Keep up with COLOUR

From muted metallics and chrome, to warmth and natural greys, these are the colour trends you need to keep on your radar, according to top colourists…

GRACE DALGLEISH

You you may not love the word ‘trend’, but in an industry so closely associated with fashion and beauty, it’s unavoidable. Rewind back to our February issue, where we highlighted the styles popping off on the SS25 runway. Since then, clients have been embracing natural, undone texture, wet-look waves, and sculpted styles that are actually wearable (hello, sleek ponytails). And then there’s social media, celebrities, influencers and star-studded events (at HJ we loved the Met Gala). Keeping up with the trending hair looks on everyone’s fingertips keeps you relevant. The benefits? Your clients want the latest looks and you’ll be ready to deliver. You’ll gain trust which will lead to increased client loyalty. So, with that in mind, and colour services being one of the biggest revenue drivers, take a read of the latest colour trends and what you can expect to see moving into 2026, from top colourists…

2025 SHIFTS

“This year’s trends have had the feel of self-made colour,” Grace Dalgleish tells us. “Something that feels a little offset, a little lived-in, and not too uniform. Tones have become softer, more washed out, and definitely less ‘perfect’. There’s been a real shift towards warmth, golden blondes, terracotta, and rich coppers – clients are genuinely embracing it and there’s less fear around warmth. It’s no longer seen as brassy, but instead as something bright and natural.” Likewise, Amy Meah adds: “There’s a real want

INNERSENSE for colour that enhances the cut and shape of the hair – think big, healthy hair paired with rich, warm colour that brings the hair to life. Glossy golden tones, soft cinnamon balayage, and healthy blondes with depth will be key,” she says. “Buttery blondes are soft, warm, flattering, and work beautifully with low maintenance blends.”

“I’M REALLY INSPIRED BY THE ART OF REFINED MINIMALISM. THOSE EFFORTLESS SUN-KISSED LOOKS THAT FEEL NATURAL BUT ARE THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED. MY MOODBOARD REFLECTS THAT UNDERSTATED LUXURY: SOFT LINENS, GOLDEN LIGHT AND TIMELESS BEAUTY. I’M DRAWN TO THE WAY FASHION AND BEAUTY WORK TOGETHER IN WARM NEUTRALS AND CREAMY TEXTURES.”

“SS25 is all about soft-focus dimension. Think blush blondes, apricot browns and cool smokey coppers. Our favourites are the muted mocha mousse and strawberry milk blondes – they're wearable but still creative!”

L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL PARIS

BEST OF BRUNETTES

Following the rise of expensive brunettes (Mocha Mousse anyone?), brunettes are still on the trend agenda according to colourists. “I predict mushroom browns will be huge,” Joseph Boylan tells us. “Unlike other shades of brown, mushroom brown doesn’t lean distinctly warm or cool, offering a balanced mix of both undertones.”

Similarly, Maria Freitas shares: “We’ll see shades that enhance individual features, delivering a sense of effortless sophistication. My own personal preference includes mocha brown.

It’s an elegant and discrete colour with low maintenance.”

MORE METALLICS

Moving into 2026, it’s all about futuristic, metallic tones. “Expect to see vivid shades take over, inspired by nature, digital worlds, and a shift in global mood,” says David Baker. For Grace, it’s about depth and layering, building tone-on-tone to create something nuanced and unexpected. “It’s less about a single shade and more about how different colours interact,” she tells us. “That layered approach brings a new movement that feels modern. I think we will see a shift towards cooler, metallic chrome tones.” Likewise, James Earnshaw, Wella Global Ambassador adds: “The muted metallic trend works with different hair depths, taking the shimmer and cool of metallic tones and softens them into wearable shades that catch the light. Think smoked-out bronze all the way to lavender tones.”

RUSH

JAMES EARNSHAW

GRACE DALGLEISH

“THINK METALLIC HUES, AVATAR BLONDES, PURPLES AND GLOBAL COLOURS!”

“FOR CLIENTS SEEKING A REFINED BLONDE, TAKE NOTE OF VANILLA BLONDE – A CREAMY, COOL HUE. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY BLENDING HIGHLIGHTS AND A NATURAL TONE TO ADD DIMENSION.”

