You can get lost looking at holographic hair! This colorful trend involves complex streaks of multiple fashion hair colors that look totally mesmerizing. Holographic hair color mimics the look of the pastel rainbow you can sometimes see reflected in bent metal. It’s a little like oil spill or iridescent hair, but the color is a touch more vibrant. It’s a complex and dramatic hairstyle that’s truly hard to resist!
If you’re intrigued, check out some of the stunning inspiration photos we’ve selected! If you’d like to copy the look, keep reading to see our tips and suggestions for selecting a colorist or for doing it by yourself. Finally, we have some important maintenance tips, so if you do get the look, you can also keep it looking fresh for as long as possible.
In this article:
- 53 Images of Holographic Hair Colors to Inspire
- What Is the Holographic Hair Trend About?
- 5 Best Holographic Hair Dyes to Try
- How to Get Holographic Hair?
- Tips for Maintaining Your Holographic Hair Bright
53 Images of Holographic Hair Colors to Inspire
Ready to get inspired? Our gallery of stunning holographic hair looks will spark your imagination, so go ahead and book that hair salon appointment!
1. Holographic Dappled Hair
These horizontal streaks of holographic hair dye create this incredible illusion as though the hair is dappled with a rainbow that’s refracted through some sort of window. It’ll definitely confuse anyone who looks at you but in the most intriguing way possible! If you’ve already experimented with silver or platinum hair, adding these holographic touches won’t be too difficult.
2. Lavender Holographic Hair
The rainbow dappled effect also works nicely over pastel tones like this metallic lavender hair color. As expert colorist Kelly O’Leary reveals, the secret to achieving this kind of diffused, flowy effect is to apply the holographic hair dye shades with a sponge!
3. Blue-Tone Holographic Hair
Holographic hair doesn’t necessarily have to be rainbow-colored. This pastel blue hairstylefeatures diffused touches of white, lavender, and even gray shading near the bottom that add the illusion of movement and light hitting the water.
4. Holographic Underlight
This horizontal holographic hair color is undercover! Added in as an underlayer, it really is the best of both worlds. With your hair down, the horizontal rainbow shades will just peek through occasionally to add a touch of color, while if you rock a semi-updo or half-ponytail, they’ll be on display in full force!
5. Melted Holographic Hair Color
The combination of holographic hair dye with a colormelt is remarkable and unusual. The touches of holographic neon colors are like light falling over the hair, and they melt into a cool, watery blue, over a silvery-white base. It’s a complex, dynamic look.
6. Holographic Rose Quartz Hair
There is something about adding holographic hair dye over a metallic base that immediately reminds us of a prism. In this instance, that gem that comes to mind is rose quartz, a warm shade of pink that looks soft and harmonious against the warm holographic colors while not contrasting too much against the cool shades.
7. Cool Gradient Holographic Hair
This seamless shift of blue to purple to pink is cool and harmonious, looking like liquid. The holographic hair effect comes from the streakier touches of pink and the organic way that the hair was dyed in patches.
8. Holographic Fringe
Holographic hair color isn’t reserved for long hair, and it can absolutely frame your face! This shaggy rock n’ roll fringe is made all the more exciting by the addition of some very unique holographic hair colors like peach and teal, not to mention the vibrant pink.
9. Holographic Vaporwave Streaks
The neon shades of this holographic hairstyle really fit well with the vaporwave aesthetic. The diagonal streaks are a great choice because they have a ton of movement but still mimic a rainbow beautifully.
10. Electrified Blue Holographic Hair
We can feel the electricity just sparking off from this look! The cool blue hair color is an awesome base for touches of holographic hair dye in shades of green, yellow, and hot pink! Styling it in soft waves adds a delicate touch to the intense color.
11. Prismatic Purple Hair
The holographic hair dye added to this stunning purple hair color could truly fool anyone who sees it. It’s hard to believe that it’s dye and not some sort of prismatic light effect! The effect works because of the horizontal way the holographic hair color was applied, with some spots more saturated than others.
12. Pearly Holographic Hair
Soft and expensive – that’s the vibe that this pearly pastel hair has! Even though the colors themselves are a totally unusual combination of pink, yellow, blue, and green (all metallic pastels, of course), the streaking technique is a little more traditional. Combined with the retro way the hair was waved, it’s a totally glamorous look!
13. Pearly Holographic Hair Melt
This pastel dream was achieved with a colormelt gradient technique. The transition from different, super-light pastels looks dreamy, as though each shade is melting into the next! The punch of color from the magenta roots is a nice touch that also helps keep the follicles healthy.
