Here's the thing about summer: It's the perfect time to change your hair color. Every summer, we get the itch to do something to our hair to switch it up. Luckily, this summer is red-hot when it comes to hair color trends.
Summer 2025 is all about lived-in hair that's super low maintenance. We're opting for colors that look natural, don't require a million trips to the salon, and grow out well. We tapped celebrity stylists, including Cassondra Kaeding, who does Hailey Bieber's and the Kardashians' hair, and Laurabeth Cabott, who does Cara Delevingne's and Josephine Skriver's, to find out the biggest hair trends of summer 2025. Keep reading to find out the ones that will be big this year.
1. Dirty Bronde
Easy-to-maintain brunette-leaning blonde hues are more popular than ever right now. "Dirty bronde is a hybrid of soft golden tones with a mix of a light ashy tones," says Kaeding. "It's right in down the middle, giving a beautiful creamy neutral overall color. This is a great color for someone who is already a bright golden blonde but wants to try something a little different without a big commitment. Ask your colorist for the dirty bronde blonde gloss." For at-home maintenance, DPHue Gloss+ in Dark Blonde is divine.
2. Sun-Kissed Blonde
Cabott says sun-kissed blonde hair color is having a moment. Ask for a more lived-in blonde with bright pops around the face, and it'll make it look like your hair is naturally lighter from the sun.
3. Golden Cinnamon Copper
Don't worry. Red is still having a moment. This summer, one of the hottest shades is golden copper, according to Kaeding. Ask your stylist for copper undertones and golden highlights to catch the sunlight.
4. Honey Blonde
As soon as we saw Bella Hadid debut honey-blonde locks at this year's Cannes Film Festival, we knew it would instantly become the hottest summer hair color trend. After all, if she was going to ditch her signature espresso brown, it had better be for something major.
"Bella is a natural blonde, so sourcing photos of her as a child was a great reference," colorist Jacob Schwartz (who was behind Hadid's transformation) said regarding her new hue. "Using those images and her skin tone led us to this epic, luxurious honey hue. It took two days of color and a whole lot of Olaplex." That said, if you are thinking about going blonde for the summer (same), be sure to prep your hair with nourishing, strengthening formulas to prevent that post-bleach havoc as much as possible.
5. Red Wine
Channel Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid with red wine–colored mermaid hair. "This has a combination of that deep cherry with a kick of red," says Kaeding. "Just remember, reds are a big commitment. Make sure you talk to your colorist about what tones best are suitable for you and, most importantly, maintenance."
6. Smoky Brunette
"Silky, smoky brunette is this summer's brunette," says Kaeding. "It's a soft, beautiful transition from roots to ends. This shade of brunette has cool undertones but can also have a hint of gold. Your colorist will guide you in the right direction of how much of the cool tone will be best for your skin tone."
7. Blue-Toned Black
Embrace your dark side with a black shade this summer. "The blacks are deep, sultry, and shiny with a tint of blue," says Kaeding. "Make sure you ask your colorist for a black with a tint of a blue tone. This will help [keep] your hair from turning red while you are out in the summer sun. It will also help [keep] you from having to frequent the salon as much." A color-depositing mask, like IGK's pitch black formula, is also essential.
8. Mocha Bronde
"Mocha bronde brings that neutral, creamy depth inspired by Pantone’s Color of the Year," hairstylist and trend forecaster Tom Smith recently shared over Instagram. Slightly different from dirty bronde, which features soft golden tones, this hair color appears way more muted and cool-toned. It can have dimension, but mocha bronde is much more monochromatic. Rita Ora's style above is a great representation—so creamy and rich.
9. Lived-In Color
Lived-in color is the name of the game this summer. "Brunettes love the natural look with a small pop of brightness at the ends or around the face," says Cabott. This kind of soft color looks good on absolutely everyone and will frame your features perfectly.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear, trend reporting is our bread and butter. Our editors have a knack for spotting the latest in-demand beauty looks—often before they hit the mainstream—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned manicurists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders for their personal takes. Together, this ensures every trend report is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
In addition, we focus on products that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our curated selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
Meet the Experts
Cass Kaeding is a Los Angeles–based hairstylist, colorist, and entrepreneur specializing in balayage, color correction, and hair transformations. Her clients include Angelina Jolie, Lily-Rose Depp, Hailey Bieber, Ashley Tisdale, Olivia Wilde, Ariana Grande, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Rooney Mara, Olivia Munn, Kate Hudson, and Ciara.
Laurabeth Cabott is the owner and visionary of Artistry by LB, specializing in luxury blonding and dimensional color. She has expanded her clientele to Los Angeles, where she styles celebrities for a variety of content shoots, award shows, and red carpets. She has assisted on the styling team for Bethenny Frankel, Madison Beer, and Iggy Azalea, and she styled wigs for Cardi B’s team at the 2021 Grammy Awards.
Tom Smith is a professional hairstylist with over 15 years in the industry. He specializes in creating a total, cohesive image and is often requested to create "transformations" and "celebrity styling" for those in the public eye, high-profile clients, and all those who prioritize achieving the best version of their appearance and confidence. He is also a recognized content creator and trend forecaster, with over 150,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram alone. His trend predictions and practical advice are often viral and watched across the globe.
This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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