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Hair

The Best Summer Hair-Color Ideas You’ll Love All Season

 

From honey bronde to expensive brunette.

With Memorial Day weekend comes the unofficial start of summer, which means the search for the best summer hair-color ideas is on. Though trying a new shade like red or a bright blonde may sound like fun, the hair color trends lately have been skewing toward more low-maintenance colors like light bronde and mocha mousse. Celebs (and royalty!) like Katie Holmes and Kate Middleton are leaning into warmer, sun-kissed looks like dimensional blondes and honey browns with subtle highlights, which have super easy upkeep and can extend the time between salon appointments. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to shy away from fun experimental colors like cowboy copper, which will continue to be popular in the summer months and beyond.

For the rest of 2025, the best hair colors “will be low-maintenance and natural with a play on variations of ‘color within the color,’” says Diana Mildice, a colorist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon. “This means we will see more dimensional blondes, reds, and brunettes that have unique visual movement created by layering various colors within.”

No matter what your vibe is, we’ve rounded up the coolest summer hair-color ideas you have to try, from bold technicolor to low-key natural and everything in between. To ensure you get exactly the shade you’re looking for, make sure to show your colorist a photo of what you’re envisioning.

Whether you’re heading to the hair salon or ready to try coloring your hair at home, we’ve got plenty of hair-color ideas for the warmer months to come. Read on for 31 trending summer hair colors to try this season, and get ready to book an appointment.

Mocha Mousse

The Pantone color of the year is also the perfect summer hair color. “Mocha shades are another favorite for people who have naturally dark hair and want to see some dimension in their hair,” says Alissa DeLaTorre, a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. “It’s the perfect tone to help make it look natural and sun-kissed while also keeping the rich brunette look.” Sounds like a dream this season!

Honey Bronde

Bronde has been popular with celebs like Jennifer Lopez for years, and it's not going anywhere. It is “a fantastic way to get a happy medium between blonde and brunette hair, giving a gorgeous, dimensional look while also being incredibly effortless,” says Rita Hazan, celebrity colorist and founder of Rita Hazan Salon in New York City.

It is “achieved with strategic placement of highlighting techniques to deliver a seamless blend between blonde and brunette hair,” says Hazan. It allows an easy grow-out period that looks natural and gives you longer periods between salon appointments.

Butter Blonde

Celebrity hairstylist and colorist Jennifer Korab, owner of Renaissance Salon & Spa in Hillsborough, New Jersey, points to butter blonde as an up-and-coming blonde hair color trend that’s perfect for summer.

“Butter blonde is a great alternative to being platinum blonde and works well with different hairstyles and lengths,” she says.

Bardot Blonde

Brigitte Bardot has had quite an impact on beauty trends this year. Not only are all the girlies getting Bardot bangs, but according to Chase Kusero, celebrity colorist and cofounder of IGK Hair Care, her signature hair color is having a moment too.

“Named after the iconic Brigitte Bardot, the Bardot-blonde trend achieves a solid blonde look with just the right touch of gold, resulting in a luminously rich and bright blonde,” Kucero says.

Modern Moneypiece

Also trending for summer? A modern take on the moneypiece look. “This trend has evolved to a finer and more subtle highlight, beginning at the eyebrow, giving a modern update to this classic hair accent,” Kusero says.

Pretty Pastels

“Soft hues, such as neon orchid lavender, peach lover, and denim-jacket blue, are poised to dominate,” says Richy Kandasamy, R+Color vice president of color development and collective member. It’s true: Megan Fox is already leading the charge with her blue-jeans bob.

“You can achieve these dreamy shades easily with R+Color Half-Truth Semi-Permanent Hair Color. It’s all about that subtle touch of pastel, perfect for those seeking an ethereal vibe,” Kandasamy says.

