As a hairdresser and colorist, I’m constantly inspired by the beautiful versatility of curly hair.
The natural texture and movement of curls create a canvas that can be enhanced with countless colors and techniques.
For my curly-haired clients looking to refresh their style with a new hair color, I’ve put together 13 of my all-time favorite ideas to inspire your next transformation.
I’ll walk through each idea in depth, explaining the techniques I would use and offering professional advice to help you achieve salon-worthy results at home.
Get ready to fall in love with your curls all over again!
Rich Chocolate Brown
For my curly-haired clients with darker complexions, rich chocolate brown is one of my favorite hair colors to enhance your natural beauty.
The deep, warm brown tone is incredibly flattering on darker skin.
To achieve this look, I would use a demi-permanent brown dye one to two shades darker than your current color.
Demi-permanent color molecules are smaller so they can penetrate the inner structure of your curly hair better than permanent color.
I recommend using a comb or brush to evenly distribute the dye through your curls section by section.
Once your new chocolate brown color is set, be sure to use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner made for color-treated hair to keep your shade looking glossy and vibrant.
The humidity-blocking formulas made for curly hair work great.
To cancel out any brassy tones in your new brunette color, use a purple-tinted color-depositing mask once a week.
The purple pigment will neutralize warmth and keep your brown crisp.
Bronde Balayage
For brunettes seeking a low-maintenance color change, bronde balayage is the perfect solution.
Hand-painted bronde highlights woven throughout your natural dark brown hair create dimension and movement without a drastic change.
To get this look, I’ll use foiling and balayage techniques to apply a caramel-blonde demi-permanent dye seamlessly from your mid-lengths to ends.
The key is keeping your regrowth area darker to avoid frequent root touch-ups.
I suggest using a toner like Wella Color Charm T18 to cancel out brassy tones after lightening.
Use a moisturizing hair mask weekly to keep your highlighted curls conditioned and refrain from heat styling to prevent fading.
Your new bronde balayage will grow out gracefully while giving your curly mane a sun-kissed refresh.
Red Hot copper
Copper hair makes a electrifying statement on curly textures. For curly girls seeking a fiery change, this is one of my absolute favorite colors to do.
To take your hair red, I would lighten your strands to a pale yellow base first using my balayage technique and 20 volume developer.
Removing warmth from your hair canvas is crucial for your copper tone to pop.
Once lightened, I’ll apply a demi-permanent copper dye like Redken Shades EQ 07NA on your mid-lengths and ends, leaving your roots dark for dimension.
Expect your bright copper color to fade faster than normal because red molecules are smaller.
Use color-depositing shampoo and mask to boost your color’s vibrancy between salon visits. Avoid washing daily and use heat protectant when heat styling to prevent fading. Your spirals will sizzle in this fiery copper!
Rose Gold Mermaid
If you’re curly girl ready to take the plunge into fantasy hair colors, rose gold is a must-try.
This blend of pink, peach and blonde creates a whimsical mermaid effect on curls.
To get this look, I’ll start by pre-toning your hair to an even pale yellow base.
Next, I’ll use a demi-permanent pink dye like Pinkissimo by Pulp Riot mixed with a peach demi-permanent dye like Redken Shades EQ 07GC on your mid-lengths and ends to customize your rose gold shade.
I’ll wrap pieces in foil to process and use a curling wand to blend your root shadow seamlessly into the rosy ends. Avoid washing for 4-5 days after coloring for maximum saturation.
I recommend using a color-depositing shampoo in pink and peach tones to keep your fantasy hair fresh between salon visits. Get ready to embrace your inner mermaid!
Spicy Redhead
For natural redheads seeking a color boost or brunettes and blondes looking to join the redhead squad, this spicy red copper is the perfect tone.
To spice up your strands, I’ll lighten your hair to an orange-y pale yellow using balayage and 30 volume developer.
On this stage, I’ll apply a blue-tinted toner like Redken Shades EQ 09P to cancel brassiness.
Once your hair is evenly pale yellow, I’ll apply a demi-permanent copper color like Redken Shades EQ 06RC through your lengths and ends, leaving the roots slightly darker.
Expect your red to fade faster than normal hair color because of the small molecule size of red dyes.
Use color-depositing shampoo and mask in copper and red tones to reinforce your new spicy hue between salon visits.
Say goodbye to washed-out hair and hello to bold, brilliant copper-red curls!
Purple Rain
Purple reigns supreme as one of the most popular fantasy hair colors.
For curly girls seeking to infuse their style with edge, rich violet-purple ombré color starting from your mid-lengths is a showstopping choice.
To achieve this regal look, I’ll lift your natural hair to a very pale yellow using foils and 20 volume bleach.
Once lightened, I’ll apply a demi-permanent purple like Pravana ChromaSilk in Violet on your mid-lengths to ends. I’ll custom blend to match the purple intensity you want to achieve.
I’ll leave your roots your natural tone to keep maintenance easy by avoiding frequent touch-ups. Be prepared for your bright purple hue to fade faster than natural shades.
Use color-depositing shampoo like overtone in purple weekly and avoid washing daily to keep your color vibrant. Pair your new purple hair with edgy makeup for a bold curly look!
Vanilla Blonde Bombshell
For curly-haired blondes seeking a brighter, lighter look this spring, vanilla blonde is your season’s must-try shade.
By lightening your base and adding multi-tonal highlights, I can give you the perfect creamy blonde tone from roots to ends.
To get there, I’ll start by doing an all-over bleach using foils and 20 volume developer, taking you to a pale yellow base.
