How to Color Your Hair with Pravana Pastels

Co-authored by Ashley Adams

Last Updated: June 29, 2021

Pravana ChromaSilk Pastels hair color is a product designed to help you achieve vibrant pastel hair colors. This professional hair dye product is used in many salons, but you can also accomplish this look at home. Start by bleaching your hair and preparing the Pravana product. Then, carefully apply your pastel color. Finally, your color will look its best if you take some time to maintain it. If you have never dyed your hair before, you may want to visit a salon and/or consult a beauty professional.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting Ready to Dye Your Hair

1
Purchase your Pravana pastels. Depending on the length of your hair, you may need one or two tubes of Pravana ChromaSilk Pastels color. Select the color you would like and purchase one or two tubes.^{[1]
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- Pravana hair color can be purchased at some beauty supply stores or online.
- If the pastel hue is not as light as you want it to be, then you have the option of diluting the color with conditioner. This means that if you are aiming for a very light pastel, you may not need to purchase as much Pravana dye.
2
Gather additional materials. You will need a few other items to effectively dye your hair with Pravana pastels. You may already have some of these items at home. You can purchase what you need at most beauty supply stores.^{[2]
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Research source} You will need:
- White conditioner (any brand)
- Disposable gloves
- Mixing bowl
- Tinting brush
- Comb
- Hair clips
- Timer (you can use your phone)
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3
Bleach your hair. You can only achieve pastel color hues if you begin with light blond hair (the lighter the better). If your hair is not already light blonde, you will need to bleach your hair:^{[3]
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- Mix powdered bleach with liquid (or cream developer). Read the instructions on your powdered bleach for specific amounts. Developer comes in levels 10 through 40, and the higher the level the more color it will lift from your hair. However, don't use a high level if your hair is damaged. Stick with a lower level developer.
- Divide your hair into sections and apply the bleach to your roots. However, don't get too close to the roots or the bleach may irritate your scalp.
- Work the bleach through to the tips of your hair and make sure your hair is evenly saturated with the bleach.
- Set a timer for 20 minutes, and check your hair. If your hair has not lightened enough, wait 10 more minutes.
- Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner.
- It is important to wear gloves for this process, because bleach can irritate your skin.
4
Tone your hair with a light blond or ash blonde toner. If your hair still has strong yellow or orange hues, you will need to tone your hair or at least use a purple toning shampoo. Toner can be purchased at any beauty supply store. Select a light blonde or ash blonde toner. Following the instructions on your toner, mix your toner with a gentle developer in order to tone your hair:^{[4]
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- Apply toner to wet or dry hair.
- Divide the hair into sections and start by applying the toner to your roots.
- Pull the toner through to the tips of your hair.
- Wait 20 minutes.
- Work the toner into a lather and rinse. Do not use shampoo and conditioner.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying the Pravana Pastels

1
Mix your Pravana hair dye with white conditioner (optional). If you want to lighten the hue of the hair dye, then you can mix it with conditioner. Squeeze your Pravana hair color into your mixing bowl. Add a squirt of white conditioner, and use your tinting brush to mix the dye and conditioner together. Keep adding conditioner, a little bit at a time, until the dye achieves the pastel hue you desire.^{[5]
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- If you are happy with the hue of the dye already, then you do not need to add any conditioner. Just put your dye in a bowl.
2
Dry your hair with a blow dryer. Technically, Pravana ChromaSilk Pastels hair color is a toner. However, unlike most toners, Pravana should be applied to dry hair. If your hair is still wet, use a blow dryer to remove the moisture.^{[6]
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3
Divide your hair into four sections. Using a comb, separate your hair into four sections and secure each section with a clip. Unclip one section and comb it out. It can be very helpful to use two mirrors, so that you can see the sections in the back of your head.
4
Begin applying dye to your roots. Apply the Pravana hair color to the exposed roots of the section of you have released. Use a comb to part the hair 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) from where you applied the dye, and fold the section you already dyed over to one side. Apply the dye to the new exposed roots. Keep repeating this until the roots in one section are complete, then move on to the next section.
- Pravana dye begins coloring your hair as soon as it is applied. For an even result, you need to work rather quickly.^{[7]
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- Wear gloves for this process to avoid dyeing your hands.
5
Pull the dye through to your tips. When all of your roots contain hair dye, work the dye through to your tips. All additional dye from the mixing bowl as needed. Use your hands and/or a comb to evenly distribute the color.^{[8]
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6
Leave the dye in for 20 to 30 minutes. If you'd like a light, subtle color, opt for a shorter waiting period. If you are trying to achieve a richer, more saturated look, wait longer. Set a timer and check on your progress periodically.^{[9]
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- Don't use heat while the dye is processing. The dye needs to process at room temperature.
- You can wipe or rinse a small patch of your hair to get a sense of your color progress.
- Remember that your color will be a bit lighter and more subtle when your hair is dry.
7
Wash with cool water. When it is time to rinse, add a bit of cold water to your hair and work the Pravana dye into a lather. Then rinse your hair in cool water until all of the product has been removed. Lightly shampoo and condition your hair after you are finished rinsing it.^{[10]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Maintaining Your Look

1
Wash your hair with cool or cold water. Pravana ChromaSilk Pastels are a hair toner. This means that every time you wash your hair, the color will fade. You can slow down this process by washing your hair in cool or cold water.^{[11]
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- Hot water strips hair of color more quickly.
- If you can not tolerate washing your hair in cool water, try using cool water to rinse.
2
Mix a bit of dye in with your regular conditioner. If you have a bit of Pravana dye left over, you can add some to your regular conditioner. This adds a tiny bit of color to your hair each time you wash and condition.^{[12]
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- This can dye the inside of your shower and/or shower curtain.
3
Touch up your Pravana color every 3-6 weeks. No matter what you do, your Pravana color is going to fade. You can keep your hair looking fresh by touching up the shade every 3-6 weeks. Once your hair has been lightened, you only need to add the Pravana color.^{[13]
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- You will need to lighten your roots with bleach every 4-8 weeks.