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Playful innovation is at the crux of K-beauty. It’s what’s made Korean skin-care products — with their innovative ingredients and satisfying textures — so beloved stateside for almost a decade. This approach to product development directly impacts Korean hair color trends as well.
With the latest semi-permanent hair dyes, Korean colorists can recreate the color of bricks, milk tea, and cargo pants on basically any hair type. “As technology improves, more people [in Korea] seem to prefer the hairstyles of their dreams, recognizing that styles that could only be seen in books or pictures in the past are realistically possible,” says Soonsiki, the head stylist and owner of his namesake salon, Soonsiki, in Seoul, South Korea.
With that in mind, consider looking to K-beauty trends for your next new hair color. Whether you’re seeking out shades of brown, blonde, or even purple, the pros behind the highly sought-after dye jobs of your favorite K-pop stars have a look for you.
- Soonsiki is the owner and master stylist at Soonsiki in Seoul’s Hongdae neighborhood.
- Mujin Choi is a hairstylist and owner of Faire in Seoul’s Gangnam neighborhood.
- Naejoo Park is a hairstylist and owner of Bit & Boot in Seoul’s Gangnam neighborhood.
1. Khaki Brown (카키 브라운)
Hairstylist Mujin Choi says that khaki brown (which is also often referred to as olive brown) is one of the most popular hair colors at his salon. It’s also one of his favorite natural hair color recommendations for his clients, who include members of BTS, Aespa, and TXT. The reason being that khaki brown has a glass skin-enhancing effect.
Color theory backs this complexion-illuminating magic. Red undertones in classic brown dye jobs typically make Korean and East Asian complexions appear sallow and yellow, Mujin explains. By adding a barely noticeable amount of green to dark brown dye to create a khaki hue, the redness is neutralized. “The khaki brown makes your face look [brighter],” he adds.
2. Ash Brown (애쉬 브라운)
For those who have been coveting the milk tea brown hair color trend taking over TikTok, consider ash brown if you’re seeking out a richer, deeper take on the natural hue. Like khaki, the ashy tones in this dye job help illuminate skin, says Naejoo Park, who not only did Jay B’s hair for his Allure cover shoot but also Jungkook’s for his recent Calvin Klein campaign.
Ashy tones and glowing skin may seem contradictory, but The Glory's Lim Ji Yeon proves they work harmoniously. Silver or beige tones are added to brown to better flatter Korean skin tones by eliminating unwanted brassy orange and red tones, Park says. Plus, subtle amounts of ashy tones make the overall rich brown hair vibe more reflective, making your complexion look as bright as possible in the process, he adds.
3. Beige Blonde (베이지 블론드)
When people in Seoul want to go blonde these days, they go beige blonde, Soonsiki says. At other salons, the trend may be called milk beige or maple beige, but the aesthetic is the same: A sandy blonde hue with hints of the gray and green found in beige. It’s often achieved with the help of AirTouch balayage, Soonshiki notes. This highlighting technique uses a blow dryer — instead of backcombing or weaving — to separate hair into sections for the most subtle, natural-looking highlights.
4. Pure Pink (핑크)
Soonsiki’s clients are all about “pure pink,” as the salon’s owner calls it. The Barbie-like hue is often preferred “without purple tones,” he adds. In fact, pure pink is the top post-bleach session option for people vying for a delightful bright — albeit unnatural — hair color. Typically, Soonsiki starts with a nearly transparent platinum-blonde base before adding bubblegum-toned dye.
Watch K-pop group Stray Kids break down their best music video looks:
5. Ash Violet (애쉬 바이올렛)
Beyond pure pink, the top colorful hair color trend in Korea this year is called ash violet or ash purple, as seen on NewJeans’ Hanni. Naturally, black hair often has a yellow tint after bleaching, so adding an ash-toned purple on top of it ensures that the dye job doesn’t fade back to yellow, as it is a complementary color, Park explains. Plus, ash violet helps post-bleached hair “maintain a beige tone to keep hair prettier longer,” Choi says.
6. Coral Beige (코랄 베이지)
Rosé of Blackpink can’t get enough of this hair color trend. She’s kept up her coral beige dye job for both weekends of Coachella, a Sulwhasoo event at the Met, and the Cannes Film Festival. This look is not quite honey blonde, not quite bright coral. It’s somewhere in between for this sherbert-y, peach-pink hue.
7. Vintage Orange (빈티지 오렌지)
Scroll through any of the stylists’ Instagrams and you’ll see lots of grungy, brick-like orange hair with hints of brown. The look is often tagged “vintage orange” or “brick orange.” Basically, it’s an auburn-meets-copper dye job that fades to a soft, flattering beige blonde. For those with deep brown and black hair, vintage orange is an amazing choice because it won't take as many bleach sessions to lift your natural color to the level needed for this look.
Read more about hair trends of the moment:
- This Summer’s Best Hair Colors Are All About Taking It Easy
- Hair Cycling Is Not Just a TikTok Trend
- 7 Braid Hairstyles to Wear for the Ultimate Hot Girl Summer
- The Top 2023 Hair Color Trends Sound Delicious
