2023’s Biggest Hair Color Trends
Stylists’ #1 Source For 2023’s Official Hair Color Trends
From mink tones to diffused color blocking, 2023 is redefining hair color trends. The overall theme? Natural-looking hair color with a subtle edge (queue the chic sex appeal clients love)! We saw a surge of the “model-on-the-go” aesthetic last year and hair color trends are mixing up the sought-after looks with a chic upgrade.
You’ll want to bookmark these ten color trends to send to your client and show your coworkers. OH—and stock up on the must-have shades before your backbar is bare. EVERY client will be requesting these looks, so be prepared to nail their appointment and be THE answer when someone asks, “Who did your hair?!”
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1. Warm Honey Blonde
2006 called—warm blondes are back on EVERYONE’S Pinterest boards. Say goodbye to the ashed-out balayage that held your books captive the past several years and give a WARM welcome to this year’s honey blonde.
Pro Tip: Your loyal blonde clients will only “see yellow” (just at first!) when they transition to honey. Adding a deep, natural-looking root can lessen the shock of a new warm shade by keeping dimension around areas that they see the most!
Honey formulas to get you started:
- How to formula honey blonde toners—trend breakdown!
- Celeb stylist Drea Henty (@andreahenty) go-to formula for the perfect on-camera blonde
- Honey transformation on a Level 3 client—save this FOR SURE!
- Seamless honey blonde curl formula and placement tips
- Hilary Duff’s SIGNATURE honey blonde formula
Photo credit: Instagram via @romeufelipe
Photo credit: Instagram via @colorbymattrez
Photo credit: Instagram via @haircolorkilla
Photo credit: Instagram via @pirania_ya
Photo credit: Instagram via @lulu_kutznyc
Photo credit: Instagram via @andreahenty
Photo credit: Instagram via @kelleytang
Photo credit: Instagram via @hairbymickk
Try Mick’s formula HERE!
Photo credit: Instagram via @salsalhair
Photo credit: Instagram via @romeufelipe
Learn Honey Blonde lightening strategies, foiling tips and toner formulation secrets on BTC University! Subscribe now to get unlimited access to this trending blonde look!
2. Natural-Toned Color Blocking
2023 is turning color-blocking from what we know as bold statements with fashion colors to chic, wearable looks.
The surge of neutral tones being paired together for a subtle color block around the head is pulling HARD on our heartstrings. The tone-on-tone combinations of brunette, blonde and copper shades have us wondering—is this the ’23 rendition of a money piece?!
Check out these color-blocking galleries FILLED with inspo for every client:
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Photo credit: Instagram via @seolahair
Photo credit: Instagram via @cicelydoesmyhair
Photo credit: Instagram via @shmeggsandbaconn
Photo credit: Instagram via @ashleenormanhair
Photo credit: Instagram via @bel_pipsqueekinsaigon
Photo credit: Instagram via @seolahair
Photo credit: Instagram via @ahappyjustin
Photo credit: Instagram via @sarahmgdoeshair
3. Mink Tones
Mink shades can range from warm to cool with two underlying colors: gray and lavender. Whether your formula veers to a warm grey or an ashed-out hue, this color is beautifully suited for all ages.
Mink formula from Ashlee Norman (@ashleenormanhair):
- Base color— 1:1:1 Schwarzkopf Professional® true beautiful honest Permanent Color Creme 6-04 + 7-16 + 6-volume developer + tbh Tone Softener
- Lowlights—1:1:1 tbh Permanent Color Creme 7-16 + 8-64 + 6-volume developer + tbh Tone Softener
- Toner—1:1:1 tbh Permanent Color Creme 10-56 + 6-volume developer + tbh Tone Softener
“Mink tones have less high-contrasted, subtle blends with lavender and mushroom undertones,” explains Ashlee.
Creating a lot of dimension without any visible blonde is key to creating this luxe color. That being said, don’t be afraid to use lightener! You will definitely need to brighten up areas of your client’s hair to achieve the mink tones, but ensuring your toning formula fills any beachy blonde is the goal.
