Kayla Boyer / Instagram
#53: Moonstone Rainbow Hair Color
This beautiful rainbow moonstone color was created by stylist Kayla Boyer of Minneapolis, MN. “It appears to be white, but the color appears and reflects when you move the stone in different directions. I brought this to life on my client with a silver look that features underlights of beautiful rainbow assortments,” says Boyer.
Always see your stylist at least four weeks after your appointment to ensure the best care for your color. Upkeep is important for you, but most important for your stylist to give you the best-looking hair color.
Instagram @shearelegance_bynicole
#54: Tropical Sunset on Long Wavy Hair
I would describe this look as a tropical rainbow sunset. My best tips for recreating this look are to take your time and separate each section so none of the bottom colors touch each other and to wash in the coldest water your client can handle. It’s super important to saturate with vivids, so you’re better off using more product and oversaturating than under. Use low temperatures while styling, as well as a heat protectant.
To maintain this color, wash in the coldest possible water and explain to your clients you get 7 washes. It’s up to you to use them all in 1 week or over the next 7 weeks! When styling, give the rainbow some waves to emphasize all the hues.
Instagram @hairbycorinacorinaa
#55: Deep Violet Shadow Root with Rainbow Streaks
This is a deep violet shadow root with rainbow colors alternated throughout. My favorite thing about this look is the contrast of all the different colors and how they reflect as the hair falls. This rainbow hairstyle is great for the woman ready to rock a bold color. My favorite way to style this is in fun beach waves. It adds body to the hair and allows all the colors to pop!
Instagram @elijah.cordova
#56: Candied Rainbow Hologram with a Hidden Undercut
This short rainbow hair was inspired by the tones of candy and the movement of holograms. The fusion of natural and rainbow colors and placement makes this hair look different every way it is pulled. Some of my favorite extra details about this party color are that it conceals a multi-colored undercut and glows under a black light.
You can change the ratio of warm and cool tones or leave out some blonde highlights. I took extra time to create a smooth, cool-toned balayage and color melt before direct dye was applied to this color. The maintenance of this color is all about your aftercare. Wash your hair minimally in the coldest water you can with quality products!
Instagram @rainbowrage
#57: Bright, Earthy Stones of the Rainbow Color
The rainbow hair dye combo was created by color master Savannah Harris of Bend, OR.
“Anyone with the confidence to rock bright colors can pull this off. It’s all about how you rock it! Don’t be afraid to try a color you fear might not go with your skin tone,” she adds. “Wash your hair as little as possible and use cool water to keep the colors from fading and running together. Dry shampoo is your best friend!”
Instagram @MichaelaAdeleArtistry
#58: The Hidden Rainbow Unicorn
This hidden rainbow unicorn hair is the perfect look for women who want to play with vivid colors but can’t go all out for their job or other reasons. Unless your client is platinum blonde, you’ll need to lighten them to achieve vibrant colors like these. This is especially important when using blue. If the client lifts to a yellow blonde, the blue will mix and create a teal/green instead of the desired color.
Washing this hidden rainbow hair in cool water helps keep the color locked in, while hot water opens the cuticle, allowing more color to bleed out with every wash. What you wash your hair with is also super important. No drugstore shampoos! Try Keratin Complex Timeless Color Fade Defy Shampoo and Conditioner.
Instagram @amylynnhairdesign
#59: Eye Candy Rainbow Hair
My favorite thing about this long hair is that it is all different colors, it has all-over rainbow hues, but it still flows nicely! Chop a few strands around the face, and you’ll have a rainbow fringe. Walk with confidence, and you can pull this look off easily. The trick to fantasy colors like this is placement. Make sure the complementary tones are closest to the face.
Instagram @hairbyohheyheather
#60: Bright Color Melt Rainbow Hair
This bright rainbow color melt was created by stylist Heather Wilmoth of Charlotte, NC.
Wilmoth used Zombie Snott for the pink, Blood Orchid, and Ballistic Blue for the blue. For the green, she used Pravana, and the teal is Kenra.
“I start with a darker base color all over that suits my client’s skin tone the best. Then I alternate my colors melting them down. It’s very free-form hair painting,” she explains.
Instagram @rebellion.haircraft/
#61: Peacock Rainbow
“These hidden rainbow tones feature pink peacock colors with a mix of heavy foils and slices through the top that is toned with a vanilla blonde,” explains stylist Hayley Garratt of the UK.
To create these colors, Garratt used Unique 10 Argan Oil, Color Freeze by Schwarzkopf, Blinding Shine Definer by Osmo, and Indola Shine Spray.
“With the hidden rainbow, most skin types would be fine as the natural tones on top suit most skin tones,” she adds. “Porcelain, olive, and darker tones wear this look especially well. However, if your complexion is very rosy, you might avoid this combination as the pink hues may be too warm next to pink skin tones.”
Instagram / @itsnicholehair
#62: Electric Rainbow Hair
This electric rainbow shade was created by hairstylist Nichole Cosentino.
“When creating this look, I started by doing the roots first, then melted the colors down one by one,” says Cosentino. “Make sure you wipe your hands between applying colors so you’re not transferring them onto the next.”
Maintenance is so important with these colors because they are just direct dyes. Cosentino recommends using a color-safe shampoo and conditioner and rinsing in cold water.
Instagram / @camouflageandbalayage
#63: Rose and Lilac Pastel Rainbow Tones
“This is a soft pastel rainbow hair color created using Joico Intensity Titanium, Rose, and Lilac painted on top of balayage highlights,” explains hairstylist and colorist Amy McManus of Fitchburg, MA. Cooler skin tones will look best in this pastel hair.
