Hair Color Trends You’ll Be Seeing Everywhere This Year

Low Key, High Impact Shades

Loud color isn’t the vibe right now. In 2024, hair is taking a quieter turn but that doesn’t mean boring. We’re seeing a major push toward toned down, natural looking shades that feel effortless and elevated. Muted blondes, lived in browns, and soft, understated reds are landing in salon chairs everywhere.

It’s all about control. “Barely there” highlights are creating depth without shouting for attention. These subtle touches build dimension where it counts along part lines, around the face, and through mid lengths. It’s color that moves, not color that competes.

The shift toward natural tones isn’t just a trend it’s a response. Clients want hair that grows out gracefully, styles easily, and works with multiple aesthetics. For busy lifestyles, this kind of low maintenance elegance hits the sweet spot. Salons are seeing less demand for bold, blocky colors and more for shades that feel personal, wearable, and quietly luxe.

The Rise of Cool Tones

Ashy browns, platinum silvers, and icy blues aren’t going anywhere and that’s not just a seasonal phase. These cooler toned colors come with an edge. They read modern, a little bit mysterious, and totally intentional. The catch? They require real upkeep.

Cool tones tend to fade fast or shift brassy without the right care. This is where toning steps in. A purple shampoo isn’t optional it’s foundational. Silver hues lose their punch when yellow tones creep in. Icy blues can dull out or turn muddy without regular color refreshing treatments. Heat styling also fades vibrancy fast, so cutting back (or at least using heat protectants) is a must.

Not everyone can pull off a cool base shade, though and skin tone is a big factor. These hues tend to flatter people with cooler undertones: think pinks or neutrals in the skin, not warm or golden. Still not sure? If silver jewelry looks better on you than gold, you’re probably in the cool toned club. Warm undertones can wear these shades too, but it usually takes extra color balancing to avoid clashing.

Bottom line: cool toned hair isn’t low maintenance, but when done right, it looks effortless. Just be ready to commit to the upkeep and know your starting point.

Expensive Brunette is the New It Girl Color

Not ready to bleach and tone every six weeks? Good news rich, dimensional brunettes are having a moment. Think deep chocolate tones, subtle lowlights, and glossy finishes that catch light without screaming for attention. This isn’t your box dye brown. It’s polished, layered, and made to look effortless (even though it isn’t).

The shift started quietly with celebs trading platinum for luxe, darker hues. Zendaya, Hailey Bieber, and Lily James all brought brunette back into the spotlight without losing any glam. It’s all about depth. Your colorist will play with undertones, shine treatments, and maybe the lightest ribbons of caramel to give the shade lift.

It’s bold in its own quiet way. And best of all? You skip the high maintenance upkeep of blonde while still looking expensive. Want to take it up a level? Pair your shade with a shape up that flatters here are some celebrity haircut styles worth bookmarking.

Color Blocking and Bold Contouring

Call it a callback but this time it’s refined. Bold, high contrast color isn’t just back, it’s strategic. Think sleek blonde ribbons against espresso bases or espresso streaks breaking through icy platinums. These placements aren’t random colorists are mapping them like facial contouring, using tone and placement to sharpen jawlines, lift cheekbones, and frame features.

Chunky highlights have also returned from their early 2000s exile. But in 2024, they’re intentional. It’s less zebra print, more luxe dimension. Instead of thick slabs of contrasting color, stylists are weaving in weighty panels with purpose keeping edges clean, tones premium, and transitions smooth. It’s attention grabbing without being clunky.

Not all bold framing works for every face, though. Oval and heart shaped faces handle strong front facing streaks best they balance the contours naturally. Rounder face shapes benefit from vertical placement near the temples to elongate the silhouette. Sharp jawlines? Soft edge color can add warmth and soften the look.

This kind of color isn’t background noise. It wants to be seen just without yelling.

Strawberry Blonde Makes a Comeback

Strawberry blonde is having a moment again and for good reason. It strikes a perfect balance between warmth and brightness. You get the vibrant kick of red without jumping full tilt into copper, and the golden undertones add softness that makes it more wearable than fire engine shades. That makes it ideal for people who want a noticeable change without shouting for attention.

It’s a go to for anyone testing the waters of color. It flatters most skin tones, adds dimension in natural light, and feels low key fresh. It’s bold adjacent not boring, not high maintenance. But to keep that soft flush from fading into brass or beige? You’ll need to work a little smarter.

Use sulfate free shampoos, toss in a color depositing conditioner once a week, and avoid too much heat styling. Also, say hello to UV protection sprays yes, for your hair. Keeping strawberry blonde alive isn’t hard, but it does need intention. That little extra effort keeps the color from washing down the drain after a few weeks.

What Pros Are Saying

First rule of color: skin undertone matters more than you think. Cool undertones (think pink or blue ish tints) pair well with ashy shades, silvers, and icy blondes. Warmer undertones (yellow, golden, or olive hints) vibe better with caramel, copper, or golden browns. Neutral undertones? You’re lucky it’s a wider playground.

But undertone’s only one part of the story. Light placement and hair texture can completely flip the final result. Highlights placed too high or too low can mess with face proportions. Coarse texture reflects light differently than fine hair, making color either pop or fall flat. That’s why pros don’t just color they map faces, section strands, and tweak placements to create balance and movement.

Now, let’s talk upkeep. Salon color delivers precision, layered tones, and fewer surprises. But if your budget says DIY, stick to semi permanents or glosses. Home kits are getting better, but they can’t correct for tone or texture. In 2024, pros agree: hybrid is key. Book in salon for major work, then stretch appointments with toning masks, purple shampoos, and root touch up hacks. It’s not about perfection it’s about keeping it intentional.

Pair It With the Right Cut

Color turns heads, but the right cut seals the deal. Whether you’re going icy platinum or rich brunette, the haircut you pair it with can elevate the entire look or water it down. Blunt bobs are holding strong in 2024 for their clean, intentional structure. They highlight jawlines and put your shade center stage. If you want movement without losing shape, curtain bangs are a smart update. They frame the face and work across a range of textures.

For those leaning into softer tones or more textured color work, strategic layering adds life. Long layers can showcase dimension in color, while shorter layers add bounce and shape that’s easy to style.

The key is balance. Sharp cuts complement bold shades; airy layers soften strong tones. If you’re going all in on your new color, give just as much thought to the cut that carries it.

Need inspo? Browse through these celebrity haircut styles to take your look from one note to fully styled.