TRACEY ANN SMITH

“MAHOGANY COLOURS – THOSE DEEP, ELEGANT REDS THAT ALLOW CLIENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR STYLE AND PERSONALITY WITH SOPHISTICATION.”

NEXT BIG THING

We asked some of the biggest colour names what they think will be the next BIG trend, here’s what they had to say...

“I THINK THE NEXT BIG COLOUR TREND WILL FOCUS ON BOLD, EXPRESSIVE SHADES. DEEP, INTENSE COLOURS LIKE RICH REDS AND VIVID BLUES WILL LEAD THE WAY. I THINK WE’LL SEE MORE PLAYFUL COMBINATIONS, LIKE PAIRING BOLD COLOURS WITH METALLICS OR NEON ACCENTS FOR ADDED IMPACT.”

“I’D SAY CHROME PALETTES. IT’S THAT COMBINATION OF HIGH SHINE WITH SOFT, MATTE CONTRASTS – ALMOST HOLOGRAPHIC WITH COLOUR THAT PLAYS WITH LIGHT AND LAYERING. IT GIVES THIS FOUR-DIMENSIONAL FEEL THAT CAN BE TAILORED TO THE INDIVIDUAL.”

“WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT, I WAS SOMEONE WHO WOULD WAIT FOR COLOUR TRENDS TO HIT AND FIND INSPIRATION FROM OTHER STYLISTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. NOW, I LOVE SCOURING THE WEB TO FIND THE HOTTEST AND NEWEST TRENDS – ALMOST BEING AHEAD OF THE GAME WHEN IT COMES TO COLOUR.”

BRING IT BACK

Find yourself wishing for your favourite trends to come back around? Here’s just some of the trends the colour pros are waiting to welcome again…

MICHELA BAZZOLI & CHARLEY HENERY

“CHUNKY CONTRAST PANELS BUT DONE WITH INTENTION! WE’D LOVE TO SEE EARLY 2000S BOLDNESS RETURN WITH CLEANER PLACEMENT AND RICHER TONALITY. THINK CHUNKY ESPRESSO PIECES THROUGH SOFT BEIGE OR PLATINUM – STATEMENT WITHOUT CHAOS.”

DAVID BAKER

“I LOVE 90S GRUNGE AND MINIMALISM. I’D LOVE TO SEE THE RETURN OF COLOUR BLENDING – ESPECIALLY OMBRE STYLES WHERE ONE SHADE SEAMLESSLY TRANSITIONS INTO ANOTHER.”

“COBAIN BLONDE WHICH I DID A FEW YEARS AGO. IT HIGHLIGHTED THE RETURN OF VERY GOLDEN TONES WITH DIFFERENT PANELS.”

“I’M A FAN OF LATE 90S AND EARLY Y2K HAIR TRENDS. DARK ON TOP AND BLONDE UNDERNEATH (OR THE REVERSE!), AS WELL AS DIP-DYE LOOKS BUT WITH A MODERN APPROACH.”

“Throughout my career, I've learned that while colour trends are amazing for inspiration, it's all about adapting them to suit each person – their lifestyle, taste, and maintenance preferences. That's how you gain loyalty and long term relationships with clients. It's about making the trend theirs.”

SIOBHAN HAUG

PEEKABOO!

Is it the return of peekaboo hair? Zoe Irwin, Editorial Colour Ambassador for L’Oréal Professionnel Paris seems to think so: “Peekaboo hair is really emerging as a big trend, especially on TikTok. The look is super wearable for clients as they can flip the hair from one side to the other to reveal the asymmetric colour.” Another fan of peekaboo hair is Siobhan Haug. “If I could bring back a colour trend, it would absolutely be the strategically placed peekaboo colour panels. There’s such a playful versatility in having those hidden pops of pastel or bolder ribbons tucked away,” she says. “The idea that you can choose when and how much personality to reveal with a simple hair movement – tying the hair up or flipping the parting to showcase vibrant hues. I’d love to see more of that playful dynamism making a comeback!”