‘Jet Brunette’ To ‘Bambi Blonde’: 16 Hair Colour Trends To Know This Summer

To say we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to hair colour trends would be an understatement. In 2023, we’ve seen 'midsummer brunette' (honey-toned highlights on a deep brunette canvas), '“cowgirl copper' (a muted red, which complements all skin tones) and 'pearl balayage' (white highlights that lend all hair colours a luminous pearlescence). 

But top colourists have been busy dreaming up all manner of new shades and innovative techniques for this summer and the year ahead (including a particularly yummy shade of 'Caramilk Blonde'). Whether you’re after something dark and brooding, or you want to brighten things up in time for the warmer weather, read ahead to uncover the hues that are going to be the talk of salons everywhere.

Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Keke Palmer can't be wrong; Biscoff Blonde is one of the biggest hair trends of the moment. As the name suggests, Biscoff Blonde is a biscuity, caramel shade of blonde that looks practically scrumptious. It's a great option for brunettes wanting to lighten their hair as Australian summer approaches, yet looks just as good on blondes who want to add a little warmth to their existing styles. "This time of year is generally the time when we see a lot more of these types of trends because they work so well as transition colours, that work in line with our season changes," hairstylist Lauren Mackellar explained to Refinery29 Australia. "This year, the Biscoff Blonde is quite neutral — whereas in the past it was slightly warmer in its reflection."

For McMahon, the food-inspo didn't stop there (are you hungry yet?), as the hairstylist has also mentioned the popularity of milk chocolate brunette, stating on Instagram that it's been one of the most requested shades of the year. The glistening colour includes lighter pieces at the front for that sun-kissed summer look and is achieved using strategic foils and an express glaze to finish.

Copper Cowgirl was a major trend throughout this year, and Australian hairstylist Stephanie Bacelic says she doesn't see that trend slowing down anytime soon, although for summer, the look will come with a twist. "Copper has been hot this year," she told Refinery29 Australia. "I don’t think it will be going anywhere and we'll definitely be seeing lighter shades of copper through summer." The lighter look will take inspiration from the celebrity styles, adding highlights to give the hair a more summery feel. "There have been different versions throughout the year, with Kendall Jenner and Emily Ratajkowski both flaunting stunning copper locks," Bacelic said.

Yet another food-inspired trend, hair stylist and colour specialist Monique McMahon said her clients are constantly coming to her with food-related styles. "I literally have clients in my chair asking to look like a Caramilk Cadbury chocolate or a pot of creamed honey," she explained. This particular shade of blonde has a warm, pastel element to it, really leaning into the creamy, milky element of its inspiration.

“Jet brunette” takes inspiration from last year’s trending shade “liquid brunette”, but it’s twice as glossy, say Nicola Clarke, hair colourist at John Frieda, and Zoë Irwin, the salon’s creative director, who coined the trend together. “At Fashion Week, show after show, the brunette hair became much darker,” says Irwin, but she adds that there are a few rules to wearing this amount of depth. Firstly, the base colour must be super dark — hence the “jet” — and your colourist should layer a shade or a half lighter over the top for more nuance. A glaze (similar to a gloss, but a tad thicker) can be applied through the ends to maximise shine. “Mixing all of these can be super flattering,” adds Irwin, who says the shade reigned supreme at the Versace and Stella McCartney S/S24 shows. Lorena Castro, hairstylist and balayage expert, and Michelle Thompson, award-winning afro and textured hair specialist, prove that it’s mesmerising.

Irwin has a smart trick for dialling up the shine once you’re at home and styling your hair yourself: “We sprinkle a little Virtue Healing Oil onto a Mason Pearson brush and simply pull this through the hair.” She suggests starting at the back rather than the front. “Concentrate on your mid-lengths and ends so that you have the least amount of product on your hands when it comes to the front,” she advises. This will help you avoid a greasy, stringy look to your strands. 

If you’re after something much cooler, try “washed blonde”, says Moore. “It’s a desaturated, ashy and cool blonde shade that is achieved by bleaching the hair to a very high lift,” like the above colour on digital creator, Glory Rose. Bear in mind this might not be achievable in one session — once managed, though, your stylist will then tone your hair. “This imparts a gorgeous, creamy blonde by neutralising any natural yellows,” says Moore. It doesn’t have to be an all-over colour. Moore says that it looks great as highlights on a darker canvas, or as “high-contrast balayage,” a hair painting technique that requires thicker swathes of colour for more of a blended look. Despite its name, though, it can be high maintenance, says Moore. “Load up on colour-balancing shampoos and don’t forget to rebook for a toner refresh. We also recommend protecting your hair by adding Olaplex or a similar bond-building treatment to your session.” 

Irwin and Clarke dreamt up “Bambi blonde” during London Fashion Week. As the likes of Miu Miu and Stella McCartney sent models down the runway in grey marl, camel tones and soft honey hues, they became convinced that a mix of all three would make the ultimate autumnal blonde. “We both looked at the fawn palette, which is a little bit flatter and more wearable,” says Irwin, which is where the reference to Bambi comes from. She worked with Clarke on a layering technique that does away with painstaking highlights in favour of thicker slices of honey, caramel, beige and gold tones that blend seamlessly, like this colour on model Amelia Swaby. “Beachy balayage is lessening,” says Clarke, “and we’re going into something that’s softer; the colour is softly merging.”

