink for us is that the formula is part rose and part lavender, so you have a bit of a blue undertone that makes it either cool or warm, depending on the quantity of shades that you use,” says Lachapelle. “You could have five different clients with Bubblegum Pink and have five different results, depending on the mixing ratio and what product you’re using, so it’s really fun to customize different hues into it.”
With most fashion shades, the younger generations tend to be more willing to experiment with tones. However, pink has become a universal colour that can be added in a variety of ways, depending on your client’s preference and lifestyle. “Pink is not like it used to be with only certain clientele wanting to wear it,” says Lachapelle. “Now, you can have shades that are really bold or really soft. You can do just a small section of colour and it’ll give the hair some pop.”
PRO TIP
FOR CLIENTS WHO MAY BE UNSURE ABOUT THE TONE, CONSIDER COLOURING A PIECE OF HAIR ABOVE THEIR EAR TO HELP THEM GET A FEEL FOR IT.
All About the Placement
Since it’s unlikely that most clients will want to rock the shade as an all-over colour, getting creative with your placement is key. It’s also a great way to introduce the shade to clients who may be open to experimenting with their colour but are hesitant about taking the plunge.
“It does vary person to person,” says Alyssa Torgerson, a Winnipeg-based colourist and 2021 finalist for Wella’s TrendVision Color Artist. “For something more understated, I would just do the tips of the hair or a money piece, which is a trend that’s still very in right now. Halo sectioning is also really big; it’s the front and entire hairline that’s coloured, which means anything that’s hidden underneath the hairline—where they normally wouldn’t part their hair—will be less high-maintenance.”
“The way I like to work with it is either as a root splash or a section or two of the colour in the mid- shaft,” adds Lachapelle. “We can do the roots and maybe more in front—depending on the haircut. It’s easy for clients to get a touch-up at the salon because you only have to redo the root area. For the lengths and tips, it can be a really quick toner at the sink, so the result is more muted.”
For clients who want to fully embrace the colour, Torgerson recommends using a prism technique, which creates a holographic effect in the hair, or colour-melting for a more multidimensional finish. “Use a couple of different shades of pink throughout—going from darker on top and lighter through the bottom—for pop and dimension, especially on darker hair, which gives clients more bang for their buck.”
“I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE IS TIRED OF THE PANDEMIC SO PEOPLE ARE BEING MORE EXPERIMENTAL WITH THEIR HAIR AND STEPPING OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE.” — ALYSSA TORGERSON, COLOURIST AND 2021 WELLA TRENDVISION COLOR ARTIST FINALIST, WINNIPEG
Don’t Burst Their Bubble
For clients who may be “chewing” on the idea, it’s important to discuss cost and maintenance during the consultation to ensure their expectations about the commitment level and longevity are managed. “I focus on the root level, density and texture, and if the hair is healthy or not,” says Lachapelle. “I’m never going to try bringing a level five up to a level 10 only to do a pastel. I would rather add it at a level eight than a level nine or 10, depending on the existing colour.”
When lightening the hair, it’s important to give the client a realistic timeline to anticipate. “Clients need to be prepared to spend a bit more money on fashion colour, just because it’s quite a lengthy process,” says Torgerson. “Depending on their hair, it could cost more or less, so it’s best that they’re prepared for a bit more maintenance and the cost that comes with it.”
“For example, if they have black box colour, I probably won’t be able to get them past like an orange [in one appointment], which in theory isn’t a bad thing,” she adds. “Oranges can grab some of the pinks really easily, so it depends on the end result that they’re looking for.”
When it comes to maintenance, Torgerson recommends advising clients about the importance of investing in a professional-grade colour protection shampoo and conditioner, along with reducing the use of hot styling tools to increase their colour’s longevity. “If someone wants something more muted or pastel, I usually ask how often they wash their hair because if they wash it daily or every couple of days, it tends to rinse out faster, meaning it might not be worth their money,” says Torgerson. “I usually try to push for more of a brighter, richer tone just because they will get more washes and uses out of it.”
PRO TIP
WITH ANY FASHION COLOUR, HAIR OFTEN NEEDS TO BE LIGHTENED TO A LEVEL NINE OR 10 TO ACHIEVE THESE SHADES, ESPECIALLY AS AN ALL-OVER COLOUR. TORGERSON SUGGESTS USING THE INSIDE OF A BANANA PEEL AS A REFERENCE TO WHAT THE HAIR SHOULD LOOK LIKE BEFORE PROCEEDING.
Colour For All
With a rising demand for fashion colours, it’s important to be welcoming to anyone who expresses an interest in it—regardless of their gender.
“Pink is one of those fun colours that anyone can own,” says Torgerson, who offers a “safe space” for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. “To me, hair and colour have no gender, so having an open dialogue is key. Be open to whatever conversations may come your way. With everything changing in the world now, including pronouns, I’m fully willing to have those conversations and be understanding of them, because I want to learn and gain more awareness so I can continue to share with people and practice what I preach.”
“Pink is not just a ‘feminine’ colour anymore,” adds Lachapelle. “It’s not even a question now because people are asking for these kinds of colours, so it’s not like back in the day when you had to sell them on the idea of it. I have as many men asking for this colour as women. It’s all about having fun and being fashionable and optimistic about the future.”
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