How to dye your hair lilac at home.

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Lilac hair is the hot colour trend for this year. Its soft, pastel vibes are the perfect mix of grunge and glamour. If you want to know how to dye your hair lilac at home, you’ve come to the right place.

Fashionistas and influencers alike are going crazy over lilac. It’s striking, unique, and looks good on everyone! But the question is: can you dye your own hair lilac at home? Well, it depends.

It’s no secret that dyeing your hair a new colour is a great way to change up your look and give yourself a confidence boost. But it can be complicated when you’re not sure what colours look best on you.

Luckily, you don’t have to go into the salon for this one! In today’s blog post we will show you how to dye your hair lilac at home.

Keep reading if you want to learn more about how this beautiful shade of pastel purple-pink looks on different skin tones and why it may be right for you!

How to dye your hair lilac at home.

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What is lilac hair?

Lilac, a soft and romantic shade of pinky-purple, is the perfect colour for those who want to make a statement.

It’s the sister shade of purpley Lavender which is also one of the hot hair colour ideas that are all the rage this year. It’s the perfect blend of pink, blue and purple shades.

It can be soft pink, it can be bright, it can be pastel, electric or neon. This cool-toned hue can enhance your natural skin tone or be used as an accent colour for a more experimental look.

And it looks completely fantastic with ombre, balayage or blonde highlights styles.

Lilac is also a great complimentary colour for all kinds of silver and blonde hair shades. It’s not a colour that lasts long on your hair as it’s a light, pale colour. So enjoy it while it lasts!

Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration.

How to dye your hair lilac at home.

Can I dye my hair lilac at home?

Lilac is a colour that can be achieved at home. There are loads of pastel lilac hair dyes you can buy in the shops that will help you get the look at home. There are some things to consider before taking on this DIY project.

First, know that it can take weeks for the colour to grow out when it’s been dyed with intense colours like lilac.

Second, use professional products that are made especially for home colour jobs and follow the instructions carefully.

Finally, always take the base colour your hair is now into account. It’s really important if you’re going to nail that lush lilac!

Do you have to bleach hair to dye lilac?

If you have light blonde hair: You have a good base for experimenting with lilacs. If you want true pastel shades, you may need to lighten your hair with bleach.

If you have light brown hair or darker: You’ll have to lighten your hair with a lightening kit before you can try pastel colours like lilac. Off-the-shelf lilac box dyes won’t work for dark hair – sorry!

If in doubt – do a strand test! It will let you know for sure how your colour will turn out.

How to dye your hair lilac at home.
How to dye your hair lilac at home.

What do I need to dye my hair lilac at home?

  • A great Clarifying shampoo.
  • A hair dye kit that will give you all the brushes and tools you need to apply your hair dye like a pro.
  • A hairdressers cape to cover and protect your clothes. This allows you to move around freely unlike towels which fall off.
  • A barrier cream to prevent the hair dye staining your hairline.
  • A wide toothed comb to gently separate your hair and comb the product through your hair.
  • A colour-safe shampoo to wash out the dye.
  • A colour-safe conditioner to lock the colour in and restore moisture.
  • A heat protection spray to protect your hair from heat before drying your hair.
  • A hair dryer that’s suitable for coloured hair. Check out our Dyson Supersonic hair dryer review.

And your lilac hair dye of choice! Read more about each one in our Best lilac hair dye reviews.

Best lilac hair dyes at a glance

Hair dyeLooks likeBest for Buy it now
Schwarzkopf Live Lightener, Pastel Cool Lilac

Schwarzkopf Live Lightener+Twist 104 Cool Lilac by Schwarzkopf

Lilac-silver shimmer
ARCTIC FOX Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye, Girls Night

ARCTIC FOX Vegan and Cruelty-Free Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye (8 Fl Oz, GIRLS NIGHT)

Perfect purple hues
Adore Shining Semi Permanent Hair Colour, Soft Lavender

Adore Semi Permanent Hair Color - Vegan and Cruelty-Free Hair Dye - 4 Fl Oz - 193 Soft Lavender (Pack of 2)

Strong lilac colour
Schwarzkopf Live Ultra Brights Pretty Pastel Lilac Crush

Live Pretty Pastels (New), Lilac Crush, 1 Count (Pack of 1)

Dark pastel wash
Directions Hair Color - Lilac

Directions Hair Colour - Lilac 88ml Tub

Super soft lilac hair
L'Oreal Paris Feria Permanent Hair Color, Rosy Blush (Smokey Pink)

L'Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color, P2 Rosy Blush (Smokey Pink)

The pinkest lilac

How to dye your hair lilac at home.

