Glamour

Hair

The 40 Coolest Hair Colors to Try This Spring

 

From red hot to smoky espresso.

Winter is almost over, meaning it's time to start thinking about the best spring hair colors. Whether you’re ready to visit the salon or attempt another at-home hair color (just be sure to read our guide first), there’s no denying a fresh change will make you feel brand-new for the warm season.

This year's winter hair colors have embraced low-maintenance shades like cozy blonde, but expect elevated shades to pop up as temps rise. According to Tracey Cunningham, celebrity colorist and Olaplex global brand ambassador, super-polished hair with rich dye jobs are trending in a huge way this spring. “I anticipate we will see a resurgence in color that embodies the ‘quiet luxury’ or ‘stealth wealth’ trends which means the hair color is multidimensional with multiple tones, both highlights and lowlights,” she says. “The colors themselves will vary across the spectrum—blondes, brunettes, redheads, and everything in between.”

To get you inspired, we asked the pros to shed some light on the best spring hair colors for 2024. Scroll through to discover the new hues we’re eyeing.

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Quiet-Luxury Brunette

Quiet luxury is still going strong in 2024—yes, even in hair. “This trend consists of a blend of warm brunette tones all throughout the hair, painted specifically to show light and color,” says Cunningham. “Ask your colorist for a rich brunette base, and a mix of lowlights and highlights around the face and throughout the lower two thirds of the hair.”

Hot Taki Red

Red hair isn't going anywhere and the latest trending shade is a callback to one of our favorite snacks, Takis. “This color gives off a different type of flare,” says Lauren Mildice, colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. “With a murky volcanic blaze, your color will be soft yet powerful. This will be trending since it’s not as ‘strong’ and neon-looking as a red or copper color. People with more of an olive pigment or deep complexion would serve this color the best.”

To get the look, ask for a dusty volcanic color and clarify that you want to stay away from neons. “Look for a faded red,” she adds. “The only thing about this color that you have to upkeep is the grow-out line. You should be getting your color touched up every four to six weeks with this look.”

Caramel Dimension

Add even more dimension to cozy blonde with a caramel balayage on a deep brown base. “I love this color since it is not too blonde and it incorporates natural color with heavy caramel strands,” says Mildice, who adds that the look works especially nicely on curly hair. “The curls need heavier dimension, meaning you don't highlight small strands since they will blend too much. The strong stripes of caramel accentuate the curl pattern.”

Ask your colorist for heavy caramel-toned highlights. “Perhaps balayage around the face or hairline,” says Mildice. “This color should be refreshed every 6 to 12 weeks.”

Soft Ginger

If you were a fan of cowgirl copper, you'll love this softer, spring-ready iteration of the shade. “This will be great fresh start for spring since it’s a lighter tone and easy to try on,” says Mildice. “If you were too nervous to try out cowgirl copper, this is a great way to introduce those warmer tones into your color. Soft ginger complements fair to medium brown skin the most. All textures and cuts work with this color.”

Golden Bronde

Cunningham created Jennifer Lopez's stunning golden brown-blonde shade, which she thinks will be a trending shade this spring. “The key to the golden bronde look is to really lighten up hair around the face,” she says, “from the top of the head all the way to the tips of the hair around the face, and then seamlessly blend out the golden color throughout the bottom third of the hair all the way around the head.”

She added the Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector when dyeing the base color to repair and strengthen ends before adding highlights.

Red-Hot

For a brighter take on red hair, Cunningham recommends a true red dye job, like the color she created for Emma Stone. If you're not a natural redhead (Stone is a natural blonde), Cunningham says to touch base with your colorist beforehand. “If you don’t have naturally red hair and want to go red, talk with your colorist about the best way to do it—and the best way to maintain it.”

It may take multiple sessions to achieve the shade you want. You also have to factor in maintenance. “Red is one of the hardest colors to maintain, so you’ll need to prepare to see your colorist more frequently for touchups and gloss treatments to keep hair looking its best,” she says. “Home maintenance is also key with red hair. I tell all my clients to use Olaplex to help keep hair its healthiest, not only when they shampoo and condition but also if they blow-dry their hair.”

Soft Framed Espresso

If you're brunette but looking to spice up your look, try “teasylights”: a technique colorists use whereby they tease your hair before applying color. “This is an amazing change for brunettes since most feel they have to add blonde into their hair to create dimensions or a new look,” says Mildice. “By lighting the hair and toning it down to a lighter brunette shade, it creates a soft suede blend. Olive to the deepest skin tones would accentuate this look the best, but any texture works.”

Bombshell Blonde

Barbiecore blonde may have dominated the past year, but Cunningham predicts that warmer, dirtier blonde will become more popular once temps start to rise. “We’ll see more a bombshell warmer blonde take hold, like the color mix I created for Bebe Rexha,” says Cunningham. “We lifted her base color, leaving a bit of the darker root at the top of the head and then did a base blonde all throughout to lighten the hair. We then added warmer highlights all throughout the hair and did an Olaplex chelating treatment, which is a professional treatment.”

