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Small tweak, huge difference.
If you're interested in making a runway-worthy change but don't know where to start, check out these so-summer-2018 ideas based on the shade you have now. From pastel glosses to a whisper of sun-kissed highlights, here’s all the inspo you need for your next easy (yet so high-impact) color move.
Go full-on platinum for an edgy vibe—and let a little root show for some lived-in effortlessness. When lightening at home, opt for a kit with cool tones and a blue-based conditioning cream to counteract brassiness.
Schwarzkopf Color Ultîme Fashion Series in 15.0 Extreme Lightener, $10
SHOP IT
Choose a few sections and streak them a summery coral to “inject a pop of flirtiness and fun,” says Tamara DeFelice, a colorist at the Butterfly Studio Salon in NYC.
Choose a barely there tint of pastel pink gloss. It makes ice blonde fresh and so extra in the prettiest way possible.
Give cocoa hair flair with a few strategically placed caramel and sandy blond highlights. For a beachy look, consider getting balayage—a technique that involves hand-painting delicate streaks around your face exactly where the sun naturally hits.
Time to bring the drama: Add dimension to an allover dark hue with bold ginger-toned highlights.
The chicest way to wake up scarlet hair? With “warm, multi-dimensional streaks of gold that glow in the sun,” says DeFelice. Paint them throughout for maximum light-catching effect.
A safe (but striking) bet if you’re looking for a turned-up version of your natural red: crimson. This do-it-all dye kit featuring a fade-resistant formula and UV-protecting shine serum makes hitting superhero status at home totally foolproof.
Schwarzkopf Color Ultîme Fashion Series in 5.72 Auburn, $10
Want high-impact hair that’s easy to maintain? Coat ebony hair with an intense violet glaze. Bonus: It packs a punch, but requires almost no maintenance since it lasts for up to nine weeks without fading.
Schwarzkopf Color Ultîme Fashion Series in 1.2 Scarlet Black, $10
Up the cool factor of pastel hair with a touch of '90s grunge realness. How to do that exactly? DeFelice suggests “sweeping roots with a neutral shade that’s at least three levels darker than your pink hue.” Avoid the harsh line of demarcation by working a bit of the color from roots to mid-shaft.
Revive metallic strands with a Khaleesi-style, iridescent cool-blonde gloss. It works great as an allover base to brighten and intensify any shade of gray. If contrast is what you’re after, fold in a few icy highlights for added texture and shine.