30 Hottest Hair Colors That Make Everybody Thirsty This Year

Changing your hair color can be a daunting task for many people. What if something goes wrong? What if your hair turns out ugly? Which color should you pick?

To make things easier for you, we have gathered some of the hottest hair color ideas of 2023 here. Save this list and show it to your hairstylist the next time you go to a salon. They will handle the rest!

There are so many colors to choose from! You can go with something soft, subtle, and natural, like bronzes, coppers, reds, chocolates, and violets.

If you want to stand out, pick bold and vibrant shades. And if you can’t decide between two colors, just get them both. Mix and match hair colors can be beautiful, as long as they complement each other well.

Keep scrolling for the hottest hair colors of 2023. Time to get yourself a makeover and glow up!

1. Peach Hair

2. Teal

Hair Care After Dyeing Your Hair Bright Colors

Dyeing your hair a vivid, unnatural color is a bold, beautiful act of self-expression. These “fantasy colors” are stunning, vibrant, and fun. However, they are also incredibly high-maintenance.

Unlike natural tones that use developer to gently deposit color, bright, vivid shades are applied to highly lifted (bleached) hair and rely on semi-permanent, large dye molecules that are prone to washing out quickly.

3. Muted Rainbow

4. Strawberry Champagne

5. Half Black, Half White

The moment you leave the salon with that perfect, vibrant shade, the real work begins. Maintaining the color’s brilliance and, just as importantly, preserving the integrity of your lightened hair requires a complete overhaul of your hair care routine.

This guide is your essential roadmap to keeping your neon, pastel, or jewel-toned hair bright, healthy, and fade-resistant for as long as possible.

6. White highlight

7. Half White, Half Pink

8. Blonde and Brown

Phase I: The Fade Defense Strategy (Washing)

Color fading is the primary enemy of vivid hair. Every time you wash your hair, you lose some pigment. The goal is to wash less often and protect the cuticle every time you do.

Embrace the Cold Shower

This is the most crucial, non-negotiable step. Hot water causes the hair cuticle (the outer layer) to lift and open, allowing the precious, large dye molecules to escape rapidly.

9. Black with Red-Orange

10. Stunning Silver

The Rule: Always wash your hair with the coldest water you can tolerate. Lukewarm is the absolute warmest you should go. Cold water seals the cuticle shut, trapping the color inside.
The Compromise: If you can’t tolerate a full cold shower, wash and condition your hair separately at the sink with cold water before stepping into your warm shower (wearing a shower cap).

11. Auburn and Walnut Blend

12. The Color Block Trend

13. Two-Toned Red-Purple

Wash Less, Dry Shampoo More

The fewer times you wash your hair, the longer your color will last.

The Frequency: Aim to wash your hair no more than 1-2 times per week.
The Substitute: Invest in a high-quality dry shampoo to manage oil and refresh your roots between washes. Apply dry shampoo proactively to absorb moisture as it’s produced.

14. Melted Blue and Pink

15. Auburn Hair with a White-Blonde Bangs

16. Pink and Navy Blue Waves

The Power of Color-Safe, Sulfate-Free Products

Standard shampoos are too harsh for bleached and brightly colored hair.

Avoid Sulfates: Sulfates are detergents that strip moisture and color rapidly. Choose shampoos and conditioners explicitly labeled “sulfate-free” and “color-safe.”
Look for Low pH: Products with a slightly acidic or low pH are best, as they help flatten the hair cuticle, much like cold water does.

17. Purple and Pink Balayage

18. Sunset-Inspired Pink and Orange Waves

Phase II: The Color Recharging Toolkit

Since bright colors are semi-permanent, you need to actively replenish the lost pigment between salon visits.

Introducing Color-Depositing Products

These products are essential for keeping your vivid shade saturated and preventing dullness. They deposit a small amount of pigment every time you use them.

Color-Depositing Conditioners: These are deep conditioners infused with pigment matching your hair color. Use them 1-2 times per week in place of your regular conditioner to subtly refresh and intensify the shade.

19. Sunset Melted Ombre

20. Yellow to Orange to Bright Red

21. Double Dip Dye

Custom Mixes: Many stylists will create a custom color-depositing mask specifically mixed with your exact vivid shade. This is the gold standard for at-home color maintenance.
Application Tip: For maximum saturation, apply the color-depositing conditioner to dry or towel-dried hair and leave it on for 10-20 minutes before rinsing with cold water.

22. Chocolate Caramel Dip-Dye

23. Pink Lemonade

Strategic Use of Deep Conditioning

Color-treated hair, especially hair that has been bleached, is porous and fragile. It needs continuous moisture and protein to stay elastic and shiny.

Weekly Masks: Commit to a deep conditioning mask or a protein treatment once per week. This seals the cuticle and strengthens the hair shaft, which in turn helps lock the color in place.
Bond Builders: Products containing ingredients like maleic acid, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (Olaplex), or similar bond-building technology are crucial for repairing the internal structure of hair damaged by bleach. Use these every two weeks.

24. Unicorn Ombre with White Roots

25. Neon Orange and Pink

26. Orange and Yellow Hair

Heat Protection is Non-Negotiable

Heat is an enemy of vivid color, causing it to fade dramatically and quickly.

Limit Hot Tools: Reduce your use of flat irons, curling wands, and high-heat blow dryers. Embrace heatless styling methods whenever possible.
Lower the Temp: When you must use hot tools, ensure the temperature is set to the absolute minimum needed to style your hair (ideally below 300∘F or 150∘C).
Use a Heat Protectant: Always apply a liberal amount of high-quality heat protectant spray before styling. This creates a barrier that slows the transfer of heat to the hair shaft.