Why is My Hair Turning Pink?

Yes, hair can turn pink for a variety of reasons. The most common causes are hair dye, damage from chemical processing, sun exposure, chlorine exposure, medications, and nutrient deficiencies.

To stop hair from turning pink, it’s important to avoid damaging hair chemicals, treat hair gently, use clarifying shampoos, get toner treatments, protect hair from sun, take supplements if deficient, and see a doctor about potential medication causes.

You can also prevent your hair from turning pink in the first place by limiting chemical treatments, using violet shampoos regularly, protecting hair from sun damage, taking supplements, and getting regular trims and deep conditioning.

Blonde hair can turn pink when warm underlying pigments show through porous, damaged hair shafts. While subtle pink hues can rarely occur naturally, bright pink hair is always artificial.

Proper hair care helps keep natural and chemically lightened blonde hair free of unwanted pink tones.

This article will explore how hair turns pink, tips for treating existing pink hair, prevention advice, why blonde hair goes pink, and whether pink hair can occur naturally.

Why is My Hair Turning Pink?

Yes, it is possible for hair to turn pink. There are a few potential causes of pink hair that are important to understand.

How does hair turn pink?

Hair can turn pink for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common causes of pink hair:

• Using hair dye or toners with pink or red tones. This is the most common reason. The pink tones can stain hair that is light blonde or gray.
• Chemical processing damage. Bleaching, permanent waving, or relaxing hair can damage and alter hair cuticles, allowing unusual tones like pink to show through.
• Sun exposure. The sun’s UV rays can interact with hair chemicals and cause discoloration or odd tones like pink.
• Chlorine damage. Swimming in chlorinated pools can strip hair and alter color. Pink tones may start showing, especially if hair is already color-treated.
• Medications. Certain medications like tetracycline antibiotics can cause hair pigment changes if taken long term. Pink hair has been reported.
• Low iron or nutrient deficiency. Deficiencies affecting melanin can cause abnormal hair pigmentation like pink tones.

So in summary, pink hair is usually caused by chemical processing, sun exposure, medications, or nutrient deficiency interacting with hair pigments. Understanding the root cause is important.

What to do if your hair is turning pink?

If you notice your hair developing unusual pink tones, here are some tips:

• Discontinue damaging chemical processing like bleaching until hair is healthy. This prevents further damage.
• Treat hair gently using repairing masks and oils. Look for products with keratin, argan oil, or coconut oil to strengthen hair.
• Use a clarifying shampoo once a week to remove buildup and prevent pink tones from getting more deposited in hair.
• Get a toner or semi-permanent dye applied at a salon to neutralize the pink tones. Go for an ashy or platinum blonde shade.
• Protect hair from sun exposure by wearing hats, limiting time in sun, and using protective sprays.
• Make sure you are getting enough protein and iron if pink hair is due to nutrient deficiency. Consider supplements.
• Consult with a dermatologist if pink hair could be medication-related. Switching medications may be required.
• Be patient. Treating hair gently and protecting it from damage can help pink tones fade over time.

How to prevent your hair from turning pink

If you want to avoid pink hair in the future, here are some tips:

• Avoid overprocessing hair with bleach or other chemical treatments. Allow enough time between sessions. Always do a strand test first to check for damage.
• Use a violet-toned shampoo or conditioner regularly to neutralize brassiness and prevent pink undertones from developing.
• Rinse hair with cool water and limit heat styling to prevent damage leading to porosity and odd tones.
• When swimming, wet hair first and apply a protective pre-swim spray. Rinse out chlorine immediately after.
• Take hair supplements with biotin, folic acid, zinc, and iron to maintain strength and healthy pigment.
• Wear a hat when outdoors and use a leave-in conditioner with UV protection to limit sun damage.
• Get regular trims and use hydrating masks to keep hair in optimal condition. Healthy hair reflects light better.

Tips for preventing pink hair

• Use a toner or permanent dye to correct existing pink tones. An ash blonde or platinum shade works well.
• Opt for gentler hair lightening products like bleach-free lightning drops. They lift hair more gradually to prevent damage. 
• Don’t overlap bleach with permanent color. Bleach first, then tone hair before applying permanent color.
• Avoid washing hair daily and use cooler water temperatures to prevent drying out hair and scalp.
• Deep condition hair weekly and avoid hot tools daily to prevent oxidative damage leading to porosity.
• Check all hair products for blue or violet pigments which counteract pink tones. Consider a blue shampoo.
• Take biotin supplements and maintain an iron-rich diet to keep hair pigment balanced and prevent abnormalities.
• Take precautions like hats, scarves and UV protecting products whenever hair is exposed to lots of sunlight.

Why does blonde hair go pink?

Blonde hair can turn pink when the hair’s underlying warm pigments show through. Blonde hair still contains traces of red and gold tones. When the hair’s outer layers become damaged and porous, these warmer undertones interact with light and start to make hair look pink or orange-y.

The lighter and more processed the blonde is, the more prone it is to absorbing unwanted warm tones from sun exposure or heat styling and turning pink.

Regular toning and conditioning is required to keep blonde hair free of pinkness. An anti-brass violet shampoo helps neutralize pink tones. Avoiding overlapping bleach and color services also minimizes porosity and damage that makes blonde hair prone to pinkness.

So in essence, pinkness occurs in blonde hair due to damage revealing underlying warm pigments. 

Can pink hair occur naturally?

Yes, natural pink hair is possible but very rare. A genetic condition called erythrism results in an abnormal amount of red melanin pigment in hair follicles. Erythrism causes reddish or pinkish hair all over the body.

People with albinism can also sometimes have hair that appears pinkish. The reduced melanin in hair shafts of albino individuals makes their naturally light blonde hair reflect light differently so it can look pinkish.

However, true bright pink hair does not occur naturally. Any sudden onset of pink hair is most likely related to external factors like hair chemical treatments, chlorine exposure, nutrient deficiencies, or medications.

Consulting a doctor is recommended if hair rapidly turns pink with no known cause. While it is possible for subtle pinkish hues to exist naturally in blonde hair, distinct pink hair is always artificial. Proper hair care helps keep natural or chemically lightened blonde hair free of unwanted pink tones.