Jet-Black Hair Is Going to Be a Popular Choice This Season
As much as we love experimenting with fun hair colors like milk tea and copper cowgirl, sometimes nothing is better than a classic shade like jet black. It's timeless, it's chic, and it's always on trend.
To state the obvious, jet-black hair never went away, but the shade has taken a back seat to other color trends over the years — but that's about to change. As one of the hottest fall hair-color trends, according to the pros, jet-black hair is stepping back into the spotlight, and it's more dynamic than ever.
Ahead, hairstylists explain more about the look. Keep scrolling to get inspiration for black hair color ideas.
What Is Jet-Black Hair?
If you're on the hunt for black hair colors, you're in luck — the look is highly customizable. "There is an element of black hair that has moved on from the gothic, heavy box-dyed color to something that looks natural," Adam Reed, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Arkive Headcare, tells POPSUGAR. The good news is, "This color can really work well on anybody."
You can go for a glossy, inky shade or a color closer to a muted charcoal — just know that it's going to take some work. "This sounds easier than it is since most people think of glossy black as one color, but there are actually multiple tones involved to get the right shine and movement without looking inky and solid," celebrity colorist and Matrix expert George Papanikolas tells POPSUGAR. "Hair color comes in 10 levels and half of them are in the dark family, ranging from level one, black, to level five, medium brown. Glossy black incorporates all of these."
If you want something a bit more dramatic and striking, Reed says, "Instead of putting blue in, you'd put a .8 flat tone in so you're getting a flatter, heavier tone. This will make it look like a natural black that's slightly flatter as it's charcoal-like."
If you've never gone this dark before, don't let the idea scare you away from trying it — just understand that, depending on your natural hair color, it can be a big responsibility. "Jet black is a vibe, it's a whole commitment," celebrity hairstylist Bianca Hillier says. "Cool-tone black gives off an eclectic feel helping any artist get into the groove. Be sure to specify with your colorist what tone you want the hair to shine in the light to nail it exactly."
How to Take Care of Black Hair
Switching over to the dark side is a big commitment. "Black hair tends to have a bigger color molecule, which allows for it to stay longer — that's why it's so much harder to remove," Reed says, referring to the challenge of lifting black dye off of the hair shaft. Because of the dye's longevity, it will continue to look fresh longer; however, it will also be harder to reverse. "Please consider that when making your decision," he says.
To maintain the color at home, Papanikolas recommends incorporating a green-based shampoo and hair mask into your hair-care routine to keep unwanted red tones away. The pigments in the products will help keep your color looking cool-toned and vibrant. For a hydrating hair mask, Reed recommends the Arkive Headcare Treatment Mask. Using a color gloss can also help keep your hair looking brand new; we like the DpHue Gloss+ in Black.
Black Hair-Color Ideas
Keep scrolling for more jet-black hair-color inspiration.
Glossy Black Hair
Extra-glossy jet-black hair like this looks super healthy.
Flat-Black Hair
This muted, flat-black hue feels extra chic on short hair.
Jet-Black Hair
Black hair looks great on all skin tones and hair types.
Soft-Black Hair
If you don't want to go full matte black but also don't want a mirror-like shine, this hue is a happy medium that looks super healthy.
Cool-Toned Black Hair
Your stylist can help you find the perfect shade of black hair for you, like this cool-toned style.