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05.17.2026
12 Summer Hair Color Trends for 2026
Get ready for a season of freehand highlights, seamlessly sun-drenched hues, and beachy tousling, because the summer color trends for 2026 are in. This year, "healthy luxury" leads the way, as shades take on a lustrous, expensive-looking sheen. Think flawlessly melted balayage, buttery-smooth blondes, and reds so vibrant they glow with a molten, glass-like intensity.
So, let's get into the looks. As your salon bookings fill up for the season, here are the 2026 summer hair color trends your clients will be saving and bringing straight to the chair...
1. Butter Blonde Balayage
Image Credit: @moniqueliacastro
Warm blondes always have their moment in summer, and this year is no different. Keep it creamy and smooth with butter blondes that marry sun-kissed softness with sophisticated richness. A brighter take on golden blonde, this is the ideal hair trend for clients wanting to invite extra lightness into their look. Shine is key here, and nothing glows like Illumina Color. Packed with Microlight Technology, it allows light to enter the hair shaft and illuminate blondes from within.
The Formula:
- Lightener: Blondor Freelights | Toner: Illumina Color 8/37 + 7/0
2. Biscuit Blonde Hair Color
Image Credit: @violaparrucchieri_viacecati_
For brunettes who want to go blonde, this biscuity bronde hue is ideal. It draws in a scattering of brighter tones while retaining depth and giving hair some summery richness. Warm caramel tones and hints of toffee create a soft, multi-dimensional finish that feels effortless and expensive.
The Formula:
- Toner: Color Touch 10/3 + 9/97 + 7/71 + 1.9% Welloxon Perfect
3. Digital Copper Hair Color
Image Credit: @kelvinozannehair
Copper isn't just for fall. We repeat: copper isn't just for fall. If your client wants a summery rush of red, the digital copper color trend is the dream. It combines copper spice with shades of apricot and molten ember, wrapped in a futuristic sheen that's so glossy, it's surreal. The intensity of Koleston Perfect – not to mention its vast red palette – will help you look in the tone, with a clear SHINEFINITY gloss will amp up the shine as a finishing touch.
The Formula:
- Toner: Koleston Perfect 7/34 + 9% Welloxon Perfect
4. Slate Brunette Hair Color
Image Credit: @hairxjojo
Browns are going cool for summer, with shades like slate brunette rising to the fore. Think hyper-blended shades of ash and silver through a dark brown base. The effect is a mushroom brown but darker, with 'blink and you'll miss it' lightening. We love this look for clients who have natural depth, and want to introduce summer lightness in a sheer, subtle way.
The Formula:
- Toner: Color Touch 9/97 + 9/86 + 9/96
5. Air Touch Balayage
Image Credit: @danielmbeauty
Your balayage technique is getting an airy upgrade this season. At a time when seamless, sun-kissed softness is the goal, air touch balayage is the gold standard for blended hues like never before. Any shade of blonde goes with this process. To achieve the look, simply:
- Section the hair finely and use a blow dryer to push shorter hairs out of the way.
- Apply lightener only to the longer strands left behind.
- Feather up softly toward the root for a diffused gradient and the most beautiful blend.
The Formula:
- Lightener: BlondorPlex 9 | Roots: Shinefinity 06/0 | Toner: Illumina 10/69
6. Iced Espresso Brown Hair Color
Image Credit: @e_medz
Espresso browns are gaining all the buzz right now, but as it's iced coffee season, we're giving the rich brunette an icy twist with cool-toned highlights. This look combines a deep, glossy base with sheer, smoky ribbons that catch the light – perfect for clients who want dimension without warmth. The result is reflective, expensive-looking color with a chilled finish that feels flawlessly fresh for summer.
The Formula:
- Toner: Color Touch 7/71 + 8/81
7. Carnelian Red Hair Color
Image Credit: @hairstylingelisa
We told you copper is cool for summer this year. This trend gives your clients a brighter take, inspired by the glassy, orange-red glow of a carnelian gemstone. Reach for burnt copper brown hues to achieve this trend, using Koleston Perfect for intensity, vibrancy and shine. The permanent formula is packed with Metal Purifier, so you get the most reliable, radiant finish, every time.
The Formula:
- Roots: Koleston Perfect 99/44 + 88/43 + 6% Welloxon Perfect
- Lengths: Koleston Perfect 99/44 + 88/43 + 4% Welloxon Perfect
8. Enriching Reverse Balayage
Image Credit: @danielmbeauty
It's tradition to go lighter in the summer months, but this year, you might see more clients asking for depth. Call it the uprising of bronde blends; a turn towards rich browns that feel as sun-kissed as their blonde counterparts. Reverse balayage is a great way of doing this for clients who hair is currently light, as you can seamlessly break up their blonde with brown lowlights and root shadowing, while still keeping some sunny brightness intact.
The Formula:
- Lowlights: Color Touch 5/97 + 7/71
- Toner: Koleston Perfect 7/73 + 9/05
9. White Blonde Hair Color
Image Credit:@jhair_stylist
The moment Pantone announced its 2026 Color of the Year as Cloud Dancer – an ethereal, airy white – we knew platinum blondes would be making a summer season comeback. Crisp blonde hair that strikes a statement is major for 2026, making BlondorPlex 9 a staple in your kit. Perfect for pure white blondes, it gives you up to 9 levels of lift and up to 97% less breakage*.
The Formula:
- Lightener: BlondorPlex 9
- Toner: BlondorPlex Cream Toner /16 + 1.9% Welloxon Perfect
10. Sun-Kissed Color Melting
Image Credit: @nikkiclifford_hair
For clients craving low-maintenance color this summer, try melting their sun-drenched hues together in one bronzy, blondie masterpiece. Color Touch is our go-to formula for this level of seamlessness, as its stunning vibrancy breathes new life into warm, summery tones. Keep the contrast low, painting 3-5 colors in the same tonal family through the lengths and ends for beautiful blending.
11. Power Pastel Highlights
Image Credit: @nikkiclifford_hair
Pastels will always be in for summer, and they pair perfectly with this season's white blonde. Punch up the pigment with slightly bolder shades of lilac, blue and/or pink, and paint them in the lower layers of hair for a peekaboo effect that feels festival-ready.
The Formula:
- Blonde toner : Illumina 8/69 and 10/
- Pink highlights: Color Fresh CREATE Tomorrow Clear 40g + High Magenta 10g
- Blue highlights: Color Fresh CREATE Tomorrow Clear 40g + New Blue 5g
12. Seamless Cinnamon Balayage
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
As summer turns to fall, you'll start to see spiced reds making a comeback, from cherry cola tones to cinnamon brown balayage looks like this one. Save this look for clients looking to transition into richer, warmer, red-toned depth while keeping the soft, dimensional finish that makes summer hair so irresistible.
Looking for more looks set to take the salon world by storm this year? Discover the complete line-up of hair color trends for 2026.
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