Low-Maintenance Hair Colors That Let You Skip the Salon

Updated on March 17, 2023

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Soft Bronde — Photo:
Instagram/@mizzchoi

Try as we might, whenever we sit down in that salon chair to get our hair colored, we can't help but feel as though we've signed our soul over to monthly touch-ups or hiding grown-out roots. The commitment made after getting a high-maintenance color is unlike any other outside the bond of matrimony. When the roots start showing, we're not always booked at the salon that week, nor do we eagerly anticipate the task. So we've been thinking: Why don't we just color our hair strategically in ways that blend with our natural hair and eliminate the endless hours (and dollars) spent at the salon for upkeep? These low-maintenance hair colors show the types of highlights and shades that can make your life just a tiny bit easier. It's officially time to turn those salon trips from monthly to seasonal.

Once you've found the low-maintenance hair color that best works for you, be sure to care for it correctly between appointments. Color-safe shampoo and conditioner in conjunction with not washing your hair every day are must-do steps between appointments, hair colorist Lacey Coleman says. If you can avoid using heat tools above 375°F your color will thank you, she adds.

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Golden Brunette

Hairstylist Cherin Choi dubbed this dreamy color golden brunette. These subtle honey highlights will easily grow out without the need for constant touch ups.

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Highlights with Root Shadow

You might think that highlights this bright on brunette hair would not be low-maintenance, but hairstylist Jaye Edwards used a technique that will make this look beautiful over time. Since he started with a root shadow, her roots are still dark, therefore it will look natural as her hair grows out.

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Soft Bronde

Instead of trying to go from brunette to blonde, which would require tons of maintenance, a transitional color job like this soft bronde by hairstylist Cherin Choi is the ideal way to lighten up without such a big commitment.

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Pearl Ash Blonde

Would you believe this cool color job by Guy Tang is actually a year old? This is proof that when done well, even face-framing highlights will look stunning grown-out. Hairstylist Kim Pham gave this client a fresh haircut that totally updated the look without the need for more color.

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Warm Blonde

Blonde hair dye is notorious for its difficult upkeep, but this look by hairstylist Cherin Choi starts with a warm honey base that will look much more natural as it grows out.

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Sunkissed Babylights

Delicate babylights add a sunkissed glow throughout the natural curls in this look by hairstylist Jaye Edwards. Since he didn’t start the highlights at the scalp but rather wove them in naturally throughout the hair, there won’t be an awkward line where you can tell her hair started to grow out.

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Cool Beige Blonde

This cool-toned masterpiece by hairstylist Cherin Choi is just blonde enough but not too light that it would look out of place when her naturally darker roots start growing out, as evidenced by the before photo.

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Champagne Mauve

You might think any bright hair color like this chic mauve by hairstylist Kim Pham would be high-maintenance, but when executed with an ombré effect so that it appears at the bottom half of the hair follicles, it can easily be grown out or cut if you want something new without another color job.

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Copper Ribbons

Ribbons of copper highlights immediately warm up any brunette look, as hairstylist Sue Tyrrell showcases here. You can tell she kept the client’s natural color as a base, so the grow-out will be effortless.

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Minimal Highlights

If you’re just dipping your toes in the hair color water, even the smallest change can have big impact. These minimal highlights by hairstylist Cherin Choi added dimension to this natural look, and there’s no commitment to keep them up after they grow out.

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