40 Stunning Examples Of Rose Gold Hair You'll Want To Take To The Salon

Hair dyes are by no means a new invention. Though chemical treatments didn't emerge until the early 1900s, henna dyes can be traced back well over 3,000 years. Ancient colors were pretty much limited to black and whatever shades could be sourced from local flora, but today's dyes are innumerable — whether you opt for a drug store boxed solution or a customized color mixed at the salon, it's easy to go from a brunette to blonde to green and back again. Just give your hair a break in between treatments or risk frying your strands.

Like baby names and the cut of jeans, colors are very much a part of the trend cycle. Right now, shades like Barbie pink and Millennial pink are having a moment, not to mention the recent popularity of Valentino pink in high fashion spaces. "This is culture-specific, so I am speaking in terms of American culture, but pink is usually seen as a romantic, youthful, cheerful, and whimsical color," Naomi Torres-Mackie, Ph.D., explained to PopSugar, discussing the growing popularity of pink hair dyes. Rose gold first gained traction throughout the early 2010s and shows no signs of slowing down. The next time you visit the salon –- or spontaneously scan the aisles of CVS for a semi-permanent change to your appearance –- consider rose gold. For inspiration, look to these 40 stunning examples.

Social media filters have long influenced the beauty world, popularizing everything from bleached eyebrows to tattooed freckles. If you enjoy the subtly of tinted filters on Snapchat or TikTok, opt for a barely-there pink hair dye, a color easily mistaken for a trick of the light. As New York City-based colorist Maddison Cave advises InStyle, bringing a reference photo for your stylist is always helpful, especially when it comes to trending colors. If unsure, use a pink phone filter to test the shade first.

If your hair is naturally dark, you'll need to start with a few rounds of bleach to achieve the desired base. Due to the strength of lightening chemicals, it's safest to make a trip to your colorist rather than attempt this process at home. "I have heard so many horror stories about clients of mine frying their hair by attempting to just touch up their roots," colorist Rachel Bodt warned Allure, adding, "Bleach is very strong and can go wrong if you aren't careful." A salon will have the proper tools needed to avoid permanently damaging your hair. 

If you're on the hunt for a face-framing style, you can't go wrong with peachy waves. Start from the back of your head, and curl medium sections of hair away from your face, holding them in place for approximately 10 seconds before letting go –- the longer you hold the iron, the tighter the curl. Leave out the bottom two inches of hair for a more natural finish. Paired with a warm, peach dye these beach waves will make for the perfect sun-kissed summer look.

Notorious Disney villain Cruella de Vil is known for her two-toned black-and-white look, a style which grew in popularity in real life post quarantine, per Nylon. Whether you invest in a wig or dye your natural hair, color block with rose gold. Apply pink to one half of your hair, letting your natural part create a division. For starters, take inspiration from Nikki Minaj and pair rose gold with platinum blonde. Alternatively, auburn or hot pink make for perfect rose gold companion colors. 

Rebel streaks, or bold sections of face-framing highlights, have evolved beyond blonde. They've become a staple for anyone looking to change up their look without committing to a full head of color. For instance, singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama contrasted her dark brown hair with orange streaks. Try the style out yourself by pairing your natural base with rose gold curtain bangs. Alternatively, take it up a notch with hot pink highlights and a rosy base, a look perfected by @hair_by_jenny on Instagram.

Rather than prepping your hair by bleaching your roots and working your way down, let those strands closest to your scalp breathe. Especially if you have dark hair, your natural color will contrast perfectly with rose gold, making for a grungy take on the otherwise wholesome aesthetic. Not only is this style healthier for your scalp in the long run, but it also allows for stress-free regrowth. "By not bleaching roots, the stylist is allowing the client to maintain their natural color while also experimenting with fashion colors," hairstylist Kiera Cecil informs Allure. 

If you aren't quite ready to commit to dye, give clip-in hair extensions a try. For starters, check out these color streaks –- including rose gold clips –- available on Urban Outfitters. These extensions are perfect for adding contrast to dark hair, but they're also a great way to add dimension to blonde locks. Alternatively, incorporate volume Ariana Grande-style with a pink pony extension from INH Hair. Remember, properly maintaining your clip-ins is a must. Wash them approximately once a month –- more frequent washes may cause them to lose their luster — and never, never sleep in clip-ins. 

Rose gold fits under the strawberry blonde umbrella. Whereas the former relies on pink, the latter combines a coppery shade of red with a golden blonde. Best of all, it works well with any skin tone, hair texture, or cut. For starters, give bangs a try. TikTok creator Bri Campbell (@bri.veronica) shows how to create faux bangs simply by pinning back your curls.

Remember that red-based dyes are among the most difficult to maintain. In a conversation with The Zoe Report, Jamie Mazzei, creative director for NuBest Salon and Spa, recommends using a color-depositing shampoo. 