Lived-In Blonde

Looking for something more low-maintenance? “A lived-in blonde look, made by mixing warm and cool blonde highlights on a medium base, is perfect for those seeking a more natural look this summer,” says Kandasamy. “These color combinations offer both style and convenience, providing a low-maintenance option for those who want to experiment without committing to frequent salon visits or extensive upkeep routines.”

Expensive Brunette

The expensive brunette trend isn’t going anywhere—which comes as no surprise. Dark feminine energy is trending, after all.

“This style screams luxury with rich, golden tones that capture and reflect sunlight, giving your hair a real glasslike and vibrant shine,” says Kucero.

Blended Brunette

Korab also believes that elevated, blended browns will continue to take center stage. “Brown hair can be perked up using blended highlights, whether you’re using caramel tones or red,” Korab says. “You can add warmth that can last all year round.” One such example? Keke Palmer’s honey highlights.

Old-Money Blonde

Quiet luxury continues to dominate hair trends, as shown by old-money blonde.

This shade is “characterized by elegantly placed highlights that create fine, seamless transitions, paired with a subtly shadowed roots for depth,” Kusero says. Think Jennifer Lawrence’s “expensive” golden blonde.

Cool Tones

“If you want to make more of a statement, cool brunettes offer violet-silver tones for those searching for a classic sophisticated look,” says Korab. The cooler and ashier the better, like South Korean model and actor Lee Sung-kyung’s silver tobacco shade.

Baby Balayage

Contrary to popular belief, balayage is not out of style. “The baby balayage is a big trend due to the low-maintenance yet beautiful look it achieves,” says Korab. Think strategically placed highlights that grow out beautifully and require little to no maintenance.

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.

Butterscotch Blonde

You’re going to see butterscotch blonde everywhere this season, Madison Reed master colorist Shvonne Perkins says. “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 says. “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.”

Candlelit Brunette

One of this year’s biggest brunette hair trends is candlelit brunette, says celebrity hairstylist Korab. She describes it as “a warm and radiant brown hair color that’s achieved by adding subtle highlights and lowlights to a brown base; the overall effect is meant to mimic the soft, flickering glow of candlelight.

“To achieve this medium-brown ombré color, I use a combination of foiling and balayage highlighting techniques to add dimension and depth to the hair,” Korab says. “The tones of the highlights are typically a shade or two lighter than the base color. The shade of a candlelit brunette can vary depending on individual preferences and skin tones. Some people may prefer a more golden, honey-toned look, while others may opt for a deeper, chocolatey tone.” This is an especially ideal option for those with naturally light-brown hair, and touch-ups can be infrequent since it looks so chic grown out.

Apricot Bronde

For a fresh twist on the light-red 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 you can refresh the color at home with Color Therapy Mask in Zucca and Color Reviving Gloss in Cannella.”

Warm-Toned Brunette

If you prefer your hair on the warm side, don’t worry: Toasty shades of brunette are very much still in vogue. “Brunettes with a golden undertone are rising in popularity,” Boulin says. “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.”

Expensive Blonde

Yes, there is also an expensive blonde, which Boulin points to as an up-and-coming trend. “It’s natural, softly dimensional, on the higher scale of hair levels,” she says of the shade. To get the warm blonde look, she suggests using Wella Color Charm Honey Blonde 10GV. This look also looks works well as creamy blonde balayage paired with a darker root.

Chocolate Cherry

If your hair is naturally dark but you want to dabble in red hair color, chocolate cherry is the perfect way to combine the two. “It’s an alternative to auburn but still in the warm, reddish family,” says Jason Lee, hairstylist, colorist, and founder of hair-care maker Mela & Kera. He defines the shade as adding a red wine undertone throughout a brunette shade, which can also be accomplished through red highlights or balayage.

“For those of us who aren’t ready to take the full plunge into red, chocolate cherry seems to be a great way to update your look and make it modern but still live in the brunette world,” he says.