Step one: Get ready.

In the 24-48 hours before you dye your hair, use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of any grease or grime that will prevent the dye from penetrating your hair completely.

Washing your hair a couple of days before the event will also allow your hair to build back up the natural oils that will protect it.

Set aside 1-1.5 hours to complete the entire process from start to finish and apply the hair dye in a well-ventilated room

Strand tests are important! Do not skip them! Particularly if you are new to hair dyeing. It will help you feel confident that the dye will work.

Protect your clothes with a hairdresser’s cape, and cover surfaces and the ground around you with newspaper to prevent splashes. Open the box of lilac hair dye.

Step 2: Get set.

Before dying your hair, apply barrier cream to your hairline, ears, and neck. Using this coating will make it easier to rinse off hair dye and won’t stain your skin.

Mix together the colour and developer in your hair dye as instructed. Pour the mixture into your hair dye bowl from your hair dye kit. 

hair dye in a bowl with brush

Step 3: Go! Section your hair.

If the hair has been previously dyed and the roots are visible, use a comb to divide the hair into 4-8 sections, depending on the thickness of your hair.

Clip and separate each section with hair clips.

hair clipped up and sectioned

Step 4: Apply the dye.

Grab your brush and work the hair dye into your hair.

For previously coloured hair, first apply the formula to your roots to cover that new hair growth. Carefully follow the instructions that came with your hair dye.

For undyed hair, massage the dye into your hair from root to tips, making sure the hair is completely saturated.


Don’t be afraid to use two boxes of hair dye to ensure you get good coverage. If you have thick or long hair, you will need it!

hair dye painted on

Step 5: Let it develop.

Cover your hair with a shower cap to keep the dye from touching anything while it develops. You can also wear a towel on your head to keep it warm. Leave the dye on for the correct amount of time specified in the instructions of your lilac box dye.

Check the progress of the colour development. If needed, you can leave the hair dye on for an extra 10 minutes to ensure it really takes.

If you feel any burning or itching – rinse it off straight away!

woman with a towel on her head

Step 6: Rinse the dye out.

When the time runs out, rinse your hair with lukewarm water in the shower or sink. Rinse your hair until the water is clean.

Wash your hair twice with shampoo and conditioner from the root to the tip. Then it’s time to dry it!

soapy suds on hair

Step six: Style and dry!

Before using the hairdryer, use a suitable thermal protection spray to protect the colour.

Dry your hair as usual and admire your new coloured locks!!

Watch and learn. How the professionals do it.

How long does lilac hair last?

Those of us who have already tried it know that lilac hair colour is anything but permanent. Literally!

Lilac hair dye is usually in the form of a semi-permanent colour.

This means it’ll probably fade after about 3 to 4 weeks and lasts anywhere from 5 to 10 washes.

So if you’re going for lilac, make sure your expectations are in line with the reality of it fading fast! There are measures you can take to make it last longer.

How do I care for my new lilac hair?

Lilac hair is like red hair in that it will fade pretty fast if you don’t look after it. So you need to do all you can to care for your colour.

The number one rule is to always use products designed specifically for colour treated hair. The last thing you want is a product that strips all of the colours right out of your beautiful locks!

Specially formulated shampoos and colour-safe conditioners that don’t contain sulphates will be kinder to your colour.

You should also be careful when styling with heat. Never style while wet and only use low heat if possible, or you could risk frying your lilac tresses before they’re even dry! Always use a good heat protectant spray before using any hot tools.

Lastly, never wash too often as this will strip away any oils leftover in your locks! If you follow these simple rules then your lilac hairstyle will stay vibrant for longer.


Parting words.

If you want to know how to dye your hair lilac at home, let us show you the way.

Whether it’s a soft baby lilac pink or an electric lilac purple, we have everything you need for that perfect pastel look.

What are you waiting for?

This article was written by:

  • Nicola Freeman, Creative Director & Content Lead
    Creative Director & Content Lead

    With over two decades of passionate hair dyeing experience, I've experimented with nearly every shade imaginable. My journey began long before blogging; as an award-winning copywriter in London and New York, I shaped narratives for iconic brands. However, when friends sought advice during lockdown for at-home hair dyeing, I realized my true calling. Beyond being your hair color expert, I'm a mom of two girls, wife to artist Tony, and an avid soccer player!