How To Get A Sun-Kissed Hair Color For Winter

If the long, dark, freezing days of winter are getting you down, you’re probably craving some sunshine in your life. And while we can't magically transport you to a tropical island, we can give you tips on how to keep some sunshine with you all the time 一 in the form of your hair color. It’s true that dark hair colors like deep mushroom brown, mahogany and soft black often dominate in the winter season, but who says you can’t opt for something with some brightness to it? Sun-kissed hair has been gaining popularity recently, and we’re sharing how to get the look and how to care for it, ahead. 

What’s A Sun-Kissed Hair Color? 

If you’re not familiar with what a sun-kissed hair color is, it’s actually more of a technique than it is a specific color. Hair that looks like it was kissed by the sun has a solid base color with hints of a lighter shade in the same color family throughout the head. For example, someone with cool-toned dark blonde hair who wants a sun-kissed appearance would opt for highlights in a very light cool-toned blonde hue. 

While sun-kissed hair is most commonly seen in the blonde, bronde and light to medium brown color family, the effect can be created with pretty much all hair colors. 

How To Get The Look Of Sun-Kissed Hair

Because a sun-kissed hair color is not one dimensional and requires highlights, it’s best left to a professional. Hair color specialists will most often go about creating the effect that the hair was naturally lightened by the sun using one of the two techniques below. 

1. Balayage

Balayage has been an incredibly popular hair highlighting technique for several years given how natural it makes the highlights appear. It creates an extremely natural effect which is fitting for sun-kissed hair because it’s done when a colorist freehand paints the highlights onto the hair without using foils. Balayage is completely customizable, and when using it to create a sun-kissed effect, it’s often focused at the front of the hair in the form of a subtle money piece. This is because it mimics the effects of the sun lightening the front sections of hair when you’re facing the light. 

2. Foilayage

Another way to achieve sun-kissed hair is by opting for foilayage which is when a colorist freehand paints the highlights before wrapping them in foils. This technique is used to prevent bleeding that can occur when highlights are done with no foils (balayage) and they overlap 一 creating more precise highlights that still look natural. Foilayage is often used on darker hair because the foils make for a more intense lightening process. 

How To Care For Your Sun-Kissed Hair Color

Once your sunny hue is achieved, it’s important to be sure that your hair care routine is appropriate for your newly colored strands. Follow these three tips below to keep your color looking bright. 

1. Use Color Safe Products 

A major key to keeping your hair color from fading is to use color-safe shampoo and conditioner, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Color Care Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Color Care Conditioner. This duo is gentle on color and  works to strengthen the hair by reinforcing weak hair bonds while protecting your strands from future damage. 

2. Keep Brass Away

If you notice that your sun-kissed color is turning brassy, there are things you can do right at home. First, use the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Conditioner. The rich, purple pigments work to counteract unwanted yellow and orange tones. 

3. Tone Your Hair

It’s also a good idea to implement a toning gloss into your routine. The L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss deeply conditions, tones and brightens your color in just 15 minutes. Select the shade that most closely matches your hair color, distribute it through your hair evenly, set your timer, then rinse. You’ll be left with soft strands and vivid color. 

Next: 17 Biggest Hair Trends Of 2022

Written by: Alyssa Kaplan, Photo Credit: IG/@laci.mane