7 Hair Colors Worth Trying Now, According to Pros

"Gala gold," a warm, buttery, Barbie-esque hue, is forecasted to be a huge hair-color trend for blonds this year. "Clients who are usually lovers of bright platinum hair are requesting a darker golden blond to warm things up for winter," says Jennifer Korab, a hair colorist at Renaissance Salon & Spa in New Jersey. "We are seeing a shift in bright blonds to warmer, darker tones with more lightness around the face. A lot of my clients are adding money-piece highlights to keep that pop of blond around the face."

Michelle Hong, celebrity hair colorist and founder of NYC The Team, calls it "the perfect hue of gold that is flattering on almost everyone," as it "delivers a soft yet luminous honey tone that feels both warm and rich."

Turns out, glossy black is the new go-to hair color idea for dark hair. "This rich black with extra shine treatments to give it a reflective look is trending," Lorena M. Valdes, a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, says.

Still, before you grab a box of hair dye, know this: "This sounds easier than it is since most people think of glossy black as one color, but there are actually multiple tones involved to get the right shine and movement without looking inky and solid," says George Papanikolas, a celebrity colorist and Matrix brand ambassador. "Hair color comes in 10 levels, and half of them are in the dark family, ranging from level one, black, to level five, medium brown. Glossy black incorporates all of these."

Hillier agrees, adding, "Jet black is a vibe, it's a whole commitment. Cool-tone black gives off an eclectic feel, helping any artist get into the groove. Be sure to specify with your colorist what tone you want the hair to shine in the light to nail it exactly."

Bright, bold hair colors are proving to be a popular choice this year, and cherry red is emerging as a fan favorite. Celebrity colorist and founder of hair-care brand Rita Hazan describes it as "a vibrant red color with deep purple undertones, creating a natural-looking cherry hue."

The shade is dramatic yet wearable. It's already made a splash in Hollywood among celebrities like Dua Lipa, Zendaya, and Teyana Taylor. We love this trend because it can be customized to flatter all skin tones. Whether you're switching things up in a big way or looking for hair color ideas for redheads, this one is sure to please.

Yes, pralines are those delicious caramel nut candies, but it's also the name of an up-and-coming hair color trend that brunettes will be flocking to this year. The dessert-inspired color gets its name from the golden caramel highlights and warm brown base. Diana Mildice, a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, calls it a "cozy blend of glowing golds and pearlescent browns."

The "old money" and "rich girl" aesthetics of 2024 had a lasting impact on the biggest hair color trends this year. The secret to the expensive brunette hair color trend is in the shine.

"If you're interested in trying out expensive brunette, explore dimension, high shine, depth, intermixed tones, and custom blends with your stylist," says Liam Curran, a celebrity hairstylist and Tangle Teezer ambassador.

Cowboy copper hair color has been everywhere over the last few months, mostly thanks to tons of celebrities trying out the look.

The coppery-red shade uses your natural undertone to lessen the intensity, which makes it more subdued than other fiery copper tones. "Because this color generally has a natural background tone to it, a person's natural color can be the background tone, giving the shade a very customized, skin-tone-flattering tone," LA-based celebrity hairstylist Cherilyn Farris says.

It's such a fun switch-up, even one of our editors recently tried it out. One thing to note: this hair color does require quite a few hours in the salon, so be prepared for maintenance visits.

If you're looking for a muted blond shade to try this year, "Palomino" blond will likely be right up your alley. This bright hue isn't quite as cool as platinum, but it's not as warm as "gala gold." Lindsay Lohan is a great ambassador for the color with her soft, pale blond transformation.

"Ask for these colors to be placed in a paneled pattern around the head either with a balayage or foilage technique," says Mildice. "This is on trend allowing depth to be kept alongside the brightness and recovering your shimmery blonde during winter months."

Jessica Harrington (she/her) is the senior editor of PS Beauty, where she oversees coverage around makeup, skin care, hair, tattoos, and more. With more than eight years of industry experience, she has interviewed countless celebrities, reported on hundreds of beauty trends, and swatched more lipsticks than she can count. Prior to PS, Jessica worked for publications such as Makeup.com, Skincare.com, and The Zoe Report.