14. Holographic Underlayer with Fishtail Braid
Fishtail braids always feel a little cottagecore to us, so we love when stylists combined with such a modern hair dye trend! The holographic underlayer features more uniform stripes of neon rainbow shades, and their vibrancy contrasts beautifully against the cool gray shade of the rest of the hair!
15. Balayage with Holographic Highlights
You don’t need to have an all-over bleached hairstyle to rock some holographic highlights! This stunning balayage still includes some medium brown roots, and the addition of highlighter-colored stripes actually looks cool against the darker tones in the hair.
16. Silky Holographic Hair
This is the kind of hair we’d like to take a nap in! Certain techniques of both dyeing and styling can give the hair the appearance of dyed silk. This holographic hair definitely looks silky-soft thanks to the complex blend of pastel colors. It’s an intense look that must have taken hours, with a ton of different streaks, but the final result is totally worth it.
17. Holographic Wave
The way colors flow in and out of one another in this impeccable holographic hair look reminds us of ocean waves but out of a psychedelic mushroom trip. It’s the kind of look that can only be done by a master of the craft, and indeed, it’s a look created by the one and only Guy Tang. Stunning!
18. Lavender Quartz Waves
This holographic hair reminds of a lavender quartz stone. The smoky blue roots keep things stable, but the wash of teal and green holographic touches at the mids add that refractive quality of a gemstone. The lavender underlayer acts as the base, bringing a quartz to mind.
19. Sea Glass Holographic Hair
Shining, shimmering, splendid! This holographic hair color instantly brings the ocean to mind, although the intense lightness of it also reminds us of glass smoothed by water. It’s not quite holographic hair since the touches of green and yellow are more diffused and balayaged, but it still gives us the same tingle.
20. Purple and Teal Holographic Stripes
This look is a ton of fun, with intense horizontal stripes matching up perfectly with some lush waves! The combination of teal, purple, white, and smoke is a ton of fun, especially with the way the white streaks are a little thinner, so they end up acting as a highlight.
21. Feathery Holographic Waves
Before getting into the wonderful color work here, shout out to the amazing styling! These feathery, mussed waves are oh-so-fun, especially when paired with the sleeker straight-across bangs. As for the color, the orange hair shade that’s predominant in the holographic rainbow highlights dramatically offsets the cool blue base!
22. Neon Holographic Streaks
Horizontal holographic hair dye is hard to do, and even the pros have to spend a long time on color placement. However, with just a couple of money piece streaks, you can enjoy the full effect without having to spend hours in the stylist chair. As this look proves, the vibrant colors can work with anything, including hot pink hair.
23. Dreamy Holographic Hair
Another pastel dream! This look features stunning metallic pastels applied to the hair in V-shaped streaks. The colors were applied with alternating hot and cold tones, which creates an off-kilter effect. The result is a romantic look, despite the futuristic shades. It looks particularly pretty when styled into glamorous waves.
24. Lavender Hair with Holographic Dapple
Just this lavender hairstyle, all on its own, would already be a dramatic look! However, the rainbow-dappled effect of the holographic streaks really pushes boundaries and turns it into something extremely special.
25. Neon-Pastel Rainbow Holographic Hair
If your childhood highlighter art could be turned into a hairstyle, this would be it! This super intense holographic hair color features underlayers of bright neon and pastel shades, creating this rainbow peekaboo effect that’s vibrant and memorable.
26. Contrasting Holographic Highlights
This is another great hot & cold holographic hair look. Once again, blue is the base, with a vibrant orange tone featuring heavily in the holographic highlights and creating an intense contrast against the blue. Touches of pink and green maintain the holographic effect while softening the clash.
27. Mother of Pearl Holographic Hair
This purposefully mussed look is giving us some serious ocean vibes. The bright blue waves are like pure sea water, while itty-bitty horizontal streaks of neon green and pink mimic the reflection in a mother of pearl. It’s a great, short twist on mermaid hair.
28. Otherworldly Holographic Hair
This otherworldly look feels spacey and futuristic. The lilac base is cold and intense, with a near-white purity that’s beautifully offset by the ultra-dynamic and vivid neon touches. The holographic streaks don’t take up a ton of space in this look, but they have a strong impact.
29. Holographic Roots
There are so many ways to add that little bit of holographic touch to your look, so why not introduce it at the roots? Well, we can imagine grow-out will be tough, but it might be worthwhile, just for a bit! Fool people into thinking that your hair is naturally rainbow colors with this kind of holographic hair look.
30. Nuclear Sunset Holographic Hair
This take on holographic hair is nearly a colormelt. The intense blue base looks like it was set on fire with a pop of intense holographic orange right in the middle. It’s subtle, but at the center of the orange highlight, there are yellow touches that make the look even more dramatic.