To DIY at home, Cunningham recommends the Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo and No. 5P Blonde Enhancer Toning Conditioner to reduce brassiness.

Soft Brushed Blonde

If you're transitioning from brunette to blonde, this subtle shade is for you. “The base starts with a cool acorn like brown,” says Mildice. “That color sweeps its way down into a subtle blonde. Sometimes less is more, especially if you had blonde in the past and went brown. Combine the two!”

For the same soft color, ask for “a light faded ombré starting with a light brown at the roots fading to soft blonde ends.” To avoid a harsh fade, ask your colorist to add dimension midshaft of your hair to make it gradually blend. “The benefit of this color is its less maintenance so you can go without needing a color refresh for at least eight weeks or more depending on how frequently you cut your hair,” she adds.

Butterscotch Blonde

You're going to see butterscotch blonde everywhere this spring, Madison Reed master colorist Shvonne Perkins tells Glamour. “Deep blonde will be trending this season, with butterscotch blonde taking the cake,” she says. “This rich, balanced color allows for a beautiful golden depth, instead of an icy pop.”

The best part? It's so easy to DIY. If you're starting with a light blonde base and looking to add richness, opt for Madison Reed Color Reviving Gloss in Prosecco. “When golden is present, violet tones are key for keeping color balanced,” she continues. “To maintain the color, choose the ColorSolve Shampoo and Conditioner flavor best suited for your personal hair needs and add the Color Depositing Shot in Blonde for toning and vibrancy.”

Cool Chardonnay

Temperatures may be rising, but hair color shades are cooling down, says Gregory Patterson, celebrity hairstylist and DIY expert for Sally Beauty. “We’re looking at very cool tones, but the good kind—think very cool, smoky, oaky ash blonde,” he says, pointing to Ion's 6A Dark Ash Blonde as a prime example of what we're now calling Chardonnay blonde.

Smoky Espresso

Perkins and Patterson also assert that cool, smoky shades of espresso and brown are having their moment this spring. “This smoky, natural brunette is a great option for brunettes looking to cool down their tone and is reminiscent of the mushroom brunette trend but with a fresh splash of sandy tones,” says Perkins. “Use Madison Reed’s Color Reviving Gloss in Espresso to achieve this color at home, while using the Color Therapy Mask in Caffe for the ultimate refresh between glosses.”

Icy Platinum

Since hair colors are cooling down, it's no surprise we're seeing more ice-cold platinum. “Hair colors, just like anything else in beauty and fashion, go through trends, and hair colors and styles usually ride next to fashion trends,” Patterson says. “At New York Fashion Week, the color palettes are super-icy blues and lavender tones. It was very cool, so rather than brightening for spring, we may see a cool-color resurgence.”

Cinnamon Copper

Red hair isn't going anywhere, says Emily Boulin, hairstylist and Sally Beauty DIY color and styling expert: “All variations of red are in, but copper seems to be the quickest on the rise when clients are looking for a bigger change.”

One especially popular take on the shade is cinnamon copper, which is “making a heavy wave,” says hairstylist and color expert for Cosmo Prof Presley Poe, who suggests the Schwarzkopf Vibrance line for maintaining beautiful, rich, and reflective red hair tones.

Apricot Bronde

For a fresh twist on the copper craze, Perkins suggests apricot bronde, which features a light brown base with apricot golden red tones. “A touch darker than strawberry blonde, this color will beautifully warm up your skin tone and complement a natural makeup look,” she says. “The perfect way to nail this color is with our Radiant Hair Color Kit in Genova Red and refresh the color at home with Color Therapy Mask in Zucca and Color Reviving Gloss in Cannella.”

Expensive Brunette

If you prefer your hair on the warm side, don't worry: Expensive brunette is very much still in vogue. “Brunettes with a golden undertone are rising in popularity for spring,” Boulin tells Glamour. “It's subtle, looks natural, and adds a touch of warmth, creating a soft, flattering dimension that looks like it grew out of one’s head organically.”

Peekaboo Pigment

Boulin also points to adding pops of pastel, vivid, and/or contrasting hair color to your head in block sections as an up-and-coming trend. “It’s a fun way to add life into one’s hair color in a trendy, unique way, without committing to a full color correction,” she says, pointing to Miley Cyrus's two-toned look as a prime example of the style. Another way to experiment with the aesthetic? TikTok-viral skunk-stripe hair.