She explains, “You’ll need to see your hairdresser once a month to have this color refreshed. Most women wash their hair once a week to help keep this color from washing out quickly to get the longevity of a full month out of it.”
Instagram @bescene
#64: Perfectly Painted Rainbow
This blonde hair with rainbow highlights looks amazing when paired with a modern shag with curtain bangs. Use a gentle, color-safe shampoo and Pravana’s Silk Degrees Shine Serum to offer protection and radiant shine to show off those vivid colors!
Instagram @mo_raven
#65: Creatively Rainbow-Colored Hair
Opt for rainbow-colored hair if you have long hair. The downside to many fashion colors/rainbow hair is that the hair must be lightened to a pale blonde. However, this specific type of fashion color must only be lifted to a dark blonde. This allows women with naturally darker color hair to enjoy fashion colors without all the damage of over-processed lightened hair.
Instagram / @marythomaston
#66: Medium-Length Metallic Rainbow Hair
This is a metallic rainbow hair color on medium-length tresses. It was created by private hairstylist Mary Thomaston.
“The colors are very muted with a silvery finish,” notes Thomaston. “I used the Joico Intensity collection’s Metallic Muse for this look.”
Instagram / @elissawolfe
#67: Half Pastel, Half Rainbow
This pastel half-and-half rainbow was created by hairstylist Elissa Wolfe of Vancouver, BC.
Wolfe chose a pastel warm yellow and cool mint here because the model has very pale skin with a touch of pink. “Yellow isn’t easy to wear as it can clash with skin tones with yellow undertones! The mint, however, can go with most skin tones as it’s cool-toned. Again, lighter hair works for this as it needs to be very light first to get this half-and-half look,” she explains.
Instagram / @elyserox00
#68: Rainbow Braids
“These rainbow braids were a specific rainbow color request,” says salon owner and stylist Elyse Rox of Schaumburg, IL. “She wanted green, purple, and orange. I did something different and alternated colors on the scalp where I will usually root shadow someone.”
“First, I pre-lightened her hair to a level 10 and followed with an Olaplex treatment. I used all Pulp Riot for this color,” explains Rox. “I mixed the orange and used jam, aquatic, and velvet for this look. I blurred the color toward the ends with clear on some bits. I always add Olaplex #2 to all my fashion colors. It helps relink the bonds so the color attaches better.”
Instagram @briaunas_hair_repair
#69: Rainbow Unicorn Hair
This look is called unicorn or mermaid hair, my favorite new rainbow hair trend. The ideal hair for these types of colors is light brown to blonde hair. The hair must be pre-lightened to pale blonde before applying pastels. Naturally, light-haired women pull this color off best. Darker-haired women may need more than one session to get light enough for pastel colors.
The best way to preserve and not get rid of rainbow hair color is to always wash with cold water and a sulfate-free shampoo. Avoid washing your hair every day if possible. Vivid colors fade quicker than natural colors, so I recommend a 4 to 6-week appointment with your stylist to keep the colors fresh.
Instagram @jessysilvahair
#70: Colorful Rainbow Mermaid Hair
Dive deep underwater and rise to wear the rainbow colors of the ocean, aka mermaid hair. Match it with beach waves, and you’ll be mistaken for a mermaid on land!
Instagram / @taylorrae_hair
#71: Hidden Neon Rainbow Underneath
“I call this look Hidden Rainbow. It’s a soft rainbow of colors underneath a veil of vibrant coral,” says hairstylist Taylor Rae of Denver, CO.
“To create this look, I would lighten the hair to a level 10, then section the top of the hair with a star pattern around the part,” explains Rae. “The underneath sections are taken vertically, starting in front of the ear and creating six sections. Keep the colors separate so they don’t bleed together.”
Instagram @svlhair
#72: Vivid Rainbow Underlights
These rainbow underlights were created by master stylist Sara Larose of Southbridge, MA.
There are endless possibilities that your stylist can create by mixing different colors to customize a look just for you. It’s best to have natural or light hair color when doing vivid colors. The hair must be lightened first to a pale blonde to achieve such a rainbow hair colour.
Instagram @mandaharsche
#73: Pretty Rainbow Ombre on Long Hair
How lucky are you to get all the colors of the sunset in your hair? Colorist Amanda did an amazing job creating this rainbow ombre hair!
Instagram / @rebelsandroguesparlour
#74: Opalescent Rainbow Tones
“The yummy opalescent tones will fade to a cool platinum in one month. The shadow root I gave her will enable her to grow her natural roots for the next four months,” explains salon owner and hairstylist Elizabeth Pederson of British Columbia.
She adds, “To maintain a color like this, you want to ensure you wash your hair only once a week with a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner and cool water. Keep all hot tools below 300 degrees as well. Otherwise, you can oxidize the direct dye right out of the hair.”
Instagram @hairbycassiejo
#75: Gorgeous Rainbow Highlights
Bright rainbow colors work as well as any other hair color. Wear that pride anywhere you go!
Instagram @hairbyduhsavannah
#76: Black Hair with Rainbow Ombre Balayage
Try out black hair with rainbow ombre balayage if you have always wanted rainbow hair but were too nervous about coloring your whole head. The rainbow pieces underneath make it easy to hide when you want a subtle look or show off when you want a pop of color. Keeping the rainbow colors underneath the black also makes it so that it’s not so noticeable when your roots start to come back in. Always wash vivid colors with a sulfate-free shampoo and in cold water to maintain the color.