What natural hair color is easiest to dye magenta?

If you are naturally blond, magenta color will be the easiest transition because you can apply the color with one process. If you have darker hair, you often must first bleach your hair and then apply the magenta color for it to adhere properly–especially if you want a bright magenta look. If you want a more subtle or darker shade, you may be able to skip the bleach.

How long will magenta color last before fading?

The bright magenta color won’t last long. It often starts to fade after the first wash or after the first week. To preserve your color, wait several days before washes, use color-safe shampoo and wash it in cold water. On the bright side, as your color fades it will often turn to a cool pale pink.

Will dying my hair magenta damage my hair?

It could, especially if you have darker hair and must bleach it first to get the vivid color. To ward off damage, make sure you use a good conditioner and heat protectant products before blow drying or styling your hair.

20 Stunning Examples of Magenta Hair to Show Your Colorist

kylie jenner with magenta hair — @kyliejenner

Jewel tones have been trending for a while. Over the past few years, we've been introduced to lilac and lavender, rose gold and coral, ruby red and pastel pink. But the all-encompassing magenta—a bold, beautifully marbled combination of pink, purple, and red—is bigger than, dare we say, millennial pink, and it’s making waves in a variety of tones. We’ve spotted this trending color on the heads of celebrities, influencers and models gracing red carpets, runways, and screens, so naturally, our interest is piqued.

Meet the Expert

Toyomi Ishikura is a colorist for SHRD Hair Care at Kim Vo Salon in West Hollywood, CA.

This trend, as all good ones do, has come back around and is better than ever. Most notably recognized back in the early 2000s, Kate Moss and Gwen Stefani were two of few to make the statement. Today, we’re seeing the expressive color trend on women of all ages, skin tones, and hair textures. From blunt bobs to chic curls, the magenta hair color trend has no limits.

Magenta Hair

Choosing A Shade: There are so many ways to interpret magenta that you're bound to find one that you love. Ask your colorist for help determining which variation will work best with your complexion.

Maintenance Level: High. "This color fades very quickly," Ishikura says. She recommends using a toner and color shampoo frequently to keep the shade in tip-top shape between touch-ups.

Goes Great With: Just about everything—and any skin tone. "This is such expressive hair color," says Ishikura, who suggests getting creative and pairing the look with bold eyeliner.

Similar Shades: Purple, sangria hair, dark pink

Price: Cost will vary depending on whether you're getting streaks or dying your whole head, as well as whether you go to a mid-range or high-end salon. And you should definitely go to a salon. Ishikura strongly recommends consulting a professional, rather than trying the look at home with boxed dye: "Your bathroom is gonna be so messy!"

Ready to rock this trend? Check out 20 stunning ways to totally nail magenta hair.

01 of 20

Ombré Updo

Demi Lovato wears short magenta ombre hair — Getty Images

Demi Lovato demonstrates a relatively low-maintenance take with their magenta ombré. By keeping her roots a natural dark brown at the base, they've ensured less frequent trips to the salon chair. To keep the magenta color itself vibrant, Ishikura says "the key to keep this color is not to shampoo your hair too often." Use dry shampoo between washes.

02 of 20

Dark and Tousled

Leomie Anderson wears medium-length magenta hair and a brown blazer — Getty Images

Leomie Anderson embraced magenta's darker side, wearing a tousled style with plum undertones to the 2019 Brit Awards.

03 of 20

Stunning Short Cut

Nicole Richie wears short bob-length magenta hair with side-swept bangs — Getty Images

Magenta radiates a soft pink aura, no matter your skin tone. Nicole Richie is positively glowing with her pink hair and bixie cut.

Bright magenta hair often fades quickly, so try to wait several days in between washes and use cold water.

04 of 20

Muted Balayage

Regina Hall wears a straight, medium-length wig with center part and pink balayage — Getty Images

Want to rock the magenta hair trend in a more subtle way? We love this muted version of magenta against naturally dark strands on Regina Hall.

05 of 20

Updo with Hair Accessories

Katy Perry wears a magenta beehive updo with many holographic bow accessories — Getty Images

Leave it to Katy Perry to try this trend on for size. An expertly accessorized blend of bubblegum pink and violet make this magenta beehive a head-turner.

06 of 20

Red, Pink, and Violet Balayage

Woman with long, magenta balayage hair — @bleachlondon

With hints of red, pink, and violet, this multi-dimensional balayage perfectly displays all the hues that magenta is made of.

07 of 20

Magenta Rainbow

Woman with magenta, yellow, and sea green ombre natural curls — @rebeccataylorhair

A bold, juicy pomegranate shade anchors the roots of these rainbow ombré curls.

