Trend on Trial: Pastel Hair

So. Ombre is over (we know this because hair supremo Tracy Hayes told us so), and crazy colour’s in. Think Charlotte Free, Chloe Norgaard and, um.. Dame Helen Mirren.

Feeling frightened? Ok. Deep breath. The good news is, colours were not all born equal. There’ll be one out there for you. “This summer it’s all about colour,” explains celebrity colourist Tasha Stevens, “ but there’s still lots of tones to choose from – take the plunge to bright, bold rainbow shades, or play it safe with softer pastel hues.” And yes, Tasha’s done wild cards Little Mix, but she’s also worked with the likes of Ella Henderson, Tulisa and Caroline Flack’s hair. So she’s as impartial as they come in this.

So now you’re up for it? Um, hell yes. Now then: do try this at home…

One wash: Kevin Murphy Color.Bug

The perfect solution for will-I-won’t-I colour-ers. Color.Bug is essentially a lump of coloured chalk that you draw onto the areas of hair you want. The colour pay-off is instant and uber opaque, so you can see exactly what’s going on as you colour. And there’s no need to worry – it gradually fades with wear, then washes off entirely. All four shades (orange, purple, pink and neon) are pretty bright – alter the intensity by mixing your chosen colour with the white ’Bug.

Top tip: “If you want to go bright, wash-out your natural colour first with a coat of white,” says colour queen Lisa Shepherd.

Three washes: L’Oréal Paris Feria Pastel by Préférence

For something with a little more longevity but still no real commitment, condition hair with L’Oréal Paris’ latest colour toy: Feria Pastel Toning Conditioner. The three shades are super-light chalky pastels (lilac, pink and peach), and go on as a tint rather than a full-on dye. Plus, they contain pearl extract, so will leave hair super shiny, too. Needless to say, this is going to work better on blonde hair.

Top tip: Shepherd suggests using pastel colour just on the ends of your hair, for a “grungier twist, which is very on-trend this season”.

Three to 30 washes: Fudge Paintbox

Fudge Paint Box was one of the original tubes of crazy colour, offering us a mad spectrum usually reserved for East London types or Hallowe’en, way before the trend went viral. So it’s only fair to remember these grandfathers of colour. Choose from 15 full-on shades, or pair with Whiter Shade of Pale, for a more pastel-y hue.

Top tip: Choose your bright shade on your natural tone. “Purple hair will be the biggest and most popular for those with light blonde hair, and darker tones should try ink blue and even green,” says Shepherd.

Colourist Lisa Shepherd at work