We can define the last year in a bunch of different ways. Some of us might say it was the year that the mullet haircut [1] officially came back and took over. Others might say it was the year that bold eye makeup managed to capture our hearts. While both of those things are true, we'll argue that no trend in 2020 took off more than at-home hair colouring [2] did.
It makes sense. With salons closed for months throughout the summer and many of us left spending at lot more time at home, we not only had the opportunity to get crafty and find ways to perform our routine beauty treatments on our own, we also had more opportunity to experiment with trendy hair colours [3] in a way that some of us never have before — just ask a few of our editors.
Read ahead to check out a few stories from our editors who tried colouring their hair at home this year.
Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Colour in Aquamarine
"This summer, I was completely bored with my hair — it was long and dull and I mostly wore it up in a bun or ponytail. So in a bid to bring some life to my work-from-home uniform of sweatshirts and leggings, I enlisted a friend who does her own hair to help me bleach the tips of my dark brown hair, and dye them a bright teal.
She mixed up a bleach solution and applied it, and after we'd leeched the brown out, applied Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Colour in Aquamarine [4] ($14). I've had blue hair before, so it wasn't a total shock, but I loved the results — so much so that we repeated the process this fall." — Riyana Straetker, voices editor
As I Am Curl Colour In Cool Blue
"I tried the As I Am Curl Colour In Cool Blue [5] ($8) as a way to play with some temporary colour that I knew I could get rid of during my next wash. Aside from how well the colour took to my hair, what I was pleasantly surprised to see was how bouncy and moisturised the formula made my hair feel. This product immediately got an A+ from me, though I (and my stained-blue fingers) wouldn't recommend attempting to apply this without a pair of gloves on-hand.
If you're like me, and want to have fun with colour without the commitment, this is your ticket." — Danielle Jackson, assistant beauty editor
Madison Reed Radiant Hair Colour Kit
"I had just passed the seven-week mark of isolating at home in the suburbs, and with salons in our state remaining closed for at least the next few weeks, my mom and I decided to take matters into our own hands and address the situation that was her grey roots. Of course, I was terrified that I would colour her hair too dark or accidentally get some dye on her skin, but the Madison Reed Radiant Hair Colour Kit [6] ($27) made the process incredibly doable and, dare I say, fun!?
I'm not saying I'm going to take up a hair-colouring side hustle, but I'm also not not saying it. My mom's hair came out beautifully, and the fact that I was able to give her a morality boost and somewhat of an aesthetic return to normalcy after more than eight weeks since her last appointment made it all the more worth it. (Next time, though, I'm definitely requesting a tip on Venmo.)" — Perri Konecky, editor, trending & viral features
KMS Style Colour Hair Spray
"Winter hair colours are trending bold, so I jumped at the chance to try a shade that would intensify my 'natural' look. Having never attempted box dye at home, I was relieved to find that the KMS Style Colour Hair Spray [7] ($26) is a temporary spray-on colour. Rather than spraying my hair all at once, I pulled sections of it up, spraying the bottom first and gradually letting more hair down until I was at the crown of my head. Immediately after the spraying was complete, my hair looked and felt like that of a Princess Ariel doll. But just a note, if you opt for the colour I used, your shower will look like a crime scene." — Maggie Panos, senior editor, voices