Bold Burgundy

Expect to see all sorts of red this year, from burgundy to auburn and everything in between. “Red hair is trending because not only have celebrities been experimenting in this space, but it’s a great way for blondes to try something deeper or more pigmented without completely going brunette,” says Boulin. “It's also a great way for some brunettes to go richer or lighter without having to necessarily go blonder. It’s a nice in-between option, and is just a matter of finding the right tone.”

Subtle Ombré

“Less is more this spring with a subtle ombré look,” Perkins tells Glamour. “It draws inspiration from ’70s style icons and features a solid root with grown-in, sun-kissed color weaved throughout the midlengths and ends. Madison Reed’s Light Works Balayage Highlighting Kit is perfect for achieving this look at home.”

Louis Vuitton Brown 

According to Tom Smith, celebrity hairstylist and European creative director for Evo Hair, Louis Vuitton brown is the latest evolution of the expensive-brunette trend loved by celebs like Karlie Kloss and Hailey Bieber.

“Think of the color of the aged leather of a Louis Vuitton handbag,” he says. “A gorgeous rich tan, not too pale, but not heavy or dark either. This shade suits a variety of skin tones due to its medium depth and should be worn with healthy flowing hair that shines to best show the shade off.” To get the shade, ask your colorist for a medium-light brown shade with a warm golden toffee tone.

Mahogany Glow 

Mahogany glow is yet another iteration of the red hair trend, and it’s perfectly suited for dark hair. “These red-brown accents reflect light beautifully on rich brunette hair,” says celebrity colorist Jeremy Tardo. “The tones are especially flattering if you have textured hair with a dark natural base color.” For a similar look, he says, ask your colorist for mahogany pigments to be mixed into your usual brunette color.

Chunky Highlights 

Matrix celebrity colorist George Papanikolas says curls are going to shine this spring, so expect to see lots of layering, curly bangs, and women enhancing their natural curls. One way to do so? Adding bold highlights that draw attention to your natural curl pattern. “Chunky highlights make this fun and playful so they don’t disappear into the curls,” he says. “Adding a shadow root keeps this looking modern without a harsh line.”

Caramel Mocha

For brunettes, it’s all about dimension. Caramel mocha is a nice way to add some brightness without going blonde. To get this shade, New York hairstylist Lauren Grummel uses a foilayage (a combination of foil and balayage) technique. She recommends asking to keep brighter pieces around your face, a soft, rooted highlight everywhere else, and pops of brighter pieces throughout the ends.

Copper Peach 

Sydney Sweeney's light copper hair is so pretty and such a unique twist on the copper trend. It's almost a peachy shade, which Mark DeBolt, celebrity colorist and co-owner of New York’s Mark Ryan Salon, says is much easier to pull off than you think. “Because it’s such a warm color, it makes skin and eyes glow and makes your hair look so healthy,” he says. To get a similar shade, ask for something lighter than copper but deeper than a strawberry blonde.

Golden Honey

“This look is fun and head-turning without being too drastic of a change from deeper tones,” says Dark and Lovely celebrity stylist Derick Monroe. If you’re going to go lighter, Monroe stresses the importance of keeping your hair healthy enough to handle color.

“The last thing you want to do is a chemical process on already damaged hair,” he says. “A pro tip is to have a maintenance program to keep your hair healthy, shiny, and moisturized. That could be as simple as a deep-conditioning treatment at home.”

Hair Frosting 

"Hair frosting is a free-hand method to paint highlights on the surface of the hair,” says Bianca Hillier, a celebrity hair colorist and Olaplex ambassador. “They’re intentionally placed and have a natural grow-out, perfect for those who only get their hair maintained a few times a year.”

The super-natural look is achieved because the highlights are painted directly on the hair, not on a foil, like you may be used to. Not only does this give you a less precise look, but the lack of foil keeps the color on top of the hair, instead of moving all the way through it, explains Hillier. “A foil conducts heat, and frosting doesn’t instigate any heat and allows the chemicals to act at the formulated pace,” she says. “These frosted bits feel more sheer and ribbon-like opposed to a foil—dense and tinsel-like.”

Auburn Pop   

Shades of red are clearly a standout trend for the coming year, but if you don’t want to go all the way, consider having your stylist weave some red pieces into your base shade. “Shades of auburn mixed throughout really give the hair some subtle pop,” says Jamila Powell, founder of Miami’s Maggie Rose Salon. “I love anything two-toned because it gives amazing dimension throughout your hair.” She suggests this look for warmer-toned brunettes who are looking for a small change.

Nectar Blonde 

Nectar blonde is a dreamy, creamy shade that strikes the perfect balance between brightness and believability. It has all the boldness of platinum but is updated with softer, warmer tones, making it way easier to pull off—and maintain. “Nectar blonde looks luxurious, golden, and warm,” says Smith. “The key here is to lighten the hair’s base color to a dark golden blonde, adding warm vanilla cream highlights through the layers and to the face frame area.”

