Summer hair colours you need to try now

The starting line to summer is finally in sight, and what better way to welcome the new season than with a fresh, hot weather-appropriate hue for your tresses? Whether you want to keep it subtle, or go for a drastic new look, we’ve picked out four trendy summer hair colours you should try now, or at least keep on your radar for when you’re ready to take the plunge.

Summer hair colours to try

Colour pop

If you want to opt for something more playful this summer, a pop of pastel is all you need. Although there was a lot of emphasis on natural tones on the spring/summer 2016 runways, we did catch a few glimpses of pretty, off-beat pastels, greys, and cartoon reds, too. There was pink-haired model-of-the-moment Fernanda Ly, who opened this season’s Louis Vuitton show in Paris, while Hilary Duff and Kylie Jenner also took turns in the rose-tinted limelight this year, further proving that this unashamedly feminine colour still feels as chic as ever.

Saccharine candyfloss hues not your thing? Don’t worry, there are plenty more colours – like elegant rose golds, sophisticated greys and cool lilacs – to try out this summer. And if you’re still not convinced about going all the way with one solid shade, see how you feel with peekaboo pastel highlights or an ombré effect as a teaser.

Tip: In order to maintain colour vibrancy with pastel hair, you’ll need to use a shampoo and conditioner duo that’s been specially formulated for coloured hair. Try the TRESemmé Colour Revitalise Colour Vibrance Protection Shampoo and Conditioner (500ml, £3.69*).

Buttery blonde & Pale babylights

What better way to usher in summer than with a wonderfully sunny hue? This warm, buttery shade is ideal for refreshing dull-looking blonde locks that have been deprived of sunshine for too long. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s sombré of golden honey roots that gradually faded into a more buttery, sunkissed blonde at the ends (seen at this year’s Golden Globe Awards) is the perfect example. Kate Hudson and Gigi Hadid also sport variations of this softly exotic hue – further proof that even subtlest highlights of colour can still make a great impact.

If you’re considering a cooler approach, try the ever-fashionable icy white blonde shade that’s a firm favourite of British model Poppy Delevingne’s. Rather than going for a full-on bleach-and-tone process, opt for pale babylights for the chicest, style pack-approved results.

Honey dipped & Sunny brunettes

What do Jourdan Dunn, Lily Aldridge and Ciara have in common? Sizzling, brunette-based summer hair colours. If you want to add a sunny kick to your dark strands, opt for warm golden, honey or caramel highlights. This trendy blonde/brown hybrid creates such a beautiful contrast that really amps up brown hair and elevates it to a new level of sexy. Want to give your dark locks some extra va-va-voom for the summer hols? You know what to do!

Shiny copper & Spicy ronze

One of the need-to-know colours for this summer is red. As you may have already noticed, this head-turning hue is having somewhat of a moment – and we’re all over it. Sexy, statement-making and utterly unique, what’s not to love, right? Though of course, red is traditionally known as more of an autumnal hue, so in order to make it work for summer, try opting for shades that are softer, more reflective and can help add warmth to your skin tone.

If you’re blonde and want to trial the trend, but aren’t sure you want to 100% commit, why not try a much more subtle, molten copper, which we’ve dubbed strawberries and champagne (we thought that would convince you!) – think a reddish-gold hue with just a hint of rosé undertones. If you’re brunette or darker, think Priyanka Chopra, whose intense and vibrant burgundy tints help add depth to her mahogany tresses and complement her skin tone wonderfully. If you’re a natural redhead (you lucky thing!), either go for an elegant gloss effect, or get some barely-there copper babylights to really lift your base colour.

Feeling indecisive? See our selection of summer hair colours we love in the gallery above for more inspiration and ideas.

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