Summer Hair-Color Trends to Try This Season
May 10, 2022
Once the summer solstice hits, it's like a breath of fresh air. The warmer days and longer nights serve as the perfect backdrop to relaxing and joyful outdoor activities. Beach days, picnics, and barbecues are just around the corner, and that's something we can all celebrate. It's also a signal to make some changes: Updating your wardrobe, switching up your beauty routine, and if you're into it, looking into some new summer hair color ideas.
Now that many salons are reopened and back in action, it feels all the more exciting to experiment, especially with shades that may be a bit more challenging to try at home. Stephanie Brown, master colorist at IGK Soho in New York City, says that you can get the most mileage out of a fresh dye job in the summer. People are typically out and about more, giving you extra opportunity to stunt on anyone you happen to cross paths with.
Colorists are predicting a wide range of shades to pop up in the coming months. From strawberry blonde and pastels to dark sultry red, there's no shortage of options. Just be sure to first settle on the look you're going for and bring in reference photos to your salon appointment. "Photos [to show] placement, tone, and color are very helpful," says Brown. "I find that everyone has their own way of describing things (for example, what's warm for some is brassy for others)." She adds, "and for yourself, pictures can be useful because you can find someone with a similar skin tone to see if the color would look good on you."
To make your hair-color research easier, we've done the homework and found this season's hottest shades. So, let's dive into it: read on for the best summer hair color ideas, according to experts.
Strawberry Blonde
Remember when Ariel Winter debuted that freshly dyed strawberry blonde hair in 2019? Yeah — it shocked us, too. This far lighter hue on her typically rich, chocolate strands rendered her almost unrecognizable. Felicia Dosso, a colorist at Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York City, says strawberry blonde will be big again this summer.
Thinking about going for this color? Take note of these factors: "I always say this about every shade of red — it's bold," explains Dosso, who says to prepare yourself for a lot of attention if you go this route. "Also, consider how long you'll want to keep up with this trend. Copper shares in hair tend to fade the fastest but can also be the hardest to remove."
Bright Pops
Dosso predicts we'll be seeing more cotton candy hues like pink, peach, and aqua blues. "Playing with creative colors is always fun, and it can be the best statement accessory in the summer," she notes. Saweetie spent a few glorious days with this platinum-to-pink ombré hair color. We love how the pink is dusted through the ends of the layers, with the saturation of color in the longest parts.
Sunshine Blonde
Match the mood of summer with a bright blonde like Dakota Fanning's. "For this look, you really want to focus on accentuating the hairline," says Dosso. "I like to do a mix of foils and balayage to achieve the perfect bright blonde. Between each foil, balayage the mid-lengths and ends of the hair for that extra oomph."
Of course, you don't have to dye your actual hair to try this trend — you can easily get yourself a wig and rock it with far less commitment (and, maybe, damage) involved.
Spiced Red
"Red has come back into the picture. It really was the last thing I expected, but I'm so happy it's here," says Phan. In March, Kendall Jenner lightened her typically chocolate strands to this coppery hue, and it's one she wears well. Just keep in mind that as this color fades and washes out, you are going to see it. "My number one piece of advice is to make sure you get a red towel to match your hair or you will end up with pink towels," Phan shares.