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The Editors
Updated on February 14, 2024

Cotton candy hair is all the rage now. Of all the pretty pastels making a splash these days, purple is creating cannon ball-like waves. Lilac hair is being seen in all shapes and sizes, and it would appear everyone is jumping on board. Thinking of taking the lilac plunge? Try one of these 20 pretty purple ‘dos!

Color and Styling Ideas on Lilac Hairstyles

Lilac color is beautiful on hair of any length. Below you’ll find examples of lilac pixies, bobs, long layered styles, braids, shags and undercuts.

1. Woven-In Purple

Give your hair some dimension by featuring a gradient of purple and gray. Breaking up the color keeps your hair from looking monotone and flat, because no one wants that!

2. Braided-Unicorn Look

Why settle for just lilac hair color when you can throw in several shades into the mix? Look every bit the unicorn with a faux-hawk-inspired braid that showcases all the colors in your hair rainbow.

3. Short Lilac Bob

Combine two of the hottest hair trends on the block by rocking a short, light purple bob. Give the cut some body by curling it into voluminous beachy waves with a 1 ½ -inch curling iron. Fluff the curls with your fingers, spritz some setting spray and be on your way!

4. Soft and Subtle Highlights

Not ready to go full-throttle with the purple hair? Ease into it with subtle purple streaks at the bottom of your long bob (aka “lob”). This will give you a dose of color without going all in.

5. Silver Lilac Beachy Waves

Give your lilac hair some shine, by going with a shade that has a silvery finish. This will make your hair look glossy so people won’t just be noticing your color — they’ll be noticing the state of your locks, too!

6. Periwinkle Ringlets

Go for that ’80s rocker look by giving your lilac hair a neon edge. Periwinkle hair has bright pink undertones that make it really stand out with its own statement.

7. Mellow Yellow and Lilac Ombré

These days, anything goes when it comes to hair, so go ahead and seize the day. Add some unexpected color to your already vibrant bob by throwing in some yellow at the bottom.

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8. Lilac Balayage

A lilac ombré is tres, tres chic and requires little upkeep. This hairstyle can be easily grown out and the color will be chopped off once you’re ready to move on. All you have to do to keep your lilac hair color bright and beautiful is invest in one of the top-rated shampoos for color treated hair and you’ll be pretty in purple for a while!

9. Pale Pastel Blowout

Pastel hair is meant to be shown off and nothing showcases hair like a full, flawless blowout. Use a large, round brush to shape the hair with a blowdryer and top it off with a glossing serum to give the look some shine.

10. Sleek and Purple

Give your purple hair a slick makeover by wearing it sleek and straight. You can do this with either a blowdryer or flat iron. When using a flat iron, make sure you curl the ends inward just slightly to round out the shape.

11. Bold and Buzzed Hair

Feeling brave? Give your hair a close cut … very close. Topping off a buzzed, punk pixie cut with pinkish lilac hair dye will give you the ultimate edge. Rock it.

12. Rooted in Purple

For some, wearing your lilac purple at the ends is the obvious way to go. But sometimes you have to switch things up and go the reverse route. Try working your color into your roots and watch sparks fly.

13. Cascading Color

A natural, well-blended ombré is the ideal way to wear a color like light purple. Nothing shows off a shade like a natural, seamless balayage, so make sure you enlist the help of a professional stylist with a knack for ombré color and get ready to shine.

14. 50 Shades of Purple

If you have your eye on more than just lilac hair color, go with it. Try your hand at lilac, plum and magenta for the ultimate prismatic hair look.

15. Knotty Mermaid Look

Braids are the ideal hair vehicle for showcasing a bold hair choice, as the woven structure highlights every shade in your hair. If you’re rocking a cool purple balayage, try an intricate mermaid-like braid that starts as a half-updo and transitions into a thick, loose plait at the bottom.

16. Blue and Lilac Locks

Blue and purple go together like peanut butter and jelly, so why not marry the two in your hair look? Give the blue-on-top, purple-on-bottom method a whirl and show off your creative, risk-taking side.

17. Plum Punk Hair

Life is full of surprises, and so is your hair. Next time you pay a visit to the salon, make sure you request two things: deep lilac hair and a little buzzed up section at the nape of your neck. Create a cool etched-out design of your choice that will only be visible when your hair is lifted.

18. Lightened Lilac Locks

If you really love your ash-blonde hair but want to take a stab at lilac, try chunky purple highlights that are strategically placed throughout the hair. Because your hair is already light, achieving a rich lilac will not be difficult.

19. Magical Magenta

Go for a truly magical look by sporting a curled-up, two-toned pixie. The vibrant lilac duo will be a fun twist on the already edgy and head-turning cut.

20. Pastel Highlights

Lilac hair can look as high-end and natural as platinum blonde and auburn hair colors when done correctly. Weave razor-thin lilac highlights into a blunt long bob and you’ll be living on the cutting edge.

If you weren’t into color before, it’s a safe bet you are officially sold now. Make sure you give the lilac hair train a ride this year and find out why this beautiful bold color is hotter than ever.