Rainbow Hair Colour Ideas to Spice Up Your Look

There's no better time than the present to experiment with your style, meaning if you've been on the fence for quite some time about getting rainbow hair, consider this your sign. That said, indecisiveness is a real thing — and it can be especially prevalent when making a choice as big as your next hair colour [1]. The good news is there are plenty of vibrant rainbow hairstyles out there to choose from, guaranteeing you'll find an eye-catching look that perfectly suits you.

First things first, you'll want to enlist the help of a professional stylist. Anyone can get in on this colourful hair trend, but how you'll reach your ideal shade depends on your starting base. It can be harder to achieve rainbow hair on hair that is naturally darker — think black and brown. That doesn't mean you can't do it, but you'll need to take it slow to preserve the integrity of your hair.

How to Get Rainbow Hair

"The key to ensure any rainbow hair colours are vibrant and true to colour is to properly pre-lighten the hair," Theadora Guzmán, education manager of North America at Maria Nila [2], tells POPSUGAR. "Hair needs to be as white as possible for the shades to look bright, vibrant, and true to colour. If there are any yellow tones in the hair, it will affect the finished colour."

Once you reach your desired hue, it's time to create a plan for upkeep. "To maintain your colour, you'll want to use cold water when shampooing, avoid chlorine, limit sun and heat exposure, and always use a heat protector [3]," says Lorena M. Valdes, colourist at Maxine Salon [4] in Chicago.

Best Rainbow Hair Dyes

Though it's not recommended that you go rainbow at home, if you are adamant about trying it or want to touch up your existing pastel colour [5], there are plenty of at-home kits on the market to choose from.

"There are several different brands to choose from when it comes to vibrant, rainbow hair dyes, but my go-to is Manic Panic Semi-Permanent Hair Colour Cream [6] (£10)," says Brittany Shears, hairstylist at Medusa Salon in Brooklyn, NY. Additionally, Shears recommends the Good Dye Young Rainbow Hair Colour Kit [7] (£48) and the Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Dye [8] (£14). We also like the Pravana ChromaSilk Vivids Original [9] (£21).

Rainbow Hairstyles

Long Rainbow Hair

You can't go wrong with the classic colours of the rainbow in a uniform look. With loose curls, this style can be worn down or up in a ponytail — either way, it looks stunning.

Hidden Rainbow Hair

Looking for something a little more subtle? Try a style that allows you to tuck your rainbow hair underneath. It'll make for a fun surprise that you can keep to yourself when you want.

Curly Rainbow Hair

Add a pop of colour to your natural curls by incorporating different shades of rainbow dye. Assigning a different hue to designated sections of hair makes for a head-turning look.

Short Rainbow Hair

Short hairstyles are always on-trend — especially the classic bob. Instead of changing up your look with chunky highlights or money pieces, add some rainbow dye to liven up the look.

Rainbow Ombré Hair

Effortlessly blend all of the colours of the rainbow together into an ombré style for an added twist. Use a curling iron to add some soft waves into the hair to really make the shades pop.

Rainbow Bangs

Frame your face with some rainbow bangs to add a pop of colour that'll be visible even when wearing an updo. While the bangs can be the sole source of vibrant colour, you can also opt for dyeing the entire head, as seen here.

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