How to Get Super-Sweet Cotton Candy Hair

Taking beauty inspiration from some of our favorite sweet treats is nothing new, which is why it should come as no surprise that cotton candy hair is trending. We’ll always be a fan of the colorful hair trend, and this pastel pink and blue combo is no exception. Whether you love cotton candy or have always wanted to rock a colorful shade, we’d rank cotton candy hair high on our list of Instagram-worthy ‘dos. As with any hair color transformation, there are some things you’ll want to consider before taking this sweet plunge. We’ll walk you through it below, with tips on getting cotton candy hair and taking care of your new pastel hair color.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING COTTON CANDY HAIR

As with all light hair color trends, a cotton candy-inspired mane will require quite a bit of work to achieve—especially if you’re starting with a dark base color. When it comes to creating a light hair color that really pops, you’ll need to bleach your hair first. And if you’re starting with a very dark base color, then it may even take multiple sessions for you to achieve your desired result. For a multi-colored hue such as cotton candy, you always have the option of visiting a pro colorist. That being said, this doesn’t mean you can’t DIY the trend!

HOW TO GET COTTON CANDY HAIR AT HOME

Coloring your hair at home can be super-convenient. So, if you choose to roll up your sleeves and create your own one-of-a-kind, cotton candy-inspired hair color at home, we’ve got you covered. First, as we told you earlier, if you’re starting with dark hair, you’ll need to bleach your strands. You can do so with the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Bleach All Over. Keep in mind, you’ll need to wait at least 14 days post-bleach before coloring your strands with cotton candy hues.

Now comes the fun part—it’s time to add your colors! There are a few hair color products you can use to DIY the look, depending on how long you want to rock cotton candy hair.

If you want a temporary cotton candy hair color…use the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Rose Gold and Pastel Blue.

If you want a semi-permanent cotton candy hair color…use the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Soft Pink and Blue, which last four to eight shampoos.

If you want a permanent cotton candy hair color…use the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Smokey Pink and Smokey Blue.

As far as how to apply your two shades, you’ve got a few options. You may want to apply blue to one side of your head and pink to another so that your cotton candy hair is split right down the middle—a half and half hair color, if you will. Or, you may want to place the pink on top with pastel blue poking out from underneath at the bottom—or vice versa. Have fun with it!

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR NEW COTTON CANDY ‘DO

Once you have your pretty new cotton candy hair color in place, you’ll want to make a few changes to your hair care routine to keep your ‘do looking its best.

TIP #1: SWITCH TO A HAIR CARE SYSTEM FOR COLOR-TREATED HAIR

Make room in your shower! Try the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo, L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Conditioner, and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Repair and Protect Balm.

TIP #2: TURN DOWN THE DIAL

Speaking of showering, super-hot water can strip your strands of essential oils, so turn down the dial and shower in lukewarm temps instead.

TIP #3: EMBRACE YOUR HAIR’S NATURAL TEXTURE

Save some time in your morning routine by allowing your hair to air dry. Here are a few of our favorite heat-free ways to embrace your natural texture.

If you have wavy hair…create beachy waves by spritzing a wave spray onto towel-dried hair. For extra texture, braid your hair prior to letting it air dry!

If you have straight hair…add volume to your mane by applying an egg-sized dollop of the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Volume Inject Mousse to damp hair.

If you have curly hair…define your ringlets by applying one to two pumps of the L’Oréal Paris EverCurl Sculpt & Hold Cream-Gel to damp hair.

TIP #4: USE A HEAT PROTECTANT BEFORE STYLING

If you do decide to use your heat tools, just be sure to apply a heat protectant, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BLOW DRY IT Quick Dry Primer Spray or the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Iron Straight Heatspray, first.

Next up: Love trendy hair colors? So do we! For more inspo, here are 15 Edgy Hair Colors You Need to Try.