Everybody needs a little change now and then. And maybe you’re lucky enough to love your natural hair color.
But plenty of us like to play around a bit – especially since there are so many fun options out there!
It’s been hard to keep up with salon visits or even find the motivation for at-home transformations lately, but there’s nothing like a little inspiration to kick your imagination (and butt!) into high gear.
So whether you’re just looking for a subtle change or planning a whole new look for the next season, you’re bound to find some inspiration here.
(And we made sure that not every transformation is for those lucky ladies with long, wavy long locks!).
1. Going gray gracefully
Ok, so everyone’s hair looks perfect while they’re still in the salon, but let’s focus on the color here. She was starting to see silver and decided to just knock it all out in one go – and it looks beautiful. She got to keep her length and dimension and those platinum “money pieces” framing her face make her light up with glamor.
2. Toning it down
Roots came back in style a few years ago with the whole ombre look, but most of us are sporting them because of quarantine. This lovely lady eliminated her roots by going for a whole new color, which makes her look like Fall perfection. Make sure you ask for some subtle balayage from your stylist too to keep those very subtle face-framing pieces.
3. Short and sweet
We’re going to be honest – she looks pretty cool in both photos, but we know some ladies aren’t ready to rock the grey roots look. The other option when you have long hair is to cut off some length when you go all-silver. It’ll take some bleach, so the ends will need to come off at the very least. But a good haircut always makes you feel fresh and stylish.
4. Colorbomb
Her tresses already had some auburn undertones and it looks like she decided to go full Copper Queen. There’s a red tone that looks good on just about everybody, so be sure to ask your stylist if warm or cool undertones would better suit your skin tone. After all, blondes might have more fun, but nobody forgets a redhead!
5. Lighten up
It’s easy for your transformation to look glamorous when you have long, thick hair. We get it. But let’s focus on the color here. It’s clear she had done some lightening a few months back, let her roots grow a bit (which looks cool too), and then decided just to embrace the platinum. And while this will take hours (and money) in the salon, it looks like she did it the smart way – with highlights. Bleaching your whole head is a drastic move with lots of upkeep, but this is much more manageable.
6. Pretty in pink
Oh, what we wouldn’t give for hair that would stay this color! Of course, now we have color-enhancing conditioners that really do help you maintain colors like pink, so it’s well within reach. But just like the woman in the last slide, it’s going to take a lot of bleach (and maybe more than one appointment) in order to get to a color that will hold a pastel pink. But this end result is so worth it!
7. Cut and color
A new cut and color can take years off your look. And while maybe you’re not seeking to look younger than you are, more vibrancy is never a bad thing. Just look at all that style she’s embodying in the second pic!
8. Subtle changes
We love looking at subtle changes since they’re so much more realistic and this is a great one. Going ginger can look really great, even if you do all-over color without much dimension. It’s just one of those colors that attracts the eye without highlight pieces.
9. Dark and stormy
Tone down the maintenance by embracing those cocoa colors in the Fall and Winter seasons. Of course, the waves are helping the glamour, but that subtle, artistic balayage is what makes it look so full of life. Make sure you see a talented colorist to keep those browns vibrant, otherwise they can look dull (especially from a box).
10. Hello, highlights
Some people like their dimension to be super subtle while others want it straight up to the roots. It’s all about your preference and how you’re going to wear your hair. We just love the way this type of balayage brightens up her whole head and maintains some of that original color to keep strands healthy.
11. Bold balayage
If you haven’t guessed by now, balayage is key to a professional look. And since they’re hand-painted on, you really do need a color artist to do the work. But the great thing is that they grow out well (unlike highlights, which can look streaky after a few months), so the investment is long-term. We’re just amazed at home much copper managed to get covered in this before and after. That’s tough to do! But when you need a change, you need a change!
