Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Lived-in Handbags
    • Eyepatch-Gate
    • Life in Plastic
    • Brown Denim
    • Taylor Swift
    1. Beauty
    2. Hairstyles, Haircuts, and Hair Colors

    Opal Hair Is Instagram's Newest Hair Color Trend, and You're Actually Going to Want to Try It

    Like a shiny, shimmering ball of light.

    Chloe Metzger's avatar
    By Chloe Metzger
    Published 30 January 2018 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Hair, Blond, Hairstyle, Hair coloring, Pink, Chin, Purple, Layered hair, Human, Caramel color,
    (Image credit: Instagram)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    We’re three weeks into 2018, and already, a new hair trend has been birthed into the Instagram world: opal hair. And thankfully, unlike some trends of yesteryear, this hair color trend is not only completely gorgeous, but totally wearable in real life.

    The color is pretty much the result of a milky mixture of metallic pink and sherbet orange—almost like a melted Creamsicle, or a puff of cotton candy. “We strongly believe softer, delicate colors will dominate 2018 hair trends,” said hairstylist Mike Lowenstein in an interview with Allure.

    A post shared by Pastel Hair & Platinum Hair (@rossmichaelssalon)

    Lowenstein created the soft, opalescent trend with his wife, Melody, in their Washington-based salon, by first lightening the hair to platinum blonde, then using a mix of violet-based toners for a pastel finish. And, since the color is so light and sheer, it’ll eventually just fade to blonde, making this look insanely easy to maintain, solely because there will eventually be nothing to maintain!

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    If you’re looking to experiment with opal hair at home, make sure you find a seriously excellent colorist, first (we’re big on checking Instagram for proof of work), and have a consultation before going in for the dye. After that? Take a zillion Instagram pics, because this lewk is everything.

    A post shared by Pastel Hair & Platinum Hair (@rossmichaelssalon)

    A post shared by Pastel Hair & Platinum Hair (@rossmichaelssalon)

    A post shared by Hair Extensions & Bridal Hair (@myhairstylistnancy)

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    Instagram
    Chloe Metzger
    Chloe Metzger
    Social Links Navigation
    Beauty Editor

    Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life). She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in Allure, Health, Fitness, Marie Claire, StyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Thanks.

    Read more
    collage of nyfw beauty trends on a green background
    Beauty Per NYFW, We're Ditching Our Hair Parts and Going All Out With Eyeliner Consider this the official beauty trend report.
    By Samantha Holender
    collage of women with cool haircuts on a green background
    Hair Every Stylish Woman In NYC Is Asking for Shattered Layers This Fall The top haircut trends of the season include long layers and modern crops.
    By Samantha Holender
     
     
    a collage of three women with dramatic makeup wearing manicures in pink, red, and chrome with close ups of manicures with bottles of nail polish
    Nails I’m Swapping My Cat Eye Nails for This Elevated Fall Alternative Glass manicures are about to be everywhere.
    By Samantha Holender
    Collage of blue nails with burgundy tips, autumnal watercolor nail art and eggplant nails alongside bottles of brown, pale blue and purple polish
    Nails Fall Fashion's Hottest Color Combo Looks Even Better On Your Nails Meet the maroon and icy blue mani.
    By Siena Gagliano
     
     
    Latest in Hairstyles, Haircuts, and Hair Colors
    plum background with collage of hair products and two models
    Hair My 6 Favorite Brands for Fine Hair Still Feel Like a Beauty Industry Secret
    two women with blow buns and low ponytails on a liquid golden background
    Hair The Reign of the Slick Back Bun Is Over
     
     
    Nicole Kidman attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
    Hair Nicole Kidman’s Emmys Hair Has Me Ready to Retire the Slicked-Back Bun
    Lukita Maxwell at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
    Hair Lukita Maxwell Just Made the Baby Bob Fall’s Most Tempting Haircut
     
     
    Latest in News
    King Charles has gray hair and looks shocked while wearing a gray suit with a white shirt and a blue checked tie
    Royals Why King Charles "Would Agree With" Sandringham Theft
    Princess Kate wears a navy blue satin dress as she announces her engagement to Prince William, who wears a suit
    Royals Princess Kate "Had a Very Handsome Boyfriend" Before William
     
     
    Jennifer Lopez at Milan Fashion Week wearing a black velvet suit and flat cap
    Celebrity Style J.Lo Swaps Her Skintight Bodysuit for a Menswear Suit
    Prince Harry wears a suit with a baby blue tie and white shirt and has red
    Royals Prince Harry Says Archie and Lilibet "Are Happy" in the U.K.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.