Smart ways to test a trending new hair color before you decide it’s the shade.
Every year, a new wave of color arrives at salon chairs, and 2026 is no different. Cool ash blondes lose their appeal. Flat brunettes seem unfinished. Clients now request hair colors that show natural growth and reflect light.
The 2026 hair color trends go up two distinct paths. The popularity of cozy comfort shades, which include warm blondes and rich browns, continues to grow. Teal, chrome, and power blonde emerge as the new statement colors.
We have tested trending hair colors across more than 20 skin tones to see which ones refresh every complexion. If your last appointment left you unsure, a fresh roundup of ideas might be exactly what you need.
Stylists claim unanimously that warmth will be dominant in 2026. Cool ash blondes give way to warmer blondes, and brunettes gain depth through honeyed and caramel accents. One-tone color now appears outdated as shine and layered tone gain their fan base. Popular hair colors all have the same quality – they favor the healthy-looking hair that reflects light naturally.
New hair color trends can be categorized into two distinct groups. Comfort shades support cozy neutrals that are indispensable for daily wear. Meanwhile, statement makers can go louder with copper, teal, and chrome.
Coloring techniques that ensure seamless shade mixing and natural sheen also lead the demand curve. Color melting and glazing are becoming salon staples. Let’s find out which of these 2026 color shifts are calling your name!
Blondes thaw and warm up for 2026. The salon industry now sees icy platinum slowly retreating as golden, buttery, and creamy hues appear on the menu. “After years of ultra-icy blondes, there’s a noticeable shift toward creamy, pale gold tones that enhance the complexion and make the hair look healthier,” notes Chantal, colorist and founder of The Lavish Luster. The new styles favor softness and light reflection. With a few exceptions for risk-takers, most blonde trends lean toward warmth and wearability.
Buttercream blonde blends golden and sandy shades with soft, creamy tones that neutralize ash tones. Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, points out that this shade “resonates well with clients that want to be blonde but want to keep dimension and depth.” The color flatters a range of skin tones and is much easier to maintain than the classic platinum. It is a great fit for natural blondes who want a touch more dimension and for brunettes looking for a softer, warmer lift. Addison Rae has already taken it for a spin.
The ultimate cozy shade, teddy bear blonde, mixes caramel, toffee, gold, and chocolate tones. Colorists often use balayage or babylights to add depth to this rich, multi-tonal shade that feels like hugging your favorite childhood toy. “Placement can vary depending on the starting point, but I gravitate toward ribbon highlights combined with color melting to eliminate harsh lines,” details Chantal.
Toasted roots and creamy lengths sound as mouthwatering as they look on the hair. “Clients want lightness through the mid-lengths but appreciate a softly caramelized root for contrast and practicality,” observes Chantal. Toffee and caramel anchor the base, then soften into sweet cream through the ends. This effect is typically achieved through ombre or balayage. Blondes in the mood for the dessert-inspired editorial hair coloring will love this shade.
Power blonde forsakes root shadows and commits fully to a high-lift color. The bright reflective color requires strict maintenance routines and frequent salon visits. The payoff is an undeniable presence. Try it if you are ready for upkeep duties and want an eye-catching blonde shade that breaks away from the conventional lived-in style.
Brunettes are getting richer, more dimensional, and impossibly glossy. Solid, single-tone browns appear stark and heavy. The range of the latest hair color trends feels broader, too, stretching from warm mocha to cool charcoal.
The indulgent mocha brown hair color has depth and shine, with soft warmth underneath. Chantal attributes its popularity to the growing interest in rich, glossy, expensive‑looking shades. Colorists create it through a mocha balayage and fine babylights that brighten the face. If your base is medium to dark, this shade adds glow and grows out with little upkeep.
Charcoal brunette is a nuanced shade that balances between black and chocolate brown. It has soft gray undertones for a cooler finish and suits anyone who finds golden browns unflattering. Many salons now favor global color here instead of highlights for a stronger impact. Salma Hayek’s signature shade keeps this trend visible.
This hair dyeing feels like melted cocoa – a deep base with swirls of lighter brown throughout it. Toffee highlights add just enough movement without leaning red or brassy. This shade works well as summer hair for brunettes who “want to stay dark but want a hint of warmth,” says Gina. Amal Clooney recently proved its appeal.
Dark bronde moves in step with the lived-in brunette. Caramel warmth shows up first, woven lightly through the mid-lengths. In other versions, cooler mushroom tones keep the finish muted. As it grows, tones mix, progressing naturally. This option works well if you dislike harsh lines and frequent touch-ups.
Copper red hair color becomes more complex in 2026. Cowboy copper enters a new stage with multifaceted burnt shades. Molten tones of red blend with warm blondes. High-fashion versions are polished and deliberate.
Earth-toned reds take shape through burnt sienna. The shade creates warmth through its combination of rust, bronze, and soft tan. “Depending on the starting level, pre-lightening may or may not be necessary,” Chantal explains. Stylists often use copper balayage or ombre to cushion commitment. Burnt sienna suits brunettes who want red undertones and copper fans ready for a calmer transformation.
When you bring delicate reds into the warm blonde territory, you get a lush, soft apricot blonde. The tone hovers between strawberry blonde, copper, and gold, with light bouncing through it. Cameras love this color outdoors. It works well for natural blondes or brunettes moving toward red.
Moody scarlet pushes red into a darker territory. Burgundy and subtle violet notes create depth, then a gloss sharpens the finish. The result creates a rich and dramatic appearance without a theatrical look for clients craving a new hair color with presence.
The year 2026 allows for daring fashion statements, too. Runways spotlight teal and chrome colors. These looks are selective by nature, but they anchor the expressive side of hair dye trends.