Whether your hair is blonde or brown, Overtone offers temporary rose gold dye options. TikTok creator @melbellles demonstrates what the process looks like on light hair, slathering on Overtone's rose gold coloring conditioner and letting it sit for approximately 10 minutes before rinsing it out in the shower. According to the brand's website, Overtone can last a week or a month. It all depends on the person, their hair color, and their texture. The darker your hair, the more subtle the tint.

'70s-inspired hair is trending, with styles like the wolf cut and mixie –- a combination of a mullet and pixie –- taking over social media and red carpets alike. For inspiration, look to stars like Stevie Nicks and Jane Fonda, both of whom rocked the style at its height. Five decades later, elevate the look with a pop of color, preferably pink. Though overall length depends on your preference, face-framing fringe is a necessity.

Pink dyes lose their vibrancy faster than other colors. Though it may seem like the unwanted end result of a once-vibrant look, washed-out hair is actually a trend in itself and involves very little maintenance at that. So, as your Barbie pink dye fades in the sun or rinses out in the shower, embrace the rose gold underneath –- it will make for an edgy-chic aesthetic. Fully capitalize off of the punk rock look by pairing your washed strands with a leather jacket and combat boots.

Hair is truly a canvas –- especially if you have the right colorist helping you out. Whether you're prepping for Pride month festivities or just want a look that will turn heads, spiff up your hair with pride flag colors. Add accents of pastel pink and blue to your bleached blonde hair to represent the trans flag or combine pink and orange to pay homage to the lesbian flag. If you plan to dye your hair at home, opt for temporary pigments since a multi-colored look can be difficult to perfect.

Red and copper dyes were trending throughout 2022, with A-listers like Kendall Jenner and Sydney Sweeney opting for warm-toned hair. "Auburn hair is huge right now," celebrity colorist Jeremy Tardo told Byrdie, adding, "I think everyone is searching for a perfect 'coming out [of the pandemic]' hairstyle..." Add rose gold highlights to a copper base to put your spin on the celebrity-approved look. With this, your hair is sure to pop, especially during golden hour.

If you're looking for a seamless transition between your natural hair color and highlights –- in this case, rose gold –- ask your colorist for a root melt. This technique blends the line between your natural hair color and your chosen dye, making the regrowth process as painless as possible. As stylist celebrity colorist Min Kim clarifies for Byrdie, "A root shadow or melt is perfect for overdue regrowth, even with fashion shades."

Since changing your hair color can totally change your aesthetic, it might be time to try out some different makeup looks. "When you change your hair color, you need to adjust your makeup to reflect those tones," celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa tells Makeup.com, also noting, "It's an exciting time to explore new varieties of shadows, contour, blush and especially lip colors." It's your best bet to opt for soft colors, using shades of peach and pink on your lips and cheeks. Alternatively, go for contrasting hues like electric greens and blues, creating edgy graphic liner looks.

It's official: bowl cuts are trending, or at least a more modern take on them is. Supermodel Bella Hadid debuted an edgy bowl cut at Marc Jacobs's fall 2022 runway show, per Allure, and celebrities like Cardi B and January Jones have experimented with their own versions of the straight-edged cut. However, today's bowl is a bit less uniform, according to PopSugar. As New York City hairstylist Devin Toth explained to the site, "Even if you cut some texture into a bowl cut, it's still super thick-looking, which is cool and really in right now." 

Especially if you have a special occasion on the horizon, consider a glamorous pink updo –- this look can be achieved on whatever hair type you're working with, whether you're rocking lots of texture, thin, straight hair, or are opting for a rose gold dyed wig. For starters, see Houston-based hairstylist @slayedbyshady demonstrate the look on TikTok, securing the client's hair before pinning the elegant style in place. Specifically, '90s messy updos are trending. TikTok creator Candice Jones (@bycandicejones) shows how to style your natural hair à la Pamela Anderson. Make sure to leave out face-framing tendrils.

Dusty rose is rose gold's edgy sister. Whereas the latter has warm undertones, the former is closer to gray. "Dusty rose is for the girl who wants a softer, more subdued cool pink," Felicia Dosso, a junior colorist at Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York, explains to Byrdie, also noting that dusty rose tends to be a high-maintenance color. Consider opting for a purple-ish shade of mauve rose if you have dark brown hair.

Finger waves, first popularized in the 1920s by singer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker, are known for their distinctive "S"-shaped pattern. According to Fashion Magazine, rapper Missy Elliot contributed to their growing popularity throughout the '90s. To perfect the look, you'll need plenty of mousse, a fine-toothed comb, and –- as the name suggests –- your fingers. Today, the style can be seen on high fashion runways and red carpets alike. Just look to stars like Zendaya and Rihanna for inspiration, or put your own spin on the look by first dying your hair rose gold.

Because shades of pink are among the fastest-fading colors, it's important to know how to care for your freshly-dyed hair. For starters, make sure your hair is healthy before coloring. Dry hair will struggle to hold on to pigment. Once your color is set, it's important to avoid using shampoo on a daily basis, as this will deplete the pink. Warm water, too, can have disastrous effects on your fresh color. The bottom line? Though dying your hair may feel like a big change, it's temporary. Everything washes down the drain eventually.