Pink may have a reputation as a bold, statement shade, but for the current season, pink is so refined, it’s being called the new neutral.
Award-winning hairdresser Nicholas Tucker from Nicholas James Tucker, Tonypandy, Wales, believes this softer approach to pink will grow in popularity with clients over the coming months, offering a fresh way to enhance natural tones.
“Demand for pink tones is definitely creeping in for autumn/winter 2026, especially the much softer, more neutral shades,” he says. “It doesn’t have to look obviously pink it can be just a really subtle tint that gives the hair a bit more interest.”
For Niamh Hayden at Divine Hair, Waterford, Ireland, understanding tone and placement is key. “Rather than simply applying a pink shade, I love the idea of blending delicate rose tones through blonde or incorporating muted pinks into a brunette base. This creates softness, movement and a bespoke finish that feels wearable and right on trend,” she says. “As a colourist, I love being able to personalise the shade to each client, creating something that feels unique to them. There’s also something really beautiful about pink - it can feel playful and feminine, but equally soft, sophisticated and luxurious. It’s a colour that allows you to be creative while still looking expensive.”
Client perception of pink is changing, and an increasing number are ready to embrace the colour in its new, more neutral guise. “People’s understanding of pink hair is changing,” says Nicholas. “When you mention pink, some clients immediately imagine something bright and bold, but once they see they can have softer tones, they become much more open to it.
“It isn’t only popular with the younger generation either; it can look beautiful on more mature hair, especially when it’s blended through natural white or silver. People are realising that pink can be fashionable, modern and still incredibly wearable.”
Newcomer of the Year Chloe Houston from Houston Hair, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, also sees pink as one of the easiest ways to introduce fashion colour into a client’s service. Its flexibility means the colourist can control the intensity, from barely-there pastel tones to much stronger shades.
“I love using pink because it’s such an easy fashion tone to introduce into my colour work,’ says Chloe. “When I’m suggesting fashion toners, pink is usually the easiest one to get people on board with, and that’s across all ages.You can make it as subtle or as bold as you want, so it doesn’t feel like a huge commitment. Even just a hint of pink can completely change a blonde.
“Pink makes people happy - who doesn’t want a bit of pink in their life at some point! There’s a shade of pink for everyone; it can be soft and pretty, or cool, bright and edgy, so you can make it work with so many different looks.”
Here are their top tips when working with pink:
- Always consider the starting base, as this will affect how the pink develops.
- Check the hair’s condition and porosity, and strand test if needed. The level of lift, warmth and porosity of the hair will all influence how the pink reflects and how it fades.
- Choose the right tone of pink to complement the client’s skin tone.
- Always start softer and build the colour if needed, it’s easier to add more pink than take it away, especially on porous hair.
- Think about the blonde you are putting it on; the cleaner and lighter the canvas, the more true-to-tone the pink will be, whereas a warmer blonde will give you a softer, peachier result.
- Find the right pink for your client’s personality. Don’t just go straight in with the brightest shade, play around with the tone and make it personal to them.
- Be clear about maintenance, as pink can fade quickly, and recommend cooler washing, less heat and colour-safe products.”
- Approach pink as a bespoke tonal formulation, carefully balancing warm and cool pigments to achieve the desired result.
- The key is precision in formulation, understanding pigment interaction and creating the right balance of tone, saturation and dimension for each individual client.
Images from top:
Nicholas Tucker at Nicholas James Tucker, Wales
Chloe Houston at Houston Hair, Northern Ireland