10 Top Hair Colors for Spring 2023, According to Hairstylists

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After doing a deep dive into trend reports and conversing with many hairstylists, this is what we learned: Trending hair colors are changing faster than ever before. While the palette looked distinctly cooler and icier last season, warm tones, rich hues, and copper elements are back with a vengeance. "The reason so many of us are welcoming warmer gold tones into our lives is because for so long, blonde just couldn't be icy enough, and it really is making a huge shift to the other end of the spectrum," says Briana Cisneros, hairstylist and brand ambassador for Wella Professionals. "At the end of the day though, skin tone and personal style rules all! Doing what you feel best in is ultimately what is going to make you shine."

Long story short, whether you want a bold refresh or a subtle tweak, there are tons of stunning variations you can experiment with this spring. If you're seeking a little inspiration, consider taking your cue from these seven colors that experts predict will take the lead this season.

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Violet Brunette

When it comes to brunettes, darker, cooler tones with brown hues and hints of eggplant and cherry are trending (see: blackberry hair). “We’ll see brunettes move toward darker, cooler mahogany based tones with brown hues and hints of eggplant and cherry cola,” says Shvonne Perkins, Master Colorist at Madison Reed. “This hair color is a great seasonal shift for brunettes to add dimension and depth without having to add in lighter colored pieces. The eggplant/violet hue that's being added to brown hair is a way for brunettes to wake up their hair color without turning into a true redhead.”

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Sombre

A twist on the classic ombre, sombre (i.e. subtle ombre) features more solid color on top with more of that grown-in color through the mid lengths to ends of the hair. “This is trending because it’s complementary to the trending haircut styles we’re seeing that are a bit choppier, textured, and layered,” says Perkins. “This color is all about having a natural, grown-out type of look while highlighting the areas of your hair that bring separation to the texture in your hair."

03 of 10

Louis Vuitton Brown

As seen on Karlie Kloss and Selena Gomez, Louis Vuitton brown is the next evolution of "expensive brunette," says Tom Smith, celebrity hairstylist and international colour creative director for evo hair. "Think of the color of the aged leather of a Louis Vuitton handbag—a gorgeous rich tan, not too pale, but not heavy or dark either. This shade suits a variety of skin tones due to its medium depth, and should be worn with healthy flowing hair that shines to best show the shade off." To achieve the look, ask your stylist for a medium-light brown shade with a warm golden toffee tone.

04 of 10

Mahogany Blonde

Strawberry blonde's earthier sister, mahogany blonde, has copper and gold elements with a touch of rose that makes it extremely pretty and unusual. While it sits in the copper/red family, the shade is very close to blonde. It's flattering for almost any skin tone, thanks to its warm/cool nature, and is great if you're not quite ready to commit to a true red but want to dabble in copper for the first time.

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Ash Blonde

Warm hues not your thing? Get your purple shampoo ready—”this super-light blonde ale gold glistens and shines," says Aloxxi colorist Jessica Wall Innella. It also pairs well with neutral dark roots, so ask your stylist for a root smudge or shadow root if you don’t want a stark demarcation line.

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Off Black

While it is very dark, this color is actually the darkest shade of brown with a very cool, ashy undertone, almost giving the appearance of black. It's also a current celebrity favorite, recently seen on stars like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, and Megan Fox. "Off-black stops the shade from looking too harsh or draining, but retains the striking, inky appearance of the hair," says Smith.

07 of 10

Vanilla Bean Blonde

You can still have your blonde moment in 2022 via vanilla bean blonde, a dimensional hair color with lots of flexibility. The look is essentially warm, buttery blonde highlights added to a darker blonde base, which creates both lightness and dimension. "Blonde is classic. It's never not trending," says Matt Rez, celebrity hairstylist and brand ambassador for Redken. "I think by having even the most subtle dimensions in the lighter color worlds, clients can go longer between salon visits as new growth comes in and the line of demarcation is deflected." He adds that no matter how light or dark your base is, even the slightest bit of contrast will create beautiful dimension.

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Playboy Blonde

A nod to the '90s, this bright blonde is achieved with lots of highlights and is left "untoned" to give a slightly raw, bleached look. Thanks to modern haircare, this color can be achieved while keeping the hair in healthy condition, which Smith says is important to keep this looking like an intentional fashion choice. To nail the shade, ask your stylist for a full head of perfectly lifted blonde highlights, left bright enough to be untoned or toned with a clear, diluted toner. Make sure to maintain the health of your hair afterwards with a nourishing hair mask, like K18 ($75; k18hair.com) or Evo Mane Attention Protein Mask ($35; evohair.com).

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Fantasy Colors

Whether you think pink or have reds for the blues, fantasy colors are here to stay. Rainbow hues have been trending for a while now, and they've only become more popular in recent months. "People are ready to come out and play again while making a statement," says Lisa Satorn, senior stylist for Nine Zero One salon in Hollywood, Calif. "I love the playfulness of rainbow colors—they really bring out the inner child and remind you to take chances in life." Try cotton candy blue a la Hilary Duff, take your cue from Megan Rapinoe and opt for a powdery purple, or wear bubblegum pink like Ciara. All three colors are easily achieved and maintained with at-home color-depositing conditioners from brands such as oVertone and Moroccanoil.

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Ravishing Red

If you're not quite ready to commit to blue, purple, green, or pink hair color—but you still want to do something bold—consider embracing red tones instead. Richer tones like this feel particularly fresh for spring, and they can be customized according to your existing hair color and undertones. "An easy way to change things up that isn't super permanent is to ask a colorist to use a demi-permanent glaze on top of existing highlights in a red tone," says Kali Ferrara, hairstylist in New York City. "Whether it's a copper, mauve, or fiery red, the demi-permanent glaze can pack a big punch in terms of change with less commitment."

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