12. Head-turner
Most of us have been in the situation on the left before. You’ve added heat for months, let the roots grow out, let shampoo strip your hair and bring out the brass, and now you just need to move onto something new, and even bold. That’s when a dark color can help hide a lot of sins! And if you’re feeling adventurous, there’s no reason not to embrace a little wildness (like a purple undertone).
13. Be a unicorn
We can’t all get away with this, but you only live once. So if it’s your dream to have mermaid hair, highlights might just be the way to go. And you can always touch them up with at-home color-depositing conditioners so you’re not running to the salon every week for a glow-up. Because who can afford that?!
14. Purple princess
Ok, ok. We’ll get back to more mainstream colors, but this is just a reminder that if you have some energy to release and some personality to express after that last stressful year, you can always let your hair do the talking. And will this color fade quickly? Absolutely. But it’s going to fade to a gorgeous raspberry, so if you don’t want the color upkeep with conditioners, you can just watch it transform.
15. Step away from the light
In spring and summer, it’s always fun to have a nice, light color. But when the seasons change, sometimes you want your look to change with it. We’re loving this transformation from a blonde copper to a beautiful chestnut with auburn undertones. This photo makes us feel eager to take it down a notch.
16. Good things take time
Platinum is high-maintenance. End of story. But if you want that show-stopping color, especially on long hair, plan ahead! We can’t stress enough that it’s a bad idea to try to do this in one appointment (we know from experience). Talk to your stylist about how to transition while you stock up on those purple and blue shampoos that you’ll need for the upkeep. It’ll all be worth it.
17. Colored crop
Color transformations can look even more eye-popping on short hair. So if you don’t have the long locks of a 20-year-old, that’s no reason not to take a leap into a totally different color. In fact, if you keep your hair short, you can cut off a lot of the damage in a short time, meaning you can try even more new things! Just look at how bright and fun this new look is!
18. French fashionista
The French bob has been all the rage for the past 2 years. And her color looks elegant in both photos, but that blonde is just a knock-out look. Imagine the glamour after a swipe of red lipstick!
19. Cherrybomb
This one might be our favorite. The change is drastic and the after photo is just so stunning. What a gorgeous color and cut. And even if she washed her hair and loses that salon-sleek vibe, the tone of that red will still have people stopping in the streets!
20. Bronde
Yep, you read that right, “bronde.” It was a huge trend 2-3 years ago and it’s back to help people transition from dull browns to blonder hair with less bleach and damage. And that beautiful, wheaty color is a lot easier to care for than brighter tones.
21. Wake up, shake up
Not many people can pull this off, but isn’t it fun to know what’s possible? We’re suddenly craving some sherbert, how about you?
22. From subtle to stylish
Most women don’t care what other people think of their hair. We’re not asking for attention or trying to prove anything. But sometimes you have a hairstyle that’s so common that when you get a spark of energy you just stop and think “I want to look how I feel.” And that’s when it’s time to reach for the red!
23. Pennies from heaven
Even without all the added volume this color transformation is epic. Maybe we sound a little biased towards red, but if you get the right shade, the results are unforgettable.
24. The good kind of blues
We’ve seen so many women of all ages embrace the blue these last few months. And it’s so unexpected and so fun. While it’s not a color everyone can pull off, if your hair is lightened, the sky is the limit when it comes to playing with fashion colors at home with color-depositing conditioners. So maybe give blue a try for a week! A clarifying shampoo will help you wash it out if it’s not for you.
25. That special glow
So many transformations go from brown to blond that it was worth featuring one more redhead. If you have some copper undertones in your hair, chances are the color will work for you. Copper used to be a color we all avoided but if your hair pulls red anyway, why not just embrace it?
Whether you want to go blond or blue, embrace your copper, or cuddle up with cocoa for the colder seasons, there’s a new style for everyone.
And while we can’t all afford to employ a stylist for color changes, leave the bleaching to the pros (so you can keep your hair) and embrace color conditioners at home until you’re ready for a more permanent change.
After all, no one said your hair had to be one color your whole life OR for the whole month!
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