To get the shade, Smith suggests asking for your beige or golden-blonde base, with hand-painted highlights that are a little chunkier than you might typically go for. “This color works best for those with medium to fair natural hair, as very dark bases tend to have more orange undertones to fight against,” he says. “Don’t use a purple shampoo with this color. Instead, enhance warmth and richness using products with beige and golden tones, such as Evo Fabuloso Beige.”

Embracing Gray  

Over the past year we’ve seen a lot of women embracing a more natural look, and Liz Burns, creative director at Denver’s Goldie x Bob Salon, says many of her clients have made the decision to let their grays grow in. “With salons being closed for months during lockdown, this gave people time to see the possibilities of embracing their natural highlights: gray hair,” she says. “This can be a huge change for people, and while the end result is very empowering, it can be a process to blend the new growth of salt-and-pepper with old-colored ends if you’re not willing to chop it off.”

If you want to go this route, she says to be prepared to work closely with your stylist and to expect this to be a bit involved. She likes to make a mapped schedule for her clients so they know exactly what to expect in terms of timeline. Once the grow-out is in a good place, she recommends a semipermanent gloss to keep the gray from looking yellow.

Playboy Blonde 

“A nod to the ’90s, this bright blonde is achieved with lots of highlights and is left ‘untoned’ to give a slightly raw, bleached look,” says Smith. “Thanks to modern hair care, this color can be achieved while keeping the hair in tip-top condition, which is important to keep this looking like an intentional fashion choice. Ask your stylist for a full head of perfectly lifted blonde highlights, left bright enough to be untoned or toned with a clear, diluted toner.” In order to keep hair strong and healthy, Smith recommends regularly using a treatment like K18 or Evo’s Mane Attention Protein Mask.

Chestnut Brown  

“This is perfect for anyone who wants change but doesn’t want to go too far out of their comfort zone,” says Monroe. Keep your hair darker at the roots, and add a little lightness to the ends for some dimension that isn’t overwhelming. 

Warm Dimension 

To get curls to really pop, add a variation of warm shades on roots and ends. To get a similar look at home, Monroe recommends Dark & Lovely Fade Resist in Chestnut Brown at the roots and Honey Blonde on ends. Since both colors are on the warm side, the result doesn’t look fake, just super dimensional and pretty.

Caramel Ribbons 

“I love a good brunette that doesn’t read red but has elements of warmth throughout,” says LA colorist Matt Rez. “It gives a really balanced result.” If you’re a natural brunette, ask your stylist for midlights one or two levels lighter than your base and neutral-warm highlights. “The combo of the two will pick up so beautifully without unwanted warmth taking over and reading as a red,” he says. “Done right, warmth on brunettes is unbeatable.”

Off-Black Hair 

“While very dark, this hair color is actually the darkest shade of brown with a very cool, ashy undertone, giving the appearance of black to the untrained eye,” says Smith. “This stops the shade looking too harsh or draining, but retains the striking, inky appearance of the hair.” To get the shade, he suggests asking your stylist for the darkest shade of brown possible, with a cool ash tone. 

Pastel Balayage

If you want to play with a fun color without the commitment of a whole head, a pastel balayage (where color is painted on select pieces of hair) is a more sophisticated option, says Papanikolas. He notes that these colors are a little high-maintenance and recommends using shampoo especially for color-treated hair, such as Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid. (See a ton more of our favorites here.)

Bright Copper 

We said it before: Red is really having a moment this year, and spring is the perfect time to go for a bright, sparkly copper. To keep the color bright, Grummel added dimensional tones of gold and copper.

Jet-Black

Not only is jet-black dramatic and sexy, but it also makes hair look so shiny and healthy. “Black goes well on every skin tone, texture, and length of hair,” says Powell. “Just keep in mind that once you go black, it can be very hard to lift.”

Mahogany Blonde 

Want to get in on the copper trend but scared of going full-on red? Smith suggests giving mahogany blonde a try, since it sits somewhere between red and copper—he describes it as strawberry blonde’s earthier sister: “This shade has copper and gold elements with a touch of rose that makes it extremely pretty and unusual,” he says. “Its warm-cool nature makes it flattering for many skin tones.”

Deep Dimension 

“The perfect seasonal update for darker brown hair is to add shade-on-shade dimension with different shades of brunette,” says DeBolt. “This will give darker natural hair more depth and variation. Even subtle brown tones can make a big color difference on black hair.” To keep the contrast up, he recommends using the Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask in Ash Brown to temper any brassiness and add shine.

Golden Pops 

Bold highlights can be done on all hair colors—not just blonde. The key is getting the tone right, and Hillier suggests keeping it in the gold family. “Soft golden pops are great for everyone, since gold is what reflects the most light creating the utmost shine,” she says. “Clarify with your colorist on exactly how blonde you want these pops so you don’t end up looking like a platinum Barbie doll.”