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15 Mood-Boosting Hair Colors Everyone’s Booking In For This Summer

Last Updated Photo: via @hairbymackenzieandrews, it’s as if the sun switches something on, bringing a rush of energy and the sudden urge to reinvent myself. Beyond the annual and trading full-coverage makeup for and , I always feel the pull to too — usually for something brighter, fresher, and just sun-kissed enough to look like I’ve spent a couple of weeks somewhere expensive.If that sounds familiar, consider this your sign to keep reading. I asked top colorists from London to Los Angeles for their predictions on the biggest of the moment, and even if going lighter isn’t on the agenda, there’s something for everyone on this list.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENTDashDividers_1_500x100shop 4 productsDashDividers_1_500x100

Warm Sandy Bronde

“I think summer's hair color trends are leaning towards working with what your mama gave you,” says , balayage expert and owner of in Venice, California. “But it’s polished and enhanced,” she adds. “Think rich and luxurious, but relatively low maintenance,” like this color by . For Huson, warm sandy bronde says, “I know how to make my hair look super sexy without overdoing it,” and she pinpoints as the ultimate inspiration. “You want to ask your colorist for finer highlights that stop at the paler yellow stage — which are easy to tone to a nice sandy gold — with a few tips at the ends,” says Huson. “Your colorist will then melt that base down for a seamless gradient,” she adds. The key? “You do not want to see highlights at the top of the head,” emphasizes Huson. “We’re going for natural.”

Pink Lychee

global creative contributor of , sees multitonal pink lychee in summer's future: “Pink Lychee is never uniform; it moves between soft, delicate hues of pink and violet, and moments of stronger saturation.” The color palette can be interpreted in different ways, adds Gregory. “Layers of pink and violet tones create a bespoke blush effect, but it can be easily customized to push for a more visible or muted tone as required.” Even better, as it fades, the pink tones evolve — and always look good: “Much like the natural variation you see in the fruit itself, each stage reveals a slightly different tone, so hair is always gorgeous but never the same,” says Gregory, who loves to blend bolder shades with — demi permanent hair colors — to achieve a truly custom hue on each client. We adore this color by .AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT

Monochromatic Brunette

, a expert and celebrity colorist, champions monochromatic brunette for summer. “This color consists of brunette tones that stay within the same color family, creating soft, seamless dimension with low contrast and tons of shine,” she says, like this shade by . The result is polished but effortless. “It’s perfect for brunettes who want to lighten things up subtly without losing the richness of being brunette.”

Mushroom Brown

If permanent hair color feels too much of a commitment, consider thickening hair extensions. , founder of , says that mushroom brown — an earthy blend of ash brown and soft taupe — is easy to create using hair pieces. “It’s all about balance,” says Grimshaw. “It neutralizes warmth while maintaining depth, making it ideal for clients who want a polished, fashion-forward look without harsh contrasts.” Spectrum One ambassador likes to mix with for what he calls a truly multidimensional finish. We love this voluminous, nuanced bob posted to Instagram by colorist .

Cherry Cola

, founder and creative director of , believes that is one of the coolest shades of the moment. “It’s a multi-dimensional burgundy-brunette that’s perfect for blending grays or livening up your current color,” says Brownsell — even on brunettes, and with , there’s no bleach required. That’s because it’s a high-lift permanent color that works by enlisting oxidative dyes to penetrate the hair shaft, gently lightening as they color the hair. If you’d rather go pro, take inspiration from this beautiful shade by . AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT

Golden Hour Blonde

, cofounder of , predicts that blondes will shift toward softer, warmer tones inspired by that mesmerizing golden hour glow. We love this shade on . “Instead of icy or super bright blondes, clients are asking for creamy, champagne, buttery beige, and muted gold shades that feel more natural and expensive-looking,” says Bellemare. The goal? “A blonde that still feels bright but grows out softer and requires less upkeep.” She suggests asking your stylist for blended dimension, a lived-in root, and a gloss to keep the color shiny and healthy-looking. If you're glossing at home, we love .

Strawberry Blonde

Strawberries have infiltrated fashion, , and now hair. “This summer’s strawberry blonde feels softer and more diffused,” says Gonzalez, like this color by . “Think peachy apricot tones instead of bold copper,” adds Gonzalez. On blondes, shades like this add warmth, glow, and dimension without fully leaning red, she says. “Even something as simple as adding a warm gloss to your highlights can create that sun-flushed shift for summer.” We love .

