“Whether that’s embracing natural greys or stepping away from warm golds, it has an almost 18th-century feel – matte, dense and intentionally flat in tone,” says Nicole Kahlani, consultant colourist at Hershesons Fitzrovia in London. “It’s about leaning into natural ash undertones and treating colour globally, inspired by a time before heavy dimension. Think runway blondes – soft, mousey, antique. If anything lifts, it’s only half a shade at the ends, just to gently brighten. The goal is an old-world, ‘dusty’ finish.”
Folklore blonde
Imagine a world where grown-out roots become your hair’s main character energy. Enter the ‘folklore blonde’ trend, a look Christel signposts as a major trend for summer 2026 and a look that she notes was already popular among Scandi-cool girls at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
“Visible roots are becoming increasingly romanticised,” says Christel. “With a soft, dream-like quality, this is a defining colour direction on the style scene this spring. ‘Folklore blonde’ is all about telling the story within the hair and allowing the natural cycle of hair growth to take centre stage.”
Central to the look is a blurred transition, “as if the colour has naturally diffused over time,” says Christel. “This trend reflects a shift away from ‘90s grunge-girl roots; instead, the result is more organic, soft-focus and modern.”
Barn girl blonde
Lily Rose Depp, Margot Robbie and Bella Hadid have all co-signed the ‘barn girl blonde’ hair look. Nicole, who coined the trend, describes it as a “muted, sandy blonde with a natural root and a slightly matte finish you get from softly lightened hair. It’s lighter through the lengths but still grounded with a natural root. Not overly sun-kissed like beach blonde, but slightly more muted and effortless, as if you’ve spent more time in the countryside than by the sea.”