If you know me, you know that I consider March through April the perfect excuse to switch up my hair color for spring. Sure, earthy fall hair colors are fun and winter hair colors can be edgy and ~avant-garde~, but nothing gets me in the mood for a new spring hair color than this time of year, when I’m finally out of my deep dark winter hole of sadness (drama? Me? Never). Spring brings with it a foray back into the world of color that we’ve been missing for months.
And in preparation for this far superior time of year, I’ve been researching all the spring hair color trends that will be everywhere this year. Think: strawberry brunette, face-framing highlights, and copper-red locs for 2022. So whether you’ll be working with a box dye at home or you’ll be heading to the salon, get ready to screenshot. Ahead, 27 of the prettiest spring hair colors trending rn.
1. This Strawberry Red Brunette for Spring
If your Insta feed is anything like mine, you’ve probably noticed that it seems like everyone is going strawberry brunette for spring. The love child of red, blonde, and brown hair has truly been sweeping the nation, and I want in. To keep your hair from looking dull, top off this shade with a gloss treatment to keep it shiny and fresh.
2. This Black to Brown Ombré Idea
Listen up: Ombré isn’t just for those of us who want to make our ends blonde—black to brown is one of my favorite ways to transform my hair. I mean, can you just imagine this hair on Vanessa Hudgens in a ponytail? But if ombré is too much change for you, ask your colorist to do a balayage—it’s way more of a subtle color transition, but you’ll still get the same effect.
3. Money Piece Highlights for Spring 2022
If you’re a natural brunette and you want to do something new with your hair this spring, may I suggest a money piece highlight? This look is quick, easy, and not a full-fledged change to your everyday look.
4. Copper Red Locs for Spring
Spring is all about incorporating bright, bold colors back into your life—whether it’s your wardrobe, makeup, or hair. This deep copper spring hair color on Meagan Good is so dreamy and bold and perfect against the backdrop of the flowers blooming come next season. Screenshot and bring this pic to your loctician to talk about what type of copper locs will work for you (whether it’s faux locs, goddess locs, etc).
5. This Lived-In Beach Blonde Idea
Who says you can’t rock this lived-in beach blonde a couple of months before summer? I personally love a little bit of my roots peeking through for some added dimension, but if you’re not into it, you can always grab a root touch-up kit to keep your roots bright.
6. This Muted Caramel Hair Color
IMO, this warm brunette shade looks good all year-round. But it’s the subtle caramel highlights peeking out at the bottom half that scream (or rather, softly whisper) springtime. IMO, highlights are best done in the salon by a professional, buuut if you really want to attempt to highlight your hair at home, make sure you read up on it first—you’ll thank me later.
7. Dip-Dyed Ends for Spring 2022
Guess what? Blunt, dip-dyed ends are making a return for spring 2022—only this time, it’s all about bright and unexpected color contrast (read: not that 2000s-era ombré hair color you’re used to seeing). Case in point: this combination of red hair and neon blue ends that you’re about to see all over your feed.
8. Chocolate Brown Spring Hair Idea
Thinking about going lighter for spring? This rich, chocolaty brown hair color is here to convince you otherwise. This hue is made extra pretty with slightly darker ends and plenty of shine. Psst: Hair glosses are a great way to maintain this color at home.
9. Face-Framing Highlights for Spring
Yup, those bright, face-framing highlights you keep seeing all over your IG feed are here to stay for spring 2022. The coolest thing about this hair color trend (other than the fact that Bella Hadid is in on it) is that it’s fully customizable—play around with temporary dyes until you find a color combo that fits your vibe.
10. Multi-Color Braids for Spring 2022
Follow Tessa Thompson’s lead this spring and opt for multi-color braids (think: shades of blonde, brown, and honey). This style is a great way to experiment with color without going full throttle, since you can incorporate everything from subtle shades to bright hues.
11. This Lilac Spring Hair for 2022
TBH, if the pandemic years (wow, hate that phrase) have taught us anything about hair color trends, it’s that anything and everything goes. So if you’re tired of the same old blondes and browns, try out a brighter shade like this electric lilac. The best part? It’ll fade into a pretty wash of purple as it grows out. Lilac hair color care takes effort, but it’s so worth it.
12. This Dark Honey Spring Hair Idea
13. Inky Black Hair for Spring 2022
A tad darker and richer than traditional honey blondes, this shade is the perfect way to transition into a warmer color for spring. Also, like, can we talk about how cute this color looks when styled into a middle part and soft waves like Lucy Hale’s?
