If you’re expecting neon highlights and bleach-blonde beach waves, prepare to be completely wrong. Summer 2025 is serving up something entirely different: sophisticated color artistry that’s equal parts surprising and stunning.
We’re talking rich, dimensional shades that actually get better in the heat, colors that shift and evolve with every ray of sunshine.
“We’re seeing a complete shift from the Instagram-filter approach to hair color,” explains master colorist Tracey Cunningham, whose Beverly Hills salon has a six-month waiting list. “Clients want colors that tell stories, that shift and evolve in different lights. It’s about creating depth, not just coverage.”
Ready to look deep into the five shades that have colorists worldwide rethinking their formulas? Let’s get deliciously nerdy about it.
Table of Contents
1. Almond-Milk Blonde: Summer’s Softest Flex
Cool-neutral blonde with shadow root mastery and zero brassiness
Forget everything you think you know about blonde maintenance. This isn’t your grandmother’s platinum—it’s a carefully orchestrated symphony of undertones that mimics the natural way blonde hair catches light.
“Almond-milk blonde works because it honors the natural melanin distribution in hair,” reveals Nikki Lee, celebrity colorist and Redken global artist. “We’re using violet and blue base toners to counteract yellow, but in micro-doses that create movement rather than that flat, over-toned look.”
This shade uses a technique called “lived-in lightening”—strategically placing highlights 2-3 shades lighter than the base, then toning with a custom blend of beige and mushroom.
The result? Blonde that looks like you were born with it (and spent your summers in the Hamptons).
Expert Insights
“By keeping 2-3 inches of natural root, we’re creating a gradient that mimics how hair naturally lightens from sun exposure,” explains Lee. “Plus, it extends time between touch-ups from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.”
The Formula Breakdown: Base: Level 7 natural brown, Highlights: Level 9 beige blonde, Toner: Equal parts violet and blue base with pearl additives for that coveted luminosity.
2. Mocha Melt Brunette: Sun-Kissed Depth
Multi-tonal brown that changes personality with every turn
This isn’t just brown hair—it’s architectural color design. Think of it as the brunette equivalent of a perfectly crafted latte art, where every shade serves a purpose.
Bella Hadid’s hair colorist, Jen Atkin, uses a technique called “babylighting”—ultra-fine highlights that are only 1-2 shades lighter than the base. “We’re not trying to create contrast,” Atkin explains. “We’re building luminosity from within the hair structure.”
Expert Insights
Master colorist Johnny Ramirez (who works with Billie Eilish and Rosalía) reveals the secret: “Mocha melt works because we’re layering warm and cool tones. The base is a warm level 4 brown, but we weave in cooler highlights using ash tones. It creates this incredible depth that photographs beautifully in any light.”
Here’s what Pinterest won’t tell you—the gloss isn’t just about shine. “We’re using acidic glosses that actually close the hair cuticle,” explains Ramirez. “This locks in the color molecules and creates that mirror-like reflection.”
Maintenance Magic: Celebrity colorist Aura Friedman swears by this trick: “Use a tinted gloss every 4 weeks, but alternate between warm and cool tones. It keeps the color from going flat.”
3. Cherry Cola Red: Summer’s Dark Romance
Deep red with burgundy undertones that defies traditional red hair rules
Red hair has always been the wild child of the color world—quick to fade, hard to maintain, impossible to ignore. But cherry cola red? It’s red hair that went to graduate school.
Zendaya’s colorist, Ursula Stephen, reveals the technique: “We build cherry cola in layers. First, a burgundy base using permanent color, then semi-permanent cherry tones, finished with copper highlights. Each layer has a different fade rate, so the color evolves instead of just washing out.”
Here’s the insider secret that changes everything—cherry cola reds are designed to fade beautifully. “Traditional reds fade to orange or pink,” explains celebrity colorist Christophe Robin. “But cherry cola has built-in burgundy undertones that create a gorgeous wine-stained effect as it fades.”
Celebrity Colorist Secret: Tracey Cunningham’s trick for cherry cola longevity? “We pre-pigment with a diluted red base before applying the main color. It’s like priming a canvas—the color grabs better and lasts 40% longer.”
4. Golden Apricot: Sunset Vibes Only
Sun-kissed blonde with peach undertones that shouldn’t work but absolutely does
This is the color that breaks all the rules and somehow becomes the most requested shade in salons from LA to London.
Sydney Sweeney’s colorist, Cassondra Kaeding, uses a technique called “reverse balayage“—darkening certain sections before lightening others. “Golden apricot needs depth to work,” Kaeding explains. “We create shadows with darker blonde tones, then paint in the apricot highlights.”
Expert Insights
“Golden apricot works because it complements both warm and cool skin tones,” reveals master colorist Adir Abergel. “The golden base warms up cool skin, while the peach undertones add freshness to warm complexions.”
This shade requires commitment. “Apricot tones are notoriously light-sensitive,” warns Nikki Lee. “But here’s the pro tip—use a UV-protectant spray with zinc oxide. It’s like sunscreen for your hair color.”
Formulation Secrets: The magic happens in the mixing bowl. Top colorists use a blend of gold, copper, and pink toners applied with a technique called “color melting”—seamlessly blending tones so there are no harsh lines.
5. Peach Copper: Pool Party Perfect
Rose gold meets copper in a shade that’s somehow both soft and statement-making
This is millennial pink’s sophisticated older sister—the one who went to art school and came back with impeccable taste.
Colorist, Josh Wood, approaches peach copper like a painting: “We start with a copper base, then add peach tones using a technique called ‘color washing’—diluted color applied to damp hair for a watercolor effect.”
The Semi-Permanent Strategy: Here’s the insider approach—most colorists apply peach copper as a gloss over pre-lightened hair. “It allows clients to experiment without commitment,” reveals Christophe Robin. “If they love it, we can make it permanent. If not, it fades beautifully over 6-8 weeks.”
Your Summer Glow-Up Starts Now
While everyone else is still thinking beach waves and basic highlights, you could be turning heads with hair that’s literally designed for summer magic.
These aren’t just colors—they’re your ticket to being the most unforgettable person at every pool party, rooftop dinner, and sunset selfie session.
The best part? Each of these shades actually gets more gorgeous as the temperature rises. That golden hour light? It’s about to become your hair’s best friend.
Ready to be summer’s main character? Book that consultation now, because honey, August waits for no one—and neither should your hair transformation
Found your perfect shade? We’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @coloredhaircare or Facebook and share your hair color stories. Looking for more hair care tips? Check out How to Look After Colored Hair: 11 Expert Secrets For Long-Lasting Color.
Our Research & Review Process
To ensure our recommendations are as comprehensive and reliable as possible, we’ve undertaken an extensive research effort.
We cite scientific evidence and journals, collect real user reviews and gather impartial perspectives from hair stylists, users, and experts in the field.
Additionally, we conduct hands-on testing by using products and applying hair dyes not only on our own locks but also on real human hair extensions and hair pieces of different hair type, textures and lengths.
This rigorous approach allows us to provide you with insights into which products genuinely live up to their promises.
As always – please consult with a professional hair colorist or stylist for advice on how to color your own hair at home. It’s different for everyone!
