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The Best Summer Hair Colors For 2021

It's time to talk about summer hair trends. This summer, after a year of box dying your hair thanks to lockdown, chances are you're ready for a new look and an updated hair color. If you're thinking about revamping your hair and switching things up for a new color, you're probably wondering just what this season's hottest hair color trends are. Is this summer all about bright, bold hues or more subtle, neutral tones? 

We've got your back when it comes to this season's most popular hair color trends. As per Glamour, beauty-lovers are sticking to what works, with a continuation of the trend for low-maintenance, easy to do at home colors, combined with a number of more complex color looks, such as ombre or balayage. 

From bright, vibrant technicolor styles to pastel hues and bold statement looks, there are a number of coloring options to choose from this summer, according to Good Housekeeping.

What are the most on-trend hair colors for summer 2021?

According to Glamour, ombre is set to be big this summer. Tracey Cunningham, celebrity colorist, explains that "It's a great way to color brunette hair, because you can tailor it to exactly what each client loves." She also says that when it comes to coloring brunette hair, ombre looks work well, as they allow the brunette color to be slightly colored without going entirely blonde.

Glamour also suggests that this summer "melted pecan" looks are in, acting as a simple way to breathe new life into darker blonde hair or lighter brunette shades. Hair colorist at Maxine Salon explains that "It's tastefully natural, with minimal highlights, creating a perfect summer glow."

As per Good Housekeeping, chocolate highlights are another color option worth considering. For dark brown or black hair, chocolate brown highlights can give your hair a dimension boost.

Another color set to be huge this summer, according to Glamour is "glowy apricot," or tinting hair with a red-hued tone. Celebrity colorist Jeremy Tardo explains that "This color works great on faded red hair that needs a breath of new life in it."

Good Housekeeping also reports that this summer vibrant red hair is a great go-to look. Guy Tang says that "Summer is all about bright and vibrant colors" and that fiery red tones are the perfect example of this.

What are you doing that's ruining your hair dye job? Right after a hair appointment, your newly dyed locks are like precious jewels, so you baby them and treat them like gold. But after a few days, that fresh hair feeling fades and you slink back into some...er...not so healthy habits, like shampooing your hair too often or harshly towel drying your strands.

While you might assume that this probably isn't great for your locks, you might not realize how bad some things can be for your dye job, specifically. Certain things can fade your hair faster, and contribute to discoloration and damage. For starters, if you find yourself shampooing every day, that should be one of the first habits to break. Showering can strip your hair of color, so the longer you can go between washes, the longer your shade will stay vibrant (via Allure). You also should be using a shampoo catered specifically to colored hair — or even better — a shampoo formulated for the actual color of your hair, whether that's blonde, red, black, or brown. 

Heat tools and even hot water can be problematic, too. You already know they cause damage, but they can ruin hair color by fading or even changing its hue. Because heat opens the outer cuticle of your hair, you can lose color much faster (via Good Housekeeping). But if you can't fully let go of your flatiron, be sure to use a heat protectant and follow up with nourishing products.

How to protect colored hair

Prevention is key in many cases, but when it comes to protecting your precious hair dye job, a consistent, reliable routine full of nourishing products will be a life (and color) saver. Invest in moisturizing formulas that will help you go longer between washes, like dry shampoos and leave-in conditioners (via Stylecraze). Bond-building and protein-packed masks, perfectors, and serums will also provide extra help in maintaining your colored locks, keeping them from feeling frail and breakable. 

It's also a smart move to be aware of the costs and time commitments that come along with being an avid hair dyer (via Byrdie). It can be expensive habit that takes hours, so if this, plus all the maintenance, doesn't feel worth it, speak with your colorist about more low-key styles. You can always gloss your hair instead of dying it. However, learning how to properly care for your dye job will eventually become second nature, as well as help you extend the length of time between salon visits — which can save you money and time, too!