Teal captured our attention after its strong runway appearance in the Marc Jacobs Spring collection and the recent Jacquemus and Patou Fall/Winter 2026 lineups. This green-blue shade now comes in semi-permanent formulas that fade gently over time. On dark hair, use it as a focused accent. Pre-lightened bases can carry it all over.
With metallic finishes, the focus shifts from the color to the way the surface catches light. Silver, gold, or pastel tones gain a reflective surface that reads liquid and luminous. “Clear glosses or tone-on-tone glazes layered over dimensional color create that liquid, mirror-like effect,” details Chantal. This latest hair color trend relies on healthy hair and high gloss formulas. For visual references, check the hairstyles of models in the R13, Alberta Ferretti, or Chloé Fall/Winter 2026 shows.
Specific shades are only half of a story. Coloring techniques also fall in and out of favor. The hair dye styles below are expected to be in style in 2026.
Color Melting. This technique merges multiple shades into one another so lines between different colors disappear. It replaces the pronounced ombre gradient with natural-looking transitions that follow your hair’s motion and light reflection.
Air Touch Balayage. Instead of backcombing, stylists use airflow to separate shorter strands. The final look is softer at the root and grows out effortlessly. Universally loved by clients who space out their appointments.
Glazing and Glossing. Shine treatments become a standard practice. A clear or tinted glaze refreshes tone, boosts reflection, and maintains color brightness until the next dyeing session. “It also acts as an anti-frizz treatment by smoothing down the cuticle,” notes Gina. She explains that because glossing is semi-permanent, it helps with toning, gray blending, and reducing brass, and adds depth to the hair – something glazing doesn’t do.
There’s no all-purpose shade – your best hair colors are the ones that align with your taste and comfort.
Seeing a shade on a celebrity is one thing; seeing it on your own face is what actually matters. TheRightHairstyles helps you experiment with trending hair colors on your terms, via the web platform or the HairHunt app.
The gallery now contains over 100 hairstyles in modern colors and is expanding. All it takes to see how the chosen shades match your skin tone and eye color is to pick a style and upload a photo. But it doesn’t stop here – you can see the new hair color move on yourself in a 360-degree preview. Let’s explore it all in more detail!
Step 1. Visit TheRightHairstyles online or download the HairHunt app (iOS; Android). If salon decisions stress you out, this step alone reduces uncertainty.
Step 2. You can choose different hairstyles while browsing through the color options. If you want to test buttery tones, try classic blonde; copper gives you burnt sienna previews, and dark brown shows mocha depth. You can also preview the category that displays all hairstyles, as it includes a wide range of in-between shades, so you can explore subtle blends and unique tones that don’t fit neatly into a single-color group.
Step 3. The upload process requires a clear, front-facing photo taken in natural daylight. Good lighting matters because both hair and skin tones change depending on how the light hits them. You will get your new look in 10 seconds.
Step 4. Upgrade and generate a 360-degree video preview to check how the color behaves from different angles.
Step 5. Download, share, or screenshot your favorites for the salon chair.
Pro tip. Make sure to check the same shade on different cuts. Shape changes how color shows. The virtual try-on pairs full hairstyles with color, which gives you a complete picture before making an appointment.
One more way to try hair colors on your photo is to start from our hair quiz with personalization that will ask you about your hair type, texture, face shape, lifestyle, and your plans for your hair (new color, haircut, highlights, healthier locks, etc.) in general.
Great results start before the cape goes on. Bring reference photos, including screenshots from a try-on tool, that show your hair color goals.
Discuss maintenance early on. Ask how often touch-ups are needed with the desired hair shade or dyeing technique, and how to support results at home.
Address techniques, too. Balayage, gloss, or color melt can change the final look.
Set expectations that fit real hair. Lighting, starting color, texture, and color history influence the outcome more than filters ever will.
Here are the questions colorists hear most often as their clients navigate color changes.
What hair colors are trending in 2026?
Trending hair colors in 2026 display a stunning variety. We expect to see more warm blondes, like buttercream or teddy bear blonde, and dimensional brunettes, like mocha and charcoal. Burnt sienna updates the popular cowboy copper shade. If you love unconventional choices, try teal or a chrome shade.
Is ash blonde still in style for 2026?
Creamier blondes may be having a moment, but ash blonde hasn’t disappeared. Anything that makes you feel confident and comfortable is TRENDY for YOU. If you’ve been curious about cooler tones, you might as well try on ash blonde with TheRightHairstyles hair color try-on and see how it feels on you.
What is the most popular brunette color for 2026?
Mocha brunette is in the clear lead. Its saturated base is flecked with warm-toned touches that create a sense of movement. It is glossy, wearable, and easy to care for.
Is cowboy copper still trending?
The popularity of cowboy copper has slowly decreased over time. Current hair color trends now introduce burnt sienna and soft apricot to create a new look that replaces the traditional bright Western aesthetic.
What is the color melting hair technique?
Color melting creates smooth transitions through color blending, which makes stark lines disappear. The result looks more seamless than the classic ombre and grows out more evenly.
How can I see what 2026 hair colors would look like on me?
You can use virtual try-on tools like TheRightHairstyles to upload your photo and test different hair colors before visiting a salon. You can check how different trends in hair color look next to your skin tone and haircut.
How long does TheRightHairstyles online hair color try-on take?
After uploading a photo, the results appear in about ten seconds. The preview feels familiar, like social apps, though the detail runs deeper. It helps narrow down on-trend hair color options fast.
Ready to see which of the 2026 shades make you glow? Upload your photo and instantly preview trending hair colors. It takes seconds and can save hours in the chair.
