As the weather warms, our social feeds heat up with hair transformations that make it clear what summer looks like. This year's trending hair color combine sun-kissed warmth with exact fun, creating pretty hair color ideas that have pretty much taken over Instagram and TikTok. The trending tones range from butter blondes to moody pastels, but these shades are trending for a reason, each has that perfect amount of eye-catching and still wearable with all shades being perfect for a summer glow-up.
Let's take a closer look at the most photogenic summer color trends you'll want to screenshot before your next salon visit:
1. Buttercream Blonde
The ultimate summer blonde is creamy, warm to balance all extremes, and absolutely spot on. This luxurious shade isn't brassy or icy, but has that soft, buttery glow and works well with golden and neutral tones. In sunlight, it shows its pretty dimension and color, therefore very photogenic. The great combo of polish and beachy for your feed.
2. Cherry Cola Red
This intense red is found everywhere—deep burgundy morphs into cherry with a hint of brown base for a wearable pop of color. Indoors it reads as nearly black, whereas in the sunlight the deep cherry brightens—no wonder it became a TikTok star: a big impact color with low maintenance (we thank darker roots) and glossy lustrous finish meant for the gram.
3. Soft Peach
If pastels are more your thing but want it to be more subtle, soft peach is your dreamy option. Soft peach is elegant, just between pink and orange, and creates a romantic, fairy-like effect. It is an ethereal color that is least troublesome on slightly pre-lightened blonde hair ideally, and will deliver that perfect barely there watercolor effect. What makes it so grammy, is how it catches the light - generating soft peach highlights that appear as though you are lit from within. Less commitment than blowing it out pastel pink, but delivers that sort of whimsical vibe that's perfect for summer.
4. Beachy Bronde
Your goes-to effortless summer glow up—hot caramel and honey highlights melting into darker roots for that "I think I just came back from holiday" look. Suppose you love a natural sun-kissed dimension and carefree together with max 4/5 weeks maintenance, this color will suit olive and golden skin tones wonderfully too. Turn every wave into an Instagram worthy color and play of dimension, which is why this is a bright dimension of "boring" stable blonde, sophisticated bronde evolution of this season.
5. Lavender Gray
The moody pastel that's taking over everyone's feeds lately—a smoky lavender-gray that shifts from soft lilac to sleek silver. Perfect for cool-toned beauties wanting fantasy color with elegance. What I love about this hair color is its versatility—its chameleon-like effects make every photo op like magic. The best "daring but wearable" type of statement for summer!
6. Cinnamon Spice
Brunettes wanting to warm their brunette hair are turning to "cinnamon spice," an auburn-brown with golden copper undertones. This is not your flat brunette. Unlike true brunette shades, cinnamon spice creates incredible dimension as the colors catch the light. The cinnamon color expands the hair, it looks thicker and shinier. And the warm tones look especially rich on people with golden or olive skin tones. It enhances their natural warmth but doesn't lean too red. In addition to how flattering this color is, it's a favorite of Instagram because of the light it changes in. Indoors, cinnamon spice can look like a sophisticated brown. Then outdoors, the light catches all the copper colors and it comes alive as a fiery copper.
7. Iced Latte
The "expensive brunette" upgrade—the cool-toned beige and light brown blend for a look that's perfectly no-highlights required and dimensional. Universally flattering and Pinterest-worthy. The "my hair but better" look, and the queen of effortless polish. The ultimate low-maintenance luxury for your social feed.
8. Sunflower Gold
If you are looking to go bold, sunflower gold is your accent color. This vivid yellow-blonde color is like sunshine in a bottle, as it has incredibly vibrant golden tones that pop and sparkle in the sunlight. This color is particularly complementary to warm skin tones and will accentuate golden undertones beautifully. Sunflower gold is most certainly a commitment, but it has gone viral on tik tok due to the way it's able to brighten the entire complexion and pop in photographs. The most important factor for a premium look is to be buttery rather than brassy.
9. Smoky Sage
The grown-up green of summer—a muted gray-green blend that leans earthy, elegant, and completely wearable. This color is great for anyone who loves color but still wants to have something subtle and a little editorial. The gray undertones keep it modern (never costume-y), while also getting the "cool girl" effect for your feed.
10. Strawberry Lemonade
This playful pink-blonde hybrid walks the line between fun and wearable. The pink tones are definitely peachy and not at all bubblegum—but it has that soft, flirty effect that you'll love in the summer. Less commitment than going full pastel pink, but still totally youthful and vibrant. The combination of warm and cool tones also makes it feel very flattering, and it photographs beautifully in natural light. It has been an Instagram favorite because you can look polished while still looking effortless.
Preserving Your Summer Color
These summer hair color trends encompass something for everyone - whether you're wishing for a light dabble, or a full transformation. Each color has been handpicked from what we are obsessed with on our social feeds, so you are sure to be right on trend.
