14 Hot Summer Hair Color Ideas, From “Prom Night Blonde” to Mojave Brunette

Summer 2025, baby! Three months of sun-kissed memories await. Now the only question is, do you want to sit out in the sun to achieve natural, sun-kissed strands, or do you want to do your skin a favor and head to the salon to achieve your ultimate summer hair color? Assuming you chose the latter (absolutely the correct answer, to be clear), we’re here to help. We chatted with a few of the industry’s top hair pros to uncover the prettiest hair color ideas for summer 2025.

Whether you like to wear your hair blonde, red, or brunette, ahead, discover 14 glowing hair color ideas for summer.

Meet Our Expert

• Chase Kusero is a celebrity colorist and co-founder of IGK Hair Care.

• Kayla Lofaro is a Los Angeles-based colorist and founder of Silverlake’s Discotheque Salon.

• Richy Kandasamy is the R+COLOR vice president of color development and an R+Co Collective member.

• Laurie Heaps is a celebrity hairstylist and Redken ambassador.

Copper Creamsicle

At first glance, Nicole Kidman’s Met Gala “bixie” might look like your typical grown-out blonde bob. If you look closer, however, celebrity colorist Chase Kusero says you’ll notice it’s more of a copper creamsicle color palette. “This warm, vibrant copper hue with peachy undertones offers a fiery yet soft look, reminiscent of golden hour,” he explains, noting that it looks best on fair to medium skin tones and works well to enhance green and hazel eyes.

At the salon, Kusero recommends asking your colorist “for a warm copper base with subtle peachy highlights to achieve a creamy, dimensional effect.”

Crème Brûlée Blonde

Bella Hadid turned heads at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival for more reasons than one. In addition to her drapy, high-slit, low-back black gown, Bella’s straight crème brûlée blonde hair garnered immense attention. “This shade combines warm, golden tones for a sun-drenched, effortlessly chic look,” says Los Angeles-based colorist Kayla Lofaro. Kusero expands on this, noting that crème brûlée blonde hair is a warm, dimensional color with a rich blend of gold, brown, and red tones.

To achieve the look, Kusero says to ask for multidimensional honey tones with face-framing highlights (and to bring this picture to ensure they understand your vision).

24K Copper

Sadie Sink perpetually serves red hair goals, and this summer, Kandasamy says her 24-karat copper tone will reign supreme. “This copper is kissed with golden light—refined, not rustic—for a look that’s bold, radiant, and expensive-looking,” he explains, noting that it’s best suited to cool to neutral skin tones, particularly those with cool pink undertones.

Ready to go red? “Ask your colorist for a light golden copper with sunlit warmth—think soft fire, no brass,” Kandasamy instructs.

Honey-Dipped Brunette

Beyoncé is forever making headlines, from her vocals and tour to her fashion and beauty statements. Of her many stunning hair colors, Queen Bey’s glossy honey-dipped brunette is a must-try for summer 2025, Lofaro says. “Featuring warm highlights that add dimension to darker hair, this trend enhances natural beauty with minimal upkeep,” she explains.

Buttery Blonde

Butter yellow is a must-wear in both fashion and beauty. In addition to creamy, butter-yellow manicures, Kusero says that buttery blonde hair colors, like Kristen Stewart’s at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, are worth considering for summer 2025. “Buttery blonde is a soft, lived-in blonde that’s lower maintenance than platinum, offering a natural and warm appearance,” he shares. “It’s best for fair to medium skin tones and is ideal for those seeking a subtle blonde transformation.”

At the salon, Kusero says to “ask your colorist for a buttery blonde shade with soft, blended highlights and lowlights for a natural look.”

Mojave Brunette

A warm, deep brunette might not be the most groundbreaking hair color for summer, but Kandasamy says it’s a must for 2025. “A modern take on deep brunette, mojave brunette is universally flattering—it’s rich, clean, and glossy with hints of desert gold,” he explains, noting that Zendaya beautifully showcases the hue. “It’s luxury without the noise, and it’s best on cool, warm olive, and golden skin tones.”

To get the look, Kandasamy says to ask for a neutral-cool brunette with golden undertones. If that doesn’t do the trick, Heaps suggests getting more specific and asking “for a rich brunette base with warm caramel and toffee highlights scattered throughout for softness and dimension.”

