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Hair

This Year's Summer Hair Color Trends Are Doing the Most

 

From crème brûlée blonde to mob wife brunette, this season’s color trends are more shout, less whisper.

This year’s summer hair color trends are teaching us one very important lesson: Less is not always more. While clean girl aesthetic, vanilla girls, and minimalism all had their time, 2024 is more about doing the most—and then some.

Don’t just be a brunette. Be a mob wife brunette with rich, glossy undertones. (A leopard-print Fran Drescher minidress is also encouraged.) Copper may be soft and subtle, but spiced rum is its bolder, sassier sister who happens to be a lot more fun at a beach party. And instead of boring butter blonde, let the gold hues caramelize for a richer, more mature crème brûlée blonde. This summer, choose your color and then find ways to turn it up to an 11.

To help inspire your most over-the-top summer yet, we asked the pros what colors they expect to see trending and exactly what to ask for to get the look.

Meet the experts:

Kirsten Stuke is a colorist at Suite Caroline in New York City.

Dana Yurick is a colorist and educator at the Bumble and Bumble Meatpacking District salon in New York City.

Chase Kusero is a hairstylist, colorist, and IGK Hair Care co-founder.

Leysa Carrillo is a colorist and Redken ambassador based in Las Vegas.

Jessie Shumway is a colorist at Suite Caroline in New York City.

Lauren Mildice is a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.

Philip Foresto is a colorist and Redken ambassador based in Nashville.

Diana Mildice is a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.

Richy Kandasamy is VP of R+Color Development for R+Co based in New York City.

Mariah Joseph is a colorist at Suite Caroline in New York City.

Anthony Garcia is a colorist and educator at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes San Antonio.

 

Spiced rum

As spring turns to summer, we’re trading our bubbly mint juleps for something with more summery flavor—maybe a rum punch in a tall tiki glass. Of course, it’s not a tropical cocktail without a heavy pour of spiced rum. And while we’re at it, our hair could use a shot or two. "I love this color because it’s so simple and elegant," says colorist Kirsten Stuke, who predicts this warm coppery take on brunette will be all the rage this summer. Maintenance is easier for naturally darker hair, of course, while blondes and redheads may be running back to the salon every four to six weeks for root touch-ups.

Mob wife brunette

Like all things mob wife aesthetic, mob wife brunette is brunette, but extra. "It’s all about that rich, luxe look," says colorist Dana Yurick, who notes that this chocolate hair with a deep amaretto shine would be a serious upgrade (that requires very little effort) for any brunette.

At your appointment, you can expect a soft foilyage (you know, a dye job that involves foils and balayage) and some tone-on-tone highlights. The look can last about four to six months between touch-ups, so you can look rich without totally breaking the bank. Colorist Chase Kusero notes that the “vibrant shine” keeps it expensive-looking, so double down on deep conditioning masks or ask for a gloss at the salon.

Golden brunette

If Lady Godiva were galloping around town nude on a horse today, her hip-length hair would undoubtedly be this ethereal brunette with a golden caramel sheen. "This trend adds warmth and dimension to brunette, giving it a natural, summery glow," says colorist Leysa Carrillo, who recommends asking for a warm brunette base with soft golden highlights throughout.

"This is best for someone with naturally dark hair looking for an element of softness," adds colorist Jessie Shumway. "Upkeep after the initial highlight is low maintenance. Just book a gloss when you want to enrich the tone."

Charcoal brunette

Not quite black and too mysterious to simply be brunette, charcoal brunette is a sexy, cool-tone hue with ashen undertones. "It’s a great color for summer because many brunettes skew red from sun exposure and this cool tone will help to cancel some of that out," says colorist Lauren Mildice.

But be warned: If you have a light natural hair color, stopping into the salon for touch-ups every four to six weeks will be nonnegotiable, she says, because your roots will be especially noticeable in contrast to the wickedly dark brunette.

Barely there pastels

These barely there pastels are the hair color equivalent of a flavored La Croix. (You think you can taste pamplemousse, but it’s really just a suggestion, the hint of pamplemousse, not so much the taste.)

These colors start with a white-platinum blonde and take just a dash of color: Pick your poison: lavender, baby pink, mint. "I’d ask your stylist for a demipermanent, translucent [hue] that will be easy to transition out of once you’re ready to return to your primary color," says colorist Philip Foresto, who notes that these colors are incredibly high maintenance, so a light touch will be key.

Crème brûlée

Crème brûlée is last season’s butter blonde but dirtied up a bit for a browned, warm tint. And if you think you’re spotting three or four blondes in one, you are. "It’s a multitonal blonde that uses shades of lemon, gold, and bronze undertones painted throughout the hair," says colorist Diana Mildice. "Using multiple colors creates dimension and the illusion of thicker hair."

Sandy blonde

Say you’re traversing a vast desert. If you look in the distance, you see hazy, shimmery sand in all directions. That’s this color — a glittering, shining mirage of heat and sand. "These shades of blonde have subtle, dimensional reflection," says colorist Richy Kandasamy, who recommends asking for lived-in highlights mixed with different shades of brown. Bonus: It’s also quite a bit easier to maintain than the buttery Hollywood blondes of last season; dark roots just add to its dimension.

Microlights

If highlights are the head cheerleader in high school, then microlights are the charming French exchange student. The effect is subtle and quiet, but totally captivating. "It’s just a few soft amber flecks," says Diana Mildice, who thinks these look especially beautiful on wavy or curly hair types, so they can dance around the texture a bit and give the impression of a glowing, golden aura.

Soft black

There’s Wednesday Addams black (no disrespect) and then there’s soft black: A touchable, velvety hue that juuust misses the darkest black on the spectrum. Yes, we know true black isn’t on the color spectrum, or actually a color at all, but you know what we mean. It’s sexy, but not too harsh. Mysterious, but not unapproachable. Dark, but not without charm. “If you want it to stay deep, request a single process,” says colorist Mariah Joseph. “If you want less commitment, request a gloss, since that naturally softens with each shampoo for a much softer grow out.”

Color blocking

Think of color blocking like your sun and moon zodiac signs (and your rising sign, if three colors sound more intriguing). Putting every shade of your personality in your hair almost screams self-assurance. "It can be done with any variety of colors: blondes, reds, brunettes, or creative fashion colors. It’s extremely versatile and personal to you," says Joseph.

"The look could be symmetrical or something asymmetrical. You and your stylist can really have fun coming up with a placement together," she adds. But if large swaths of color à la Billie Eilish and Hari Nef feel like too much of a swing, try a few high-contrast highlights "like light platinum blonde on dark or black hair," says colorist Anthony Garcia, who adds that the result is very anime or manga.