Trending summer hair colors that capture warmth and dimension
As temperatures rise and vacation plans take shape, it’s the perfect moment to refresh your look with this season’s stunning summer hair colors. The most coveted summer hair colors of 2025 embrace warmth and dimension, moving away from the stark contrasts of previous years.
We’re seeing a major shift toward more lived-in, sun-kissed summer hair colors that complement natural tones rather than dramatically altering them,” explains celebrity colorist James Chen.
This season’s summer hair color palette celebrates golden undertones and subtle transitions that not only capture sunlight beautifully but also require less intensive maintenance—perfect for those beach days and poolside afternoons.
Whether you’re considering platinum, brunette, or vibrant summer hair colors, this season’s spectrum offers effortless sophistication that enhances your natural beauty.
Featured experts on summer hair colors
- James Chen is a celebrity colorist specializing in seasonal summer hair colors and founder of Spectrum Color Studio in Los Angeles
- Sophia Martinez is a master colorist known for creating dimensional summer hair colors and global educator for Illumina Professional
- David Kim is the creative director of ColorLab NYC and expert in trending summer hair colors
- Olivia Jackson is a color specialist who focuses on low-maintenance, natural-looking summer hair colors
Summer hair color trends for 2025
1 / 7: Buttercream blonde
Among the most luxurious summer hair colors, buttercream blonde evokes the rich, creamy texture of its namesake. “This summer hair color features neutral-to-warm undertones that create a soft, reflective finish without appearing brassy,” says Sophia Martinez. The beauty of this summer shade lies in its dimensional quality—it’s not a flat, one-note blonde but rather a nuanced summer hair color that catches light beautifully. Martinez recommends asking your colorist for “fine, delicate highlights blended with a warm neutral toner and finished with a glossing treatment for that buttery shine.” This approach ensures your summer blonde has depth and luminosity that appears natural while remaining eye-catching.
2 / 7: Golden blonde
This radiant summer hair color takes inspiration from sunlight itself, capturing the essence of the season in every strand. “Golden blonde incorporates honey and butterscotch tones that create incredible dimension and movement,” explains David Kim. Unlike cooler blonde variations, this warm summer hair color flatters most skin tones by adding a healthy glow to the complexion. “The key to perfect summer hair colors like this is creating a multifaceted blonde with varying depths of gold throughout,” Kim notes. For the most natural effect, he recommends a combination of balayage and babylights: “This creates that perfect sun-kissed appearance, as though you’ve spent the ideal amount of time in natural sunlight.”
3 / 7: Hazelnut chocolate
Brunettes seeking fresh summer hair colors are embracing this rich, multidimensional shade. “Hazelnut chocolate incorporates warm, nutty undertones that prevent brown hair from appearing flat or one-dimensional,” says Olivia Jackson. This summer hair color mimics how natural brunette hair responds to sunlight, with subtle variations throughout that create movement and depth. For the most flattering summer hair color result, Jackson recommends a technique that combines a rich brown base with “barely-there highlights in caramel and amber tones” placed strategically throughout. “The effect should be subtle—you shouldn’t be able to detect individual highlights, just an overall sense of dimension and richness,” she explains.
4 / 7: Sunset copper
This vibrant summer hair color captures the golden-red hues of a summer sunset. “Sunset copper is this season’s most dramatic trend among summer hair colors, combining rich orange-red bases with golden reflections,” says James Chen. The result is a multidimensional redhead shade that appears to change color as it catches the light. While bold, this summer hair color can be surprisingly versatile when tailored to complement your skin tone. Chen recommends asking your colorist for “a copper base with golden-orange ribbons woven throughout” for the most authentic sunset effect. He notes that while this shade requires more maintenance than subtler summer hair colors, using color-depositing products can extend its vibrancy.
5 / 7: Caramel brunette
This universally flattering summer hair color bridges the gap between blonde and brunette, creating a sun-kissed effect perfect for the season. “Caramel brunette features a rich brown base illuminated with golden-toned highlights that mimic natural sun exposure,” explains Sophia Martinez. The technique typically involves strategic placement of lighter pieces focused around the face and crown—areas that would naturally lighten in the sun. “The beauty of this summer hair color is its versatility,” Martinez notes. “It can be adjusted to complement any skin tone simply by shifting the warmth level of the caramel tones.” For maintaining your summer hair color, she recommends a gloss treatment every 4-6 weeks to keep the caramel tones looking fresh.
6 / 7: Strawberry blonde
Among the most romantic summer hair colors, strawberry blonde perfectly balances blonde and red tones for a feminine yet sophisticated look. “Modern strawberry blonde summer hair color is less about adding pink tones and more about creating a golden blonde with subtle copper reflexes,” notes David Kim. The result is a beautiful hybrid color that appears different in various lighting—sometimes more blonde, sometimes more red. For the most flattering summer hair color effect, Kim recommends a technique that incorporates fine copper-toned babylights throughout a warm blonde base. “This creates that perfect strawberry effect without the color appearing too artificial,” he explains.
7 / 7: Chestnut chocolate
Deep brunettes seeking fresh summer hair colors are embracing this rich, multidimensional shade. “Chestnut chocolate incorporates warm reddish-brown undertones that prevent dark hair from appearing flat or one-dimensional,” explains Olivia Jackson. Unlike cooler brown shades, this summer hair color brings warmth to the complexion and creates the appearance of thickness and volume. Jackson recommends a technique that maintains depth while incorporating “subtle mahogany reflexes” throughout. “The result should be a rich, dimensional brunette summer hair color that reveals its complexity when it catches the light,” she notes. For maintaining your summer hair color, she suggests a color-depositing gloss every 4-6 weeks to keep the warm tones vibrant.
