Why Staying on Top of Color Trends Matters
Your clients scroll through Instagram and TikTok every day. They save screenshots of hair colors they love and walk into your salon with a vision. If you are not familiar with the latest trends, you risk looking out of touch — or worse, delivering something that does not match what they had in mind.
Staying current with color trends is not just about creativity. It is a business strategy. When you can confidently discuss trending techniques and suggest fresh looks, clients see you as an expert. They trust you more, they spend more, and they come back more often.
Here are the color trends dominating this year that your clients will be asking about.
Expensive Brunette
The "expensive brunette" trend continues to be one of the most requested looks. It is all about creating rich, dimensional brunette hair that looks naturally sun-kissed and effortlessly luxurious.
What Makes It Work
The key is subtlety. Rather than bold highlights or obvious contrast, expensive brunette uses fine, face-framing highlights and a glossy finish to create depth and movement. The result looks like the client was born with perfect hair — which is exactly the point.
How to Achieve It
- Use fine foils or balayage to place highlights strategically around the face and through the mid-lengths.
- Keep the contrast low — one to two shades lighter than the base.
- Finish with a gloss treatment for maximum shine and to blend everything seamlessly.
- Recommend a color-safe shampoo and regular gloss touch-ups to maintain the look.
Copper and Warm Reds
Copper is having a major moment. From soft strawberry copper to bold, fiery red, warm tones are everywhere this year. Celebrities and influencers have embraced the trend, and clients are following.
The Range of Copper
Copper is not one-size-fits-all. The shade should be customized to the client's skin tone:
- Fair skin: Light strawberry copper with golden undertones.
- Medium skin: Rich, warm copper with amber tones.
- Olive and dark skin: Deep copper with burgundy or mahogany undertones for a striking contrast.
Managing Client Expectations
Copper fades faster than most colors, especially on virgin hair. Be upfront with clients about maintenance. Recommend color-depositing conditioners, sulfate-free products, and touch-up appointments every four to six weeks. Setting expectations early prevents disappointment later.
Mushroom Blonde
Mushroom blonde sits at the cool, ashy intersection of blonde and brunette. It is a muted, earthy tone that flatters a wide range of skin tones and feels modern without being dramatic.
Who It Works For
This trend is perfect for clients who want to go lighter without the warmth of traditional blonde or the commitment of full platinum. It is low-maintenance compared to bright blondes because the grow-out is softer and less noticeable.
Technique Tips
- Start with a cool-toned base and add ashy highlights for dimension.
- Tone with a violet or ash-based toner to neutralize any warmth.
- Use a purple shampoo to maintain the cool tone between appointments.
- This works particularly well as a transition shade for clients going from darker hair to lighter.
Cherry Cola
Cherry cola is a deep, rich shade that blends dark brown with red and burgundy undertones. It is bold enough to turn heads but dark enough to feel sophisticated and wearable for everyday life.
Why Clients Love It
It adds warmth and vibrancy to dark hair without the commitment of a full red. In natural light, the red tones catch and glow, creating a dimensional effect that looks expensive. It also works beautifully on a variety of hair textures, from straight to curly.
Application Tips
- Apply a rich, warm gloss over a dark brown base for a subtle cherry effect.
- For more intensity, use a permanent color with red and violet pigments.
- Suggest a color-protecting heat spray to clients, as heat styling can cause red tones to fade faster.
- Schedule gloss refreshers every six to eight weeks to keep the color vibrant.
Soft Contrast Highlights
The era of extreme contrast — dark roots with icy blonde ends — is fading. This year, clients want highlights that look blended, natural, and lived-in. The goal is dimension without harsh lines.
The Lived-In Look
Soft contrast highlights use a melted root and gradually lighter mid-lengths and ends. The transition is seamless, which means less visible grow-out and fewer salon visits. This is a major selling point for busy clients who want great hair without high maintenance.
Execution
- Use open-air balayage or foilyage for a natural, diffused effect.
- Keep the root shadow soft and close to the client's natural color.
- Tone the ends to a warm or neutral shade rather than stark platinum.
- Shadow roots every other appointment to maintain the blended effect.
Platinum With a Twist
Platinum blonde is not new, but this year it comes with a twist: clients are adding pastel tints or icy undertones to their platinum for a unique, personalized look.
Popular Variations
- Lavender platinum: A soft lilac tint over white-blonde hair. It is ethereal and eye-catching.
- Rose platinum: A warm, pinkish hue layered over platinum for a soft, romantic effect.
- Icy silver: A blue-grey undertone that creates a dramatic, editorial look.
Important Considerations
Platinum with tints requires very light, well-toned hair as a base. Ensure the hair is healthy enough for the lightening process before committing. Use bond-building treatments during the service and send clients home with a repair-focused aftercare routine. The tinted tones will fade within a few washes, so offer color-depositing products for at-home maintenance.
How to Use Trends in Your Salon
Knowing the trends is step one. Here is how to turn that knowledge into bookings and revenue.
Create Trend Boards
Display physical or digital trend boards in your salon showing examples of each trending look. When clients see beautiful reference photos, they get inspired to try something new — and spend more.
Post Trend Content on Social Media
For more on building your online presence, see our social media marketing tips for hairdressers.
Create before-and-after posts showcasing trending colors you have done. Use relevant hashtags like #ExpensiveBrunette, #CopperHair, or #MushroomBlonde. This positions you as a trend-savvy stylist and attracts clients searching for those specific looks.
Educate During Consultations
Great consultations build trust and help retain clients long-term.
When a client sits down and says they want "something different," having a menu of trending options ready makes the consultation smoother and more productive. Walk them through two or three options that would suit their hair type and skin tone. Clients appreciate a stylist who brings ideas to the table.
The Bottom Line
Price your trending color services strategically — read our guide on pricing strategies for hair salons.
Color trends come and go, but the stylists who stay ahead of them build reputations as experts and creative leaders. Study these trends, practice the techniques, and share your results. When a client walks in with a screenshot from Instagram, you want to be the stylist who says, "I know exactly how to do that."