The 2026 Hair Colour Trends Worth Booking (And the Ones I'd Skip)
- Fergal Doyle
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
By Fergal Doyle, Founder and Director
After more than two decades and a lot of trend cycles, I have learned to separate the colours that genuinely suit real people from the ones that look great on a runway and miserable six weeks later. So here are the 2026 trends I am genuinely excited to do, and a couple I would gently steer you away from.
Book it: candlelit and golden brunette
The biggest story of 2026 is warm, dimensional brunette. Think a rich brown base lit from within with caramel, vanilla and soft blonde around the face, what the industry is calling candlelit or golden brunette balayage. It is glossy, expensive looking, flattering on almost everyone, and it grows out beautifully. If you want one change this year, this is it.
Book it: boy blonde and buttery blondes
Blonde has gone warmer and softer. Boy blonde, a lived in, slightly undone dirty blonde with a shadowed root, is everywhere, alongside honey and buttery tones. The appeal is obvious, it is bright without the relentless upkeep of icy platinum.
Book it (if you are committed): ethereal platinum
For the bold, a pale, almost white ethereal platinum with a hint of sparkle is having a real moment. I love it, but I will always be straight with you. It is a high maintenance colour that needs toning and care roughly every month, and it is only worth doing on healthy hair. Come in for a chat before you commit.
Book it: soft black
At the other end, soft black, a rich, glossy black with subtle undertones rather than a flat, harsh dye, is a beautiful, low effort statement. Wonderful on the right skin tone, and the shine is everything.
The thread running through all of it
Notice what every one of these has in common, dimension, gloss, and a graceful grow out. The era of harsh, high contrast, chunky colour is over. In 2026, clients want colour that looks expensive, stays healthy, and still looks good weeks after they leave us. That is exactly the kind of colour we love to build.
What I would skip
Ultra trend led fashion shades that need bleaching your whole head to achieve, then fade within weeks, unless you genuinely love the maintenance, they rarely give value. And please, no box dye for now. Correcting it almost always costs more than doing it properly the first time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest hair colour trend for 2026?
Warm, dimensional brunette, often called candlelit or golden brunette balayage, alongside softer, warmer blondes. The overall direction is glossy, low maintenance colour with seamless grow out.
Is platinum blonde still in style in 2026?
Yes, but softer, a creamy ethereal platinum rather than stark white. It is high maintenance, so it is best on healthy hair with monthly toning.
Which 2026 colour is the most low maintenance?
A dimensional brunette balayage or a soft boy blonde with a shadowed root. Both are designed to grow out without a harsh line.
Fancy a 2026 refresh?
Book a consultation with our colour team in Clifton or Stoke Bishop and we will find the shade that actually suits your life. Book online at fergaldoylehair.com.
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