A pastel blue hair is a hair color that’s a muted, lighter shade of blue. Pastels were undeniably so in last year with celebrities going out of the box with their eye-candy pink and lilac strands – but this season’s spotlight is all on hair – baby blue hues!
With Lady Gaga, Blac Chyna, and Kylie Jenner starting the trend, the hair color’s been making rounds on everyone’s feeds for its cool vibe – in the form of ombré’s, balayage, highlights, and even mixed with other pastels.
As soft as seafoam, pastel blue strands suit any skin tone. It’s just a matter of confidence and personal style.
It’s seen as a calm hue, but getting it isn’t exactly chill. Being an unnatural shade, pre-lightening your hair is necessary. Consulting your trusted colorist for products will also help prolong the beauty of your wintry strands.
For all that, the glacial results are still definitely worth it! Get your locks frosted with these popular and pretty pastel blue hair colors below!
Baby Blue Pastel
Baby pastel blue locks make you look twice with all the subtle undertones it brings.
Faded Icy Blue
Sky blue balayage on platinum hair is the modern short pastel blue hair cut that you would rock! The blunt bob with full bangs makes this look runway ready.
Pastel Blue with Dark Roots
Try this pastel blue shade out for a beginner color treatment! Safe on the roots for a grow-out with all the fun and sass of having curled, blue hair!
Black to Blue Pastel Ombre
Back to back with black and faded pastel blue hair color! Icy blue hair never looked so good, does it?
Pink and Blue
Pastel pink and powder blue goes well together, no doubt. The unicorn pastel combo is one to watch out.
Short Pastel
Pastel blue tones look like the 90’s came back! The cute short bob with bangs makes the look even more fashion-forward.
Light Pastel Blue
Blooming in light blue! The soft waves go well with the light pastel blue hue. The long wispy bangs add a very wild touch.
Dark Blue and Lavender
Q&A with style creator, Irene Zoroa Bermejo
Salon Owner / Hair Stylist @ Sita Zoroa in Cataluna, ES
How would you describe this look?
I love all kinds of blue. This dark pastel blue hair dye is one of my favorite colors for hair, and I supposed that that’s the reason to make a work like this. As you can see, I make some purple strands to create the movement and give it that cotton candy vibe. The cut is a traditional bob finished with a broken wave. It’s something very popular in our salon.
Any advice for someone considering it?
The most important is color treatment and a good shampoo. We always sell it before the color service.
Purple and Blue
Q&A with style creator, Nikki Parsons
Certified Colorist @ Spa Bella Salon & Boutique in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
How would you describe this look?
To me, this look is the best way to incorporate vivids into icy blonde hair. Pastel blue and purple tones will most likely fade back to blonde (as long as the hair beneath it isn’t super porous). The wavy styling makes the color look more elegant. This is totally mermaid hair for cooler blondes.
Any advice for someone considering it?
Anyone looking for this look should be ready to wash their hair in freezing cold water. The cold water locks in the pastel color. Even with cold water, the color will likely fade in 4-6 shampoos. A client married to the idea of vivid hair should ask their stylist for a deeper tone.
I don’t think that blue pastel hair color should be limited to any age group. That being said, make sure your workplace is cool with colors like these!
Silver Blue
Q&A with style creator, Alaina Ontiveros
Balayage Specialist @ Seth’s Chop Shop OB in San Diego, CA
How would you describe this look?
My favorite thing about this look is the grey blue pastel color and the soft waves that go along with it. I always like to give a name to the tones/colors I create. I’d describe this color as blue steel. Because her hair is highlighted, styling it with a soft wave allows showing dimension and depth.
Any advice for someone considering it?
I always recommend to someone who is desiring a fantasy color that is semi-permanent to be prepared for the upkeep. This means investing in color-safe hair products.
This also means changing your hair routine. Be prepared to wash your hair much less. I recommend once a week but no less than every four days. Most importantly, cold water – the hair must be washed in cold water otherwise that smokey blue hair color we just invested time and money into will literally wash down the blue tips and down the drain.