08 of 20

Edgy Cut

Lean Chihiro wears a magenta afro hairstyle — Getty Images

A shock of neon pink curls on a short, edgy cut is surprisingly wearable if you carry it with confidence like Lean Chihiro.

09 of 20

'90s Grunge Magenta

Behati Prinsloo with grunge-inspired magenta hair and flannel shirt — @behatiprinsloo

Supermodel Behati Prinsloo is a trendsetter. After seeing her sport '90s-inspired grunge magenta hair, we can't help but want to try the look too.

10 of 20

Coils with Sleek Edges

Woman with coily magenta natural pixie and carefully laid edges — @kisscolors

Don’t get it twisted—this color looks good no matter what your hair type or length and gives an extra swirl of flair to your edges.

11 of 20

Violet Vixen

Woman with colored hair featuring purple roots and bright magenta tips — @alfredo_lewis

This gorgeous blend of pinks and purples creates the perfect neon ombré. It's a great option if you want to bring out the violet side of magenta.

12 of 20

Temporary Magenta Hair Dye

If you’re nervous about making the commitment to this trending mixture of extreme pink and pastel purple that we call magenta, try using a temporary rinse that will fade with each wash like this one from Overtone.

Both temporary hair color and permanent hair color can stain clothes, pillowcases and sheets, especially after it's freshly colored. Make sure you wear dark clothes and sleep on dark sheets for a few days.

13 of 20

Bangs and Bobs

Amiaya twin influencers with magenta bobs with bangs and matching sunglasses — Getty Images

Twin influencer duo Amiaya showed off their matching magenta bobs with chic bangs and bright lipstick at Paris Fashion Week in 2018. The duo's signature hairstyle turns heads and instantly punks up any outfit—even jeans and a white tee couldn't possibly be boring with this look.

14 of 20

Silky Straight

Kylie Jenner shows off the side of her magenta wig — @kyliejenner

Kylie Jenner has never failed to grab our attention. Her long, bright magenta strands give off a futuristic vibe. And if anyone knows what's trending, it’s likely to be Jenner, whose posts and eponymous brands alike have a massive influence on her equally large following.

15 of 20

Dark Magenta

Frances Bean Cobain wears tousled, grunge-inspired magenta balayage hair — Getty Images

Frances Bean Cobain channels her father, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, with this grungy, dark magenta hue. (Her dad often colored his hair pink before his death in the early 90s.) Cobain's matching magenta lipstick is the perfect accent for her colorful look.

16 of 20

Neon Showstopper

Winnie Harlow wears a long, magenta-to-pale-pink ombre wig — Getty Images

Model Winnie Harlow set off her neon outfit with her bright magenta hair while attending a Coachella pre-party in California. She wore her hair in a deep side part, with beach waves and plenty of volume.

17 of 20

The O.G. Pink

Gwen Stefani wears a tousled magenta long bob hairstyle — Getty Images

We couldn't do a round-up of the best magenta looks without including the O.G.—Gwen Stefani. The singer loves keeping us on our toes with her bright hair and new hairstyles, and this look from 1999 is certainly unforgettable—and also back in style.

18 of 20

Magenta Tips

If you are feeling shy about going full-blown magenta, copy Kristen Stewart's look with her short hairdo and bright magenta tips. The color gives just the right amount of edge to look cool yet classy.

19 of 20

Pink is Punk

Kaia Gerber wears a pink ombre bob hairstyle — @kaiagerber

"Pink is punk," Kaia Gerber captioned this photo, showing off her magenta ombre look. The model actually colored her own hair at home, under the eye of her stylist who remotely walked her through the steps. She confessed that her inspiration behind her new hue was actually Kurt Cobain.

20 of 20

Bright Magenta Mane

Naomi Osaka wears magenta ombre hair with soft waves — @naomiosaka

Tennis star Naomi Osaka just took her game—and her style—to a whole other level with this bright pink magenta look. Her bold pink eyeliner is the perfect addition to her fun and head-turning look.

FAQ

What natural hair color is easiest to dye magenta?

If you are naturally blond, magenta color will be the easiest transition because you can apply the color with one process. If you have darker hair, you often must first bleach your hair and then apply the magenta color for it to adhere properly–especially if you want a bright magenta look. If you want a more subtle or darker shade, you may be able to skip the bleach.
How long will magenta color last before fading?

The bright magenta color won’t last long. It often starts to fade after the first wash or after the first week. To preserve your color, wait several days before washes, use color-safe shampoo and wash it in cold water. On the bright side, as your color fades it will often turn to a cool pale pink.
Will dying my hair magenta damage my hair?

It could, especially if you have darker hair and must bleach it first to get the vivid color. To ward off damage, make sure you use a good conditioner and heat protectant products before blow drying or styling your hair.