Warm Cinnamon Brown

Warm, cozy, latte-inspired shades have followed us from fall into spring and now summer. and are the perfect inspiration. “This is a really fun color and a great way to change it up if you’re a natural medium brunette, without straying too far out of your comfort zone,” says Huson. “It’s extremely rich and immediately warms you up.”

Ethereal Copper

Huson has a feeling that copper tones will continue to be front-runners this summer, but this time around, they’re softer, more golden, and have an ethereal glow, à la and . We’re a little bit obsessed with this gleaming hue by . AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT“Ethereal copper tones tend to suit paler skin, while coppers with a brunette edge suit tan and darker skin tones,” says Huson, adding that the many different nuances and shades mean the color can be tailored to anyone. Huson says a good colorist will assess your skin tone before deciding how dark or light the shade should be, so it pays to find someone you trust rather than attempting it yourself.

Milk Tea Blonde

This blonde hue takes inspiration from one of our favorite pick-me-ups — milk tea. “It’s a soft, neutral beige-blonde with creamy taupe undertones that give the hair a velvety, expensive-looking finish,” says Gonzalez. Like milk tea, the shade strikes a balance between warm and cool tones. “It creates a softer, more muted blonde instead of bright contrast,” says Gonzalez, “and it’s ideal for blondes wanting a more natural look for summer.” This is stunning. To dial up the gloss, Gonzalez likes to rake through the mid-lengths and ends.

Ultra-Glossy Brown

Naturally, the darker the hair, the glossier it appears — take cue from these gorgeous curls on here. But Huson says that adding a few balayage pieces towards the ends — lifting only a level lighter — will add a touch of summer warmth without taking away from the shine. Post-balayage, she suggests asking your colorist for a rich brunette gloss on top for a chocolate swirl–style finish. This shade by is beautiful.

Dimensional Glossy Blonde

Dimensional, glossy blonde — think and — gets its shine from very subtle golden tones woven throughout darker pieces of hair, which give the color movement and shine, says Huson. She advises being super clear with your colorist: “You don’t want orange undertones or honey hues; you want paler yellow undertones that are creamy and buttery,” — much like this color by . AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT“Leaving some depth on the head is the key to dimension,” says Huson, adding that focusing on the hair closest to the scalp and the very ends creates the right amount of contrast. “I like to soften the natural base just a touch with a base bump,” says Huson, referring to a technique that lifts your natural root color by one to two levels. “Balayage [a freehand hair-painting method] is perfect for this because you can control the blending and the placement much better,” Huson adds.

Sugared Brunette

Think of spun sugar and its caramel-esque nuances, like this shade by . “With sugared brunette, it’s about light reflection and softness,” says Spectrum One’s Grimshaw. “Extensions play a crucial role in amplifying this effect, adding layers of tonal variation that catch the light beautifully in movement.” On a dark brunette base, Grimshaw likes to mix and , which are like drizzles of caramel and honey through melted chocolate.

Iced Latte Blonde

Iced latte blonde infuses subtle, whipped, Dalgona coffee-inspired shades through a much lighter base, like this . “This is blonde with depth,” Grimshaw explains. “It’s not flat or overly icy, it’s creamy and incredibly flattering across a range of skin tones.” is her go-to for creating this look on clients with blonde lengths.

Gray Blending

“Gray blending is huge in the salon right now,” says Huson, “and it’s not just among my 40+ clients.” She says that rather than turning to permanent coverage, the best way to reduce maintenance is to blend, blend, and blend. is all the inspiration you need to embrace your grays.“If you’re a blonde, this looks like balayage or finer foils,” which is when your colorist takes very small sections of hair to highlight. Then there’s what Huson calls a base bump — a lighter permanent color that lifts your natural root shade by one to two levels. This can also help blend grays seamlessly. If your hair is darker? “Brunettes can also do fine foils,” says Huson, “but I like to add a demi permanent gloss like or between the foils so that the final result is still natural.” AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT Summer Hair Color Trends: Ethereal Copper, Cherry Cola • • • Photo: via @hairbymackenzieandrewsAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT

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