The spring season is usually the perfect time to start anew with a hair color. But a new shade doesn’t have to be an hours-in-the-salon appointment—subtle changes can make a big difference too.
Experts say spring 2026 will be all about elevated spins on some of our favorite colors. Think buttercream blond, a glossy espresso, and cooler strawberry blond.
Below are the 17 shades that the experts say will be trending this spring, along with the best tips on how to take care of a new dye job. Read on to see the best hair color ideas and feel inspired.
Key Takeaways
- The biggest spring hair colors are all about gentle transitions and enhancing dimension.
- Experts say that shades such as buttercream blond, glossy espresso, pink pomelo, and bitter chocolate will be trending once the temps start to rise.
Buttercream Blond
Think of this as a modern spin on the Old Hollywood blond. It has more neutral undertones and a soft root. “Great for the girl who wants to be bright blond, but doesn’t want a hellish grow-out,” says Emaly Baum, celebrity colorist and founder of Beauty Supply salon. “It’s bright and sparkly—heavy on the sparkle.”
Kadi Lee, celebrity colorist and cofounder of Highbrow Hippie, agrees and says that the creamy and neutral blonds that dominated the winter season will evolve into something “buttery” and “vanilla.”
“I recently executed a subtle shift of this nature for the most iconic of blonds, Gwyneth Paltrow, in anticipation of the upcoming SAG awards,” she says. “Our end result was a pale-yet-golden [blond], adding warmth to the face as the warmer months approached.”
Glossy Espresso
In general, Lee sees gentler, seasonal shifts in tone and brightness rather than any drastic color change. When it comes to darker shades, she says to expect a glossy, dimensional brunette with depth. “Espresso, chocolate, and chestnut that transition into spring simply by adding a lighter caramel or honey dimension,” Lee says. She recommends using something like Highbrow Hippie’s Instant Silk Vitality Mask to keep hair soft and your gloss intact.
Pink Pomelo
Baum says to think of this as strawberry blond’s cool sister. “A little edgier, but still soft and pretty,” she says. “Instead of classic orange undertones, it leans slightly pink, creating a more neutral, icy shimmer.” Here, she recommends using something like Pureology’s Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner to lock in moisture and keep hair healthy and vibrant.
Bitter Chocolate
Baum describes this as a deep dark brown with subtle warm undertones. “[It has] soft hints of gold [to] keep the shade firmly in brunette territory, avoiding a harsh black finish,” she says. “The result feels elevated and quietly sultry, with a high-shine, reflective quality that easily catches the light.”
Chantilly Cream
A very pretty pale blond hue with bright white tones, Chantilly cream is a color that Cunningham predicts will be huge for those wanting to go light and bright with their hair. Something like Beyoncé’s take on the shade gives an ethereal glow for spring.
Red Hot
There’s something just so alluring about red hair, which is why celebrity hair colorist Jacob Schwartz, who counts the likes of Margot Robbie, Brie Larson, and Sydney Sweeney as regular clientele, says that vibrant hues of this popular hair color will continue to be huge for spring.
But if you’re thinking of doing a drastic change from your natural shade to hop on this trend, it’s important to note that this isn’t a low-maintenance shade and may require frequent salon visits. Schwartz recommends getting your roots done for touch-ups or adding a vibrant gloss all over every four to six weeks. “Red fades really fast and the roots show quickly,” he says. “So that’s something to consider before you make the jump to the red side.” For an at-home solution, he recommends something like the Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Vibrance, which he says comes in a variety of tones for everyone.
“You can expect a continuous growth in warm tones and reds,” adds Cunningham. “Tons of my clients have been going red over the past year as the trend has taken hold. I took Emma Stone red, and her shade is quintessential cowboy copper.”
Bronde
The popular blond and brunette hair hybrid (a.k.a. bronde) gets a warmer update this spring—just look to Zendaya. Cunningham says she sees more clients asking for that perfect blend of these two shades. We can expect richer and deeper tones of bronde to take over.
To keep color looking fresh and to repair any damage to color-treated hair, she says to use a good hair mask like the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 5 Minute Liquid Mask. It gives hair deep hydration and helps repair damage in just under five minutes.
Vibrant Silver
If you’re all about embracing your natural hair color and leaning in with the gray, you’re in luck. Cunningham says that spring is prime time for a silver renaissance. “The silver trend has gained momentum ever since the pandemic [when] people were unable to color their roots and hair. While bronde and reds are showing up everywhere, silver is a trend you see popping up too,” she says. “Clients are tapping silver and gray services to transform, condition, and neutralize their existing grays.” She recommends the Redken Acidic Color Gloss Activated Glass Gloss Treatment to enhance the gray tones in your base color and give it more dimension.
Expensive Brunette
Quiet luxury is here to stay. Schwartz and celebrity colorist Jenna Perry both say that the rich brunette shade you saw everywhere last year will continue its reign this spring. Whether you’re going for ’90s nostalgia à la Penelope Cruz’s luscious chocolate blowout or Bieber’s Chocolate Syrup hue, it’s all about going deep and dark with this brown hair color. “All the hot girls are doing it,” says Perry.
For upkeep and proper hair care, Perry recommends using the Olaplex no. 7 Bonding Hair Oil. If you want to give it max volume or that effortless tousled dark brown hair look, she loves spraying the new Roz Air Thickening Spray.
California Blond
Effortlessly cool, a California blond shade is what colorist and co-owner of IGK Salon Olivia Casanova predicts will be huge this spring. She says to look to icons like Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, whose natural-looking golden shades are grounded with blonde roots.
Walnut Brown
If you’re looking for something a bit more understated than the bold expensive brunette, Casanova suggests trying a walnut brown, as seen here on Taylor Hill. It’s a medium shade with subtle golden undertones that’s just super pretty.
Terra-cotta Red
Red will still be a staple this spring. Casanova recommends something more muted and natural-looking, like a terra-cotta red. She describes it as a natural shade of copper brown; you can look to someone like Sadie Sink for needed inspo.
To keep hair looking vibrant, she recommends something like the Davines’s Alchemic Line, which includes gentle color depositing shampoo and conditioner. “They have everything from blondes to reds,” she says.
Sunkissed Bronde
Another 2026 hair color trend experts love, a sunkissed blond will dominate spring. “[Bronde] is the perfect blend of blond and brunette that feels effortless but still looks put together,” Kaeding once told Vogue. “I see it paired with those lived-in blond shades too—soft, natural, and a little sun-kissed.”
Citrus Twist
We’re all about updating the classics. Earlier this year, Kristen Stewart went back to bleached blonde hair—but with something we like to call the citrus twist. Orange tones at the the roots and tips add depth and dimension, but in a cool effortless way.
Have a beauty or wellness trend you’re curious about? We want to know! Send Vogue’s senior beauty and wellness editor an email at beauty@vogue.com.
