With a new year comes a makeover mood, from our daily habits to our signature hair colors. Thus far, the most anticipated 2024 hair color trends turn up the volume on flattering retro and luxury themes. “I’m noticing that people are either going big or going home,” says celebrity colorist Emaly Baum of New York’s Beauty Supply. “You’re either committing to the bit and having a bold look, or you’re leaning into the natural and ditching the regular salon visits.” Celebrity hair colorist Matt Rez, the man behind the iconic coloring of Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa, agrees: “Warmth in tone and low-maintenance color will ride out this year in the ‘natural’ spectrum of hair color trends,” he says.
For hairstylist Phoebe Nathan, who splits her time between New York and London, 2024’s hair-color words are rich, warm, and vintage. “I believe we're going to start noticing people pull inspiration from stars of the '60s and '90s (even if it's through current movies or television biopics), and we're going to start recognizing a divergence from colder colors and shades,” she says. Another throughline? Luxury. “The common thread is feeling luxurious,” says hairstylist Illeisha Lussiano. “The downtown hottie, clean girl, mob wife, and tomboy aesthetics, they all share the appeal of feeling and looking luxurious.” Along with retro realness and opulence, stylists agree that taking the time to understand color theory and your personal palette is the key to selecting your ideal shade.
Here are 10 hair colors expected to define 2024.
01of 10
Muted Blonde
Call it the Taylor Swift effect — or a general lean toward more organic-looking hues — but tawny, cozy, almost mousy blonde is back in a big way. Those who come by the color may be surprised by its rise (see: TikTok), but the subtle shade fits perfectly within this year’s narrative and is easily personalized to suit your features. "We’re going to spot less ashy, icy white blondes, and start to see more neutral-to-gold, champagne and “Bambi” blondes,” says Nathan. “These softer, warmer blonde shades can range from honey-toned to beige, depending on the wearer’s goals and skin tone.”
02of 10
Beachy Brunette
“From adding golden and copper glosses onto natural brunette bases, to using permanent color or balayage to create (subtly) lighter or bolder shades, there is so much freedom and variation in adding rich, warm tones to brunette hair,” says Nathan. Those who prefer a seemingly sun-touched non-blonde shade would do well to consider a beach-bound brunette. “This is a lighter version of the dark chocolate brunette,” explains Rez, describing a seasonless medium brown with sunkissed ends throughout. “The warmth of the lighter ends can be adjusted to complement any skin tone.”
03of 10
Cherry Cola
Red hair is here to stay, and this iteration takes the hue to deep, almost moody levels. “Unlike the cowboy copper trend we’ve been seeing, cherry cola is less natural; it has bright red and deep violet undertones,” says Baum. “It stands out in the crowd, and there’s no mistaking it for a low maintenance or natural color.” Let Dua Lipa be your guide: “A huge trend I’m already seeing this year is cherry red, varying in depth from quite deep (more of a merlot) to very bright (maraschino) shades,” agrees Nathan, citing Lipa’s lengths as easy inspiration.
04of 10
Off-Black
The bold nature of black, but make it soft. “We take a lot of aesthetic inspiration from female protagonists in cinema, and there’s been a handful of very notable raven-haired figures in the movies this year already,” says Nathan, citing Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, Emma Stone as Bella Baxter in Poor Things, and the forthcoming Amy Winehouse-inspired film, Back to Black. “I think we’re going to start to observe a lot of bold, dark, glossy hair as the months go on.” The resulting tone is a smokey soft espresso, a not-quite-black that delivers a welcome dose of drama.
Golden Hour Blonde
Along with beige and near-chantilly blonde, sun-touched blonde is destined to warm up 2024. Rita Hazan (aka Beyoncé’s go-to colorist) calls this blonde “a natural but bright and happy look which gives a sun-kissed glow to the skin.” Consider this shade your ticket to an endless summer. “[The color] mirrors the hypothetical highlights people would get if they sat in the sun for a long time, or that you see little kids with in the summer,” says Lussiano.
06of 10
Modern Ombré
“This color is effortless and low maintenance, and a nod to the 2000s look we all loved without being cringe,” says Baum. If rooty looks aren’t usually your thing, consider Lussiano’s spin. “Lived-in color: when your lifestyle benefits from not having to get your roots touched up every five weeks.”
07of 10
Creamed Honey
Say hello to dimensional, creamy, buttery blonde. “It’s very reminiscent of a ‘90s shade of blonde (think Claudia Schiffer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon), which has already begun to come back in a major way,” says Nathan. This blonde is a nice option for those who favor a brightening frame but prefer a timeless honeyed hue to a summertime aesthetic.
08of 10
Vivid Copper
The Red Renaissance continues, and even natural-looking shades are going a bit bolder. “Redhead transformations instantly bring out the glow in someone’s face,” says celebrity hairstylist Jenna Perry. “Most of the time, the person instantly looks better.” This take on copper centers on saturation.
09of 10
Decadent Chocolate
“Brunettes are giving quiet luxury and confidence,” says Perry. This rich brunette continues to hold sway, a warm and sumptuous shade that oozes timeless glamor. For his part, Rez created an ideal prototypal pigment for Camila Morrone. “It veers on the side of solid color with all its depth, and has a super subtle warm dimension peaking mostly through the ends to soften the look,” says Rez of the tone’s technicalities.
10of 10
All Natural
One of the year’s most prominent trends? Leaving your hair alone, the better to embrace your natural color while restoring hair health. “People are either toning down what they currently have or going back completely to their natural color,” says hairstylist Colleen Flaherty. “Everyone’s on a health kick for their hair, and less is more.” Perry describes the vibe perfectly, action notes included: “'I drink plenty of water, take my supplements, sleep well. I am my number one priority, *hair toss.*’”