Perhaps the idea came from my laptop wallpaper: Kate Moss photographed under the covers by Juergen Teller [11]. Or maybe it was my desktop at work: Malgosia Bella shot by Camilla Akrans for Vogue Spain [12]. Or maybe those two images are actually evidence of my unconscious drive to dye. (Catch that, Sigmund?) In any event, a week ago, I felt the urge to go pink.
I had one request for Aura Friedman, a fancy (aka pricey) colorist at the very fancy (aka pricey) Sally Hershberger Salon in the Meatpacking District, who now essentially specializes in atypical dye jobs (Soo Joo, Sky Ferriera, and Lady Gaga): No bleaching my hair!
Not a problem, she said. And she was all for pink, which, yes, has definitely been done before. We saw the aforementioned Young Pink Kate all the way back in 1998, and many a rocker (Alison Mosshart or Sky Ferriera), movie star (Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren), and teenager (me and countless others) have taken a stab at Barbie’s color of choice.
'Pink is a good color because it’s very flattering on all skin tones,” Aura said. “Depending on warm or cool, there are so many great variations in the spectrum. For you, I want to put darker pinks at the top and lighter pinks on the tips so that there is a gradation, which will give it a more organic feeling. I want to emulate nature to make it look pretty and natural, even though it’s not.” Aura, you’re a genius.
With six bowls of vegetable dye [5] on hand, I said goodbye to my flaxen hair, and put my tresses in the hands of an expert. “These are 'direct dyes,' which means the color molecules are big enough so that the color you see in the bottle is basically the color of your soon-to-be hair, and they're very temporary. As it fades out over the course of three to six weeks, it will be a different color every day. I love that. If you want to make it last, take lukewarm-to-cold showers, which will help keep the cuticle closed and the tone in. I generally recommend using a Wella Brilliance Treatment Mask for Fine to Normal Colored Hair to help with that, as well. It just seals everything in.” Sold. (Aura's a spokesperson for Wella, I should note.)
Sure, D.I.Y.-ing it with Manic Panic or Davines’ Alchemic Conditioner (in Red) is great, but I've learned there is something to be said for professional help, especially if you're after a more “natural” look—a variety of blush shades rather than a singular electric stain. And I'm clearly not the only one who's interested in having an unprofessional color applied by a professional: these days, wacky dye options sit right next to “highlights” on high-end salon menus. Bergdorf Blondes beware—the pink-haired now walk among you.
Oh, and Mom, if you’re reading this, I dyed my hair. It's cool, right?
—Elizabeth Brockway
[1] Photo by Elizabeth Brockway, [2-11] Photos by David Sabshon, [12] Kate Moss photographed by Juergen Teller, [13] Malgosia Bella photographed by Camilla Akrans.
