7 of the Easiest Hair Colors to Maintain (That Don’t Require Constant Touch- Ups) (2024)

Published Jul 5, 2017

Platinum blonde strands, though stunning, are notoriously difficult to maintain. And though we love cool color trends (like pumpkin spice or geode hair), we’re not sure we’re up for the bleaching and toning that comes with it. What we want is easy, yet still striking color that won't force us to make multiple trips to the salon. Here are the seven easiest hair colors to maintain.

1. Ombré Ringlets

A dark-to-light contrast works especially well on curls, as their spiral shape blends the colors together more seamlessly.

7 of the Easiest Hair Colors to Maintain (That Don’t Require Constant Touch- Ups) (3)

J. Countess/Getty Images

2. Tortoiseshell Hair

This is a fun option for brunettes that’s not as severe as an ombré. Ask your stylist to keep your roots dark and weave in some honey brown and caramel highlights through your mid-lengths and ends only.

7 of the Easiest Hair Colors to Maintain (That Don’t Require Constant Touch- Ups) (4)

Steve Granitz/Getty Images

3. Babylights And Balayage

A mix of thinner and thicker highlights will give you a naturally sun-kissed look that will last for months.

4. "lived-in Color"

A term coined by Insta-famous L.A. hair coloristJohnny Ramirez, thistechnique involves bleaching, depositing color and even creating a "fake root" so you end up with the sort of naturally sunkissed strands you had as a kid—with no awkward grow-out period.

7 of the Easiest Hair Colors to Maintain (That Don’t Require Constant Touch- Ups) (6)

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

5. Lightened Base

Tired of constantly having to touch up your roots? Brighten up your entire base so that any new grays blend in as they grow.

7 of the Easiest Hair Colors to Maintain (That Don’t Require Constant Touch- Ups) (7)

Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

6. Tonal Color

Fact: The closer you stay to your natural hue (as in, don’t go more than two shades lighter), the longer you can last between appointments.

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Taylor Hill/Getty Images

7. Face-framing Highlights

Better yet, keep your natural base color and just add a few subtle highlights around your face to brighten things up and give your hair movement.

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Beauty Director

Jenny Jin is PureWow’s Beauty Director and is currently based in Los Angeles. Since beginning her journalism career at Real Simple magazine, she has become a human encyclopedia of...

7 of the Easiest Hair Colors to Maintain (That Don’t Require Constant Touch- Ups) (2024)

FAQs

What is the highest maintenance hair color? ›

Because red fades the fastest (red is the largest color molecule, so it slips out of hair with every washing), this is the shade that requires the most effort and maintenance. Don't wash your hair until a week after you go red.

What is the best low-maintenance hair color for gray hair? ›

The Best Low-Maintenance Hair Colors for Gray Hair

Dimensional Brown: brunette shades that contain a mix of undertones will provide a beautiful dimensional result. It gives the added benefit of making the regrowth of gray hair look less noticeable than using a highly saturated uniform shade.

What is the least desirable hair color? ›

In the present study blondes were not preferred by either sex: a clear preference for brunette hair coloration over blondes and redheads was indicated. In concurrence with both earlier studies, the results of this study indicated red hair as the least preferred hair color.

What is the most low-maintenance hair? ›

Our Favorite Low-Maintenance Haircuts for Wash-and-Go Looks
  • Styling your hair can be a time-consuming process, even if you don't wash it every single day. ...
  • Chin-length bangs. ...
  • Wavy lob. ...
  • Octopus cut. ...
  • Classic pixie. ...
  • Curly cut. ...
  • Tousled bixie. ...
  • Bold buzz cut.

What is the least damaging hair color? ›

And even if your hair's already in great shape, you may wish to keep supremely healthy with one of these alternatives.
  • Beige Bronde. ...
  • Toffee. ...
  • Copper. ...
  • Burgundy. ...
  • Golden Light Brown. ...
  • Chestnut Highlights. ...
  • Caramel Blonde. ...
  • Natural Blonde.

Is it better to go darker or lighter with grey hair? ›

Expert colourists recommend a darker shade of dye for your roots and a lighter shade, that matches more or less your natural hair colour, for the rest of your hair.

What color hides grey hair best? ›

Neutral shades like soft blonde, mushroom brown, light copper, and caramel blonde balayage are the easiest to blend gray into (and maintain over time without wanting to shave your hair off).

Does gray hair make you look younger or older? ›

Hair naturally loses pigment as we age, but stylist Paul Falltrick points out that the notion that grey hair makes you look older is increasingly becoming a misnomer: "Grey shades can be stereotyped as ageing, but a clean-looking grey is stunning" he says. "Just ask your hair colourist for a light-reflective shade."

What is the number 1 hair color? ›

The level system is made up of 10 numbers which help determine the depth level of your natural hair. 1 is black, 5 is light brown, 6 is dark blonde, 7 is blonde and 10 is the lightest blonde.

What is the prettiest hair color? ›

Most Attractive Hair Colour According to Men

According to the survey, the majority of men (42%) found blonde hair to be the most attractive. This was followed by brunette (36%), red (16%), black (5%), and gray (1%).

What color fades the slowest in hair? ›

By contrast, dark colours such as mahogany, burgundy and black take longer to fade as the molecular structure of these pigments is able to penetrate your hair deeply and deposit colour more successfully.

Which hair color fades the least? ›

Brunettes and Natural Shades: Generally speaking, darker and more natural hair colors enjoy greater staying power. Their larger pigment molecules are less prone to fading, and they usually require less maintenance.

What hair dye color stays the longest? ›

As a general rule of thumb, darker colors tend to stay on the hair for longer. So, if you're adding lowlights, a root shadow or all-over depth, the shade will offer more mileage than, for example, light blondes, light browns or light reds. The same goes for pastel colors versus rainbow colors.

What is the hardest color to dye your hair? ›

natural red-heads have notoriously difficult hair to colour. As most red-heads know, if you try to go darker, the colour doesn't stick to the hair like it would on a blonde or brunette. If you try to go lighter, you are battling constantly with that natural red reflect.

What is the most gentle permanent hair color? ›

Garnier Olia Oil Powered Permanent Hair Color

A top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing, Garnier's permanent color is made with no ammonia and a high concentration of nourishing oil so it's gentle on hair that's damaged from treatments like keratin or thinning strands.

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