Spring arrives awash in color, from the season’s first blooms to its golden-hour sunsets. You might embrace the brighter days by wearing less black or refreshing your accessories collection with more playful additions — but it’s also the perfect time to consider a change in hair color.
“Barn girl blonde,” “liquid noir,” and “art school copper” are just a few of the shades colorists have conjured up ahead of the sunnier season. Better still, there’s an option for every taste and budget, whether you’re booking in with a professional or opting for the ease of an at-home gloss.
Scroll on for more spring hair color trends — from London to LA colorists — and exactly how to ask for them.
Dimensional Cocoa Brunette
Cass Kaeding, celebrity and editorial hairstylist and Revlon ColorSilk ambassador, predicts that dimensional cocoa brunette will reign supreme this spring, thanks to its nuanced finish, which truly comes alive in the sun. “This is a rich, multi-tonal brown hair color that mimics the depth and softness of chocolate tones,” says Kaeding, combining a medium-to-deep brunette base with subtle ribbons of lighter-to-medium browns, including mocha, caramel, and soft chestnut.
“It’s not a flat brunette,” Kaeding adds. “Rather, it’s layered with several different shades to create movement, shine, and a natural-looking blend.” Colorist My Huynh’s take on brunette is beautiful, as is this more muted shade by Haven Hair. “These brunette tones will vary per skin tone, so make sure to consult your colorist on the best blend for your complexion,” adds Kaeding.
Barn Girl Blonde
Charley Henery, international artistic director at TONI&GUY, reports a shift away from high‑maintenance highlights in favor of more “effortless and lived-in” color, like this shade by Haven Hair. “That’s where barn girl blonde comes in,” she says, adding, “It’s a muted, sandy tone with soft root depth and beautifully blended lengths — the kind of blonde that looks polished, but in an understated way.” TONI&GUY’s Luxe Lights service will get you there, says Henery. “It’s all about mixing those easy, natural tones with a few brighter pieces for dimension, so you get that glow without it ever feeling overdone.”
Liquid Noir
In their seasonal trends presentation, Nicola Clarke, creative color director of Nicola Clarke Salon, and Zoë Irwin, creative director at John Frieda Salon, predicted that liquid noir — the darkest brunette — will transcend winter and have a serious moment in spring and summer. It’s a move on from their previous trend prediction, liquid brunette, and one that places renewed emphasis on hair condition and hydration. Think layers of bonding and moisture, as both are key to achieving that high-shine finish. Irwin pinpointed this picture of Chase Infiniti, posted to Instagram by makeup artist Amber D, as inspiration.
Champagne Honey
Kylee Akina, Danger Jones global ambassador, champions champagne honey blonde — a sparkling shade created with darker honey pieces that enhance shine, like bubbles in a glass. This shade by hairstylist Devyn Pennell is stunning.
Beige Baby Blonde
Kaeding describes beige baby blonde as a neutral, balanced blonde shade that occupies a cozy space between warm or gold tones and cool or ashy elements. “Think of it as a soft, creamy blonde with slightly sandy or taupe undertones,” says Kaeding, adding, “Nothing too yellow gold but also not overly icy.” This color by Marco Gilento at Encapture Hair Spa is perfect.
To maintain a balanced blonde like this, Kaeding drives home the importance of DIY color care. “For keeping hair healthy outside of the salon, I recommend using the Revlon ColorSilk After Color Shampoo and Conditioner.”
Plum Noir
Siobhan Haug, colorist and co‑owner at Haug London Haus, says this is one of the most luxurious shades for those with darker hair. “Outside of natural light, the hair looks almost black, and it reveals its rich purple tones only when it catches the light,” says Haug, like this dreamy shade by hairstylist Nicole Zubair. It’s essentially a mix of cool violet tones with a dash of red, Haug adds — a subtle, dual‑tone burgundy that looks expensive thanks to its high‑shine finish.
The REDs
Kaeding calls this trend “the REDs” owing to the many red tones, each of which can be tailored to different skin tones. We’re a little obsessed with this copper brown hue by Daniel Mora Ayala. “The REDs range from cherry cola and fiery crimson to soft golden copper and rich auburn,” says Kaeding, who recommends booking a consultation with a colorist to see which shade of red works best for you. But there’s a catch: “Red color can fade very quickly,” says Kaeding, “so it can require more visits to the salon to maintain your desired shade.” For those looking for an at-home color solution, Kaeding rates Revlon ColorSilk Bond Repair Hair Dye, especially in the shade Radiant Raspberry, as a top-up between salon visits.
