Pink hair

What pink hair signals

Pink is the colour of cherry blossoms, sweets and romance, so a pink-haired character is often read as gentle, girlish or full of feeling before they say a word. It is a frequent choice for magical-girl designs and idol characters.

Because the expectation is so strong, writers like to play against it. A pink-haired fighter or an unsettling, too-sweet villain both draw energy from the contrast. Treat the colour as a starting impression that the character can confirm or overturn.

Pink also tells the audience where to look. In a group shot it is often the brightest, warmest colour on screen, so a pink-haired character tends to pull focus even when standing at the edge of the frame.

Shades of pink

How to colour pink hair

Pink shifts easily between warm and cool. Shadows pushed toward purple make it look cool and candy-like; shadows pushed toward red or coral keep it warm and natural. Pick one direction and stay with it.

Light pink can blend into skin tones, so separate hair and face with a slightly more saturated shadow along the hairline and under the bangs. Saturated pink is intense; desaturate the large base areas and save the strongest pink for shadow edges and accents.

Pink pairs well with white, mint, pale blue and black in costume design.

Pink hair in photos, wigs and dye

Pink can turn orange under warm tungsten light and slightly purple in shade, so check white balance against a neutral grey or white object.

Pastel pink dye needs very light, pale-blonde hair to show, and it fades quickly with washing. Wigs avoid the bleaching and the fading; choose a shade slightly deeper than the art, because pale pink can wash out to white in bright photos.