This year’s top hair colour trends explained

Heard of nude, rose gold and denim hair, but have absolutely no clue what these trends actually mean? Don’t worry: the All Things Hair team are about to come to your rescue. We’re going to explain what this year’s hottest hair colour trends are all about, so keep reading below to get clued up on the latest hues and why you should try them now.

2016 Hair colour trends explained

Rose gold hair

Your jewellery, laptop and iPhone cases aren’t the only things that can be coloured rose gold, you know; your hair can be, too! Imagine this versatile hair colour as the lovechild of pink and blonde. However, the way you work the trend is completely up to you: go bold, subtle, or just dip your ends in rose gold for an ombre effect! At least this way, if you end up not loving it, you can just chop it all off!

Pastel hair

Mermaid hair had its moment, now this summer is all about soft, pastel hues (think lilacs, baby pinks and mint greens). Favoured by celebrities like Katy Perry and hair colour chameleon Kylie Jenner, gelato-inspired pastels is one of the hottest hair colour trends right now. Why? Because when we see pastel hair, we think unicorns, ice cream and candyfloss – AKA all of our favourite summer essentials (ok, well, maybe not the unicorns!).

Nude hair

2015 saw the rise of the nude lip, but 2016 welcomes nude coloured hair with open arms. It’s much more wearable than the bold, multi-coloured hair trends we’ve been seeing a lot of recently (watermelon hair and gaming-inspired hair, we’re looking at you). Instead, this stylish colour looks like a muted beige, and falls right in the middle of the warm and cool colour spectrum (it really is a true neutral), making it suitable for a variety of skin tones – bonus! Celebrity fans include Ciara, Cara Delevingne and recent hair experimenter Taylor Swift.

Denim hair

Denim has been around forever, but now it’s available in hair form. This year, people have been dyeing their locks the same colour as their favourite pair of jeans, because, well, if it’s good enough for the high fashion runways, it’s good enough for us, right?

But what exactly is denim hair? Essentially, it can be anything from indigo, to washed-out blue, to true navy – but as long as it’s blue, it’ll count as a denim hair trend! Want to know the best thing about rocking blue hair? It goes with everything, even double denim (duh!).

Tip: To help maintain the vibrancy of a colour this bold, you’ll need to invest in a shampoo and conditioner that’s specifically tailored to dyed hair, like the TRESemmé Colour Revitalise Colour Vibrance Protection Shampoo and Conditioner (500ml, £3.69 each*).

Grey hair

Grey hair is one of those hair colour trends that can be worn by women of any age. If you want to try out the look, rest assured there’s a plethora of shades to choose from. Think silver, graphite or metallic grey – the possibilities are almost endless.

Whether you’re youthful or mature, if your hair is naturally turning grey, consider yourself lucky! 2016 is the year of grey hair, so embrace your natural hue and wear it with pride.

Two-tone hair

This unique hair trend may sound complicated, but we promise it’s not. It is for the brave and fearless, though. The first lady to sport this bold style was none other than Disney’s Cruella de Vil, who had half black, half white hair.

But two tone hair (or split hair) isn’t just reserved for Disney characters anymore. In fact, it’s taking the Instagram world by storm. To rock this look yourself, you can opt for either clashing bold colours, like black and red, or softer pastels like pink and lilac. The bonus? This hair colour trend looks especially great when you wear your hair in braids! Credit: @maiciethehoopchild

Buttery blonde

Cool, ashy blondes have been popular for a while, but this year warmer shades are making a comeback (which is good news for those of you who want a more natural-looking shade). Buttery blonde is one of the most popular hair colour trends this year, and it consists of a rich, warm shade of yellow. If you want to go blonde for the summer, this hue’s a good choice, plus it won’t damage your hair as much as going platinum or bleach blonde.

Tip: To maintain the vibrancy of your blonde hair colour, don’t forget to switch up your regular shampoo and conditioner for ones that have specifically been designed for blondes – the TIGI Bed Head Dumb Blonde Shampoo (400ml, £17.95*) and Conditioner (200ml, £13.95*) duo is one of our favourite systems!

So now that you know what this year’s top hair colour trends are about, which one will you opt for?

*RRPs are Unilever suggested retail prices only, it is at the discretion of the individual retailers to set the actual price.