Trust: You’ll Want to Screenshot These Hair Color Trends *Immediately* (2024)

Trust: You’ll Want to Screenshot These Hair Color Trends *Immediately* (1)

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Heads up: 2021 is slowly (and somehow also quickly??) coming to an end. And if you happened to get through most of this year without trying any of the latest hair-color trends (or even just the spring and fall hair trends), it’s not too late to switch it up. Because, breaking news: There are tons of new hair-color trends for 2021 that have recently taken over Instagram, and you’re def gonna want to jump on these asap. I’m talking smokey balayages, contrasting shadow roots, and no less than three different shades of auburn hair. Convinced yet? Thought so. Keep scrolling and peep these 53 (yup, 53) hair color trends of 2021.

1

Contrasting Highlights for 2021

These contrasting highlights are a modern—and much cuter—take on the streaky highlights of the early ‘00s. Screenshot this pic for your stylist, and let them know that you want the highlights to start about halfway down your hair, and to include some face-framing pieces to bring it all together.

2

This Sandy Blonde Hair Color Trend

Big note for bleaching your curls: Bleach will dry TF out of your hair. That’s not to say you shouldn’t go for it (I mean, how incredible does Janelle Monae look?), but be prepared to deep-condition your hair at least once a week and smooth a palmful of hair oil through your hair daily.

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3

This White Hair Color Trend

This frosty-white hair color is so freaking cool, and would also make a great winter hair color. Thinking about going for it? Cool—but first, check out our guide on dyeing natural hair to learn about the importance of seeing a pro versus DIY-ing your own hair color (spoiler: don't try this at home).

4

This Smokey Balayage for 2021

My summer-hating soul is obsessed with this smokey-toned balayage, which is perfect for the cold weather months ahead. The best part about a balayage is that you can start with your natural color on top, meaning no frequent root touch-up appointments required.

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5

Vibrant Red Hair Color Trend

NGL, fiery red hair has always been a personal favorite of mine, and fall is a great time of year to give it a try. The best way to preserve a vibrant color like this is to shampoo as infrequently as your hair and scalp will allow (yes, even if you’re using a sulfate-free shampoo). So add a dry shampoo into your routine to stave off greasy roots.

6

This Three-Toned Hair Color Trend

This piecey, three-toned hair color trend is so fun and honestly works all year long. I’ll be honest, this isn’t the most low-maintenance hair color trend, but if you’re willing to make some regular trips to the salon for root touch-ups and hair glosses, it’ll be worth it.

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7

This Ash-Brown Hair Color Trend

If you know your skin undertones are in the blue, green, or violet category (i.e., cool tones), ash-brown hair was made for you. It’s a smokey brunette shade that, yup, has cooler tones and will complement your skin tone really well. If you have light hair, you won’t need much bleaching to get this color. And for dark hair, consult with your colorist first, since it’ll likely require some bleaching first.

8

Dimensional Copper Tones for 2021

Looking to overhaul your whole hair color or add some depth to your already-red hair? Copper hair is one of my favorite hair color trends of 2021, and to really add some dimension to your color, ask your colorist to mix in a few different shades (think: some lighter, some darker).

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9

This Pastel Hair Trend for 2021

Fall and winter be dammed, pls try this pastel hair color trend. Bring two to three shades of pastels (like the blue, mint green, and lilac hair color you see here) to your colorist. BTW, since this is a bleach-heavy dye job, it’s best to not DIY this one.

10

This Bubblegum Pink Hair Trend

K, so there's obviously no hair color Lizzo wouldn’t look amazing in, but this bubblegum pink? Game-changer. Bright hair colors always look so great on pixie haircuts, but heads up, they do require more maintenance (think: touch-up appointments) so keep that in mind when flipping through your fave shades of pink.

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11

This Split Dye Hair Idea for 2021

The best part about this hair color trend is that you don’t have to choose between colors. And to keep your color looking really ~fresh~ after a few weeks, pick up an at-home hair gloss, which can tone down any brassiness (especially on the bleached half) and add some shine back in.

12

Red-Wine Balayage for 2021

I’m officially calling this hair color “mulled wine,” because it’s a perfect fall hair color trend—and because I love mulled wine, obvs. This shade works really well for cool-toned brunette hair colors, thanks to the cool undertones in this deep berry-red color. And to maintain that level of shine, go back to your colorist once a month to treat yourself to a hair glaze.

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13

This Smoke-Grey Hair Trend Idea

Gray and silver hair comes in about a thousand different shades, but this year’s gray hair color trend is this smokey color. Something to watch out for: brassiness, aka the yellowish tint that can surface a few weeks after getting it done. To fix that? A purple shampoo and purple conditioner to neutralize the warm tones.

14

Blue Highlights for 2021

Blue highlights are cute on both short and long hairstyles. Pro tip: To really let the blue stand out, add some soft waves with a flat iron and follow with a blast of texturizing spray for a messier look.

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15

Auburn Tips for 2021

You don’t have to completely change your natural hair color to mix things up. Example: these auburn tips, which, by lightening up just a few sections, add a ton of dimension to any natural brunette hair color.

16

Peach Pink Hair Color Trend

Peach hair is the warmer, softer version of pink. To recreate this look, ask your colorist to leave a little shadow root so you don’t have a harsh grow-out line. And if you want something a little more low-key but with the same warmth, opt for a strawberry-blonde hue instead.

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17

Shadow Roots for 2021

Shadow roots, aka the hair color trend that saves you from constant touch-up appointments, can be recreated in so many ways. One of them is this dramatic contrast between the blonde and darker brown roots. But if you want something softer, tell your colorist you only want to go a couple shades darker than the rest of your hair for a more diffused shadow root.

18

This Warm Blonde Hair Color Trend

Let’s get one thing out of the way real quick: Pls don’t fully bleach your hair at home. Too major, too risky; just trust me, k? Cool. Now we can talk about how cool this warm-blonde color looks on Amanda Lastenberg—and how if you get this done, you should avoid heat styling and over-manipulating your already-fragile hair.

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19

This Blonde Streak Hair Color Idea

Not here for a full hair overhaul? The single white-blonde streak is a really simple way to add a little change to your hair. You can choose a section of hair on the side like this style, or opt for two face-framing pieces instead (this works really well with layered haircuts, BTW).

20

Caramel Highlights for 2021

Come for Jennifer Hudson’s chocolate-brown hair, stay for her subtle caramel hair color. These caramel highlights look especially pretty on curly hair, too, since the texture allows the light to catch lighter tones so easily. And don’t worry if you don’t have these 3c curls—caramel is a shade that loves all hair types, from 1a to 4c.

Trust: You’ll Want to Screenshot These Hair Color Trends *Immediately* (22)

Sami Roberts

Sami Roberts was the previous beauty assistant at Cosmopolitan. Keep up with her cat-filled life in New York on Instagram.

Trust: You’ll Want to Screenshot These Hair Color Trends *Immediately* (23)

Chloe Metzger

Deputy Beauty Director

Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life). She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in Allure, Health, Fitness, Marie Claire, StyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Thanks.

Trust: You’ll Want to Screenshot These Hair Color Trends *Immediately* (2024)
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