"Opal Hair" Is All Your Favorite Trends in One Dye Job
Sweet mother of pearl.

Rainbow and pastel dye jobs have been having a serious, years-long moment, and they've spawned yet another offspring trend: opal hair.
Just like the precious gem, which appears pearlescent white at first glance but changes color the longer you look at it, it's kind of the unicorn of dye jobs—it gives you that girly pastel impact while still being subtle enough to rock at the office. (Well, if your boss is cool.)
It's the brainchild of beloved dye magician Aura Friedman of Sally Hersberger Downtown. "I've always played around with variations of color," she told Refinery 29. "I love iridescent colors, so I just like to do them over and over again, expressing them in different ways."
While many adaptations do use grayish platinum blonde as a canvas for the layer of colors (think washed-out aquas, violets, and pinks), the pigments still work for brunettes, just with more of a saturated feel.
The one catch for all hair colors is that these mermaid-esque hues are likely to fade fast. But considering that fall is just around the bend, it could make for a smooth transition into the cooler months. See some of our favorite takes on the look below:
https://instagram.com/p/65oZ7IyBQR/?taken-by=jenatkinhair
https://instagram.com/p/54xK1mxUam/?taken-by=auracolorist
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
https://instagram.com/p/6pMYpuxUSI/?taken-by=auracolorist
https://instagram.com/p/6kSMtNxUX4/?taken-by=auracolorist
https://instagram.com/p/6hpV50xUcD/?taken-by=auracolorist
https://instagram.com/p/6eGudPRUbj/?taken-by=auracolorist
Lauren Valenti is Vogue’s former senior beauty editor. Her work has also appeared on ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, and in In Style. She graduated with a liberal arts degree from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts, with a concentration on Culture and Media Studies and a minor in Journalism.
-
Sofia Richie Grainge Styles Zebra Pants With Flip-Flops
Next stop on the tour: her elegant wedding venue in the South of France.
-
Gigi Hadid Pairs Metallic Track Pants and Mesh Flats
The controversial shoe trend is most definitely gaining steam.
-
Body Language Expert Says Kate Can't "Mask Her Emotions"
"We also saw William...mirroring the same emotions as Kate."
-
Patrick Ta's Major Glow Bronzing Body Oil Gives My Skin a Vacation Glow—Without the Vacation
Patrick Ta's newest drop gives a vacation glow without the vacation.
-
Laura Harrier's Met Gala Makeup Stays Glowy-Not-Greasy Thanks to This $14 Setting Spray
Locked in "from the carpet to the dinner and to all the after parties."
-
Zendaya's 2025 Met Gala Makeup Is Going on My Bridal Beauty Board
Feminine and edgy, all in one.
-
Starface and Heaven by Marc Jacobs Merge Skincare and Streetwear in a Grungy New Collab
Everyone's favorite pimple patches team up with a fashion icon.
-
These Products Are My Secret to Dewy, Sun-Kissed Skin
Prepare to glow.
-
Everything You Need to Know About Marie Claire’s Skin and Hair Awards
Could your brand survive an editor testing session?
-
The 11 Best Spring Makeup Trends Are Sexy, Sensual, and Perfectly Luminous
It's dew or die time.
-
Simone Ashley’s Indie Sleaze Glam Is a Cool-Toned Dream
The actor was spotted in New York City looking like the epitome of cool-toned beauty.