The Base
As with all creative colour hair dyes, how light or dark your result develops will depend on the colour of your base before application. Pastel coloured hair dye holds the least amount of pigment within the creative colour spectrum as this gives a more neutralised and much lighter result. Due to this, they cannot provide visible results on a base that is already holding pigment.
Pastel tones require a very light blonde base colour at a level 10+ to produce a colourful result. The perfect base colour for a pastel tone application is a clean and even hue that no longer holds any pigment; after bleaching, the hair should be toned to remove any yellow hues that may be left after the pre-lightening process.

Prepare for the Maintenance
If the plan is to wear your pastel hair for several weeks or even months, ensure you’re aware of the maintenance that these colours require. Due to the minimal pigmentation included in these formulas, you’ll find that the colour fades much quicker than those brighter shades; pastel hair colours tend to last between 2-3 weeks depending on how the hair and colour are maintained.
If you want to avoid the faded pastel look then we definitely suggest purchasing a few pots of your favourite pastel hair dye so that you are prepared whenever you need to re-apply; otherwise, you can try diluting one of the Love Color™ Colour Depositing Conditioners with your own regular conditioner to keep on top of your hair tone. Some tips can help to keep your pastel shade looking its best for longer, these include:
Wash your hair as infrequently as possible. Many semi-permanent hair dye users opt for washing their hair only once a week; each time water is applied to your hair, the colour will fade gradually.
Use cold water to wash your hair. Using cold water when washing your hair helps to keep the hair cuticle closed which in turn seals the pigment in and minimises the amount that colour fades when cleansed.
Use sulphate-free products. Sulphates are not compatible with coloured hair. This ingredient interferes with pigment and can gradually remove colour.
Avoid heat. Wherever possible, it is best to avoid heat through water, styling and even direct sunlight. Heat causes the cuticle to open and this then allows the pigment to fade much quicker.
Consider A New Hair Routine
Due to the amount of preparation that comes with going blonde, it might be time to think about changing up your hair care routine. For the majority, achieving the pastel dream is going to require several bleaching sessions, especially for those starting with a darker base and as we are all aware, heavily bleached hair will require some attention.
It is important to keep your hair in its best condition, both for your colour and to ensure it is looking and feeling its healthiest. Keeping your hair moisturised is the best way of ensuring it receives a deep treatment and avoids drying out from the bleach; using a colour-safe conditioner as well as a deep conditioning treatment can be highly beneficial to keep your hair and colour looking its best.
If you have been considering exploring the pastel world, ensure you are well-informed regarding what it takes to achieve it. Perfect for the warmer season, Manic Panic stock a beautiful range of pastel tones with the Creamtones Perfect Pastels collection; complete with 4 different shades, these semi-permanent hair dyes bring the true dream of pastelised hues to life! Get to know the Creamtones Perfect Pastels range here.
We would love to see what awesome pastel shades you can create using the Manic Panic hair dyes. Whether you opt for a Creamtones shade or choose to customise your own using our Pastel-izer, we would love to see what your pastel results look like. Tag us on Instagram using @manicpanic_uk for the opportunity to be shared on our social media feeds!