Terracotta is the hair colour trend everyone will be turning to for summer... and it's all because of Brexit
While opal hair is making its debut this Spring and grey hair returns for another season, there's one hair colour that's caught our attention and captured our hearts - and we are pretty convinced that it's the most wearable colour trend of the season.
"Terracotta hair is here for everyone to enjoy," says Zoe Irwin, Wella Professionals UK Colour Trend Expert, who travels the world searching for inspiration and picking up on the latest beauty and fashion trends before they go mainstream. "As a trend forecaster, I note how the market reacts to colours and I can see that yellow as a tone has a 50% year on year rise, which really fits into the movement towards other 70s tones in the last three - five years," says Zoe.
The trend relies on putting warmth back into the hair, as if it was being naturally illuminated by the sun. "It's a warm wash of colour that is based around the magical light that happens in the evening," she says. Zoe primarily works with a palette of five Wella Professionals shades, and four glazes, that range from sun-kissed strawberry blond to a baked terracotta.
The base shades work in tandem with the glazes, which pick up any pre-lightened areas of hair to add dimension. "I use multiple tones to make it look as natural as possible and use the Palm Painting technique, which is a French form of balayage."
But aside from being supremely wearable and universally flattering, the trend goes far deeper than aesthetics. "During times that we feel unsettled because of political unrest, we become more nostalgic," explains Zoe. "We are now looking back to a time of fond memories of the 70s - long hot summers, wearing gorgeous dresses. This time was well documented with images shot in warm hazy light - and they are also filtered with soft and dreamy hues, which is very comforting at a time of such despair." Bloody Brexit, eh?
Here are some other hair colour trends to inspire your next shake-up...
@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.
