Honey Blonde
Remember last season’s butter blonde? Consider honey blonde the elevated version of that shade, according to Maccaro.
“These honey tones are achieved by highlighting and keeping depth at the root to create a rich contrast and customizing a gloss to add a warm, overall glow to the color,” Maccaro explains. “It’s flattering on the skin and multi-dimensional. Honey blonde isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ shade, meaning it can be adjusted to complement any skin tone and haircut shape.”
Application-wise, colorists can play with balayage, foilayage, chunky highlights, and root melts, Maccaro says. “This is excellent for a low-maintenance client who understands and wants to embrace the warmth in their hair color. Hair doesn’t lift cool (there are always underlying warm tones), so a warmer tone is easier to achieve and has more longevity. What makes this look so flattering and versatile is that warmer tones complement the skin and work to highlight your best features.”
When maintaining this color at home, Maccaro suggests limiting your use of purple shampoo. “Just because you have ‘blonde highlights’ does not mean you need purple shampoo,” she says. “Purple neutralizes yellow. By neutralizing the yellow you remove warmth and cool down the honey tone.”
Cherry Cola
The hair color with the cutest name ever is actually a versatile take on a classic red shade. “This tone can be tailored to complement the undertone of your client, making it super customizable but still a fun statement color,” Maccaro says. If you have a cooler undertone, Maccaro says your colorist should add more violet to your formula to create a cooler shade of red. It’s also important to understand the intricacy of maintaining a red hue.
“Red is the most complex color to remove but also the hardest color to keep,” Maccaro says. “Make sure you are ready to commit to being red for a moment, a salon maintenance schedule, and to professional home care. If you are someone who doesn’t have time to get to the salon for routine maintenance appointments, this shade isn’t the ideal option.”
Expect to be in the salon for gloss appointments as soon as 2-4 weeks after your first appointment as the red tone may fade quickly after the initial application, Maccaro warns. “To maintain the cherry cola red at home, products like Good Dye Young - DyePosit is an awesome color depositing product that replaces your conditioner once a week,” she says. “You can really customize your shade by mixing red and purple together to achieve your desired look. You also want to shampoo minimally, always cleanse with color-safe/sulfate-free products, and use a heat protectant.”
Seamless Bronde
Great news if you’re a big fan of bronde: this shade isn't going anywhere and will continue to be all over your FYP, according to Maccaro. “It's the perfect melted and blended mix of blonde/brown tones that sit directly in the middle of the hair color spectrum, making it incredibly complementary to so many people,” Maccaro says. “Bronde can also be adjusted tonally, warmer, or cooler, depending on your client's skin tone. This looks great if you don’t want to commit to high-maintenance blinding services but still want to look brighter.” If you have lighter hair and want to take a break from lightning but still want dimension, this is also a gorgeous choice.
Glowy Brunette
Last, but never least: a brunette color that is so super flattering. “Think of this as the illuminated version of the expensive brunette trend we saw a lot of all over social media last year,” Maccaro says. “This look is still rich, shiny, and chocolatey brown but has a pop of lightness to give a radiant face-framing glow.. The highlights really amplify the hue by adding soft dimensional pops that can be customized to suit your skin tone.”
To achieve this look, a colorist will start with an all-over color or work with your own natural brunette base. “Then add subtle balayage throughout the bottom and face frame of the shape of the haircut to create seamless movement,” she says. “To keep the color looking shiny and rich, schedule gloss appointments approximately every four weeks to maintain ashier tones or if your lengths tend to fade quickly or every 6-8 weeks for warmer tones and natural brunettes.”
Happy coloring!