Art School Copper
Irwin is convinced we’ve moved beyond softer coppers like cowgirl copper. Now, they’re “raw and characterful” — and particularly well suited to natural textures. To Irwin, the effect is reminiscent of henna in the hair. “It’s a solar-y, ginger that really makes your eyes pop. Think of a creative student, a gallery girl — it’s the revival of the bohemian and it feels a bit more rebellious than cowgirl copper.” It’s easiest for blondes: “With a gloss, you don’t have to commit,” said Clarke. We love this bold shade on model Gemma Seymour.
California Copper
Emily Chen, a Danger Jones global ambassador, hints that cowgirl copper is giving way to Cali copper — a brighter, punchier, all‑over copper shade that looks incredible in the sun. We’re just a little bit obsessed with this copper brown by Celeste Robles.
To boost shine, Chen favors Danger Jones Epilogue Permanent Color paired with a gloss toner developer.
Gothic Blonde
“With the “clean” girl aesthetic, everything has been super minimal for a long time,” said Irwin, but these paler, more porcelain shades have what she describes as a “cooler antique quality.” Rooted in a broader cultural fascination with gothic storytelling, the effect is more ethereal than icy, Irwin adds, thanks to a clearer — rather than gray — base with a subtly powdery finish. “It’s a big commitment,” said Clarke, “but once you’ve got there, the maintenance is quite low.” This shade on model Biba is perfect.
Folklore Blonde
Christel Barron-Hough, founder of STIL Salon in London’s Chelsea, drew inspiration from the Scandi street style set at Copenhagen Fashion Week for this trend, which spotlights grown‑out roots — great news for the low‑maintenance among us. The key? “Allowing the natural cycle of hair growth to take center stage,” says Barron-Hough. To perfect the look, she uses a hand‑painting technique to create a blurred transition from the root through the mid‑lengths and ends, as though the color has “naturally diffused” over time. This color by blonde and extensions specialist Darcee is spot on.
Persimmon Copper
Persimmons might be out of season, but colorists are drawing inspiration from their sunny orange hue — like this color posted to Instagram by hairstylist Ryenne Snow. “This shade is one of pure joy and energy,” says Haug. “It’s confidence-affirming, bright, juicy, and undeniably optimistic,” but it doesn’t have to be full on. Haug says strands of persimmon can be woven between tones of gold and apricot for a more auburn result, or used to soften vibrant reds. The downside? It’s demanding. Haug recommends investing in a good, sulfate‑free shampoo (try Kérastase Discipline Sulfate‑Free Smoothing Shampoo) and a pigmented conditioner. R29 rates dpHUE Gloss+.
Midway Blonde
Barron-Hough says that midway blonde sits comfortably between warm and cool tones, creating a perfectly balanced blonde shade that suits all skin tones. She first tones the natural hair color with a gloss, then uses a precise hand‑painting technique to take certain sections warmer and others cooler for a nuanced, satisfying mix. This shade posted to Instagram by creative stylist Airi is so good.
Molten Bronze
“I’m obsessed with Veneda Carter’s hair color,” said Irwin, who describes molten bronze as a sunlit copper meets sepia — essentially a flatter, more wearable bronze hue. Actor Haley Bennett also serves as key inspiration, with Clarke frequently working on her hair. “For the BAFTA’s, she brought in a picture of Linda Evangelista on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar, and the color had ribbony highlights with tawny, molten bronze pieces.” We also adore this color by curly specialist Jessenia Robayo.
Uptown Blonde
Clarke and Irwin have been singing uptown blonde’s praises for a while now, but thanks to Love Story — and the multiple images of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy doing the rounds — it’s going nowhere. “This blonde feels so New York,” said Clarke. It’s a creamy, expensive‑looking blonde that goes right up to the root. Of course, that means more maintenance in the form of regular root touch-ups, but when it looks as good as this hue by hairstylist Sara Bulger, it becomes a commitment you’re happy to keep.
Bare Bloom
Bare bloom has been a key shade for fall and winter, but it’s carrying through into spring and summer, says Irwin. Rooted in natural tones, it’s the kind of hair color that looks like you were born with it, with a subtle wash of pink throughout that leaves hair looking healthy and softly glowing, like this color posted to Instagram by Miho Mai.
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