Last Tuesday, a color wheel malfunctioned at my station for the first time. I was about to go home when a patron, after showing me a Pinterest board and a bunch of neon rainbows, looked me dead in the eye and said, “I want all of these.” I appreciate the seriousness of the request. There are some truths that no one in this industry will say about color after 40: the rules people stick to are mostly made up. I’ve had women leave my chair with bright blue bobs, and then look ten years younger than the woman before who had the ‘safe’ caramel balayage because some article said that was what was appropriate. The color doesn’t age you; the wrong tone, and the wrong cut for your hair ages you. Though, that is a different discussion than, “You have to stick to natural shades after hitting a certain birthday.”
What I’ve come to realize after years of therapies is that pushing color on women is that the ones that end up being the most nervous and committed to the cause are the ones who like it the most. The ones who only go for it as a half measure almost always end up wanting to take it farther, so go bold, and if you’re even slightly curious, look at these and let yourself want something.
Some are bold, some are loud, and a couple are right in that sweet spot that makes your coworkers wonder what’s up with you, and you know exactly what’s up.
#1: Pink Pixie That Actually Delivers
Everything in this cut is working together, and none of it is fighting anything else, which may sound basic, but you’d be surprised at how often this missing. The pink is also bold enough to be read as intentional, rather than “I left the color on too long,” and the texture in the layers gives it that piece-y movement that makes fine hair look like it has double the volume. If your hair is on the wavier side of the spectrum, this cut will pretty much style itself with just a bit of texturizing spray and five minutes. I wouldn’t change a single thing about this.
#2 That Fiery Orange Bob Your Safe Friends Won’t Try
I wish there were more customers with the confidence to request this color. It looks amazing on everyone, but clients don’t believe me until they see the color on themselves. It looks like the orange is _on fire_, but in the best way possible and definitely not in a costume-y way. The shoulder length bob keeps it practical for everyday wear. I don’t know if we did this with a curling iron, if the waves were done in slightly damp hair that was then left to dry overnight, or if it was just some very soft hair that would make this look super achievable in about 10 minutes with a wide-barrel curling iron. The face-framing pieces are doing the most, but that’s what a lot of colorists forget when they are so excited about the shade.
#3 Lavender Lob for When You Want to Be Cool Without Trying Too Hard
Choosing lavender as a color transformation option may not be the most practical option as some might see it as refreshing. A purplish color can lead to a number of challenges as it can fade to dullness if not maintained. While the prospect of lavender may be new and exciting, it is certainly not something that will be a permanent addition to your collection so that is something to keep in mind. A lob that goes just above the shoulders is quite versatile and works with a majority of face shapes. To achieve fullness and avoid flatness, especially with pastels, you’ll want movement in your hair to achieve a good tonal difference, so having some subtle layers to create that is quite essential. Lavender will disguise past **box dye** disasters. The dye will soften those old block lines and end up looking quite nice. I’ve done this with many clients trying to grow out bad colour choices and it works brilliantly.
#4 Curly Pink Ombre That’s Giving Everything It’s Supposed To
I am ready to die on the hill that the silver-to-pink color melt on curls is one of the most stunning color pairs you can do, and I don’t want to hear any arguments otherwise. Each individual curl will catch the color a bit differently, so the result will never look flat and one dimensional like color can on straight hair. Luckily, this works best on medium to thick hair. If that’s you, congratulations, this is your moment. Unfortunately, you will need to use a color-depositing conditioner to keep the pink from washing out to a sad salmon after three weeks, but that’s a small price to pay for looking this phenomenal.
#5 Electric Blue Short Cut That Means Business
I find the mix of blue and short hair so appealing but this is the best example I’ve appreciated the most. The raw layered detail provides depth and volume so I don’t feel like her hair is glued to her head, and that’s always been my concern with bold colors and short hair. The color is so loud that the shape has to hold its own. This particular blue is best for people with fair skin and cooler undertones, but I believe it can work for warm undertones too, the right placement does the trick. It’s one of those cases where the attitude makes the color.
#6 Cobalt Blunt Bob with Bangs That Know What They’re Doing
This is an interesting approach to striking colors. The straight finishes look expensive and deliberate and the slight bangs relax the overall appearance just enough to not feel too severe. Cobalt is a color that really requires gloss, sleek hair to work, so if you’re a regular flat iron user, this is an obvious choice. If you tend to air dry and hope for the best with your hair, go for something else. This style really does require a glassy finish. I’ll be honest, some colors need a lot of styling and this is one of them.
