Colorful hair was everywhere in 2014, and many people tried pink shades — mainly on lighter hair. If you want to experiment with color on darker hair without bleaching or a permanent dye, hair chalk is an easy, temporary option. When Tic Tac invited me to participate in a “Shaking it up!” post, I turned to Joy from PAGE Beauty for a playful, non-permanent solution. She suggested hair chalk and helped style a dramatic fishtail top knot so the color would stand out without a long-term commitment.
Read on to learn how we applied the chalk and created the colorful fishtail top knot step by step.
Choosing Hair Chalk and Preparing
Hair chalk is widely available now in beauty stores and online in pre-made kits. If you want shades not found in typical kits, visit an art supply store and buy soft pastels (make sure they are pastels, not oil pastels). For application, wear an old shirt or a robe to avoid stains. Have a spray bottle of water ready and a heat source to set the color, such as a hair dryer or flat iron.
How to Chalk Your Hair
1. Separate a thin section of hair and lightly mist it with water. For light blondes, a leave-in conditioner can help instead of plain water.
2. Rub the chalk up and down the section to build color, then flip the strand and color the underside as well. For a gradient effect, start with the darkest shade at the roots and transition to lighter shades toward the ends. If you plan to wear your hair down, twist each section before chalking to soften the edge where the color starts. Keep in mind the chalk can transfer to clothing or furniture, so avoid light fabrics while applying.
3. Allow the color to dry, then gently brush through each section to remove excess chalk. This step can be messy, so do it over a sink or a surface that’s easy to clean.
4. Use heat to set the chalk — a hair dryer worked well for us. Once set, proceed to style as desired.
For the fishtail top knot you’ll need a hair tie and plenty of bobby pins. Joy uses empty Tic Tac containers to store bobby pins — they’re the perfect size and conveniently portable. We added a strip of washi tape to personalize ours.
How-to: Colorful Fishtail Top Knot
1. Gather your hair into a high ponytail. Remove a small piece of hair from underneath the ponytail and wrap it around the hair tie, securing the end with a bobby pin for a polished base.
2. Divide the ponytail into two equal sections. Take a very small strand from the outer edge of one section and cross it over to join the opposite section, then repeat from the other side. Keep crossing tiny sections over until you reach the ends — smaller strands create a more intricate fishtail pattern.
3. Secure the braid end with a small plastic elastic. If you’ll leave the braid as-is, cover the elastic with washi tape for a fun pop of color.
4. Pancake the braid by gently pulling at each side, starting at the top, to widen and loosen the braid for a fuller look. Finish with a light mist of hairspray.
5. To form the top knot, loop the fishtail braid into a knot and pull the braid end through to lock it in place. Secure the end and the knot to your head with bobby pins until the bun feels stable and comfortable.
How long does the color last?
On darker hair the chalk is temporary and typically washes out after one shampoo, though lighter hair may take a few washes. To remove chalk faster, wash thoroughly and consider using an inexpensive clarifying shampoo if needed. Hair chalk is ideal for special events or trying color temporarily without long-term commitment.
All photos by Brittany Wood
This project was a fun collaboration and a gentle reminder that brunettes can experiment with bright, playful colors without committing to permanent dye. If you’ve wanted to try a temporary splash of color for a party or a photoshoot, hair chalk plus a fishtail top knot gives you a bold look that’s easy to remove when you’re done.
This DIY project was sponsored by the makers of Tic Tac® mints. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you to the sponsors who support this blog.