In an effort to live my best Hot Boy Summer, I have made an effort to live life more authentically, to take risks and to release the fear of expressing myself. So after years of contemplating the decision – I chose to dye my hair pink.
The choice to dye my hair pink was a shock to anyone outside of my close friend circle. Those who know me are aware that ever since the release of ‘Blond’, Frank Ocean’s second studio album, back in August 2016, I have wanted to dye my hair pink.
Sadly, I must admit, I was afraid. I was scared of what society may think or what my friends and parents might say about this bold choice.
Working in a creative space that allows me to express myself daily and seeing many young creatives like Jaden Smith, Lil Uzi Vert and, SZA have fun with their hair and hair color on my feeds, empowered me to go for it and I knew there was no better time than now to dye my hair pink!
For my inaugural dye, I sought after Maxtrix Celebrity Colorist, George Papanikolas who has worked on many A-list celebrities such as Kelly Rowland, Kim Kardashian Nicole Scherzinger, and Nya Rivera to turn me into a pink-haired stud!
After the transformation, I caught up with George for tips for people who are looking to go pink.
ESSENCE: What should you keep in mind before going bleaching your hair?
PAPANIKOLAS: Depending on how dark your hair is, it will require several hours to pre-lighten the hair to a pale blonde first. Also, you’ll need to take extra care to keep your hair moisturize and conditioned as the bleaching process can be harsh and drying to the hair. In the salon, I use a bond protecting a system like Matrix Bond Ultimat8, which preserves the bonds during the bleaching process.
ESSENCE: What are your essential tips for maintaining the look?
PAPANIKOLAS: After we apply the color, I make sure to use the Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid Color Lamination Spray. This process seals the cuticle and locks in the color in to minimize feeding. You can also take the spray and use it at home and place of shampoo to extend the color even longer.
Check out these 7 male celebrities that have dyed their hair!
