As much as we love dark, dramatic hair and makeup, we also look forward to airy, refreshing color palettes. Lately, we’re dreaming of all things soft and sweet—think flower petals, floating clouds, and candy colors. Pastels have a reputation for being subtle, but we think they can be as bold and playful as you want. Below we’ll break down a few ways to up your pastel game just in time for spring.
Spring Is in the Hair
Creating pastel looks with your hair can seem like a major makeover, especially if your natural hair color is darker. Luckily, there are many ways to pre-lighten your hair without damage and get the pastel hair color of your dreams. Here are a few fun ways to experiment with color.
Get an All-Over Wash of Color
Our semi-permanent Unicorn Hair Tints are perfect on naturally blonde and pre-lightened hair—and there’s an entire rainbow to choose from! You can also customize your favorite Unicorn Hair Full Coverage color with Dilute, our Unicorn Hair Mixer.
Create Contrast
Looking for a new signature style? If you have darker-colored natural hair, pair it with your favorite shade. Try sectioning your hair to create face-framing bangs or panels, or create a colorful surprise by bleaching and dyeing the underlayers.
We love the look of pastel pink dye and brunette hair, so try the Unicorn Hair Tint in our new Cotton Candy shade or fan-favorite Bunny. Want to see how pastel blue looks on you? Sample our super-sweet new Blue Raspberry or the oh-so-dreamy Powder.
Play With Ombre and Dip-Dyes
When you’re after a more blended dye job, ombre and dip-dyeing are the techniques for you. Whether you’re starting with all-over bleached hair, some of your natural color, or another dye, we suggest starting with darker colors at the roots and going lighter colors at the tips for the easiest at-home application.
There’s no limit to the color combinations you can create, but we’re thinking this is the perfect chance to go green with Unicorn Hair Tints in Kiwi or Mint Matcha against dark hair for a pastel take on Billie Eilish’s unforgettable ‘do.
Pair Your Pastels
Can’t make up your mind? The split-dye trend is here to stay, meaning you don’t have to choose! Pick complementary colors and use one on each side of your head or leave one half bleached to incorporate some blonde into your look. This look is bold and simple to do at home—the best of both worlds.
Eyes on the Prize
Pastel eye makeup highlights and softens for a defined yet dreamy look. While dramatic eyeshadow and eyeliner looks can be awe-inspiring, the more delicate designs of pastel lead to a glowing look.
Make Monochromatic Magic
Lean into the beauty of pink with a monochromatic look. Some of our favorite eye and face palettes feature pretty pink shades you can use to create eye and blush looks. Pick up the Venus 3 palette for a selection of cool-toned pinks or the Greatest Hits Classics palette for a warmer color story. Our supersized Venus XL palette has a little of everything.
Finish the look with a pink lipstick or gloss. Pro-tip: Use a darker pink lip liner to create depth and structure. Remember to blend the liner for a smoother transition.
Contrast With Neutrals
Need to spice up a nude eye look? A pastel pop will help your makeup shine. Unexpected hues, like blue, green, and purple, create a mesmerizing effect when they replace black eyeliner and mascara.
Our Venus Pigmented Liquid Eyeliner glides on to create the precise looks you love in softer shades, like Peony pink, Dew Drop and Butterfly blue, and lovely Lavender. If you’re a black liner devotee, swap it out for Fawn or Misty—we promise that brown and gray give just as much drama.
Updating your neutral eyeliner is a chance to make your lashes the main event with colored mascara. Our Astronomical Volumizing Vegan Mascara lets you dress up everyday eye makeup.
When your eyes are the main event, remember to add a nude lipstick for a perfectly balanced look.
Be Soft and Sunny
Yellow and orange eye makeup is easier to pull off than you might expect. It’s all about knowing what works with your eye color and skin tone.
Tails, the yellow eyeliner from our Sonic x Lime Crime collaboration, brings out the golden highlights in brown and hazel eyes. Marigold, our orange Venus liquid eyeliner, helps brown and blue eyes sparkle. The pigmented formula looks gorgeous on everyone, and these shades add warmth and brightness—especially on medium to deep skin tones.
Add a pinch of sparkle with our Electric Slide Eyeshadow and Brush Sticks in Mega (a true yellow) and Totally Buggin (a juicy orange). These creamy sticks are the perfect marriage of precise and blendable, so you can get color intensity that stands out on medium to deep skin tones or a soft, diffused look that adds radiance to fair skin.
If these pastel beauty ideas have you daydreaming about your next makeover, we don’t blame you. Snap that ethereal selfie and remember to tag us on Instagram. Find us on TikTok to see our favorite products in action.
