What to Know Before Getting Rose Gold (or Pink) Hair

March 20, 2019

A month or so ago I was feeling the need for a little change, so I did what any reasonable 37-year-old would do and went to the salon and asked my hairstylist to give me rose gold hair.

We wanted to keep it on the lower-commitment side, so my stylist Ben did a semi-permanent wash of rose gold over the roots only, to give my hair a warmer feel and rose tint, without going full-on pink.

It was the perfect way to shake things up a bit with my look, without committing to months of change.

I’ll tell you exactly what he did shortly, but first, here are some helpful tips if you’re thinking of adding a rose gold or pink tint to your hair.

It Warms Up Your Complexion

Because rose gold and pink are in the warm color family, they’re likely to pick up on the reddish tones of your skin. If you don’t like the way warm tones look on you, maybe ask your stylist about doing something a little more ashy. That’s what we did; but even still, the wash of color had an overall warming impact on my look.

Just something to think about before going for the (rose) gold!

You’ll Have to Tweak Your Makeup (and Maybe Your Clothing)

I find that when I have a little more fun going on with my hair, I like to tone down my makeup a bit. When my rose gold was at its most vibrant, I stuck to a nude lip. For going out, it paired well with a smokier eye (using gray or dark brown shades).

But for daily makeup–which is already pretty minimal for me–I stuck to mascara and a tinted moisturizer, with a touch of cream blush (this one is perfect for a healthy glow–I’m obsessed) to light up my cheeks.

As for clothing, I also found that lighter shades looked better. Here’s what I stuck to:

Light blue
White
Light peach or pink
Light gray

For the most part, I stayed away from my typical go-to’s of black and navy.

It Won’t Last Forever

Like I said, my stylist purposely chose a non-permanent dye that washed out considerably after the first month or so, leaving behind only a hint of rose gold in direct light. That’s the period I’m in now, and I love it!

You can of course choose a longer-lasting dye if you’re up for the commitment, but I think the demi gloss was the best option for someone like me who wanted a short-term change without being married to pink hair for months and months on end.

You Should Switch Up Your Hair Care Routine

It’s always a good idea to use a sulfate-free shampoo, but it becomes imperative when you’ve deposited any type of color onto your hair. You want to use a formula that preserves the color.

And when you highlight (we had to highlight first before applying the rose gold color so it could sink into the hair), it’s always a good idea to put a hair masque into your routine at least once a week for extra moisture.

Here are two of my favorite color-safe shampoos and masques:

Whether you work in an office setting or not, this is a great low-key way to add a little fun into your look without going too over the top. You’re never too old to feel like a new person, so I say give it a shot! Why not?!

It Forces You to Not Take Yourself So Seriously!

The most surprising part about doing something a little different with my hair was how it changed the way I viewed myself. As someone who kept a certain image while working in TV news for the longest time, it was freeing to be able to wear a color that’s out of the ordinary, and it made me feel adventurous in a small way when I caught a glimpse in the mirror.

Whether you work in an office setting or not, this is a great low-key way to add a little fun into your look without going too over the top. You’re never too old to feel like a new person, so I say give it a shot! Why not?!

Here’s What My Stylist Did

I had a base of subtle highlights, but my stylist Ben went back in with some more “baby lighting,” then followed with Guy Tang 7/RG for the shadow roots.