The Biggest Hair Color Trends For 2018

By Mary Shannon Wells
April 19, 2018
Credit: Pinterest/OnSugar
Changing your hair color can be as subtle as a few highlights or as drastic as a coat of bright purple. We’ve seen all colors of the rainbow surge in popularity the past few years, but for 2018, hair color is looking much more laid-back. That’s not to say that there aren’t some popular hair colors that Mama wouldn’t gasp over, but the hair color trends for 2018 are less drastic than you might think. Rich colors like deep burgundy and midnight blue are ideal for girls with brunette or black hair that want a color with that something’s-different-but-I-can’t-put-my-finger-on-it quality, and there are plenty of color trends for blondes to try out, like rose blonde, buttery blonde, and even cream soda. If you’re not looking to dye your entire head of hair, 2018’s hair color trends will be your new inspiration. Beautiful foil-free techniques, subtle face-framing highlights, and babylights are in. This year’s hair color ideas are either dark and sultry or warm and cozy. Whether you’re consistently daring with hair color or you want to play with highlights for the first time, these 2018 hair color trends have options for every salon-goer and home-dyer.
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These versatile options range from subtle to rich and sultry.

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Rose Blonde

Credit: Pinterest/Kelly Massias

L’Oréal Paris just named its hair colors of the year, and Rose Blonde was at the top of the list. Millennial pink has taken over every other aspect of our lives, and this rose gold hue is its move into the hair color world. The color can sway more pink or more blonde, but it’s the fine line between the two colors that gives the shade an ethereal look.

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Subtle Face-Framing Highlights

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With the hand-painted and foil-free coloring techniques that are in, highlights are looking less chunky and more natural. The lightest face-framing highlights give a flattering look that the sun could have produced itself.

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Charcoal

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If you’re starting to gray naturally, don’t head to the salon to cover it up! Smoky grays and charcoals are in this season, and it’s a welcome diversion from the too-bright “unicorn” colors of 2016 and 2017.

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Cinnamon Caramel Swirl

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This hair color trend sounds like a cozy holiday drink we’d like to try (recipe idea!). Perfect for brunettes who want a trendy upgrade, this highlighted look combines tones of red and caramel bronde.

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Wine

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Whether you call it mulled wine, burgundy, eggplant, deep mahogany, or dark maroon, this sultry shade is in. It’s an easy color for girls with black or brunette hair to transition with if they’re trying out color for the first time, and it can range from barely-there color to full crimson.

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Pearl Blonde

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Not so drastic as the bleach blonde every celebrity has rocked the past few years, pearl blonde is the softer side of platinum. This dreamy shade has a sheen like that coveted heirloom pearl necklace in your jewelry box.

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Midnight Blue

Credit: Pinterest/Number76 Hair Salon

Jewel tones are in for nails, clothing, and in 2018—hair. Denim blues that walk the line between blue and black are here, and girls with naturally black hair have got to try this subtle change. Similar to the darkest blues, deep teals and emerald greens are also coming in style.

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Babylights

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Although babylights have been around for a few years, they’ll be much more mainstream in 2018. Created to have the beauty of a child’s fine, sun-kissed, non-damaged hair (per the name), these softer than soft highlights are the prettiest and least drastic way to update your ’do.

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Cream Soda

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Nope, not the bottled drink you enjoyed during the summers of your childhood. This golden hair color is a honey-hued spot between brunette and blonde that’ll make your skin tone glow.

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Rainbow Roots

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Rather than going full rainbow, the trend will be to just die roots a color and have it melt into your natural hair color. This would work well with darker tones and brunette or black hair and pastels with blonde. Since Selena Gomez just debuted bleach blonde hair with her natural dark roots, we have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of root trends in 2018.

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Buttery Blonde

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Blonde trends are big for 2018, and this warm blonde is more natural looking than the ashy and bleach blondes that have been popular. Buttery blondes will be ideal for the spring and summer.

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Chocolate Mauve

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Although “chocolate mauve” sounds like a new Starbucks creation, it’s going to be one of the most popular hair colors of 2018. This subtle look is ideal for brunettes who want to dip their toes in the hair color water without diving in.

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Copper

Credit: Instagram/soraverly

This burnt orange, coppery hair color is the next big way to do red. Brunettes or strawberry blondes can do the look in a subtle way with highlights and lowlights.

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By Mary Shannon Wells