#7 Copper Waves That Make You Look Like You Spent a Month in Tuscany
Copper hair is trending, and honestly, I’m surprised it’s a trend I actually like, considering I usually get bored of new trends pretty quickly. I love this length and the textured waves. I feel like this is such a nice way to wear it, and the color is so warm without being orange and so rich without being dark. I’d describe this shade as pricey, especially with the layered texture. Given how distinct this color is, I love how it worked with so many different skin tones. If you’re thinking about going warm, consider this your sign.
#8 Magenta Blunt Bob for the Woman Who Doesn’t Do Subtle
Magenta is the perfect hair color for the blunt bob hairstyle. This color and cut is an ideal combination and would set the cut apart from the others. Magenta brings out the best in this hairstyle and gives a youthful yet mature look so the wearer will not appear to look too childish. Hair that is cut at the level of the jaws is a style that will generally look best across all demographics, but people will often underestimate this style. A color like magenta is optimal because there is no way it could be considered boring. Magenta will soften with time into a more pastel version of itself which is an intentional looking grow out phase that is a low effort high reward scenario.
#9 Golden Layered Cut That Gets You Compliments from Strangers
The soft golden highlights look natural so it is a nice subtle upgrade to your current color. The layering here adds a lot of volume to finer hair which makes it look like you just had a fresh blowout, even if you didn’t. The length of the hair is also ideal. It is long enough to be put up in a ponytail which can be really helpful.
#10 Blush Pink Bob That Sneaks Up on You
Do you want a hair color that will look good in all sorts of lighting? Try blush ombre on a textured bob. Depending on the type of lighting you are in, it may even look like a warm blonde color. As soon as you step outside, the cute pink color will be super noticeable. The client will get a lot of compliments. The soft layering looks nice and the length of the bob is just right for a simple style. This is the shade I do on clients who think they can’t rock pink and I live for it, especially when I see their priceless reaction to the myth being true.
#11 Warm Chestnut Layers That Do More Than You’d Expect
Chestnut gets easily dismissed by many, but I would say that this color can be one of the most complimentary for women in their 40s. The warmth of this chestnut shade reflects light positively, giving skin a more glowing appearance. This is definitely more complimentary than any make pink and blue color combination. If the undertone is not correct, those colors will do nothing for you. These layers are made to create movement at the ends in order to avoid the triangle head look that can happen when medium length hair is shapeless. Sometimes the so-called ‘daring’ option is actually going for something that makes you look fabulous, rather than just loud.
#12 Rose-Tipped Waves for the Quietly Bold
I refer to this as a \”gateway color\” because it eases nervous clients into bolder colors. Rose gold is neutral enough to get clients excited about a color without inducing panic about what your mother-in-law will think at dinner. The wavy layers that blend to the ends keep the contrast from looking like you dipped your hair in Kool-Aid. This layered cut is super easy to maintain with a round brush blow dry maybe once or twice a week. I love that the rose gold fades softly too. To me, a color that looks amazing week one and awful week four is just bad, so I try to avoid those colors and keep that in mind.
#13 Icy Blue Bob That’s Cooler Than It Has Any Right to Be
I’m a bit jealous but icy blue was created for you if you have fair skin and light eyes. The textured bob gives it a naturally messy look. And with the length being above the shoulder, the icy blue color stays visible and doesn’t get too lost in all the hair. Icy shades are honestly probably the most high-maintenance shades on this list. You will have to do regular purple shampoo and cold water rinses and have to touch up the color more than you’d like. But it does look incredible when it’s fresh so you need to consider if you want that.
#14 Caramel-Highlighted Curls That Do All the Work for You
I love this warm caramel highlighted curly hair because it is one of those styles that looks effortless, but gets you all the credit for the style. The bright curl contrast will be amazing. Each individual curl reflects the highlight and makes for a look that is unique to you. It also makes it pop even more. And also, medium length layers will help shape the curls without messing with the curl pattern too much. If you’ve been straightening your hair, stop doing that. Your target should be this style. The curls are the entire point.
#15 Lilac Lob That Doesn’t Try Too Hard
A lilac ombre paired with a long bob is a great style choice and reminiscent of a sneaker and blazer combo because of its balance of playfulness, sophistication, and effortless harmony between the pieces. The length is optimal because it’s easy to manage, and the lilac color needs soft waves to break it, as pastel colors on straight hair can look wig-like, which is undesirable. Here, the roots are kept a bit more natural, so grow-out won’t be a disaster, and I appreciate a color that offers an exit strategy.
#16 Auburn Textured Cut That Warms Up Everything
Auburn is one of those hues that brightens a person’s complexion and gives them a rosy glow. The warm tones reflect off your skin in a very flattering manner. Not to mention how the tousled texture helps to keep the cut looking contemporary and fresh without being too trendy and dating itself in 6 months. If you want a color that is confident yet understated, this is a good option. Auburn offers a natural look and people will just think you look great without being able to put their finger on it. And I’m not sure there is a better compliment than that.
