17 pretty ways to rock green hair for St. Paddy’s and beyond
It's not easy being green, but it's totally worth it.
We’ve got a confession to make: we’re kind of obsessed with green hair. With Saint Patrick’s Day coming up and summer festival season hot on its heels, there’s never been a better time to go green, right? Have a browse through our gallery above for a cheeky peek at how A-list stars like Katy Perry and Leigh-Anne Pinnock are wearing the bold hue, then scroll on for more details and essential hair colouring advice.
1. Hilary Duff
As we see it, Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff is the queen of pastel hair hues. In the past, she’s rocked pink, rose gold, blue and this gorgeous mint green shade. Is there any colour that she can’t pull off?
2. Katy Perry
Lover of all things neon? Then feast your eyes on this vibrant green hue Katy Perry rocked with her short pixie crop hair.
Editor’s tip: If you want to have any chance of your colour lasting longer than a few weeks, we suggest switching your current wash and care routine for one formulated with coloured tresses in mind.
We love the Dove Colour Care Shampoo and Conditioner to help keep colour vibrant for up to 8 weeks.
3. Monica Brown
Singer Monica went for a punchy green hue, leaving her roots dark for a grunge finish that’s been popular with other celebrities such as Selena Gomez and Kim Kardashian.
4. Adwoa Aboah
Even with a short buzzcut, model Adwoa Aboah still manages to pull off the green hair trend to perfection.
With her bold feline eye makeup and green hair, Adwoa looks fierce and fabulous.
5. Leigh-Anne Pinnock
If you’re a fan of protective hairstyles like box braids, then why not switch from your normal brown shades to an adventurous green hue like Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock?
6. Cardi B
We all know that Cardi B is not shy when it comes to, well anything, but particularly her hair. By opting for a pastel green hue and teaming it with a straight medium length cut, Cardi still manages to look chic and stylish.
Editor’s tip: If you want to emulate Cardi’s straight and sleek finish, we recommend using the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Shine Spray on damp hair.
Formulated with Keratin and Marula oil, you can use this multi-purpose spray as a detangler, to boost shine and fight frizz.
7. Kendall Jenner
Our favourite thing about hair colour is how playful you can be. From pastel to teal, there is a green hair colour to suit everyone.
Or if in doubt, follow in Kendall Jenner‘s footsteps and play with colour clip-ins.
8. Chloe Nørgaard
Model Chloe Nørgaard has literally tried every hair colour under the sun – from ocean blue to candyfloss pink – but this vibrant two-tone look was a real showstopper.
9. Jade Thirlwall
Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall manages to make green hair look totally dreamy with this peacock green mane of dreams. It’s one part mermaid, one part rock chick and all around flawless.
10. Ruby Rose
Trendsetter Ruby Rose has become renowned for her edgy pixie crop, but the All Things Hair team are still lusting over this green-tinted milkmaid braid. The metallic green shade works wonders with her naturally dark tresses, all without being too ‘out there’.
Next read: What you need to know about the metallic hair trend.
11. Kylie Jenner
From a dark green dip-dye to a neon highlighter hue, Kylie has actually amassed quite a variety of green hair looks in her hair portfolio. However, we think this light minty shade will go down in hair history as the ultimate festival hair inspo.
Editor’s tip: Create a flawless and smooth finish with TONI&GUY Picture Perfect Hair Gloss. Helping to reduce frizz and banish flyaways this is the perfect on the go hair companion for intense shine.
12. Busy Philipps
The best part about green hair is how good it looks in all kinds of different hairstyles! Take Busy Philipps’ minty tinted top knot, which ties in perfectly with the touches of green in her outfit.
13. Bella Thorne
We never know what colour Bella Thorne‘s rainbow mane is going to be from one day to the next. But not content sticking to just one colour, she channelled Harley Quinn with this curly blue/green ponytail.
14. Abbey Lee Kershaw
Like the green hair trend but not convinced it’s entirely for you? Abbey Lee’s gradual blend from blonde to minty green shows that green hair doesn’t have to be scary or in your face.
15. Kim Kardashian-West
Never one to miss a trend, Kim Kardashian-West went full mermaid hair with this icy mint hair colour and waves combination.
16. Lil Mama
If you’re planning on going green, you might as well go all out and go really green, right? Rapper Lil Mama balances out the striking shade with a chic and sophisticated layered lob, with the colour making her eyes pop!
17. Nikki Hahn
Not sure how your teachers or boss would feel about you getting green hair? Try peekaboo highlights!
Pretty Little Liars actress Nikki Hahn maintains her rich chocolate brown, adding a few fun green streaks, which can be played up with curls to show them off or easily hidden when needed.
Advice on how to rock green hair
Now that you’re filled with colour inspiration, here are a few things to consider before you take the plunge and go green.
Ask the pros
It can be tempting to take the easy route by picking up a bottle of semi-permanent dye off the shelf and just hoping for the best. But if you’ve never dyed your hair before – or if it’s the first time trying a more unusual shade – then it’s worth asking your colourist for advice before taking the plunge.
Let him/her take a look at your hair condition so they can give you a thorough evaluation and consultation. A professional colourist will be able to point out the little details that matter when it comes to choosing the right hair hue, how easy it will be to dye your hair and what you’ll need to do in order to keep the shade vibrant for longer.
Prepare your hair for the colour
Often, in order to achieve those really vibrant shades of green, darker hair will need to be lightened with bleach before dying over it with colour. This two-step process is a lot for your hair to go through, so try to get your hair in as good a condition as you can beforehand. Any colour you’ve already got on your hair will affect your end result, so natural, virgin hair is best.
Next read: 6 things to know about bleaching your hair.
Pick the right shade
When it comes to green hair, you’ve got a whole spectrum of funky shades to choose from. From the palest sea-foam green to deep, jewel-toned emeralds and intense, oceanic shades, it can be hard to make up your mind… So, before you take the plunge, think carefully about your lifestyle and wardrobe to ensure you choose a colour that’ll work best for you.
You should also think about which shades will complement your skin tone, as the wrong option could easily leave you looking washed out.
Learn to care for your green hair
Green hair, like any other colour, needs a little extra TLC to help keep it looking rich and vibrant. Depending on the dye used, how often you wash it, how you care for it and your natural hair texture, you can usually expect your green hair to last up to 3-6 weeks.
We’ve already mentioned switching to a shampoo and conditioner for coloured hair but we’d also recommend using a deep conditioning mask once or twice a week for a more intensive nourishing treatment.
The TRESemmé Biotin + Repair 7 Intensive Mask combats 7 different signs of damage, including bleaching and colouring, so it’s a great one for overworked tresses.