Chilled Chardonnay

Another prime example of the cool color resurgence? Chilled chardonnay. “We’re looking at very cool tones, but the good kind—think very cool, smoky, oaky ash blonde,” Gregory Patterson, celebrity hairstylist and DIY expert for Sally Beauty says, pointing to Ion’s 6A Dark Ash Blonde as a prime example of what we’re now calling a chardonnay-inspired cool 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.”

Cherry Coke Red

“Cherry Coke red is a rich brunette red with burgundy and violet undertones,” says Alex Brownsell, celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of Bleach London. “The great thing about this red is that  everyone can achieve the color without having to lift your hair too much or even at all.”

Want to get the look at home? Here’s how: “All shades of blonde hair through to mid-brunettes can use our conditioning Super Cool Colors to achieve this color without lifting the hair,” Brownell says, adding that you can easily DIY with red hair dye. “Darker hair colors will need to lift the hair to a dark orange, using one of our Bleach Kits. To achieve the color, I use two parts I Saw Red Super Cool Color with one part Bruised Violet Super Cool Color.”

Honey Wheat

“There’s no doubt that brown hair has been a huge color trend in recent years, with many celebrities opting for a natural (even if it’s not their own natural) hue,” says Brownsell. “We have seen many blondes becoming more beige, with many people opting to keep their blonde but tone it down to something that could pass as natural.” Examples of the phenomenon includes caramel blonde and honey wheat, which can be created using part Just Like Honey, part White Heat, and part Instant Coffee.

Midnight Onyx

Wednesday-inspired goth glam has inspired a resurgence in deep brown and black hair such as midnight onyx. “This rich black with extra shine, as if to look reflective, is trending after Wednesday,” says Lorena M. Valdes, colorist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon. “For this look, ask your colorist for an allover hair dye from roots to ends. Malibu C treatments are great to remove any buildup and helps dull and greasy hair.”

Subtle Ombré

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

Ginger Spice

Megan Fox’s shade of ginger spice hair, seen here, is equal parts eye-catching and natural looking, and that’s what Meche Salon stylist Jacob Schwartz wanted to convey with the shade. “For Megan’s color, we looked through different variations of red. Her eyes are so blue, so I knew adding more copper would be the move,” he says. “I wanted her change to be a full-on moment, but I also wanted to approach it with a natural touch, so I kept it a deeper copper tone.” This look is especially well-suited to those with blue eyes, as proven by Fox.

Warm Honey

Looking for a dark blonde hair color? Good news: Hairstylist Nicholas Taylor has also noticed a surge in warm blonde and honey blondes. “I predict deep honey blonde is making its comeback; Chris Appleton did a honey blonde on Kim Kardashian and I’m obsessed,” he says.

Strawberry Shortcake

If you want go warmer but aren’t quite ready for pink, consider opting for strawberry blonde, or medium blonde with red undertones. “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,” says Madison Reed’s Perkins.

Copper Brunette

Another way to add a red tint to brunette? Copper brunette. “We are seeing a lot of copper brunettes that are high in shine and rich in copper, golden tones,” Korab says. “This hair color is soft and seamless. We are seeing a lot of brunettes also add highlights of copper to accentuate and create a warm, vibrant look.”

Coffee and Cream

If you prefer rocking a darker shade, you can get the blonde aesthetic with high-contrast colors. “This luxe light brown and blonde look is the pigment mix of the moment,” Brownsell says of the two-tone blonde-on-brunette look. “This coffee brown is the perfect color for sectioned styles like Charlie XCX’s Gemini hair and half and half or Dua Lipa-inspired peekaboo stripes.” (Another example? Skunk stripe hair.)

You can achieve this at home using semipermanent dye like Bleach London’s Instant Coffee Super Cool Color, says Brownsell, and make the blonde pop with face-framing babylights. But the best part? It’s super-low upkeep, as it looks just as chic while growing out.

Playboy Gold

Say goodbye to ashy blonde and hello to Playboy-inspired “Bunny golden blonde.” “This year, the ash blonde is going to be less relevant and we are going to be seeing more gold and honey tones,” Taylor says of the bright baby blonde look.