Photo credit: Instagram via @megumicolor
Photo credit: Instagram via @enesy1lmazz
Photo credit: Instagram via @hairbyreema
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Photo credit: Instagram via @lilycollins
Photo credit: Instagram via @jhair_stylist
Photo credit: Instagram via @seolahair
Photo credit: Instagram via @haircofayetteville
Photo credit: Instagram via @yogacolourist
Blondies can try mink, too! Check out this stunning spin on mink hues for blonde clients from @chrisweberhair
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4. ’90s-Inspired Lowlights
The focus here is not the tone of blonde, but the DEPTH added to each rendition! This trend is undeniably a spin-off of the late ’90s and early 2000s ultra-highlighted looks, we have just (thankfully) shifted into smoother weaving techniques.
Why your clients want this look:
- It’s EXTREMELY wearable.
- Deep blondes enhance every shade of eye and skin color.
- The warmth suits every age and length of hair (unlike some platinum and ultra-blonde tones).
- Natural-looking color is back! This is the perfect change-up for longtime blonde clients looking for a refresh.
Instead of focusing on heavy foiled looks, reviving your client’s lived-in blonde with lowlights will be your biggest service this year. Enhancing blondes with lowlights (yes, you can add a few foils here and there) will not only save time but can drastically improve the integrity of your client’s hair. Talk about a stylist win-win.
Here are some key tips to get you back into lowlighting:
- Avoid spotty and uneven lowlights with these hacks
- Streaming now: Highlights, Lowlights & Toning with @coloredbycaitlin
- Formulation tips for adding lowlights with hair extensions
- Watch NOW: @samanthasbeautyconfessions lowlighting technique available on BTC University!
Smart Blonding Foil & Placement Strategies for every blonde client:
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Photo credit: Instagram via @iamdavontae
Photo credit: Instagram via @weezydidit
Photo credit: Instagram via @shay.sullivan by @cfhairdesign
Photo credit: Instagram via @romeufelipe
Photo credit: Instagram via @rachelwstylist
Photo credit: Instagram via @jstayready_
Photo credit: Instagram via @gregoryrussellhair
Trending NOW: TikTok’s it-girl Alix Earle’s deep blonde by IGK Miami colorist @julianneparis
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Receive HOURS of blonding education…from home! WATCH any blonding course on-demand, pause or playback your favorite artist’s class on BTC University.
5. Bronze Hues
Pulling warm is finally cool, BUT—nailing the tonal range for this bronze trend can be tricky. We’ll make one thing clear: bronze is NOT to be mistaken for copper.
When you think about bronze, think about the hue of the actual metal. A true bronze perfectly balances a warm sheen without reflecting orange or gold. We’ve done our research and tapped the best in the business to give us their go-to formulas and techniques to create bronze shades that match your client’s inspo pics.
Bronze color and technique guide:
- 3 tips to formulate bronze on every low-level client
- MUST-WATCH: @colorbycarlos Dimensional Warm Bronze on BTC University
Photo credit: Instagram via @hairbymickk
Photo credit: Instagram via @daniellepriano
Photo credit: Instagram via @kimdollxo
Photo credit: Instagram via @megumicolor
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Photo credit: Instagram via @dvcolour
6. Tone-On-Tone “Espresso” Brunettes
Safe to say most clients were on the expensive brunette train at some point last year—and this year is looking just as rich. You’ll see a lot of clients swapping out dimensional, chocolatey brunette inspo pics for all-over dark transformations.
Emulating the naturally chic French look that nearly all trends are following this year, classic colors and natural-looking tones without lightener placements will be highly requested. Think deep, espresso-rich shades that are eye-catching and reflect light to reveal a little sparkle.
Photo credit: Instagram via @ashleygraham
Photo credit: Instagram via @weezydidit
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Photo credit: Instagram via @franckhair
Photo credit: Instagram via @romeufelipe
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Photo credit: Instagram via @realericvaughn
Photo credit: Instagram via @ryanaustinhair
Photo credit: Instagram via @neoitgirl
7. Peekaboo Dip-Dyes
Bursts of color through the roots and ends of hair is going to be a major request for your edgy clients this year. Custom dip-dye washes of color around the roots, nape and behind the ears have quickly become an everyday look on our IG feed.