Also, keep in mind this will fade, so have fun with it! Allow yourself and stylist to have creative freedom – it’s just hair after all.
Pastel Blue Ombré
Q&A with style creator, Anastacia Capers
Salon Owner / Hair Stylist @ BonnieKildClyde in Alexandria, VA
How would you describe this look?
I would describe this look as an aquamarine stone. It’s my mother’s birthstone, it’s blue, and its meaning is the water of the sea. My favorite thing about it is how it’s a muted soft powdery blue, and I really have a soft spot for blue pastel hair.
Any advice for someone considering it?
Your hair has to be in good health in order to embark on this journey. In order to achieve metallic or cute pastel blue hair, the hair must be lifted to platinum, so sessions may be necessary depending on the hair.
This would look best on cool-toned skin. For instance, if you look better with silver jewelry then it would work well with you.
This look requires a good hair care regimen in order to keep the hair healthy and color intact. I love Alternative Caviar and Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure Bond connecting mask. Pastels can give a fun twist to anyone’s hair. They are perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to be committed to color for long, as they wash out after a few shampoos.
Sky Blue
Q&A with style creator, Amanda Lacy
Hairstylist @ The Vanity Belle in Costa Mesa, CA
How would you describe this look?
This shade of pastel blue was inspired by the ocean when it connects to the sky. Believe it or not, to achieve this color, I actually only used two professional coloring products: Blank Canvas with 5vol & 10vol by Pulp Riot (a color remover), and 9p + clear shades eq by Redken (a demi-gloss) which is my favorite thing about this look! You would have thought I used pastel fashion colors, but I didn’t!
My canvas originally had a vibrant purple, navy, and teal balayage but to achieve the colors I was first inspired by I used the safest products you can when dealing with any fashion colors. I weaved thin sections and painted accordingly (avoiding the natural roots) with 5 vol & 10vol. This was a process.
I watched the colors fade carefully and rinsed once I had the desired hues. After shampooing, I toned her with a soft pearl (9p + clear) to get the metallic effect but to also help with the fade-out on her platinum hair that is under the pastels. After any chemical service, I always trim to keep the integrity of my canvas. This cut was a dry cut. To make sure the natural look of the hair moved correctly after taking length off. Choppy long layers always finished with the Oi leave-in milk and Oi beautifying oil by Davines. I styled with a 1 1/2 inch wand, leaving the ends out for a beachy look but also to protect her ends. (Key tip for lighter hair colors when using heat)
Any advice for someone considering it?
You must start with a blank canvas to achieve true colors. You will and must understand a good artist will never compromise the integrity of your hair. Lightening hair to a level 9-11 (blondes) is indeed a process to get where you need to be to have any true pastel color to look correctly. This style can be for anyone who understands the health of your hair always comes first and to be patient. (Also a tip for people who always have their hair up, leave the ends of your bun out from the hair elastic and pin them instead to avoid split ends.)
Any vibrant colored hair should be using Oi leave-in milk by Davines on (damp) towel-dried hair followed by Oi beautifying oil on dry ends of your hair to keep a healthy shine and nourished locks! (As well as a bonder with any lightening service! Ollaplex/B3 etc.)
Blue Highlights in Brown Hair
Q&A with style creator, Dorathy Grant
Cosmetologist @ Hair by Dorathy in Ellsworth, ME
How would you describe this look?
This pastel blue shade is a subtle and fun, yet professional way to dive in the fashion color world without too much lightening. It is a color that requires maintenance and care (shampooing less frequently, using sulfate-free color-protecting shampoo and conditioners, heat protectants, etc.) for longevity but is a great way to test out the world of fashion colors.
Any advice for someone considering it?
I absolutely love that this sky blue hair is a little different from your average highlights! It tested my patience and skill but allowed me to give this client a seamless look that worked appropriate yet fun and sassy!