Then, I’ll use a combo of foils and balayage to paint on thin highlights using a demi-permanent toner like Redken Shades EQ 09NB mixed with 09BV and 9P and 10 volume peroxide.
This customized toner will give you a 3-dimensional warm vanilla blonde.
Use purple shampoo and mask to fight brassiness and rely on heat protectant when heat styling to avoid fading. Say hello to bombshell curls in this fresh, salon-worthy vanilla blonde!
Hidden Rainbow
For curly girls who want subtly show off their fun side, this is the perfect color concept for you.
We’ll keep your overall hair tone natural while weaving in rainbow babylights throughout your curls.
I’ll start by painting on thin slices of your hair using foil and lighten to pale yellow with 20 volume bleach.
Once lightened, I’ll go strand-by-strand applying demi-permanent dyes in colors like Pulp Riot turquoise, violet and orange for pops of color.
Focusing the rainbow mostly underneath and on your interior curls will allow you to show off or hide your funky style.
Use color-depositing conditioner to keep your pattern fresh and vibrant. Let your personality shine through with this unique colorful curly look!
Sun-kissed Brunette
For my curly-haired brunettes seeking a natural-looking refresher, sunny highlights are the perfect solution.
I’ll start by using balayage and foils to hand-paint lighter pieces throughout your hair, leaving your roots darker to avoid high-maintenance.
Using 20 volume bleach for the foils and 10 volume with high lift brunette dye for your balayage, I’ll lift specific pieces to add soft dimension.
Once highlighted, I’ll tone any brassiness using a demi-permanent mixer like Redken Shades EQ in beige and violet shades without impacting your base color.
Use hair masks and limit heat styling to prevent fading.
Touch up your sun-kissed highlights every 5-6 months for an effortlessly beachy look all year round.
The lighter ribbons woven throughout your curls will leave you looking naturally sun blessed even in winter!
Glossy Black
For my curly-haired clients with darker complexions seeking a striking color change, glossy black is a gorgeous option.
Deep jet black hair provides incredible contrast against lighter skin tones for a truly showstopping look.
To take your curly locks to the dark side, I’ll use a demi-permanent black dye like Redken Shades EQ in soft black, applying throughout your curls in sections for even coverage.
Choosing a dye with blue undertones will ensure your black shade has a glossy finish rather than appearing flat.
I recommend using a sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo and mask made for color-treated hair to keep your rich black hue looking healthy and shiny.
Limit washing to 2-3 times per week and use a deep conditioner after each shampoo to prevent drying out your now-fragile curls. I suggest occasionally using a clarifying shampoo to remove product buildup.
The striking contrast of inky black curls against lighter skin is one of my favorite curly hair colors. It’s an edgy yet sophisticated look.
Say goodbye to lackluster locks and hello to bold new style with lush, glossy black hair.
You’re going to turn heads everywhere you go!
Frosted Bronze
One of my favorite hair color techniques for curly brunettes is frosted bronde highlights.
By painting on ultra-fine, face-framing lighter pieces around your hairline and crown, I can give you a natural-looking color boost perfect for any season.
The contrast of bronze-y blonde ribbons against your chestnut base provides instant dimension and brightness.
I’ll use foils and balayage with a highlift brunette dye like Redken Shades EQ and 10 volume peroxide to gently lighten selected strands without damage.
I’ll focus lighter pieces around your face for maximum dimension.
Use purple shampoo to prevent brassiness and limit heat styling to keep highlights fresh.
Say goodbye to lackluster hair and hello to healthy, frosted bronze highlights that will leave your curly style polished and luminous all year round.
Desert Ombré
For brunettes seeking bold color in a low-maintenance look, this desert ombré is the perfect curly hair color choice.
By painting on amber and cream tones from your mid-lengths to ends, I’ll give you a rich, sunkissed ombré effect that stylishly grows out over time.
I’ll lighten your mid-lengths using a foil technique and 20 volume bleach to pale yellow.
Then I’ll hand paint alternating ribbons of Redken Shades cream blonde 09NB and amber gold 07GC demi-permanent dyes on the lightened sections.
Keep roots darker to avoid root touchups.
Use purple shampoo to prevent brassiness and color-depositing masks to keep your ombré tones saturated and fresh.
Show off your hair’s beautiful natural curl pattern with this striking hand-painted desert ombré look.
Rooted Rainbow
Nothing makes a statement quite like rainbow hair on curly textures.
For curly girls looking to rock the full rainbow, let’s create rainbow roots fading into blonde.
I’ll start by applying foil highlights throughout your hair using 20 volume bleach to lighten to a pale canvas.
Then, I’ll use Redken or Pulp Riot vivid semi-permanent dyes in colors like blue, green, orange and purple painted in a rainbow pattern starting at your regrowth.
I’ll focus the most intense rainbow colors around your roots and a few mid-length ribbons before blending into a softly hand-painted pale blonde on your ends.
Expect your rainbow colors to require more frequent touch ups since vivid dyes fade faster on curly textures.
But with the right color-depositing conditioner, you can easily maintain your rainbow curls from home in between salon visits.
Make a bold, fearless statement and show off your true colors with this head-turning curly rainbow look!
There you have it -TOP gorgeous curly hair color ideas that will totally transform your look! W
I’m passionate about enhancing your beautiful natural curls. Schedule a consultation today to start crafting your dream color design.
My goal is to give you long-lasting, salon-worthy results customized to match your personal style, face shape and lifestyle.