The color choice is completely up to you and your client, but the placement is where you can elevate this trend. The key? Keep the line of color moving. This trend is eye-catching not because of unique color choices, but because of the spurts of color that seem to have no beginning or end around the head.
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Photo credit: Instagram via @haircolorkilla
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Photo credit: Instagram via @josievilay
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Photo credit: Instagram via @megumicolor
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“Sprinkling a little pink in the root and around the nape of a bob can make magic happen,” says Moroccanoil® Global Color Ambassador Greg Gilmore (@greg_gilmore).
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8. Teddy Bear Blonde
A sister to the warm honey blonde trend, teddy bear blonde veers into a much more golden tonal range. Think of your sweet childhood teddy’s caramel color—now go mix that in the backbar! 🧸
The key to this trend is to take your client’s skin tone into account first, then use lightening techniques to create dimension before applying the deeper shades. Here’s why: the golden hues can mimic a lot of clients’ natural undertone, so formulating a shade that nearly matches their complexion is the goal.
Trending now: Actress Madelyn Cline’s golden teddy blonde by celeb colorist Matt Rez (@colorbymattrez).
Photo credit: Instagram via @laurapolko
Photo credit: Instagram via @daniellepriano
Photo credit: Instagram via @philipforesto
Photo credit: Instagram via @watchmyhairbounce
Photo credit: Instagram via @skipdoeshair
9. Soft Copper
The copper hair color phenomenon of fall ’22 is sliding into 2023 with a “shy” attitude. This year we’ll be seeing light, warm hues on predominantly high-lift clients. Muted coppers ranging from a strawberry blonde to a more vibrant peach have been seen EVERYWHERE. Luckily for stylists, this trend will give your clients a bit more leeway when their color begins to fade—as it will just add to the look!
Things to remember:
- Gloss and glaze services will be this trend’s BFF—book appointments accordingly.
- A LOT of blonde clients will request to go soft copper. Balance your formulas with gold-based toners to avoid red hues grabbing onto prelightened hair too intensely.
- 5 tips for every copper client—fading hacks, formulation secrets and more.
- It’s a trend—opt for demi to semi-permanent hair color to start. Although we can’t get enough copper, clients easily get tired of reds. Save yourself down the road and ease into the red tones with a less permanent option for easy(ish) recon later.
Photo credit: Instagram via @hairbymickk
Photo credit: Instagram via @bel_pipsqueekinsaigon
Photo credit: Instagram via @ahappyjustin
Photo credit: Instagram via @jhair_stylist
Photo credit: Instagram via @florido & @nikkilee901
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Photo credit: Instagram via @yukistylist
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10. Auburn & Wine-Toned Reds
Although we’ve seen a ton of copper looks this year, we are predicting the redhead trend to move into chic auburn and wine-based red tones.
These red shades can range from red-violet to a neutral auburn with one thing in common: pure red pigment. Take a scroll through these inspo pics of various red tones and catch up on some need-to-know tips to keep your red clients coming back.
- 3 tips to keep red color from browning out
- Try this wet balayage trick for reds that pop
- Stunning burgundy curl formula from @watchmyhairbounce
- 3 hacks for lightening textured hair before going red
Photo credit: Instagram via @salsalhair | Color by: @beverlyfamous
Photo credit: Instagram via @slickback_buttahtoast
Photo credit: Instagram via @lacyredway
Photo credit: Instagram via @jesstheebesttcolor
Photo credit: Instagram via @mayssas_beauty_mark
Stunning lightener-free red transformation from color specialist Jeannette Walker-Rodgers (@watchmyhairbounce):
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Photo credit: Instagram via @salsalhair
Photo credit: Instagram via @hirohair
Photo credit: Instagram via @milk.honey.hair
UP NEXT—2023’s BIGGEST HAIRCUT TRENDS REVEALED! CUTTING TIPS, INSPO AND MORE:
