The Top Summer 2026 Hair Color Trends Are So Hot, I'm Actually Sweating
It-girl hair right this way.
As a natural blonde who has gotten cool, creamy highlights and ashy-toned glosses on her hair for the better part of two decades, I have been militant about my hair color and care. But after my wedding and move to Austin, I was itching for some change. One appointment with my new colorist, Mikki Auld, and she convinced me to bring more of my natural color out and add more warmth and dimension. I spent six hours at the salon while shadowing my roots, basin balayaging, foiling, painting, and glossing my hair—but you wouldn't know it, which is the point of summer 2026 hair color trends.
"Barely-there" and "born-with-it" are just two ways to describe the common theme connecting all of this summer's hottest hair colors. "We’re moving away from hair colors that feel overly manicured and salon-created, and towards color that feels elevated, expensive-looking, naturally sun-kissed, and totally wearable," says Auld. "Sheer, diffused tones, born-with-it gradient color, and highlights that are pretty much undetectable are proof that there’s a big return to the luxury of minimalism. It’s less about changing your color and more about enhancing your natural tone with gloss and shine."
Summer colors tend to be lighter, but more importantly, more diffused. "Compared to fall, where you see richer, deeper tones, or spring, which can lean brighter and fresher, what's really unexpected about this summer is the return of softness in tone and more movement," says Jacob Schwartz, an LA-based colorist and Schwarzkopf Professional U.S. Hair Color Trend Ambassador. "Instead of extremes—overly icy blondes or super rich coppers—clients are gravitating toward more neutral, balanced shades that feel sunlit and dimensional, not overly structured."
Here, I've uncovered the best summer hair colors, from strawberry milk to smoked suede espresso for 2026, according to celebrity hairstylists.
Ethereal Blonde
The second Bella Hadid debuted her "crème brûlée" blonde last summer, the shade has been at the top of everyone's hair wishlist—with no signs of slowing down. Schwartz, who created the transformation, dubbed this warmer, more settled-in shade "ethereal blonde." "It's a creamy, light-reflective shade with seamless dimension and a subtle halo effect around the face," says Schwartz. "The look balances airy brightness with delicate lowlights, creating movement and depth without harsh contrast." Use a nourishing hair oil and a weekly purple mask to keep the color bright and ends smoothed.
Bessette Blonde
Is there anyone who didn't immediately want to turn this gorgeous shade of creamy golden blonde after seeing colorist Kari Hill's transformation on Sarah Pidgeon for Love Story? Inspired by the much-obsessed-over style and look of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, this shade is warm and dimensional, with a buttery smooth finish. "It’s less about a single-process color and more about depth created through precision with thick, high-impact, painted-on highlights for an overall veil of warmth and light that the shade reflects," says Auld. "You want the blonde to feel clean, warm, and softly polished."
It's also important to consider maintenance, hair health, and how your hair will wear throughout the summer before taking the dive into a lighter, blonder shade. "Sun, salt water, chlorine, and heat all affect how color holds and fades," says Auld. "Prepping the hair properly, removing mineral buildup, strengthening bonds, and working with gentle, high-performance color is key to achieving that soft, expensive finish without compromising integrity."
Starlet Blonde
According to Schwartz, there’s also a strong movie star influence on hair color this season, too. "Color that feels rich, glossy, and expensive, but still effortless, is major right now," he says. Case in point: this gorgeous, creamy beige-blonde hue Schwartz created for Michelle Randolph—a modern, multidimensional take on classic Hollywood blonde. "The shade pairs honeyed warmth with cooler-neutral tones at the hairline," says Schwartz. "It delivers a glossy, camera-ready finish that feels both rich and refined." You can also prioritize a lived-in grow-out with this shade. "Roots are softer and more diffused, making the color lower maintenance and more wearable between appointments," adds Schwartz.
Strawberry Golden
"Reds are definitely more strawberry and light for the summer," says Schwartz, who is seeing the shift on many of his actresses who are about to start filming for the summer. One of them is Grace van Patten, who debuted this shade at a recent Emmys event. Schwartz calls the shade a "bright, warm, golden strawberry blonde with a natural 'sunlit East Coast' feel and subtle Irish-inspired warmth." To achieve the dreamy shade, Schwartz started by building a light, golden-honey base and strategically layered in lowlights with Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Vibrancefor dimension and longevity.
Soft Auburn
Emma Stone will forever be the queen of elevated reds, and this slightly softer shade created by Stone's colorist Tracey Cunningham is proof. The color has a little more subtle blend of brown, copper, and golden tones, giving it maximum shine and movement. "It's all about soft, blended highlights and lowlights that melt together," says Schwartz. "No harsh lines, no chunky pieces—just natural-looking movement." Reach for a hair gloss when you feel the color looking a little dull.
Sunwashed Copper
Bright and vibrant, this soft, dimensional copper shade (as seen recently on Addison Rae) is a bit richer and ginger-y than a classic strawberry blonde shade. With layered tones of copper, gold, and amber, it leaves a light-reflective finish that moves beautifully in natural light and looks positively radiant.
French Brunette
Created by stylist Travis Ogletree, who is known for his hand-painted technique that delivers color so good it looks you were born with it, this warm, all-around golden-flecked shade of brunette screams "summer spent on the French Riviera." The key here is natural warmth and dimension with caramel, honey, or golden balayage or highlights imperceptibly blended throughout.
Teddy Bear Bronde
Hailey Bieber knows what she's doing when it comes to hair, and her color and cuts are always incredible for inspo. Los Angeles-based colorist Matt Rez is Bieber's go-to for gorgeous bronde naturalness. This shade is particularly striking, with a dark blonde meets golden brown woven throughout for a luminous, sunlit finish. "Clients want dimension that mimics natural sun exposure so there's a soft brightness through the surface, with depth still intact underneath," explains Auld. "This is a gorgeous dimensional mix of blonde, brown, and golden tones for a high shine effect that looks perfectly balanced, natural, and really wearable."
'90s Supermodel Brunette
While we're yearning for 2016, some hair colors are going back even further—to the golden age of the '90s. This brunette shade is reminiscent of icon Cindy Crawford in her heyday—rich with a hint of sparkling gold for dimension. "There’s a shift toward “controlled brightness” where you still get that impact around the face and through the lengths, but it’s placed in a way that feels subtle and grown-in," says Schwartz. "It’s a quieter approach to color, but actually more elevated."
Smoked Suede Espresso
Instead of high contrast, Schwartz is focused on more tone-on-tone blending to achieve this shade he calls smoked suede brunette. "Soft, smoky undertones layered with subtle warmth help keep the color from feeling flat," he says. "The result is glossy, healthy-looking hair that feels elevated but still very wearable."
Sultry Brunette
While blondes are getting warmer, we're also seeing brunettes opt for a range of cooler-toned shades. "It's all about depth and shine without heaviness," says Schwartz. This deep, dark brown hue features multi-tonal layers that add a dimensional sheen while still keeping it luminous and high-impact. "It's rich, glossy, and leaves almost a liquid finish," says Auld. "I'm obsessed with how gorgeous it looks."
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Meet The Experts
With over 16 years in the industry, Mikki Auld is an Australian hair colorist and stylist based in Austin, Texas. She has built a name synonymous with elevated, natural, lived-in hair— As the founder of Paloma Roan, her influence extends far beyond the salon chair, she is also a luxury salon mentor and global educator.
Nashville-born Jacob Schwartz moved to LA to apprentice under Tracey Cunningham at Mèche Salon. His training, talent, and skill have led him to develop his celebrity clientele, from Margot Robbie and her iconic Barbie blonde to Sydney Sweeney to Lana Del Rey to Alex Cooper. Jacob Schwartz is trusted by Hollywood’s most renowned blondes; Margot Robbie, Brie Larson and Sydney Sweeney in addition to today's hottest brunettes; Bella Hadid, Daisy Edgar Jones and Lily Collins. He is responsible for the most popular hair color trends of the last two years seen on magazine covers, designer ad campaigns and the red carpet.
