Color Formulas: How to Achieve Pantone’s Viva Magenta – Color

In case you missed it, Pantone recently named Viva Magenta their 2023 Color of the Year. It’s a beautiful balance between deep pink and red, a color often found in nature—and the world of beauty. Now the color is popping up in more places than ever as people fall in love with it.

It’s inevitable that we’ll start seeing more Viva Magenta hair color in the new year. If you want to be prepared for those client requests, here are some products and formulas you can try from a few different brands. Use their artists’ Viva Magenta creations as inspiration!

Wella

Wella Professionals understands there’s no better way to be bold and make a statement other than with your hair! Their Brand Ambassadors Patricia Nikole and Dereq Clark, and Wella ColorCharm Top Artist Luis Rodriguez are sharing their favorite Viva Magenta looks for those courageous enough to rock this dynamic red.

Wella Brand Ambassador Patricia Nikole (@paintedhair) created her raspberry truffle hair using her signature Painted Hair technique. To tone this look, she used Wella Professionals Color Fresh Mask in the shade Rose Blaze, the perfect at-home color depositing mask to transform your hair to Viva Magenta.

Wella Professionals Color Fresh Masks are zero damage semi-permanent color depositing masks with a ready-made color and care formula that will visibly enhance color while leaving the hair smooth and shiny, so not only will your new Viva Magenta hair pop, it will also feel smoother and more moisturized. As it’s semi-permanent with true-to-tone fading, it’s perfect to use when you want to experiment with your hair color, exactly what Viva Magenta is all about.

Wella ColorCharm Top Artist Luis Rodriguez (@luisfernando_hair) used ColorCharm PAINTS in shade Strawberry for this look, but PAINTS in shade Raspberry can also be used to achieve the Viva Magenta color.

“This look was created using the Wella ColorCharm Painting Balayage Lightener mixed with its dedicated 30 volume developer, processed for 50 minutes,” says Rodriguez. “Once that process was done, I used the Wella ColorCharm PAINTS in the shade strawberry. Apply that on clean towel dry hair from root to ends and process for 20 minutes.”

Wella ColorCharm PAINTS is an easy-to-use option for a custom Viva Magenta look that lasts up to 20 washes. The collection includes 20 semi-permanent, intermixable colors for a bright hair color that fades beautifully on tone. Developer is not necessary, but Luis recommends prelightening strands for best results when creating your Viva Magenta look.

Wella Brand Ambassador Dereq Clark (@dereqc) created this Cherry Cola look using Koleston Perfect. As Wella’s permanent professional hair color line, this is the perfect option for those ready to head to the salon and take the leap of faith, diving right into this bold look. It produces pure, balanced color results with natural depth and shine, creating the perfect transformative red tone for a Viva Magenta look.

Here’s Clark’s formula:

Blondorplex 10 vol for a global lift

Roots: 44/65 Koleston Perfect + 1.9% Welloxon developer

Mid lengths and ends : 66/46 + 55/66 Koleston Perfect + 1.9% Welloxon developer

#mydentity

Since this year’s color is all about encouraging experimentation and self-expression, Guy Tang’s (@guy_tang) line of haircare and color, #mydentity, has the perfect solutions for those wanting Viva Magenta in their hair, both at home and in the salon.

Tang says stylists can achieve the color on their clients “by using #mydentity Super Power Direct Dyes in Magenta Magic and Crimson Spell. You can make this a wearable shade by having your stylist apply over highlighted hair for pops of the Viva Magenta tone.” Mixing the same shades in #MyRefresh Color Depositing Conditioner gives a quick at-home result for your clients who can’t wait.

