Trends To Dye For
Approximately 75% of American women and 38% of men artificially color their hair today. Thanks to advancements in dye technology in the 19th century—goodbye hazardous chemicals and leeches—hair dye is accessible to everyone. Let's take a trip through some of the biggest dye trends in history.
1. Henna Dye
One of the oldest methods of dye is actually still in use: henna! All the way back in 1500 BCE, Egyptians developed a way to cover up grays with natural ingredients. However the shade range was limited to reddish or deep black.
2. Red Ocher Dye
Another natural dye still in use today is otjize. Used by the Himba people of Namibia, this mixture of ocher and butterfat colors and protects the hair. Otjize wards off mosquitos and prevents damage from the harsh desert sun.
Yves Picq http://veton.picq.fr on Wikimedia
3. Red-Gold
In Ancient Rome, sex workers were legally required to have blonde hair to indicate their profession. This color was likely chosen due to its connection with the goddess of love, who was depicted with gold or red-gold tresses. While many women wore blonde wigs, others used a mixture of burnt plants & nuts.
4. Lime Blonde
The Romans weren't the only ones dyeing their hair. Some of Rome's fiercest enemies, the Gauls and the Saxons, used lime to lighten their hair. This gave them a "fearsome" aspect, making blond hair symbolic of barbarity.
5. Saffron Red
Red hair has fallen in and out of favor throughout history, however it was especially popular during the reign of Elizabeth I. Women who wanted to look like the beloved queen used saffron and sulfur powder to color their hair. Unfortunately, this combination lead to nosebleeds and headaches.
After Levina Teerlinc on Wikimedia
6. Powdered Wigs
Unlike today when most people want to cover up white hair, the aristocracy of 18th century Europe powdered their hair white. White hair was seen as a sign of wealth and intelligence. This was occurred either through powdered wigs or directly powdering your hair.
7. Root Touch-Ups
The first synthetic dyes were invented in the mid-19th century, but we weren't quite off to the races yet. Visible signs of cosmetics were associated with loose women in the 1900s. So, salons offered back entrances for clients who wanted their color grey roots without anyone knowing.
8. Jet-Black
For the flappers of the Roaring Twenties, hair dye was another way to rebel against societal norms. Flappers were inspired by silver screen sirens like Louise Brooks and Theda Bara, whose raven-dark locks contrasted beautifully with the black-and-white film stock. The darker and vampier, the better,
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
9. Platinum Blonde
Trends shifted in a big way with Jean Harlow's rise. Harlow's break-out film was called Platinum Blonde, for which her ash-blonde hair was dyed to match. Harlow achieved her iconic hue through a mixture of ammonia, Clorox bleach, and soap flakes, which may have contributed to her death from kidney failure.
New York Sunday News. on Wikimedia
10. Discreet Dyes
Jet-black and platinum blonde may have been acceptable shades for Hollywood stars, but not everyday women. Clairol, introduced in 1950, was a single-process dye that lightened hair without bleaching it. The result was a more natural look that women could achieve at home.
11. Spray-On Dye
Temporary dyes became popular in the Swinging Sixties for people who wanted to try out dyed hair Some of the most popular shades were bombshell blonde and fiery red. Pastel shades like pink and aqua were also in vogue.
12. Highlights
Another trend inspired by the stars, highlights became a trend after Audrey Hepburn sported them in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Highlights were popular for accenting blonde and brown hair. This trend also birthed another infamous one that we will see later.
13. Balayage
For many, balayage is forever associated with the 2010s. However, this breezy trend actually got its start in the 1970s. Balayge offers a more natural, sun-kissed look when compared with traditional highlights and ombrés.
Rafaella Mendes Diniz on Unsplash
14. Neon Colors
Hair got seriously loud in the '80s. This experimental era was all about neon colors, self-expression, and sticking it to the man (at least if you were a punk). Not only were these colors popular, but they were accessible to the chagrin of many parents raising teenagers.
15. Grown-Out Roots
A more natural but less artificial look was the grown-out roots look popularized by Madonna. Already known for her bottle-blonde curls, the Queen of Pop took things to the next level by growing out her roots. Now, women were purposefully delaying salon appointments for that grown-out look.
16. Frosted Tips
While the art of frosted hair was first developed two decades prior, it hit its apex in the 1990s. Just like with grown-out roots, this bold look was proud of its artificiality. This was one of the few dye trends that was acceptable for men at the time.
17. Chunky Highlights
Highlights switched from delicate accents to full-on zebra stripes in the early 2000s. In retrospect, this look was not very flattering, especially dark highlights on light hair. However, it was one of the most popular trends of the era, notably sported by Kelly Clarkson.
18. Dip Dye
The 2010s opened the floodgates for all manner of hair dye trends. One of the most iconic was dip dye hair. This trend involved dying the ends of your hair neon colors for a bright and playful look.
19. Mermaid Hair
More subtle—but still unnatural—hues were favored by hipsters, pastel goths, and other young people in the mid 2010s. These pastel shades hearkened back to earlier trends in the 1960s, proving that trends really do work in cycles. Hair with multiple pastel shades was known as mermaid hair.
20. Gray Hair
In the late 2010s and into the 2020s, we've seen two trends surrounding grey hair. First of all, young people started dyeing their hair 50 shades of grey for an offbeat, intellectual look. And, thanks to lockdown, many older women have stopped dyeing their grays in favor of letting their natural hair shine.
