Dyeing your hair offers a fantastic way to refresh your look and express your personality. While classic shades like blonde, black, and brown remain popular, a realm of unconventional hair color ideas awaits those seeking a drastic change. Whether you're drawn to pastels or vibrant neon brights, you can find a way to make fantasy colors work for you. From all-over color transformations to subtle peekaboo highlights, the possibilities for experimenting with fantasy colors are endless.
Selecting the perfect hair color involves considering your skin's undertones. According to Abby Haliti, owner of NYC’s Abby Haliti Color Studio, identifying whether your skin has warm or cool undertones is key. Warm undertones typically exhibit yellow, peachy, or golden hues, while cool undertones lean towards pink or blue.
Haliti emphasizes the importance of considering your eye color and natural hair color when choosing a shade.
Before taking the plunge, it's crucial to have a thorough consultation with your colorist. Alissa DeLaTorre, a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, recommends asking questions such as:
DeLaTorre also advises bringing pictures to the consultation, as visual references can help ensure that you and your colorist are on the same page. "Always bring pictures because everyone sees color so differently, and sometimes, using words to describe isn’t enough."
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For a relatively natural look with a touch of the unexpected, consider a tonal sunflower ombré.
If you want to skip the bleach, try experimenting with a moody dark purple hue. Thanks to its deep, rich tone, this color shows up well on natural brunettes, even if your starting shade is on the darker side.
Copper hair is customizable, and for a bold look, nothing beats a vibrant metallic copper hue. You can even DIY this statement-making look at home with the right hair dye.
For cool hair color ideas that flatter deeper skin tones, consider magenta, a vibrant hue that blends deep pink and cool purple tones.
Take a rich teal hair color out for a spin. This fantasy hue combines rich green and bright blue tones for a multi-dimensional shade. If you have dark hair and aren’t willing to commit to monthly root touch-ups, ask your colorist for a root smudge.
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Add a pinkish overtone to your light blonde strands for a playful twist on your natural hue. This is great for blondes who want to experiment with color without going too dark or bright.
To seamlessly transition to gray hair, consider coloring your strands a smoky silver hue.
For a high-contrast, high-impact look, try a color-blocked style. You’ll need a high-lift bleach, such as the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach, and a black hair dye, such as the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Ultimate Black. Create a middle part down the length of your head to split your strands into two equal sections, then bleach one half and dye the other black.
With an irresistible blend of deep violet and cool brown tones, this dessert-inspired hair color is perfect for those seeking a subtler take on fantasy hair color. The dark hue reads nearly black in low lighting, but displays its vibrant purplish undertones in the sun.
If dark colors aren’t your thing, lean into pastels with a pale lavender hair color.
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Dark green may not seem like the most wearable shade, but it’s surprisingly versatile, working beautifully on both fair and deeper complexions.
Nothing says “look at me” like bright red. To get this punky look at home, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Ruby Rush.
If bright red feels a little bit too daring for you, dip your toes in with a rich merlot hair color. This dimensional shade is unique because it’s vibrant but not over-the-top bright, and it can easily be made warmer or cooler to flatter a range of complexions.
Calico hair is a trend right now, featuring a high-contrast blend of blonde, copper, auburn, and black highlights.
Trendy and edgy, this deep, inky hue combines navy blue and black to create the ultimate level of dimension throughout your mane.
If you’re looking to embrace your punky side, try a vibrant, neon-adjacent pink hue. Purplish-pinks, like fuchsia, pair beautifully with cooler skin tones, while those with warmer skin typically fare best with bright salmons, corals, and magentas.
If you’re feeling really adventurous, hit the salon and ask for rainbow highlights.
If you want to change up your hair color but aren’t ready to commit to a full head of dye, consider opting for platinum money pieces. This works with virtually every hair color and skin tone and doesn’t require much time or effort.
Take inspiration from your daily ‘fit with this dark denim blue hair color. The blue overtone adds vibrancy and interest, while the ashy brown undertone keeps the color wearable, even if you’re new to fantasy hues. To get the look sans bleach, pick up a box of the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Cosmic Azure.
Add some autumnal dimension to your natural brunette base by weaving warm copper, acorn, chestnut, and gold highlights throughout your mane.
Balayage is a technique that involves hand-painting individual streaks of hair to create a lived-in effect. Typically, it’s done with natural tones, such as blonde or brown, but for a fun twist, ask your stylist for a turquoise balayage.
Caring for brightly-colored hair requires special attention to maintain vibrancy and minimize damage.
Coloring your hair can be damaging, especially if bleach is required. To keep your strands in tip-top shape, swap out your existing shampoo and conditioner for the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Conditioner. The sulfate-free duo is designed specifically for color-treated hair and gently cleanses, nourishes, and strengthens the strands.
Even if you’re using color-safe products, shampooing your hair frequently can cause your unique hair color to fade (this goes double if you’re bathing in hot water). To help preserve your hue, consider shampooing less often.
Over time, your hair color may begin to lose its luster. To restore shine, consider reaching for an at-home glossing treatment. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free 5-Min Lamination Hair Mask, which helps seal the hair cuticle to lock in up to five days of glass-like shine.
Using hot tools on your color-treated mane can contribute to dryness and accelerate color fading. To help keep your bright new shade intact, it’s a good idea to skip heat styling when you can. If you must use heat to style your hair, be sure to protect your strands with a quality heat protectant first. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture 21-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner, which detangles, smooths, and softens.
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