Mocha Mousse Brunette

Mocha mousse is a “creamy, dimensional brunette [that] brings softness and richness together,” Kusero says. “Inspired by the tones of whipped coffee, it feels indulgent yet wearable—the perfect update for anyone wanting depth without going too dark.”

Kusero says that mocha mousse brunette looks best on medium to dark skin tones, or natural brunettes looking for a refined seasonal upgrade. “Request a neutral brunette base with soft mocha and beige lowlights for depth and dimension,” he instructs. “For added glow, ask for subtle face-framing highlights in a light espresso or café au lait tone.”

“Prom Night” Blonde

School might be out for summer, but the memories of prom—whether it was a few weeks ago or a couple of decades ago—remain fully intact. And if you’re ready to channel your inner dancing queen this summer, Kandasamy says “prom night blonde” is the shade for you.

“This is a creamy honey blonde, washed with a soft veil of pink or violet. It’s romantic but grounded—like golden hour with a twist,” he says, noting that Sydney Sweeney’s hair color, above, perfectly encapsulates the hue. “It’s best on fair to neutral complexions with cool or pink undertones.”

To achieve the look, Kandasamy says to “ask your colorist for a light honey blonde with a flush of golden rose.”

“Espresso Martini” Brunette

Can we collectively take a moment to appreciate Doechii’s absolutely unreal Met Gala ensemble? While we could wax poetic about her take on the 2025 theme for ages, for the moment, let’s hone in on her rich, dark brown afro, which perfectly represents the “espresso martini” brunette trend. As Heaps points out, “espresso martini” manes are characterized by deep, glossy browns that verge on high-shine black. “It’s a deep, glossy brown shade that exudes sophistication and depth, ideal for those seeking a rich, polished appearance,” Lofaro adds.

To make your espresso hair color really pop, Kusero says to request a dark, sultry brunette with subtle hints of mahogany—this will mimic the look of a rich espresso martini backlit by bar lights or sunlight.

Mocha Bronde

Jennifer Lopez continues to stun, both on stage and off. A signature aspect of her attention-grabbing aura? Her picture-perfect mocha bronde mane. “It’s a harmonious blend of blonde and brunette tones, perfect for those looking for a low-maintenance color,” Lofaro says. “It’s a fusion of blonde and brunette for a natural, sun-kissed look,” Heaps adds.

To embrace her signature color, Heaps says to emphasize that you want a natural, lived-in look and “ask for a seamless blend of your natural brunette base with blonde highlights that create soft, gradual lightening.”

Champagne Blonde

Looking to go more blonde, but not so blonde that it’s super high maintenance? Heaps suggests looking to Margo Robbie’s champagne blonde hair color. With soft beige and pearly blonde tones, champagne blonde is creamy and elegant, Heaps says.

To get the look, she suggests requesting “a neutral blonde with beige and pearl undertones.” With this photo in hand, she recommends emphasizing that you want a silky, creamy finish without brassiness.

“Old Money” Blonde

If you like the look of light-forward blonde hair colors, Heaps recommends Sofia Richie Grainge’s old-money blonde mane. “It’s a natural, dimensional blonde with soft roots and subtle lift,” she points out.

At the salon, “request a natural-looking blonde with root shadowing and dimension, [along with] low contrast highlights that mimic natural regrowth and give depth,” says Heaps.

Cowboy Copper

Slightly deeper than Sadie Sink’s 24K copper, cowboy copper is ideal for those seeking an earthier take on the hair color. “Cowboy copper is a bold, vibrant copper with warm, rustic undertones—a modern western-inspired red,” Heaps reveals.

Ready to giddy up and get to it? “Ask for a vivid copper tone with a mix of warm orange and red hues, emphasizing brightness and richness without being too fiery,” says Heaps.

Strawberry Bonde

Not ready to rock copper tones? Heaps and Lofaro say that a soft strawberry blonde like Amy Adams’s, above, is the perfect red alternative for summer 2025. “Combining shades of blonde and red, this color creates a multidimensional look that’s both playful and sophisticated,” Lofaro says.

To rock the look, Heaps says to “request a strawberry blonde with warm, golden undertones and soft red highlights to add dimension without being overpowering.”

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