Somewhere between all out rainbow and last year’s grandma chic grey hair trend, holographic hair is all about subtle pastel highlights that catch the light giving the impression that your hair is magically changing colour. Dreamy.
Championed at US hair salon Ross Michaels Salon, the multi-tonal look is achieved by using Olaplex to help lighten the hair before streaking it with a mix of different Pravana dyes in Violet, Luscious Lavender and Blissful Blue to create a rainbow of muted silver and pastel purple tones.
Add to that a whole load of shine and you’ve got yourself the metallic hair trend du jour.
Time for a good Insta stalk we say. Check out our pick of the best holographic hair inspo below:
What Makes Hair Look Holographic
The secret is not one color but several, placed so they blend. A stylist lifts the hair to a very pale base, then paints in bands or ribbons of soft pastels: lilac, baby blue, mint, peach, silver. Because the shades sit side by side rather than on top of each other, the hair seems to change color as it moves. Look from one angle and it reads purple, turn your head and it flashes blue or pink. Add a glossy finish and the whole thing shimmers like the surface of a soap bubble.
That shifting effect is why the look photographs so well and why it spread so quickly on social media. A single still image rarely does it justice. It is at its best in motion and in daylight.
Holographic, Opal, Oil Slick: What Is the Difference?
Several related trends are often lumped together, but they are not quite the same.
- Holographic hair uses pastel shades over a very light blonde, for a soft, silvery rainbow.
- Opal hair is even more muted, with milky, almost translucent tints inspired by the gemstone.
- Oil slick hair is the dark sister of the trend. Deep jewel tones such as emerald, sapphire and violet are layered over dark hair, so the color only reveals itself when light hits it.
If you have dark hair and do not want to lighten it heavily, oil slick is often the more practical way to get a similar color shifting effect.
Is It Right for You?
Pastel shades only show up on hair that has been lightened a lot, which is the biggest thing to consider. Getting dark hair pale enough for true holographic color can take more than one appointment, and every round of lightening puts stress on the hair. A good colorist will check the condition of your hair first and may recommend a bond building treatment, like the one used in the original salon look, to help protect it during the process.
It is also worth being honest about lifestyle. Pastels fade quickly, sometimes in a matter of weeks, so this is a look for people who enjoy regular salon visits or like to see their color evolve as it washes out.
How to Make the Color Last Longer
- Wash less often. Every wash takes a little pigment with it. Dry shampoo helps stretch the days between washes.
- Use cool water. Hot water opens up the hair cuticle and lets color escape faster.
- Choose color safe products. Gentle, sulfate free shampoos and conditioners are kinder to delicate pastel tones.
- Top up at home. Tinted conditioners and color masks can refresh pastels between appointments. Ask your stylist which shades match your formula.
- Protect from heat and sun. Heat styling and strong sunlight both fade color, so use a heat protectant and cover up on bright days.
A Word About Trying It at Home
Box dyes and online tutorials make it tempting to try this at home, but holographic hair is one of the harder colors to do yourself. The lightening step is where most home attempts go wrong, leaving hair brassy, patchy or damaged. If you want to experiment, a safer route is to start with a single pastel streak or temporary color sprays and chalks, which wash out and let you test the look without commitment.
Why the Trend Keeps Coming Back
Holographic hair sits right between the loud rainbow looks of a few years ago and the quieter, grown up shades many people want now. It is playful without being neon, and it works as well with a sleek bob as with long waves. Every time a new wave of pastel inspiration hits social media, it finds a fresh audience. Scroll through the looks above and it is easy to see why.
Jade is from South Africa and is the owner of Moon-Child.net
She has been writing content for various sites since 2015, with special interest in Environmental and Nature topics.
She is a permanent writer at The Mind Unleashed but has published work on Educate Inspire Change, The Spirit Science and has ghost written for a few other sites over the years.