PRAVANA

PRAVANA has been embracing vibrant hair color since its first VIVIDS shades launched in 2004, so it’s a perfect brand for recreating Viva Magenta in creative ways. The brand’s Artistic Educators have come up with some very imaginative looks that you can replicate by following their steps:

“Project Rose” by @georgeeblancoo

1. Prep the hair with PRAVANA’s Purify & Revive PRIME to diminish any minerals that can cause lighteners to puff or swell.
2. Pre-lighten using your favorite global blonding technique and PRAVANA Pure Light Power Lightener + 3 parts PRAVANA 20 Volume Creme Developer.
3. Process up to 55 minutes checking every 5 to 10 minutes until you reach a Level 8.
4. Once you have reached 70% of the lift, apply the same lightening formula to the ends to brighten them.
5. Shampoo with PRAVANA’s Intense Therapy Cleanse and apply PRAVANA’s Silk Degrees Prep & Treat for 5 minutes.
6. Dry the hair completely.
7. Apply the custom ChromaSilk VIVIDS Formula (20g Wild Orchid + 20g Magenta + 20g Sunstone + 5g Red + 5g Garnet) from roots to ends.

Pro Tip: Use the “3-Inch Rule” when applying VIVIDS generously in a vertical motion and a horizontal motion to both sides of the hair reloading your brush every 3 inches.

8. Process 30 minutes at room temperature.
9. Rinse with cold water and high water pressure until the water runs clear and apply PRAVANA’s Color Protect Condition.
10. Rinse and style as desired.

 

“Kaleidoscope” by @tashpotatoes_hair

1. Prep the hair with PRAVANA’s Purify & Revive PRIME to diminish any minerals that can cause lighteners to puff or swell.
2. Mix 45g ChromaSilk Creme Hair Color 5.7 + 20g ChromaSilk VIVIDS Everlasting Poison Berry + 98g 20 Volume and apply as a base color.

Pro Tip: ChromaSilk VIVIDS Everlasting shades are permanent color that give you “VIVIDS-like” results on their own or when added to ChromaSilk Creme Hair Color shades.

3. At the same time, pre-lighten some of the midlengths-ends and the face frame using your favorite balayage technique and PRAVANA’s Pure Light Power Lightener + 3 parts PRAVANA 10 Volume Creme Developer applying the base color to those you are not choosing to lighten.
4. Process 30 minutes at room temperature or longer until the ends reach a Level 9.
5. Shampoo with PRAVANA’s Intense Therapy Cleanse and apply PRAVANA’s Silk Degrees Prep & Treat for 5 minutes.
6. Dry the hair completely.
7. Apply ChromaSilk VIVIDS Magenta, Aquamarine and Yellow to the pre-lightened pieces taking vertical panels and alternating the shades.

Pro Tip: Blending VIVIDS shades together creates additional shades i.e. Magenta + Aquamarine = Purple.

8. Process 30 minutes at room temperature.
9. Rinse with cold water and high water pressure until the water runs clear and apply PRAVANA’s Color Protect Condition.

 

“Boysenberry Split” by @the_blonding_rebel

1. Prep the hair with PRAVANA’s Purify & Revive PRIME to diminish any minerals.

Pro Tip: 85% of households have minerals that can cause lighteners to puff and swell.

2. Divide the hair in half by taking a parting from nose to nape.
3. Pre-lighten the right side using your favorite global blonding technique and PRAVANA Pure Light Ultra Lightener + 3 parts PRAVANA Zero Lift Creme Developer.
4. Process up to 55 minutes checking every 5-10 minutes until you reach a Level 9.
5. Shampoo with PRAVANA’s Intense Therapy Cleanse and apply PRAVANA’s Silk Degrees Prep & Treat for 5 minutes.
6. Rinse and dry the hair completely.
7. On the left side, apply 30g ChromaSilk Creme Hair Color 1N + 45g PRAVANA 10 Volume Crème Developer from roots to ends.
8. On the right side, apply the VIVIDS Green Formula (Green + 2g Black Additive) underneath the occipital bone in the back and apply the VIVIDS Magenta Formula (30g Red + 30g Wild Orchid + 3g Black Additive) to the remaining hair, both from roots to ends.
9. Process 30 minutes at room temperature.
10. Rinse with cold water and high water pressure until the water runs clear and apply PRAVANA’s Color Protect Condition.