How To Use Hair Chalks Without Looking Like A Bad Art Project

Here’s a guide for how to use hair chalks. These basic guidelines will give you the perfect rainbow hair, ombré, or dip dye.

If hair chalk makes you think of some weird scalp problem like dandruff, you’ll be pleased to find out that it is actually the secret to some awesome rainbow hairstyles. You can experiment with ombré, dip dye, highlights, rainbow gradient, or Katy Perry‘s slime green pieces, and best of all, if you don’t like the color, you can easily wash it out. If only you could do the same with crappy blonde hair dye that turned your hair orange. The idea of using a piece of chalk to color your hair sounds like a quick way to end up with your face, hands, and new shirt covered in a fine coating of aquamarine blue. With the right products and a few helpful tips, you can get results so freaking awesome that you would make dip-dye queen Nicki Minaj jealous.

Here are some tips for using hair chalks and how to keep that white shirt white:

1. Choose The Right Product

Hair chalks aren’t the same ones that your Kindergarten teacher used on the blackboard. Hair chalks have a stronger pigment and come in much better colors than the three ‘colored’ chalks Mrs. Davis had that really just looked like white. Go to the drugstore for the real deal or check out Etsy, which has a wide range of products.

2. Go To The Art Store

It seems that every time you go to the drugstore, there is another random brand coming out with a new hair chalk. Despite them taking up two shelves, your local art store may have the best selection. Those ones you were forced to buy for high school artwork as long as they’re not oil-based. Glad that they weren’t a total waste of money now?

3. They Work On Dark Hair

Thankfully this is a trend that works for all hair colors and hair types. Some brands aren’t as good as others, so you may have to test a few, or you can stick with art pastels. L’Oreal Hairchalk works on the darkest of hair.

4. Apply It Right

Mist your hair with water, then apply the color. You want your locks to be slightly damp, not soaking, otherwise, it will be raining rainbows from your hair. Sounds fun but it’s not.

5. Seal The Color

If you don’t want to worry about removing stains from your clothing, you must seal the chalk, otherwise, it will transfer everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Use a styling tool such as a curling iron, straightener, or blow dryer to lock in that color.

6. Choose A Small Area

Don’t attempt to cover your entire head with chalk, unless your hair is shorter than Miley Cyrus‘s. You will never be able to cover every strand and it will take too long, considering you’ll be washing it out. A pop of color is all you need. Try it on your bangs or at the end of a braid (how cute is that?)

7. Mix Colors

If you only have one or two chalks, unleash your inner artist and try layering them on top of each other. There are a few new colors and no money spent. Score.

8. Go Pastel

To get a cotton candy shade of pink, first, apply a white chalk, then add a bit of pink on top of it. Or try it with blue, or green, and you’ll have hair the color of macaroons.

9. Try An Updo

If you’re still worried about the color transfer, put your hair in a pony then color a few strands or apply it to your topknot. The ever-popular braid looks amazing with a few greens or pink pieces woven in. You can add the highlights after you’ve plaited it.

10. Dip Dye

To get a seamless gradation of color, start applying the second color on top of the other when you’re switching shades. If you’re very careful, you can brush the line. Just remember to wash your brush.

15 Hair Chalk Hacks That Will Make You Realize You Need Rainbow Hair

Hair chalks are the color commitment phobe’s best friend. They allow you to test out rainbow hair without making a bi-weekly commitment to bleach and investing major cash in hair masks. If you’ve been wanting to try out ombré ends or dip dyed hair (who knew there was a difference?), you can try out both with wash-and-try-something-else hair chalks. It’s much better than dyeing your hair turquoise and getting sick of it after four days when you realize you have nothing in your wardrobe to match it.

Here are some hair chalk hacks, that will have you thinking in technicolor:

1. Twisted Pastel Pony: This is what Blake Lively‘s epic Cannes braid would have looked like if she let My Little Pony do her hair.
2. Pink Braid: I don’t know which I am more impressed with: the sheer length of this gigantic braid or the seamless pink gradation.
3. Neon Bangs: If you are so over Katy Perry‘s slime green shade, allow me to introduce you to chartreuse.
4. Bold Sides: If you foolishly thought the short hair trend was dunzo, this awesome hair chalk idea is enough to make you reach for a razor. No matter how tempting, please don’t pull a Britney Spears. Just don’t.
5. Pink Pony: Lauren Conrad shows us that the hair chalking trend can work for people other than those who shop exclusively at Hot Topic.
6. Pink and Purple Ombré: This might be the girliest hairstyle ever. No wait, cancel that call to The Guinness Book of World Records. If there was a sparkly clip or two, then it would be #1, but only then.
7. Pastels: I think if I were to dye my hair blonde, just so I could try pastel hair chalks, that would be cheating.
8. Multi-colored Fishtail: The multiple hair colors are waaaay less complicated than trying to figure out how to do a fishtail braid. Here’s an easy braid tutorial to help you, before you get chalking.
9. Blue Ombré: Forget blue-eyed blonde, blue-on blonde hair is where it’s at.
10. Bright Low Pony: If you’re into all those asymmetrical shaved hairstyles, why don’t you try an undercut-like shot of hair chalk? There is no awkward regrowth.
11. Neon Rainbow: I’m almost positive that the inspiration for this was a rainbow slinky.
12. Colored Braid And Ends: Well now we know how everyone is going to be wearing their hair at Coachella.
13. Blonde Tips: Not everything has to be blue or purple (there are other pastels in that box!). Fake bleached tips with yellow and orange chalks that kinda look like blonde.
14. Bright Bangs: #Shorthairdontcare when you can hair chalk your bangs bright pink.
15. Pink And Blue Highlights: Remember long before dip dye we used to just highlight our hair? This blue and pink pairing is a fresh idea.