Dip-Dyed Hair Is The Eclectic Trend You'll Want To Try This Spring

Spring is almost here, and that means you'll start to see a lot more color, from blooming flowers to splashy Easter eggs — and even on your hair. Lately, touches of color, like the money piece hairstyle, have been popping up everywhere, paving the way for the return of early 2010s dip-dyed hair.

"Dip-dyed hair looks as though you've dipped the ends of your hair directly into a vat of beautiful color," Cara Craig, a professional colorist, explained to Byrdie. You might remember celebs like Kylie Jenner rocking the look nearly a decade ago, often in technicolor hues. Soon, practically everyone and their mom were sporting pink, blue, or purple tips.

Fast-forward to 2023, and the dip-dye trend is back and likely here to stay, given how easy it is to maintain. "This technique doesn't look bad when the hair grows," master stylist Linda de Zeeuw told InStyle, noting that the color may require an occasional toner to prevent fading. If you grow tired of your color, it's easy to snip the tips off rather than redye the entire head.

If it's been a while since you've embraced the look, or if you missed out when it was trending the first time, now's your chance to dip your toes in the dip-dye technique.

Get an icy cool look by dipping platinum blonde hair in a rich blue color. If your hair isn't already bright white, start with a lightener or bleach to strip your natural color from roots to tips. Then, your dip-dyed ends can really pop against the blank white canvas.

As for what type of blue to choose, it's up to you. Go bold with cobalt or a deep teal, as seen here, or keep it light with pastel blue tips.

Dip-dyeing can work on short hair, though there are some caveats. Stylist Paul Dennison shared with L'Oréal Professionnel Paris, "[T]he less hair you have to play with, the more obvious your dip dye would be. It's really important the cut complements the color as if the hair moves more; you can have more of a diffusion of color."

Generally, you'll need a bob or longer to execute the dip-dye trend. To prevent harsh lines around the face, choose a soft dye in the same color family as your natural hair.

The classic dip-dyed hair has only two colors, with the tips contrasting the base color. However, as hair expert Alex Brownsell — who has been credited with inventing the dip-dye technique — told The Guardian, "That whole two-tone look has evolved quite a bit."

One modern iteration involves combining two vivid dyes near the bottom of your mane. To recreate this style, choose hues that neighbor each other on the color wheel, like blue and purple.

If you crave high-impact color but still want to try the dip-dye look, reverse the style by dyeing the top portion of your head a vivid color (or two, using a split-dye technique). Then, dip the tips in a neutral shade, like brown or black.

This version will likely require more upkeep, given that your natural roots will show easily against the bright shades up top. According to Beautylish, you may need touch-ups as frequently as every couple of weeks.

Electrify your tresses with shocking yellow tips. Highlighter yellow makes a statement while blending well with blonde tones. Hairstylist Jake Gallagher explained to Refinery29, "Yellow is an easy way to transform blonde hair minus the staining you get from richer colors."

Keep the look subtle by adding yellow to the tips, including bangs if you have them, with a slight gradient. When the pigment loses its vibrancy, let it fade into a pastel shade, or head to your salon to freshen up the color.

File this look somewhere between dip-dyed and ombré. Unlike conventional ombré hair, which usually features a gradient blend of colors similar in shade, this version gradually fades the hair from black roots to icy blonde tips — sort of like dip-dye's more mature sister.

Colorist Cara Craig agrees that natural tones are a user-friendly way to adopt the trend. "We're seeing a lot more of those root-y-er looks," she told Byrdie. "It feels safer to some people who don't necessarily want to come into the salon every two months."

Black and red is an edgy color combo that's long been embraced by everyone from the goth crowd to pop-punk bands, and it just so happens to be one of the best combos for dip-dyed hair. Start with black tresses, lightening the ends thoroughly. Then, work a fire engine red pigment into the tips, placing a few longer tendrils throughout for a fiery effect.

You can even add touches of orange and yellow to give the appearance of flames, a style that Hair.com says is heating up in 2023.

Get inspired by this fairy-ish hairstyle, combining three different dip-dyes into one dreamy look. Unlike the fairy hair that went viral on TikTok (using hair tinsel to add pops of glittery color), dip-dyed fairy hair is equal parts punchy and pixie. In other words, you won't need to squint to see it.

Go for pastel or muted neon shades mixed together at the ends. Avoid harshness by keeping some strands untouched, so the brighter pigments mix and mingle in the hair.

Struggling to choose between two colors for your tips? Do one on each side for the best of both worlds. Instagrammer @leechoooo shows off how to do it, along with the caption, "Sometimes our days are either Cherry Red or Midnight Blue. So I got them both & that's just how it works."

Though clashing red and blue may be out of some people's comfort zones, the effect isn't overwhelming when done in dip-dye. Other flattering options, according to Salon Success Academy, include blue and orange, red and green, or any two pastel tones.

Remember Billie Eilish's green hair? The perfectly placed touches of acid green at her roots were cool, slightly punk, and 0% Kermit the Frog. Though the singer has ditched her iconic dye job, it can live on in your next dip-dye coloring, though in reverse. Apply fluorescent green to the ends, all the way around your mane. Then to channel your inner Billie, apply the same color to the roots in the front to subtly frame the face. Voilà! You're ready for St. Patrick's Day, a punk show, or anything in between.