Opal hair is the colour hue we'll all be rocking at festivals this summer
We can always rely on the world of Instagram to inspire us with totally head-turning hair colour trends. From chocolate cake brown to rose gold, Scandi blonde to periwinkle purple, this season is hair is taking cues from fashion and embracing all the colours of the rainbow.
This season is no different, as we welcome a fantastical new colour fusion into the mix: opal hair.
The key to this look is all in the name, blending a mixture of soft pastel pinks and purples for a look that serves dreamy opalescent magic.
A muted version of the vibrant hues we saw in last year's craze for unicorn hair, opal hair is the next-gen trend that's reinventing multicoloured locks in a softer, more subtle way.
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According to Allure, achieving the look is actually way easier than it might appear at first glance. Quite simply, opal hair is achieved by applying violet-based toners to pearly, platinum blonde hair for a pastel coloured finish.
Depending on the toners you use, the colour spectrum ranges from subtle precious gem shine to kaleidoscopic hues reminiscent of a Lush bath bomb.
As usual, we can rely on Instagram to give us some truly individual takes on the trend, ranging from old school Hollywood glamour to nu-age witch. Trust us, these opal-inspired looks will give you all the hairspiration you need this spring.
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Hairstylist Lindsay Wolf took us to the land of make-believe with her interpretation of opal hair that she dubbed "Rainbow River."
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Kansas-based colorist Ursula Goff applied metallic Redken Shades EQ metallic on top of faded pastel colour for a major holographic effect.
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Channelling old school Hollywood glamour, the Ross Michaels salon in Seattle used Pravana ChromaSilk Vivid dyes to create a blush pink look inspired by tropic beaches in the Bahamas.
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Atlanta-based stylist Latise Stewart took this pixie crop to fairytale heights with a mixture of opalescent pinks, purples and blues.
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Not feeling opal hair but want inspiration for other trending hair colours of 2019? Keep scrolling...
@besceneReverse ombre
Coined by hair colourist and stylist Linh Phan, reverse ombre hair is set to be big for summer.
@amandaleehairBiscuit brunette
Hailey Beiber is rocking the toned-down look created by hair colourist Amanda Lee. We're calling it the biscuit brunette.
@danielmbeautyRing-lighting
This flattering new trend involves highlighting the front section of hair to provide a ring-lit effect and frame the face.
@etchersalonPeekaboo hair
Keep everyone guessing with one of the biggest hair colour trends of the past year - peekaboo hair.
Anya Taylor Joy's warm copper shade in Netflix series The Queen's Gambit is giving us serious hair colour goals for when lockdown lifts.
@dualipa / InstagramWarm mocha
After asking fans "should I bring her back?" against a throwback picture of her natural chocolate coloured hair, Dua swapped out her home-dyed red hair for a warm mocha.
@khloekardashian / InstagramWalnut brown
Khloe traded in the platinum strands she's been digging for the past year for a deeper walnut colour that's much closer to her natural shade.
@dualipa / InstagramCandy floss pink
Dua Lipa looks pretty in pink with her candy floss hair. Tempted to emulate her? Read our guide.
@mareksyriste / InstagramAmber Slate hair
A mixture of warm (think strawberry blonde) and cool (think ice blonde) tones creates 'Amber Slate' – a modern take on the classic honey blonde.
@hairbyntash / InstagramOpal hair
Pearlescent shades with super-reflective shine are always a good idea. If you're not up for the rainbow version, this harmony of grey and cool-toned blonde is just as beautiful.
Metallic peach hair
This peachy, metallic hair colour puts the 'Living' into 'Living Coral'. Created by Cambridge Hair Collective, the highlights woven between brights takes us back to the rose gold hair trend.
@omgartistry / InstagramBlonde roast hair
If you're a brunette hoping to add a splash of blonde to your colour or a blonde hoping to tone down, blonde roast is the ideal way to do it. The new colour trend seamlessly combines shades of darker brown with shades of lighter blonde for the ideal Autumn hue. Describing the trendy new hair colour on Instagram, colourist Olivia Smalley wrote: "A hybrid combo of cool metallic ash tones on brunette hair." Will you be trying it this season?
Toasted coconut hair
If you're a brunette who wants to dip her toe into more of a blonde hue, let us introduce you to toasted coconut: the hot new hair colour taking over our Instagram feeds. Speaking to Allure, colourist Ami Rexroth explained: "It's a very rich, dark root that softly transitions and melts into blonder ends". We are absolutely loving this subtle new take on blonde highlights, aren't you?
@chitabeseau / InstagramGem Roots
Gem roots is the current trend fulfilling our crystal-obsessed dreams. From magenta to pastel shades of green and pink and silvery blonde ends, it sounds like it shouldn't work but oh, it does.
@foilingbeautiful / InstagramFruit Juice Hair
Another trend that will have brunettes jumping for joy, the latest colour style dubbed 'fruit juice hair' is total hair goals. Coined by hair guru Alisha McAlister, she explained: "I’m not sure what to call this! It’s a mix of blended fruit colours. I started this hair colour thinking I was doing a simple base and tone. Then my amazing client surprised me! She said, “I want something different!” So yay for stylist choice night!". We think it'll be a big hit this summer.
@thomas.goh / InstagramRose Brown hair
Finally! A pastel trend that brunettes can get involved with! The rose gold trend isn't done just yet, as rose brown is gaining traction on Instagram. Instead of having to dye your hair bright blonde to achieve the look, this works with darker hair colours. Created by hairstylist Thi Thao Tu, it's done by using a combination of bleach, Olaplex treatment, and brown and red dyes. We're into it.
@saraihairwizard / InstagramGhosted hair
This gorgeous look has nothing to do with the dating term, but rather what's hiding in the shadows of the gorgeous hue. Why's it different from platinum or silver? It's the addition of carbon, quartz and oyster white that you don't see at first glance. First crafted by Jason Hogan of Josh Wood Atelier on this wavy short hairstyle, it's definitely going to be a biggie this year.
