I like to think of spring as a season that's all about renewal, rejuvenation, and reinvention—it's a yearly new beginning if you will. Reinvention includes an aesthetic reset and the opportunity to take a beauty risk—and nothing feels like a bigger beauty risk than anything involving hair. If you're feeling a little too anxious about experimenting with a new haircut, playing with color might feel a bit safer for the indecisive and non-committal.
The most exciting thing about the hair color trends we and our trusted experts are forecasting for spring 2026 is that we're all collectively embracing live-in looks and, to an extent, allowing our hair to take their natural course or at least working in tandem with that. As makeup trends begin leaning more natural and lived-in, it only makes sense for hair trends to follow suit.
Ahead, the five spring 2026 hair color trends to inspire your yearly rebrand, according to colorists.
Meet The Experts
- Emaly Baum is a hair colorist and owner of Beauty Supply, a salon in downtown New York City. Her celebrity clients include Chloe Grace Moretz, Jennifer Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson, and more.
- Reece Walker is a hairstylist with expertise in color and extensions. He works at Hawthorne Studio in New York City and has worked with Victoria Beckham, Courtney Cox and more.
Deep Espresso
Launchmetrics
Brown hair trends will forever come and go, but an ultra dark espresso brown is currently having its moment—the deepest brown imaginable without it crossing over into black territory. "This look is sexy and sultry. Think Odessa A'zion," colorist Emaly Baum says. "I love it because it reads as grown and sexy. It has contrast in all the right ways. It's trending because it's bold and makes a statement without thrashing your hair and is achieved with a simple quick gloss."
How To Get The Look: Baum suggests asking for your stylist to use a cool-toned dark brown dye that is almost black but not quite. If you're looking to add dimension, talk to your stylist about incorporating some balayage into the look.
Cloud Girl
Launchmetrics
Platinum hair is making a comeback in 2026, but not necessarily in the same ways that we've seen in the past. Instead, people are ditching cool-toned gray for softer undertones. "This time around the tones are softer, more like barely there pastel undertones that mimic a soft cloud. People are gravitating towards it because it's a statement but it isn't necessarily loud," Baum says. "I love how a double process can really emphasize someone's personal style. It can really tie a look together."
How To Get The Look: Baum suggests asking your stylist for a double process: lightening the hair first and then going in with an additional color.
Soft Grapefruit
Launchmetrics
Meet soft grapefruit, perhaps the boldest of the hair color trends for spring 2026: "Unlike the strawberry blondes we've seen with heavy golds and coppers, this color has pink and neutral undertones," Baum says. "I love red hair and personally think anyone can be a redhead. You just have to find the right tone and this is one of those tones that's a little softer and easier to pull off."
How To Get The Look: To achieve the soft grapefruit look, Baum suggests making it very clear to your stylist that you're not interested in going the traditional red or strawberry blonde look. "Mention that you're trying to avoid gold and copper undertones," she says. This color is suitable for all hair types, but curly hair might be more susceptible to damage. Make sure you're going to a stylist that knows how to treat curly hair.
Buttery Blonde
Chanel Spring 2024
Launchmetrics
Similarly to brown hair trends, blonde hair is so multi-dimensional—different tones serve different people and certain hues have their moment. Right now, blondes are embracing a softer side. "My blonde clients are still loving brightness, but it’s definitely creamier and softer rather than icy or overly ash. Think bright, buttery blondes with depth at the root," colorist Reece Walker says.
How To Get The Look: Walker does medium textured highlights throughout the hair, depending on how much dimension the client likes, and lightly "tips out" the ends, finishing with a root melt that sits between their natural color and the lighter blonde. "That’s what gives it depth and that lived-in, luxury feel without harsh lines," he says. Walker suggests asking your stylist for a bright and creamy blonde with dimension and a soft root melt. This look is achievable on dark hair, too—you should just expect to be sitting in the salon chair for a longer period of time.
Chai Tea "Bronde"
Elie Saab Spring 2026
Launchmetrics
As we've seen runways and makeup artists embrace the lived-in look, it's not surprising that hair would follow suit. 2026 is the year that natural beauty is on trend. For anyone who wants a low-maintenance color that looks purposely lived-in, consider chai tea "bronde": a creamy blonde with darker roots.
"It's the 2026 version of ombré, just not as extreme," Baum says. "This look is slightly rooty with soft blended dimension," she says. "People want to be able to spend less time at the salon but still feel like they have intentional hair color." Walker adds that "the root shadow isn’t going anywhere–it gives that lived-in luxury feel and buys them time between appointments, which my clients love."
How To Get The Look: "This is best achieved with balayage," Baum says. Baum notes that the most essential aspect of this look is the sense of dimension. She notes that requesting "soft blended dimension" is key and recommends this style for blondes looking to make a bit of a change.
