To find out the top new hair color trends for 2019 and help you make the most of any tweaks or major transformations, we turned to celebrity colorist Rachel Bodt of Red Door Salon and Spa in New York. Ahead, she shares the most in-demand hair color trends of the year. How to get it: Your stylist can accomplish this look by softening the root and then applying the blonde color as hair painting or foils, and Bodt advises not leaving a lot of space between the color. “It almost looks like a single process because you get that minimal blonde-on-blonde dimension. It’s going to look very modern and fresh and then still leaving the ends a bit brighter.” Maintenance schedule: It’s not as high-maintenance as some other colors, but it does require regular upkeep. This is one of those hair color trends that requires an appointment about every eight weeks to maintain. Home care regimen: In order to care for your investment, Bodt advises a treatment like Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 ($28; sephora.com) about once a week, along with an apple cider vinegar rinse to clarify the color, and a monthly purple-hued conditioner designed for blonde hair. Notice we said monthly here: this is where too much is actually not a good thing. “I like these products, but people tend to overuse them. Over-application of products with a blue or violet base means they actually start depositing blue and purple over the blonde color, which makes it muddy, darker and dim. Once or twice a month is more than enough.” How to get it: Painting highlights around the face should do the trick, and it’s a super easy option for brunettes who want a little something new without a major commitment. “This is really nice as a brunette to go brighter without committing to something really solid,” Bodt says. Maintenance schedule: Depending on how fast your hair grows, it’s not that bad: expect to touch up about every 8 to 12 weeks. Home care regimen: – Keep hair long and strong with conditioning masks and weekly protein treatments. Bodt loves the idea of amping up the glow with a gold-flecked color conditioning mask like Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care in Golden Blond ($53; net-a-porter.com) to help keep things bright and beautiful all over. How to get it: This look requires a process known as bleach-and-tone, which means that all color is removed from the hair so the desired color can be inserted into the hair shaft. It should only be attempted by a professional with a considerable amount of experience who can use the proper tools (like a protein bonder) to maintain the integrity of your hair. In other words, do not try this at home. Maintenance required: With color this dramatic, maintenance is rigorous and you need to plan to be in the salon chair at least every four to six weeks. “The longer you wait, the more damage you can do,” warns Bodt. Home care regimen: Bodt says that not only should you be willing to commit to the salon visits but also find a true dedication to a delicate home care regimen that protects both the color and the health of your hair. “The home care with this kind of color is going to be crucial: no tight rubber bands, only loose scrunchies, silk pillowcases, Olaplex No. 3 twice a week, only using cowashes to clean the hair, etc.” Bodt also recommends Hairstory New Wash ($40; hairstory.com), a gentle cleanser that cleans without stripping while it also conditions and detangles. Get the look: This is a solid shift in your base color, so if you’re already a brunette, it could be easier than other hair color techniques. Maintenance schedule: Bodt says caring for this hair color trend is pretty easy, “you just need to come in about every six weeks or so for a gloss to refresh the hue.” Home care regimen: Again, protect your investment with sulfate-free shampoo and color conditioners, but this time Bodt adds a hair care must-have: a heat protectant. “With dark hair, sometimes heat styling can actually lighten hair, so if you want the hair color to keep its impact, always use heat protection.” She’s partial to Kerastase Nectar Thermique Leave-In Conditioner ($37; kerastase-usa.com). Get the Look: Bodt says a change in your base color paired with hair painting gives this stunning red a more lived-in vibe. Maintenance schedule: Bodt says to book a touch-up every 8 to 10 weeks to keep the color soft and fresh. Even though the hue isn’t as vibrant, red is the fastest hair color to fade, so you’ll want to stay on top of the maintenance. Home care regimen: In addition to weekly hair masks, sulfate-free cleansers, and color conditioners to maintain the vibrancy, Bodt also recommends a shower filter to prevent mineral deposits from attaching to your strands and ruining your color investment. The T3 Source Shower Filter Showerhead ($150; bloomingdales.com) is a great option. How to get it: Bodt says depending on your current base color, this could be a rather easy transition. “You could start this as a root shadow, warming up the roots a bit and then leaving the ends light and bright.” But if you’re currently a brunette, expect this to be a change in your base paired with highlights. Maintenance schedule: Again, depending on how dramatic the transition (it’s less if you’re already in this color family, more if it requires you to go from red or brown to this stunning hue). For current blondes, maintenance is more about a monthly gloss treatment and a six-week upkeep request for more dramatic changes. Get the look: It’s a bleach-and-tone process if you’re not leaning toward silver status naturally, but if you’re already heading in that direction, talk to your colorist about what it might take to go ahead and take the plunge. Maintenance schedule: Again, if it’s not your natural hair color, you’re looking at monthly treatments to keep the color nice and saturated, but natural gray hair requires less maintenance: gloss treatments and regular conditioning to keep it nice and soft. Home care regimen: If it’s naturally gray, be mindful that your hair is a bit coarser and more open, so you’ll want to maintain the clarity of your color. Bodt recommends an apple cider vinegar rinse and/or clarifying shampoo once a month, and then a purple mask for 5 to 10 minutes “to make the white really nice and poppy.” If you’re bleaching, Bodt recommends the following: “Don’t shampoo for four days after service so your cuticle can shut down, then use cowash to protect the color, it can get washed out really easily.” Vernon Francois CoWash Shampoo ($28; sephora.com) is a nice option. How to get it: Like the bright white blonde, this is a bleach-and-tone process so it’s best to leave this to the professionals, regardless of which fantasy shade you choose. Maintenance required: Fantasy colors tend to fade more quickly than others, so this is where you’ll have to clear your schedule if you want the color to remain bold and beautiful. Bodt suggests a monthly refresh “because the hair under it is so white.” Home care regimen: Since these colors do fade so quickly, you’ll want to shampoo less (again, Bodt recommends cowashing instead of shampoo) and use products that not only condition but help maintain the color between appointments, like Overtone Vibrant Pink Daily Conditioner ($18; overtone.co). Just be sure to shade match the exact product with your stylist.