There isn’t a hair color that Dua Lipa can’t pull off (and her ever-changing look is proof), but one of my personal faves is this rich, shiny-AF black. Like, sure, dark hues are usually associated with colder months, but the dimension and shine throughout this color make it a year-round staple.
14. Blue Hair for Spring 2022
Soft, barely there pastels are a thing of the past, y’all. This spring, try out a bright, vibrant hue with tons of shade variation. Exhibit A: Amandla Stenberg’s blue braids, which combine the prettiest blend of baby blue, royal blue, navy, and black. Just make sure you have a color-safe shampoo on hand for your new spring color, alright?
15. Shadow Roots for Spring
TBH, my favorite thing about the shadow root trend for spring is that it’s sooo easy to grow out. Unlike allover blonde highlights, this Sofia Richie–approved hair color blends fairly seamlessly with your roots (aka you don’t have to spend nearly as much time at the salon).
16. Red-Brown Spring Hair Color
The coolest way to touch up your brown hair this spring? A shiny gloss—Kendall Jenner’s red-brown hairstyle. It’s the perfect combination of subtle and fun (like, not everyone will automatically notice it), and it’s so easy to enhance if you decide you love it (and why wouldn’t you?).
17. Baby-Blonde Hair for Spring 2022
Good luck looking at Lucy Boynton’s baby-blonde hair color and not ordering some bleach on Amazon Prime (wait, but don’t though). Perfect for anyone who’s over that warm, golden shade of blonde that was everywhere in 2020/21, this 2022 spring trend is as white-blonde as it gets.
18. Bronde Hair for Spring
Not quite brown, not quite blonde, Gigi Hadid’s golden “bronde” hair color is a genius way to ease into the spring season. A few soft, natural-looking highlights and lowlights will brighten up your faded color that’s been living under a hood all winter.
19. Classic Brown Hair for 2022
Sometimes, you just can’t beat a classic hair color, which is probs why Emily Ratajkowski has kept her signature brown hue for so long. If you aren’t up for experimenting with something bold for your spring hairstyles, you’ll love this smooth, easy-to-wear color.
20. Pale Lilac Spring Hair Idea
Okay, fine, I know I said soft pastels are about to be replaced by brighter hair colors this spring, but Dove Cameron’s pale lilac is definitely the exception. Lemme just say my hairstylist had to talk me down from DIYing this color in my bathroom sink.
21. Contrasted Hair for Spring
Yup, Dua Lipa’s hair colors are so strong she made the list twice. Just like Billie Eilish’s green hue, this streaky, Y2K-era hair color trend is basically the anti-ombré. Think: super-intense contrasts at your roots that really stand out. This color is definitely on the riskier side, so make sure you go to a professional.
22. Buttery Blonde Hair for 2022
The current trend climate? Less of the icy-blonde hues we saw all winter and more of the warmer, buttery-blonde shades you’re starting to see on your feeds. With golden highlights like these, you’ll get a color that looks much more natural than the cooler, icier tones (even if it’s not). Upkeep with blonde hair is no easy feat, so make sure to use a hair mask to hydrate, protect, and strengthen.
23. Coppery Red Spring Hair
Make your red even warmer this spring with a bright, coppery wash hair color. The best part? There are so many variations of this color (rosy copper, golden copper, rusty copper, etc.), so you’ll definitely find a version of the vibrant hue that works for you—just ask your colorist first.
24. This Brown With Blonde Highlights Color
Don’t feel like bleaching your whole head? Try lightening your look by adding some highlighted accents throughout your darker hues. To get this look, have your stylist add some subtle brightened strips around your face and toward the ends of your hair to play up your natural texture. Note: To get the most natural effect, have your colorist choose highlights only a few shades lighter than—and in the same color family as—your base.
25. This Bubblegum Pink Hair for Spring
This bubblegum pink is a super-pretty option for spring (which, btw, will fade into the perfect rose-gold shade as it grows out). If you’re a bit hesitant to dye your hair pink, start with a semi-permanent option (like a tinted hairspray) to test things out.
26. Dark Roots for Spring 2022
Yup, dark roots are back in fashion, regardless of what all your instincts are telling you. Not only does the dark-light combo allow for a more seamless grow-out phase, but it also gives you more time between color sessions. Don’t want to wait until your roots naturally show? Have your colorist shadow the root at your next highlight appointment to give it that lived-in look.
27. Deep Brown Hair for Spring 2022
For deep brown and black shades, ask your stylist to add very minimal highlights just around your face for a touch of subtle dimension in your dark hair. If you’re not into highlights, add a slightly lighter hair gloss all over your hair to make your color look shiny and defined, not dull and flat.
Via Cosmopolitan US.