If you have grand plans to travel the world, surf every beach, see every concert, and grace every rooftop party this summer, you’re not going to have a lot of time to sit in a salon chair. Luckily, summer’s biggest hair color trends are all about giving time back to you for the things that matter most (and sometimes the thing that matters most is taking a nap on the couch).

This summer, skip the fussy blonde shade that’s hungry for touch-ups in favor of a beigey champagne blonde that only gets sandier and cooler as it grows out. No bright highlights to protect from chlorine. In its place are deeper, blended ribbons of caramel. And that fiery, vibrant red that fades after mere weeks? You can opt instead for a deeper, almost brunette color. For the thrill-seekers with hang gliding and rainforest trekking on their summer calendars, an allover pastel color or funky bleach cut-outs say you’re looking for adventure without upkeep to hold you down.

No matter what you have planned (or if you have nothing at all planned!), these trends encourage you to think more about you and less about your next hair appointment. Below, the experts break down this summer’s biggest hair color trends.

Champagne blonde

There’s butter blonde, sandy blonde, ice blonde, and ashy blonde. But nothing quite hits the spot for summer like a crisp, bubbly-glass-of-Dom-Perignon blonde. “This shade lives in that space between warm and cool—imagine a glass of chilled champagne catching the light,” says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Clariss Anya Rubenstein. “It’s a creamy blonde with hints of gold and beige woven through. Never icy, never brassy.” Take Kate Hudson or Sarah Pidgeon’s blonde in FX’s Love Story, for example.

“Ask for a soft champagne blonde that’s blended, dimensional, and glossy—but nothing stripy or overly bright,” adds Christine Bellmare, a Boston-based hairstylist. The gloss will be key for catching the light and giving it that glimmery effervescence you catch in your champagne flute.

Suede brunette

Not everyone loves the beach. Summer, for some, is the perfect excuse to sip icy dirty martinis on a city rooftop. For the more urban set, a lived-in suede brunette pairs nicely with a warm, breezy New York night and extra olives. “There’s a clear shift toward tones that feel effortless and understated rather than bold or high-maintenance,” says Bellemare. “For brunettes, that translates to softer, more muted shades that still feel rich and polished.”

Ask for a muted, velvety brunette with espresso and cocoa tones, she says. Balayage or lowlights—as opposed to bright highlights—will add an easy-breezy, relaxed warmth. And the cherry on top–er, the olive in the martini: “A toner or glaze is key to give the hair that smooth, slightly matte finish.”

Caramel highlights

Surfer-girl blonde is deceptively finicky and can take a beating from summer elements like salt, sand, sun, and chlorine. Cool-girl caramel highlights are the way to go if you want to spend more time playing pick-up beach volleyball and jet skiing than sitting in a salon. More sporty Brazilian beach than Palm Springs lounger.

“Our brunettes have been requesting low-maintenance, sun-kissed and golden,” says Los Angeles-based stylist Alex Pardoe. Ask for well-blended soft gold or caramel highlights. “Don’t be afraid of warmth—it’s very flattering.”

Burnt sienna

“Reds are evolving,” says Rubenstein. “Instead of bright copper or vivid auburn, we’re seeing deeper, more wearable versions that feel refined and editorial.” Burnt sienna is the perfect embodiment of this new era of red because it’s sultry, not loud; mature, but no less vibrant.

“This is a brunette base infused with soft, sun-warmed copper tones that catch the light without reading fully red,” says Bellemare. “The overall effect is dimensional and glossy, with a subtle reddish undertone that enhances the brown.” Hammer home the words “subtle and controlled” with your stylist, she adds, as the idea is to avoid bright and orange.

Copper rose

If burnt sienna is the mysterious femme fatale, then copper rose is the angelic ingénue. Where deep reds are grounded, this rosy copper is “sheer, airy, and designed to glow in the light without overwhelming the hair,” says New York City-based colorist Kathy Galotti.

It’s a great look for those with cool undertones, and the dimension can help fine hair appear fuller, says Lauren Paglionico, a New York City-based colorist. “Ask for a natural copper tone, closer to a strawberry blonde than a dark red.”

Pastels

A tinge of pastel color in your hair is like having a spiked lemonade—a cheeky twist but not a full-strength glass of liquor. And this shift couldn’t come at a better moment: “We’ve seen this trend before during challenging times,” says Mauricio Bermudez, a New York City-based colorist. “It’s a nod to the cheerful optimism we all really need right now.”

Bermudez expects to see more shades of pink, blue, and lavender (or a kaleidoscope of all three!) after spotting them on runways this spring. Of course, as with all color color, it’ll take a little time to get the result just right. “To achieve this look, you need to start with a blank canvas,” Bermudez explains. “Your colorist will begin by lightening the hair. Once the hair is lifted to a pale or soft blonde, you can create tonal pastel highlights or a rainbow of colors.”

If you like the idea of hard lemonade but are a little nervous about the commitment, consider adding color only to the mid-lengths and ends.

Bleach cut-outs

Bleach cut-outs dance when you dance—just ask Olympic gold medalist and bleach cut-out icon Alysa Liu. “Alysa showed how cool bleach stripes can be,” says Cara Craig, a New York City-based colorist, “but I’m predicting that this evolves to more shapes being bleached into the hair.”

Colorist Lena Ott, who did Rosalia’s bleach halo, calls it hair jewelry. “It catches the light the way metal does, but it’s subtle and integrated,” she says. “Ask for micro-placements of light or contrast that move with the hair with very precise sectioning and placement. The goal is clarity, not coverage.”

Meet the experts:

• Christine Bellemare is a hairstylist and owner of Maven A Collect salon in Boston.
• Mauricio Bermudez is a colorist at Suite Caroline salon in New York City.
• Cara Craig is a colorist at Beauty Supply in New York City.
• Kathy Galotti is a colorist at The Salon Project in New York City.
• Lena Ott is a New York City-based colorist and founder of Suite Caroline salon.
• Lauren Paglionico is a New York City-based colorist and founder of LRN Beauty.
• Alex Pardoe is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist and founder of hair-extension brand The Anti.
• Clariss Anya Rubenstein is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist and Nexxus partner.