How to get rose gold hair

Rose gold hair is the more sophisticated cousin of earlier seasons’ pastel shades and it is making its shiny presence known, both on and off the red carpet.

Hair-color trends can be a risky bandwagon to jump on; invariably good in theory (or on Instagram), but often hard to pull off in real life. Lilac, blue and even pink pastels looks great when paired with a crystal-clear complexion and pristine roots; deviate away from that and the color looks unkempt. The icy-white blond that we have seen on the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Taylor Swift requires impeccably conditioned hair and an intense maintenance regime to keep it looking and feeling healthy.

Rose gold hair is the exception to the rule; an ‘on trend’ hair color that remarkably looks great on almost everyone. Whether it’s the desert-pink seen on Emma Roberts at the Oscars created by LA-based hair stylist and colorist Nikki Lee or the rosé-champagne hues blended through Sienna Miller’s blond ends crafted by Bleach London’s Alex Brownsell, rose gold hair treads the tricky line of being both fashion-forward and universally flattering.

Nicola Clarke, Creative Color Director of Color Wow and John Frieda Salons – and the woman responsible for Cate Blanchett’s dusty-rose shade – reveals the tones to ask for and the at-home secret to making it last…

SUITS YOU “This trend works on blonds to mid-brunettes – if you have very dark hair, you will need to lighten it first to achieve a true rose gold.”

GET IT RIGHT FIRST TIME “To ensure you get the right shade, take pictures or even rose gold items to your hairdresser.”

GO BOLD “For a stronger finish, a tint or toner is applied over the entire head. If you’d like a subtler look, opt for a very pale hue to add luster or ask for color to be painted on sections of hair.”

HOME WORK “Semi-permanent shades like rose gold need more upkeep. At home, wash hair with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, like Color Wow Color Security, to stop the color from leeching out.”