#17 Lavender Layers That Play Nice with Gray
Many of my clients have had past stylists who didn’t bother to explain that as they go gray, one of the easiest fashion colors to meld into their natural color is lavender, as the gray will act as a built-in base, so instead of fighting their natural color, they’re working right along with it. The effect softens and gives an almost ethereal quality that is especially unique to women with some silver coming in. The added layers will create movement so it doesn’t appear one-dimensional, and a good lavender color-depositing conditioner used once a week will keep this looking intentional longer than you may think.
#18 Pink-Kissed Blunt Bob That’s Sharper Than It Looks
I love how the blunt ends on this bob give a polished but not precious look to softer tones. The clean line on the bottom helps the soft pink steer clear of looking like it’s trying to be 22. The blunt cut adds a sophisticated touch, and the face framing highlights will draw attention exactly where you want it. The mid length is perfect because you aren’t making any drastic commitments in relation to maintenance or styling time. A blunt bob is the ideal style for fine hair because all the strands are falling to the same line at the bottom, and those blunt ends create that illusion of thickness, so if that’s your hair type, this is the one to go for.
#19 Raspberry-Highlighted Layered Bob with Actual Personality
The color raspberry is definetly beautiful. I like how it is both a pink and red color. I also like how it’s not overbearing. I love it’s lightness and how it is woven through layers. The color catches the light and looks good with softer layers. Speaking of soft layers, I know that shoulder length bobs that air dry are popular among a lot of you, even if you won’t admit it. A good thing about the color raspberry is that with time it fades to an adorable rosy color, so really you are getting two looks for one color appointment!
#20 Ginger Waves That Look Expensive
Long layers paired with warm ginger highlights give off an I- didn’t-do-anything-special look, which, to be honest, takes a lot of money and skill (trust me, I know as a charged stylist). Ginger warmth is actually more flattering than cool toned reds, and when highlights are placed in wavy hair, they create that stunning multi-tonal depth that changes with every move. If you’re growing out your hair, this is an ideal option as it will make the awkward length stages look intentional. The highlights will distract from any unevenness in length as you wait.
#21 Burgundy Curly Lob That Has No Weak Points
Caramel on curls is such an amazing combination of technique and color! It’s a bit underrated as people tend to associate it with autumn, which is pretty ridiculous. It looks great during any season! The mid-length lob means that these curls won’t get heavy and drag down, also the layers control the density so you get fullness without the triangular shape that curly hair defaults to without the right kind of cutting. Burgundy is one of the more fading forgiving vivid colors, it deepens and warms rather than going muddy. Using a sulfate-free shampoo will extend the life of it A LOT.
#22 Copper Layers That Keep Giving
This is another copper and I’m not even sorry about it! This one is doing something a little different than the previous version. The tones here are a bit warmer and more saturated, and the natural waves show them off so well. Each wave creates a shadow and a highlight which makes the color look three-dimensional without any effort. The medium length with soft layers is the type of wash and wear cut where you scrunch in some leave-in conditioner and walk out the door looking like this. The subtle highlights throughout add the dimension that prevents copper from looking flat and monochrome, which is the biggest risk with single process warm tones.
#23 Lavender Bob for When You’re Done Playing It Safe
This look has a more sophisticated vibe compared to the last lavender look, and I love it for someone who wants to add a bit of fun to their wardrobe but needs to be able to walk into an office on Monday without getting pulled into a meeting about how they are dressed. The bob shape is a classic style, which helps to keep the color anchored in something familiar, and the lavender hue is subtle, which makes it look more like an intentional choice than a last-minute decision. Lavender works for hair that is fine to medium in density because the color creates visual weight that will be less needed if your hair is thick. It is a very strategic coloring solution if you have always thought that your hair looked limp and thin.
#24 Honey Curls on a Short Cut That Doesn’t Need Your Validation
The honey color on short curls is stunning and makes me want to chop my clients’ hair off every day. Curls bring softness to the face and frame it beautifully. People tend to shy away from short hair because they fear it could end up looking unkempt instead of artfully neglected. Luxe, sun-kissed hair is just as important as the cut. So, keep a curl cream in your bag for easy touch-ups throughout the day and enjoy this hairstyle! It is created to require the bare minimum effort.
#25 Blush Lob That Does Everything Right and Nothing Wrong
This hairstyle is perfect for those who are new to hair coloring and want to keep things safe, easy, and fun. The blush highlights are around the face to give color impact to the most noticed places. The lob length textured cut requires the least amount of upkeep out of all the styles listed. Fine hair works to the wearer’s advantage since the blush tones will be more prominent on lighter, finer strands as opposed to showing up less on thick, coarse hair. This hairstyle will get you compliments and you will be able to say thank you without needing to provide any additional information.
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