With Memorial Day weekend comes the unofficial start of summer, which means the search for the best summer hair-color ideas is on. Though trying a new shade like red or a bright blonde may sound like fun, the hair color trends lately have been skewing toward more low-maintenance colors like light bronde and mocha mousse. Celebs (and royalty!) like Katie Holmes and Kate Middleton are leaning into warmer, sun-kissed looks like dimensional blondes and honey browns with subtle highlights, which have super easy upkeep and can extend the time between salon appointments. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to shy away from fun experimental colors like cowboy copper, which will continue to be popular in the summer months and beyond.
For the rest of 2025, the best hair colors “will be low-maintenance and natural with a play on variations of ‘color within the color,’” says Diana Mildice, a colorist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon. “This means we will see more dimensional blondes, reds, and brunettes that have unique visual movement created by layering various colors within.” No matter what your vibe is, we’ve rounded up the coolest summer hair-color ideas you have to try, from bold technicolor to low-key natural and everything in between. To ensure you get exactly the shade you’re looking for, make sure to show your colorist a photo of what you’re envisioning.
Mocha Mousse and Honey Bronde: Subtle Luxuries
The Pantone color of the year is also the perfect summer hair color. “Mocha shades are another favorite for people who have naturally dark hair and want to see some dimension in their hair,” says Alissa DeLaTorre, a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. “It’s the perfect tone to help make it look natural and sun-kissed while also keeping the rich brunette look.”
Bronde has been popular with celebs like Jennifer Lopez for years, and it's not going anywhere. It is “a fantastic way to get a happy medium between blonde and brunette hair, giving a gorgeous, dimensional look while also being incredibly effortless,” says Rita Hazan, celebrity colorist and founder of Rita Hazan Salon in New York City. It is “achieved with strategic placement of highlighting techniques to deliver a seamless blend between blonde and brunette hair,” Hazan adds. It allows an easy grow-out period that looks natural and gives you longer periods between salon appointments.
Butter Blonde and Bardot Blonde: Golden Light with Modern Edge
Butter blonde is an up-and-coming blonde hair color trend that’s perfect for summer. “Butter blonde is a great alternative to being platinum blonde and works well with different hairstyles and lengths,” says Jennifer Korab, owner of Renaissance Salon & Spa in Hillsborough, New Jersey.
Brigitte Bardot’s influence persists, with the Bardot-blonde trend achieving a solid blonde look with just the right touch of gold, resulting in a luminously rich and bright blonde, notes Chase Kusero, celebrity colorist and cofounder of IGK Hair Care.
Modern Moneypiece and Pretty Pastels
A modern take on the moneypiece look features a finer, more subtle highlight starting at the eyebrow, giving a contemporary update to this classic hair accent, according to Kusero.
Soft pastel palettes are also making waves, with hues like neon orchid lavender, peach, and denim-blue rising to the top. Richy Kandasamy of R+Color highlights Megan Fox leading the pastel charge with her blue-jeans bob. The pastel shades can be achieved with Half-Truth Semi-Permanent Hair Color for a dreamy, ethereal vibe.
Lived-In Blonde and Expensive Brunette: Ease and Depth
A lived-in blonde look blends warm and cool highlights on a medium base for a natural, low-maintenance summer style. Expensive brunette emphasizes luxurious, golden tones that catch sunlight and glow with a glassy shine, as described by colorists like Kucero and Korab.
Elevated, blended browns continue to trend, with caramel tones or hints of red in the brunette base to add warmth that lasts year-round. One notable example is Keke Palmer’s honey highlights, which demonstrate warmth without sacrificing depth.
Cool Tones, Baby Balayage, and Cinnamon Copper
For those who want a cooler, more sophisticated look, cool-toned brunettes with violet-silver undertones are on-trend, as noted by Korab. Baby balayage remains popular for its low-maintenance, sun-kissed finish with strategically placed highlights that grow out gracefully.
Red hues aren’t fading either; cinnamon copper is a standout, offering a rich red with coppery warmth that remains luminous through the season. This shade is supported by maintaining tones with professional color lines like Schwarzkopf Vibrance.
Butterscotch Blonde and Candlelit Brunette
Butterscotch blonde trends this season bring a deep, golden depth to blonde hair, perfect for DIY enthusiasts who start from a light base. For a warm, candlelit brunette, subtle highlights and lowlights mimic the soft glow of candlelight on a brown base, providing a chic grown-out look.
Dark Hair: Off-Black and Deep Chocolates
Spring and summer trends also welcome off-black and ultra-deep brunette shades, offering a grungier, richer alternative to lighter hues. This shift aligns with stylist observations that darker hair can be striking against sun-kissed skin and bright summer fashion, while still looking polished and healthy.
Urban glam and high-shine finishes come from semi-permanent or demi-permanent colors, which seal the cuticle and reflect more light, enhancing depth and brilliance without a full dye commitment. When going darker for summer, consider a transition plan with your colorist to protect hair health and achieve even color absorption.
What To Ask For At The Salon: Transition Plans and Techniques
If you’re moving to darker summer tones, avoid inky blacks or lifeless brondes. Ask for colors like teddy bear brown, brown copper, chocolate milk, or espresso, tailored to your skin tone and undertones. A transition plan, with intermediate shades and protective treatments, helps preserve hair health during the shift. For blondes exploring the deep end, subtle transitions like raw honey or caramel highlights preserve blonde identity while adding depth.
Semi-permanent rinses can be a smart test drive before committing fully. A colorist can guide you through a plan that preserves highlights and ensures you like the result. It’s also wise to consult a colorist rather than attempting a drastic change at home, particularly when switching to darker tones this summer.
Maintenance: Keeping Your Summer Color Fresh
To protect a new darker color from sun, salt, and chlorine, apply barrier products before sun exposure and swimming. Use color-safe shampoos and conditioners to minimize oxidation and maintain vibrancy, and consider a weekly masking routine to keep moisture and color balanced. Toning masks can refresh cool tones or deepen browns, ensuring the shade remains rich as it fades gracefully between salon visits.
The Seasonal Palette: Durability into Fall
Many of these deeper hues transition seamlessly into fall, providing flexibility as seasons change. The beauty of summer brunettes lies in their versatility: from caramel accents to espresso gloss, you can maintain sophistication while enjoying lower maintenance compared to high-contrast blondes.
Dark-haired Summers can embrace a cooler, more muted palette that complements sun-kissed skin, with soft contrasts and minimal brassiness. If you’re continuing with a darker shade, you can still brighten the look with face-framing highlights and delicate babylights that offer sunshine without a full lightening overhaul.
How To Color an Expensive Brunette
Practical Quick-References
- Mocha Mousse for naturally dark bases seeking dimension
- Honey Bronde for a seamless blonde-brunette blend
- Butter Blonde for a soft, warm blonde without full platinum
- Cinnamon Copper for a copper-rich red with warmth
- Chilled Chardonnay and Smoky Espresso for cool-toned brunettes
- Off-Black for bold, statement summer color
Whether you’re a natural brunette craving depth or a blonde wanting warmth without heavy upkeep, this season’s palette offers options that pair beautifully with sun exposure and outdoor style. The key is to communicate clearly with a colorist, bring photos that illustrate your target shade, and plan for gradual transitions to protect your hair’s health while achieving the look you love.