Lavender is the IT edgy color of the last couple of years, and it’s not surprising. It’s a gorgeous shade of purple, and it’s definitely a fun, playful color. Lavender is a combination of two of the most colorful and attractive colors: purple and blue. Without a doubt, it’s a statement hair color for women who want to attract attention to their beautiful hair.
It’s more prevalent during the summer season, but more and more women opt for this color all year round. If you’re thinking about trying the trend at home, you’ll be glad to know that lavender suits all skin tones and flatters warm undertones just as much as it does cool ones. If you’ve got a blonde or silver hair color already, then lavender is the perfect complimentary hue to take your look to the next level. But even if you’re a brunette or redhead, you can get the look if you bleach first.
What is lavender hair color?
Lavender is a color combination of purple and light blue, and it varies in hue. It’s the type of hair color you’d imagine a mermaid wearing. There are so many lavender hair trends; you can surely find one that suits your complexion. Some of the most popular ways to wear lavender are:
- Lavender highlights
- Light pastel lavender
- Balayage
- Neon lavender
- Lavender fade
Lavender is a truly versatile type of color with many shade variations. It can be soft or very vibrant, depending on your preferences. As well, you can choose a neon, a pastel, or even an electric lavender. The intensity is determined by the type of hair dye you use. Luckily, you can get any hue you like with at-home hair dye kits.
Table of Contents
Best Lavender Hair Dyes To Use At Home
Best Overall Lavendar Hair Color: Adore Semi-Permanent Hair Color #090 Lavender
When you want a vibrant color that’s full of shine, there’s one formula that always delivers. This gentle formula is one of the most beloved semi-permanent hair dyes. Adore has many trendy colors, and this lavender hue is the perfect combination of pastel and deep purple. The dye doesn’t damage your hair because it’s free from ammonia, peroxide, and alcohol. Therefore, you can use it for frequent touch-ups, as the color lasts for about two or three weeks before it fades.
The formula of this dye is gentle and nourishing. It leaves hair looking silky smooth and shiny, so you don’t have to deal with brittleness and breakage. In addition, hair feels softer and healthier. But what really sets this dye apart is how vibrant the lavender shade is. Therefore, it’s the overall best choice because the formula is very pigmented.
Pros
- Gentle on the hair because it’s free from alcohol, ammonia, and peroxide.
- The color is very vibrant.
- It doesn’t cause dryness and brittleness.
- Makes hair shiny and soft.
- Has a pleasant light fragrance.
- It has good staying power.
Cons
- The kit doesn’t come with an applicator brush, so you need to get one.
Best for Blondes and Brunettes: Clairol Color Crave Semi-Permanent Hair Color Lavender
What sets this dye apart is that it works on brown, blonde, and bleached hair. It’s not formulated exclusively for blondes, so it gives varying hues of lavender depending on your base color. Even if you’re a brunette, you can still work this lavender hue into your hair. This is good news, since most other dyes require you to bleach first. This playful semi-permanent dye lasts for about 14 days, so you have plenty of time to experiment and see if you want to keep re-applying.
The dye kit is straightforward to use, even for beginners, because you don’t have to mix. Simply apply the formula straight from the bottle onto your hair with the included stylist brush. This helps you apply the product evenly to all hair strands, so you never end up with patchy results. The color is very vibrant and bright, so even after a few washes, it still looks highly pigmented.
Pros
- The color looks bold and vibrant.
- It works on brunettes, as well as blondes and bleached hair.
- It is a semi-permanent dye, so it doesn’t fade for about two weeks.
- You don’t have to mix the formula, so it’s quick and easy to use.
- Works on thin hair without causing damage.
- It makes your hair look shiny.
Cons
- On bleached hair, the color is a bit darker than the light lavender color on the box.
Best Metallic Color: Smart Beauty Metallic Pastel Lilac Permanent Hair Dye
If you’ve ever wanted to escape a dull hair color, then this beautiful metallic lavender is the perfect way to level up your look. Not only is it a light purple lavender, but it’s also metallic, which means that it shines and glimmers. It appears bolder and more vibrant than regular pastels and adds dimension. But best of all, this dye actually does good things for your hair, so you don’t need to fret about dye damage.
This is a plex formula, which means that the dye conditions, nourishes, and rebuilds your hair’s micro-bond fiber structure. Therefore, you get voluminous, more robust, and healthier hair that doesn’t lack dimension. Since the formula rebuilds your hair’s natural structure, it protects against the breakage and damage that usually occurs during coloring. This formula has a major advantage over many others because it also covers greys, so you don’t need to use other dyes for the task.
Pros
- It covers grey hair.
- This is a super shiny and shimmery color.
- The dye has long lasting power.
- The formula repairs and nourishes hair strands for healthier-looking locks.
- It’s very affordable.
- It adds volume and dimension, even to the thinnest and flattest hair.
Cons
- If you want the dye to deposit all the pigment, you need to leave it on for longer than the box says.
Best Pastel: Arctic Fox Vegan and Cruelty-Free Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye “Girls Night”
The pastel trend is here to stay, so it’s no surprise that pastel lavender is still gaining popularity. If you already have platinum level 10 hair, all you need to do is apply the dye at home. So, what better way to try the trend than with a no-damage vegan dye? This formula is gentle on the hair, so it doesn’t break and dry out. Since it doesn’t contain all the harsh chemicals of other dyes, it is suitable even for sensitive skin. It infuses hair with a lovely vibrant purple hue that’s a mix of lilac and lavender.
