Wondering which Los Angeles hair trends are worth your salon time? In 2026 trend reports, stylists favor soft, lived-in color: creamy blondes, glossy brunettes and copper, all blended to grow out gracefully.
If you are also weighing length or volume, our guide to hair extensions in los angeles covers that side of things.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Summer color trends in Marie Claire’s list | 10 trends (published 1 May 2026) |
| Hair trends in Who What Wear’s 2026 list | 7 trends (published 19 December 2025) |
| One multi-step color appointment described by Marie Claire’s writer | 6 hours |
| Lift suggested for the ends of a pearl blonde | half a shade lighter |
These figures come from Marie Claire’s summer color roundup and Who What Wear’s 2026 trend report. Trend lists change from season to season, so check the sources before you rely on the figures.
Where these Los Angeles hair trends come from
The reports behind this guide are national or international roundups, not surveys of Los Angeles salons. Marie Claire’s spring report quotes LA-based celebrity hairstylist Laurie Heaps, and its summer report quotes Jacob Schwartz, an LA-based colorist and Schwarzkopf Professional U.S. Hair Color Trend Ambassador.
The writer at Who What Wear spoke to London’s top hairstylists and hair salons, and Refinery29 asked top colorists from New York to London. Read what follows as a shared direction in color, with a couple of LA voices inside it.
These themes repeat across the sources:
- Warmer, creamier blondes in place of ultra-icy ones.
- Glossy browns and a softened black.
- Copper and red, in both gentle and bolder versions.
- Blended color that grows out without a harsh line.
Blondes are getting warmer and softer
In Marie Claire’s spring report, published 17 February 2026, colorist Emily Claire says: “This is definitely the year of the golden vanilla blondes. I hardly have anyone asking for icy silvers anymore.” Heaps adds that ultra-icy tones are shifting toward warmer, balanced shades that feel healthier and more natural.
The summer report, published 1 May 2026, carries the idea on. Schwartz calls his ethereal blonde “a creamy, light-reflective shade with seamless dimension and a subtle halo effect around the face,” and the same list also names Bessette Blonde and Starlet Blonde.
Not every blonde is warm. Who What Wear’s report, published 19 December 2025, features a muted, powdery pearl blonde and warns that it takes a lot of upkeep. Its advice is to check with your colorist that the shade is achievable and to stock toning products such as purple shampoo.
Bustle’s Feb. 17, 2026 report calls almond milk blonde the exception for anyone not ready to retire an ashy era. Refinery29’s list, last updated January 12, 2026, adds soft apricot blonde as a brighter phase after cowgirl copper.
Browns, black and copper: rich but glossy
As of Marie Claire’s 17 February 2026 report, the darker end of the palette is about depth and shine rather than flat, inky color. Here is how the sources describe it:
- Espresso: the writer reports that, according to all her sources, espresso was the most in-demand shade as of that report.
- Soft black: a colorist quoted by Bustle says it is about thoughtful layers of light-reflecting glosses and a really great base.
- Copper: Heaps names cowboy copper, burnt sienna, muted cinnamon and warm amber as particularly popular shades.
- Cherry red: Bustle suggests asking for a cherry red with violet undertones instead of orange, applied on bleached hair for maximum vibrancy.
Refinery29’s list, updated January 12, 2026, shows the same logic in cashmere brunette. Salon owner Sean Michael says it reflects light evenly, photographs well and grows out cleanly, which suits people who want lower-maintenance color that still has dimension.
Why lived-in color and color melting keep coming up
Heaps says in the spring report: “Clients want color that still looks intentional weeks later.” She names lived-in balayage, root melting and glossing as the key techniques.
In a Who What Wear piece published 3 November 2025, colourist Nicole Kahlani explains that color melting creates a seamless blend from one tone to the next, avoiding harsh lines, stripey highlights or obvious contrasting money pieces. She says classic balayage, though blended, often features high contrast, with light tones standing out against dark ones.
Bustle’s Feb. 17, 2026 report quotes celebrity colorist Jeremy Cohen at IGK Salon: “Dimension is brought closer to the root, creating a more seamless transition throughout the hair.” Kahlani adds that the gradient can be as subtle as half a shade lighter or darker.
Seamless does not mean quick. One Marie Claire writer describes six hours at the salon for a result you would not know was done, while Schwartz says his Starlet Blonde has softer, more diffused roots that make it more wearable between appointments.
How do you keep light color fresh in the sun and pool?
Colorist Mikki Auld says in the summer report that sun, salt water, chlorine and heat all affect how color holds and fades. Her advice is to prep the hair properly, remove mineral buildup, strengthen bonds and work with gentle, high-performance color.
Our separate guide explains how to protect hair from sun and chlorine in more detail. For pearl and other cool blondes, Who What Wear points to toning products such as purple shampoo or a hair mask to keep the shade from turning brassy.
Do these looks work with extensions?
None of the sources covers extensions, so treat this as a prompt rather than a rule. Blended, multi-tone color is built from several shades, which makes it worth raising with a professional early.
If you are still deciding, read our list of questions to ask before getting hair extensions first. It will help you walk into a consultation with a clear idea of what you want.
Frequently asked questions
Are these trends specific to Los Angeles?
Show answer
No. The sources are national or international roundups, with LA-based stylists Laurie Heaps and Jacob Schwartz among the voices quoted. They show where professional color is heading rather than what is unique to one city.
Is icy blonde out?
Show answer
It is fading in some reports. Emily Claire says in Marie Claire’s 17 February 2026 report that she hardly has anyone asking for icy silvers, yet Who What Wear still features pearl blonde in its 19 December 2025 report. Bustle’s Feb. 17, 2026 report calls almond milk blonde the ashy exception.
What is color melting?
Show answer
According to colourist Nicole Kahlani in a 3 November 2025 Who What Wear piece, it is a seamless blend from one tone to the next without harsh lines. It works on blonde, brunette and copper alike.
Do lived-in colors need fewer salon visits?
Show answer
That is the promise. Heaps describes lived-in balayage, root melting and glossing as ways to keep color looking intentional weeks later, per the 17 February 2026 report. Cooler shades such as pearl blonde still need more upkeep.