The 12 Best Summer Hair Colors You'll Want to Copy
Including Hailey Bieber's "Expensive Brunette" and Emma Chamberlain's bleach blonde.


Is it just me, or does every celebrity I follow on Instagram seem to change up their look every single summer? Natural brunettes tend to add a few blonde pieces, redheads seem to add even more copper tones to their hair—which is all to say that just about everyone goes bigger and brighter in the warmer months. But how can you know exactly what color to go for this summer, or how to maintain the look after you’ve left the salon? To break down exactly what the best summer hair colors are for 2022, I chatted with a few of the top colorists and stylists—and their answers have me wanting to run to the salon first thing tomorrow morning.
How To Find Your Perfect Summer Hair Color
When deciding how to find your best hair color for the new season, start off by taking a look in the mirror. “I do think that hair color all starts with your skin color and eye color. You really want to go to a professional and ask them what works with your skin tone,” says Justin Anderson (opens in new tab), celebrity hairstylist and founder of haircare and color brand dpHue. If you have olive undertones, Anderson recommends “more golden tones or buttery tones” to match the naturally warmer levels in their skin. If you’re more pale, he says to go with ashier tones instead.
When it comes to hair trends overall, Anderson thinks that the future is bright–but he notes that taking care of your roots is just as important. “After the pandemic people want to take care of their roots, they want to be nice and bright this summer,” he says. Ahead, keep reading to find out all about the biggest summer hair trends for 2022, straight from the best celebrity stylists and colorists who are behind creating the trends themselves.

Miranda Kerr's Soft Highlights
"In contrast to the '90s money piece, we are seeing a transition away from bravely bold highlights around the hairline for something more blended and effortless," says Aaron Bradford of Cedric Salon at The Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York City. "This is also much easier to maintain since the growout of this look can go for months and still maintain its classic appeal. This look is perfect for anyone who cannot get into the salon often!"
To maintain the look the look, Bradford recommends L’Oreal's Metal Detox Shampoo and Conditioning Mask, Rene Furterer's Karite Nutri Day Cream.

Vanessa Hudgens' Deep Brunette
Dark-haired beauties, this one is for you: rich, deep, tones are trending for summer 2022 according to Justin Mckay, a Color Partner & Colorist at IGK. "With softer makeup trends on the rise, those with darker toned hair are learning to embrace what naturally compliments their skin tone, and darker hair can also have a striking effect with dark brows and light eyes."
McKay says that maintaining the look of your color is possible by using IGK's Mixed Feelings Brunette Toning Drops.

Kendall Jenner's Copper Red
"This soft and warm shade is the breakout star for Summer 2022 and is the low-commitment cousin of a deeper red," says Fekkai. Because reds tend to fade quicker than other colors, Fekkai recommends using the Technician Color Care Collection to keep your hair looking "rosy and bright." Argan oil and Mirabelle Plum extract add shine and vibrancy.

Beyoncé's Shadow Highlights
Rita Hazan, Beyoncé's longtime stylist, says that Queen B's shadow highlights are the "perfect way to light up your color for summer." The technique makes your hair look fuller and thicker thanks to strategically placed highlights around the face. Rita Hazan's Breaking Brass Gloss will maintain the bright blonde look that is required to master shadow highlights this summer.

Hailey Bieber's "Expensive Brunette" Look
Rather than going blonde for summer, celebrities like Addison Rae and Hailey Bieber have opted to go a touch darker by way of the "Expensive Brunette" trend. "It has the added benefit of being easy to maintain at home," says Frederic Fekkai, Original Celebrity Hairstylist and Founder of FEKKAI. The key to mastering the look is adding lots of healthy shine to your hair. Fekkai recommends using the FEKKAI Brilliant Gloss Collection to do so.

Sophie Turner's Deep Red
Move over, copper! Bradford says that deeper reds are here for summer, too.He says that Hollywood's leading starlets are "stepping away from what would deem a natural red or copper in place of something more vivid and lustrous." He also notes that "warmer tones reflect more light compared to an ashy or cool tone so this look will make your hair visually appear shinier and thicker."

Sydney Sweeney's "Bardot Blonde"
Also referred to as "Butter Blonde," this warmer tone of blonde is popping up everywhere for summer 2022. The look is "in reference to Bridget Bardot that focuses on heavy, all over shades of blonde for a look with a lot of pop," says Bradford. "Even though this look is a lot of color, it’s a surprisingly classic, soft and blended look that will always stay relevant." Bradford recommends using Rene Furterer's Okara Silver Shampoo "once every week or two" alongside the line's Karate Hydra Day Cream.

Winnie Harlow's "Trick Shade"
"Summer brings festival vibes, as well as more opportunities to accessorize," says McKay. You can go all-out like Winnie or opt for something more subtle, as Hilary Duff and Nicole Richie have done in the past. "While you may not consistently see the same shade for long on any celebrity, we're approaching the season where a hint of purple, pink or blue might pop up on any given celeb's instagram."
Once you have your desired color, McKay says that fewer washes will lead to longer color payoff in your hair. He recommends IGK's First Class Dry Shampoo to go longer in-between washes.

Emma Chamberlain's Bleach Blonde
White-hot blonde shades has been on the back burner lately in lieu of softer, warmer, tones, but it's officially back in 2022. Both Emma Chamberlain and Kim Kardashian debuted the hue at this year's Met Gala, proving that you can go bleach blonde in one sitting. "For those of us who are tired of low-maintenance hair, this kind of transformation is about as high maintenance as it gets," says Evan Sollars, a Philadelphia-based colorist. "Be prepared for a multi-hour color session with a price point to match. 2-3 appointments may be necessary depending on your color history, and regular touch ups are a must every 6 weeks. Once your hair is as light as it gets, a strengthening treatment is recommended such as Olaplex to keep your hair with minimal breakage."

Gisele Bundchen's "California Balayage"
"Dimensional, golden blonde tones are the most highly-requested color I’ve seen lately," says New York-based colorist Giselle Luza. "This is a balayage technique that integrates brightness with your natural hair color, producing a sunkissed look that can go up to 6 months between retouches."

Blake Lively's "Bronde"
"I’m seeing a rise in requests from clients wanting hair color that’s more authentic to their natural root," says colorist Liz Haven. She says that these types of colors will actually require fewer trips to the salon because they look so easy, so they're great if you want to add a touch of brightness to your summer look without committing to visiting the salon every six weeks. " Warm, rich tones are definitely the current vibes," she says.

Miley Cyrus' Two-Tone Look
"If you want to get this look, ask your stylist to lighten sections in very clean panels, you can mix it up however you want," says hairstylist Linh Phan (opens in new tab)."It’s popular because it is very edgy and daring, it gives a very striking look and goes well with a lot of makeup trends."
Julia Marzovilla is an E-Commerce Writer at Marie Claire covering all things fashion, beauty, and entertainment. Offline, she’s most likely browsing the web for another pair of black boots or listening to music too loudly—often at the same time.
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