Blue Hair Tips
Q&A with style creator, Mary Olivia Thomas
Hair Stylist / Colorist @ ME Salon San Antonio in San Antonio, TX
How would you describe this look?
This look is different because I kept her natural hair color and blended the blue up to give it a fading/ombré effect. My favorite part is how it fades from her natural root color to minimal baby blue hair highlights to the big pop of pastel blue on her ends. Doing the color this way makes the client able to wear the look longer as her roots grow, as long as she’s taking care of her hair at home with the right products.
Any advice for someone considering it?
My advice on doing this color on yourself is to first consider your occupation. This particular client is a teacher, so she will only be keeping this for the summer. It’s important to let your stylist know things like that. One great thing about this look is that her natural color is still present. This helps the client feel like they’re just having a little fun with their pastel blue shades color and not that they colored or dyed their whole head blue.
Pastel hair colors looks aren’t easy to maintain. You must be willing to wash your hair with cold water and use the products your stylist recommends. My favorite product to keep fashion colors to vibrant is Celeb Luxury Viral color depositing shampoo and conditioner.
Grey Blue
Q&A with style creator, Jacob Lee
Hair Stylist / Colorist @ Sola Salon Studios in Richmond, VA
How would you describe this look?
This look is a silvery pastel blue color. Personally, my favorite thing about this balayage pastel blue was having to formulate it. I used a mixture of Redken’s Shades EQ Pastel Aqua Blue equal parts to 09B on level 9/10 hair. If the color didn’t seem blue enough to me, I would overlay it with a vivid color mixed with a white conditioner as a quick glaze. (Not a blue with underlying green pigments like teals or turquoise’s, but I would use a blue with a purple background like Nightfall from Pulp Riot)
Any advice for someone considering it?
My advice to anyone who is considering this color, pastel blue hair, is to keep in mind of budget, maintenance, and attention.
Budget, simply because this type of service can be lengthy and expensive. Not everyone’s hair can lift so easily for pastel tones. If you have dark hair, it might take a couple of sessions to get to your goal. You are paying for the process, not the look.
Maintenance needs to be considered because these kinds of processes can (not always) be damaging, so aftercare is extremely important for maintaining health and color. I personally recommend Olaplex no. 3, 4, 5, and 6, because I think they’re actually the line that’s one-size-fits-all that repairs and conditions the most.
Attention-wise, I have plenty of guests who get fashion color and one of the things I tell them most is that people will stop you in the middle of the street and ask about/compliment your hair. If you are uncomfortable with people approaching you, I would consider a more muted/natural color. If not, have at it and be sure to tell them where you got it done because it’s always important to credit the artist!
Green and Blue
Q&A with style creator, Kai Fujimoto
Hairstylist @ Hair By Kai in Sherman Oaks, CA
How would you describe this look?
This color is inspired by the ocean waves. As you can see, her hair has multiple shades of blue – it starts as deep ocean blue on the roots, melted into a pastel blue, and the ends are light teal that I created to make the color look like ocean splash.
What I love about this color is the dynamic of the ocean color it gives me. I created this color with Oway (Organic Way) color. Oway color pastel blue dye is ammonia-free color, and it’s infused with biodynamic organic ingredients.
Who thought we could have pastel hair with organic colors before, right? Oway made it possible and that’s what I love about this color so much that this is created by green chemistry.
Any advice for someone considering it?
Any hair type or face shape can pull off this color, but I only recommend this for people who can maintain it. Pastel colors can fade very easily. After you get pastel colors done, the maintenance is crucial that you will be using the best shampoo and conditioner and products for your hair, and you won’t be able to wash your hair so often. I only recommend to wash 2-3 times a week top so to maintain this color, you will be using a lot of products at home.
I always have my guests take home Oway Color Protection Veil that helps to slow down the fading process of the color, Oway Phytoprotein mist that is a protein leave-in spray treatment that keeps your hair healthy and strong, and Oway Plant Mineral refresh dry shampoo (organic dry shampoo) with them.