Clarke says that Bambi blonde works beautifully on those with light brunette hair, and is especially great for curly and afro hair. “It’s easy to lift [afro hair] so you get a flat, gold, all-over tone,” says Clarke. “It complements dark skin, too, because it’s dark at the root. The vanilla [shade] is on the top surface and the ends specifically.” 

“Instead of bright tones and more yellow-based shades, we’re expecting the colour of the moment to lean deeper into red — even more so than before," says Tyler Moore, expert hair stylist at Live True London. Take a cue from this burnt orange hue peppered throughout jet brunette, created by colourist Casey Pragnell, or this shade by colourist Maria, which is deeper and richer. 

“Cocoa butter bronde” is an extension of the “strawberry girl” and “cinnamon cookie butter” hair colour trends that flooded salons thanks to Hailey Bieber. “Bronde” essentially occupies a cosy space between brunette and blonde. “Think warm, cocoa-coloured highlights that perfectly suit medium-to-dark brown hair,” says Moore. “They’re created by taking the natural, brunette hair colour just a few shades lighter and warmer in certain places.”

Cocoa butter bronde is a little less intense than typical blonde highlights, and gives dark hair more nuance without lending too much of a contrast. “It’s multi-dimensional and low maintenance,” adds Moore. So what exactly should you ask your colourist for? Moore says, “Subtle and warm tones that don’t stray too far from your natural shade. Also, be sure to bring reference pictures to help them nail your desired tone.” We love this hair posted to Instagram by Michelle Thompson.  

“Bamboo blonde” is a more subdued and natural shade compared to the yellow and platinum blondes that usually rule the summer months. Just like bamboo, it’s a seamlessly blended golden-beige. “This look is reminiscent of the ‘tweed blonde’ trend of last year,” says Moore, “although it is distinctly more natural, a little more beige and can be adjusted for both blonde and light-medium brown hair.”

Though the colour is innovative, the technique used to create it is nothing new. “Your stylist will achieve this look by either balayage-ing or highlighting your hair, and then using different toners to achieve that multi-dimensional look,” says Moore. Again, be sure to bring reference photos to help them nail your desired shade. We love this hue by colourist Red Gaetano.

Subtle, golden tones create depth and dimension, while microlights (essentially minute highlights) sprinkled around the face act to brighten the skin, says Kelly May, creative stylist and colourist at The Neil Moodie Studio in London’s Spitalfields. This warm blonde by Nicole Kahlani, hairstylist and senior colourist at BLEACH London, hits the nail on the head — and the curtain bangs make the microlights pop.

According to Ami King, signature colourist at Gielly Green, some of the most requested hair shades are various takes on strawberry. “Blondes are asking for a more subtle palette, with the introduction of strawberry-toned, slightly coppery highlights,” says King, who references Jennifer Anniston in the ’90s. “Brunettes want dark, rich colours with a red tinge,” adds King, like this colour by colourist James Earnshaw, while natural redheads want more depth with the addition of multi-tonal hair glosses to enhance shine. This shade by Paige Hammond at BLEACH London is beautiful. 

“Chocolate cherry” walked so that “burgundy noir” could run. Luke Tyrrell, creative art director and colourist at The Neil Moodie Studio says that it combines deeper, more plummy red wine hues with a rich, dark brown to create a striking contrast. Look to the above colour by balayage specialist, Angelica Adamé. “For maximum impact, I’d recommend opting for a colour that is two to three shades lighter on the ends to highlight the impact of the burgundy tone,” says Tyrrell. 

“If you want a natural blonde look without the upkeep of highlights, check out the ‘Scandinavian hairline’ trend,” says Eddie Parker, creative colourist at The Neil Moodie Studio. Bleach is concentrated solely on the hairline for a bright, white blonde that makes the baby hairs look sun-kissed, as though you’ve been soaking up the summer sunshine. We love this look on model @fuhzz. Parker thinks it requires pretty low upkeep, as the bleach is concentrated to a small portion of hair. You might want to invest in a good, purple shampoo to counteract any brassiness, though.

“This is the softest of copper tones, inspired by leather from the rolling hills of Tuscany,” says Luke. It combines light and dark shades of copper, but is offset with a slight rosy undertone. “Its warm and inviting vintage tones are sure to leave you feeling romantic and expensive,” says Luke. We love this shade (combined with curtain cut or C-shape layers) by rich colour and layered haircut specialist, Marcela Hernandez. 

Amethyst is arguably the biggest wildcard of the season. “Rich, jewel tones are in this season,” confirms Live True’s Moore. It can be a big statement (i.e. an all-over colour) or balayage to contrast with your natural shade, adds Moore, like this look by colourist Red Gaetano on Instagram. “If you're unsure, weaving some deep plum tones into your balayage is a more wearable option,” says Moore, like the above look on influencer Linasha by April Christina Taylor, owner of Shag! London.