Arctic Fox creates nourishing and conditioning colors that last anywhere from four to eight weeks, depending on how often you wash your hair. This particular shade has pretty long-lasting power so that it won’t wash out after a couple of days. Even as the color fades, it fades into the original color spectrum, so it doesn’t look splotchy and stays vibrant. And if you have any leftover dye, you can mix it into your conditioner to freshen up the color with each wash.
Pros
- This is a vegan and cruelty-free formula.
- It is free from ammonia, peroxide, alcohol, and PPD.
- The dye has a sweet scent, so it doesn’t smell like harsh chemicals.
- This is a vibrant lavender shade.
- Lasts for up to eight weeks.
- The formula nourishes and conditions your hair.
Cons
- You can’t use heat to style, or you risk stripping out the color from your hair.
Best Hair Tint: Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Tint Cloud Periwinkle Blue
The Lime Crime formula is a semi-permanent hair tint, giving you a more muted and pastel color. Although it’s not as bright as other lavenders, this particular shade looks like a light pastel and gives a soft blueish purple hue. It’s the perfect dye if you prefer a more subtle look. This is a color-depositing product, so it doesn’t penetrate deep into the hair shaft. Instead, think of it as a watercolor wash. It’s not going to damage your hair because it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals or ammonia. So, you can re-apply as soon as the color starts to fade.
Beginners and pros can enjoy using this product because it only takes a few minutes to apply. No developer and no mixing is required; simply take the product out of the jar and lather it on your hair. It goes on evenly and covers all types of hair textures. You’ll notice that the dye washes out gradually after each wash, so it doesn’t fade out suddenly. Instead, the intensity of the color fades slowly. For this reason, I recommend this product for those of you wanting to experiment with bright colors before you make a commitment.
Pros
- This is a beautiful blue-tinted lavender shade.
- It is a vegan formula.
- There are no harsh chemicals like ammonia and peroxide.
- The color washes out gradually.
- This dye doesn’t damage your hair at all.
- It conditions and nourishes hair, so it’s shiny and soft.
Cons
- This is not a bright type of dye, so it’s only going to give you a subtle hint of color.
Best Formula with UVA & UVB Protection: Crazy Color Lavender Hair Dye
Most dyes on this list are vegan, but this formula is full of ‘good for your hair’ ingredients, so it’s an excellent option for weak, thin, and damaged hair. Just because your hair isn’t in the best form, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with bright colors. As you’d expect, this is an ammonia, paraben, and PPD-free formula, so it’s clean and gentle. It’s enriched with sunflower seed oil, which hydrates, and raspberry seed oil, which absorbs UVA and UVB rays. This helps protect against fading and sun damage. In addition, this dye contains nourishing avocado oil, which seals the hair cuticle and prevents breakage.
The color looks very vibrant and shiny for about 10 to 12 washes. But, since the formula is gentle, you can re-apply and do regular touch-ups. The UV protection ensures that your hair stays silky soft. This is a fast-acting formula, and you’ll begin to see intense results in just half an hour. If you want to make the color even more pigmented, you can leave it on for a longer time without worrying about damage.
Pros
- Offers UVA & UVB protection, so the color doesn’t fade upon sun exposure.
- Gentle on the scalp and hair.
- Doesn’t contain harsh chemicals like ammonia.
- The color lasts for about 12 washes.
- This formula is very hydrating and nourishing so that hair looks healthy and strong.
- Offers a very bright color on platinum blonde and bleached hair.
- Vegan and cruelty-free.
Cons
- The color is not very vibrant on medium and dark blonde hair. On brown hair, you can’t really see it.
Buyer Guide
How to Maintain Lavender Hair Color
Before you even apply the dye, you need to make sure your base color is a very light blonde or silver. Therefore, you must bleach the hair first, then apply the lavender color. If you’re going for the pastel look, it’s the only way to ensure the color looks anything like the pretty lilac and lavender shades on the box.
Many women are concerned about the lasting power of lavender. It’s considered high maintenance because the risk of using a lavender color is a quick washout. The semi-permanent and temporary colors tend to fade and wash out after the first few washes, especially the pastels.
The best way to keep this type of color looking its best is to use a special toner for purple hues. Some women find the aftercare daunting and stressful, but just like with any other quirky shade, it’s all about establishing the right hair care routine.
To make sure the color doesn’t wash out, use cold water when you wash your hair. I know it sounds uncomfortable, and well, it’s chilly, but it’s the best way to make sure the shampoo and conditioner don’t strip the color. Hot water opens up the hair cuticle, which practically releases the pigment from the hair. Cold water, on the other hand, keeps the cuticle closed.
When you select a shampoo, choose violet or purple shampoo. These shampoos keep blonde and purple tones icy and cool-toned. They eliminate any brassiness or warm undertones that may develop. Also, they maintain lavender hues and keep them looking bright and vibrant for longer. As well, avoid frequent sun exposure to prevent fading.
Finally, keep in mind that you’ll have to keep re-applying lavender dye to keep the color looking amazing. I recommend doing it every 2 or 3 weeks, or else the color just looks very washed out and patchy.
The Bottom Line
Although it looks like high-maintenance hair color, lavender is a fun and playful shade for all daring women. It’s universally flattering and gives you those beautiful mermaid hues that make your hair stand out, no matter where you go. Most of the dyes on our list are gentle and vegan, so you don’t need to feel guilty about topping up the color. There’s really no going wrong with this hue!