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Trend cycles can move faster than a salon blow-dry. But great hair color? That’s a forever thing. The right shade doesn’t just complement your haircut; it reframes your persona. This season (and the next, and the next), it’s less about shock value and more nuance: the tones with depth, gloss with dimension, and hues that, as Taylor Swift says, never go out of style.
With the help of industry insiders, we’re highlighting (pun very much intended) the six timeless hair colors to know. Spoiler: cowboy copper still rides high, ink goes deliciously dark, and buttercream blonde ushers in the warmth.
1. Buttercream blonde
Platinum has had its ice-queen moment; now it’s time to melt. “Buttercream blonde leads the shift towards warmer, creamier shades,” says celebrity hairstylist Melissa Timperley. Ask for a warm, creamy blonde with subtle face-framing highlights, a soft root shadow, and a gloss for that plush finish.
It’s timeless because it works with your natural warmth and grows out gracefully. As Katie Freedman, colorist at Larry King Notting Hill, puts it, ‘Buttercream blonde enhances what’s already there instead of fighting it—high-end beauty never goes out of fashion.”
2. Low-maintenance highlights
Consider this the art of looking stylishly undone. Lived in highlights are “all about effortless color, blending natural root depth with soft, wearable dimension,” says Dean Harris, colourist at Larry King Marylebone. Think Sofia Richie’s levels of low-maintenance glow.
Ask for soft-contrast color with seamless blends—balayage, babylights, and root melts are key for movement without obvious lines. Harriet Muldoon, colorist at Larry King South Kensington, calls it a “Sunday morning lived-in feel—cashmere tracksuit on and coffee in hand,” pointing to Margot Robbie’s weekend blonde above.
3. Quiet luxury brunette
Chocolate hair is a classic shade that people keep coming back to. “It’s soft, glossy, and dimensional, with subtle lighter pieces that blend seamlessly through the hair,” says Jay Blitsas, colorist at Larry King South Kensington. James Samuel, consultant colorist at Hershesons Belgravia, adds that “the warmth brings out the color in your eyes and it’s easier to carry than darker, cooler shades.” Timperley says, “It’s smooth and indulgent, and adds depth without heaviness, warmth without redness.”
4. Inky black
Saturated, glassy, and unapologetically deep, the shade ‘ink’ delivers drama without tipping into flat, one-dimensional territory. Hairstylist and founder of AEVUM salon, Tom Smith, describes it as “minimalism at its finest; the deepest shade of brown that remains more luminous than true black.” Think Demi Lovato and Cardi B at their glossiest. The color shines most on very long, healthy hair worn smooth or poker-straight—this is because the flat, aligned cuticle layer acts like a mirror, reflecting light directly and continuously.
5. Cowboy copper
Cowboy copper is golden hour in hair form—all burnished warmth and expensive shine. “Copper shades aren’t going anywhere, but this takes on a richer, more grown-up tone—think glowing embers rather than fiery red,” says Timperley. Ask your colorist for warm copper color with golden-amber undertones, softened at the root and finished with a gloss—it flatters multiple skin tones and, crucially, stands the test of time.
6. Modern muse blonde
Marilyn Monroe made it iconic, and it’s been going strong ever since. The inspo? Lady Gaga and Alex Consani, both of whom are loving the modern-day bleach blonde shade. ‘This works best when the hair is in great condition because it requires a full bleach, so treatments are non-negotiable,” says Samuel. ‘The color should look effortless and almost editorial, not hard work.”
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