31. Pastel Rainbow Hair
These soft pastel shades exude quirky femininity. The mixture of blue, green, yellow, and pink is so soft and subtle that it looks like a true, translucent rainbow. The dyes were applied on a diagonal, which leads to a unique effect that fools the eye at first.
32. Blacklight Holographic Streaks
This holographic hair dye looks like neon colors shining under a blacklight! It’s bright and shiny but not too saturated. In reality, the look was achieved with horizontal layers of neon shades. Once the hair was dyed, soft waves were added to give that retro contrast.
33. Holographic Gradient on Purple Hair
This gradient is intense, with some vivid neon greens giving us sci-fi vibes. The intense green at the center is in direct contrast to the deep purple tone that most of the hair has been dyed, leading to a very high-impact look. The pink to yellow to green gradient at the center helps to melt the colors together and soften the contrast.
34. Split-Dyed Holographic Hair
This isn’t a traditional holographic look, but it’s still a ton of fun! This split-dyed look features a hot side, with orange, yellow, and magenta streaks and a cold side with blue, green, and purple streaks. It’s a great way to show your individuality and to enjoy all the colors in the spectrum.
35. Love Rainbow Holographic Hair
Soft pink and holographic streaks end up having a romantic effect in this lovely look! The light pink shade of the hair leans towards cool, so the blue shades in the rainbow blend in nicely, while the oranges and yellow give a pop of brightness.
36. Holographic Ice Princess
This is holographic hair for winter! And not just any winter, but an icy one! Electric blue hair is vibrantly cold, but the holographic streaks add that futuristic touch. It’s icy yet electric, so it’s certainly not a hairstyle for the faint of heart.
37. Holographic Vixen Bob
We’re getting some intense Marilyn Monroe vibes from this look, and we can certainly imagine the late actress experimenting with something like this were she around today. The short, wavy bob is a classic, of course, but what makes it special is the holographic hair dye, which was applied with slightly thicker streaks that work well with the waves.
38. Holographic Upper Layer
By now, we’ve seen a few holographic underlayers, but it’s nice to see it as an all-over upper layer. This look has a lot of impact since the entire outer layer of the hair was dyed with horizontal streaks of a neon rainbow. The underlayer, in pink, blends in nicely.
39. Caribbean Holographic Fishtail
This is another holographic fishtail braid that instantly makes us think of the ocean! The predominant color in this look is a tropical teal, with magenta and yellow touches that bring to mind a vibrant Caribbean pattern.
40. Smooth Diagonal Holographic Hair
The thick but well-blended rows of color, the ultra-classy waves, and that violet-blue shade all come together to create a smooth and sophisticated look. Even though the holographic hair dye was applied in thicker rows, it was set on a diagonal that keeps this look unique and dynamic.
41. Blue and Neon Holographic Hair
Ultra-slim horizontal streaks of neon are the reason why this holographic hair color is so effective. They add a prismatic touch to the blue waves, even though they were applied only to a thin upper layer of the hair.
42. Holographic Anime Hair
There is something about those vibrant blues that instantly makes us think of futuristic anime. This bob is one of those looks, with bright blue hair and some holographic touches near the front. The cool thing about this look is a line of platinum that runs horizontally over the different streaks.
43. Peach with Holographic Pop
Peach is already one of the most cheerful hair colors out there, but mixing it up with pops of holographic rainbow somehow amps up the fun factor! The holographic streaks were added randomly, almost like a balayage, which gives this look movement.
44. Holographic Fringe
This conceptual take on holographic hair is perfect for anyone with an artistic streak (though to be fair, that’s probably true of all holographic hair looks!). The sleek, fringed bob was dyed a silvery-white, and the holographic shades were applied in a circular manner, like a prism crown!
45. Blue Jean Holographic Hair
We love the combination of denim hair with holographic neon streaks! The matte blue of the roots and ends is deep and grounded, while the neon touches at the center have a certain punk irreverence about them.
46. Holographic Hair with Hot Roots
Hot roots are usually a bad thing in the hair dyeing world, but when done purposefully, we give them a pass! The orange roots are vibrant and fun, and while they might be a bit much blended into a blonde, the subtle holographic touches marry everything together.
47. Rounded Holographic Pastel Hair
The placement of this holographic hair color is truly unique. From a side view, it seems like the colors were placed on a diagonal, which is very hard to blend, but even more impressively, the color wraps around the head for a totally connected, rounded look. It reminds us of the reflection of a CD!
48. Purple Sand Art Waves
This is one of the most stunning holographic color combinations we’ve seen! The purple and yellow simply take our breath away with their soft contrast. The blue adds a mysterious coolness, while pops of pink act as the perfect cool to warm transition. It’s a pretty look reminiscent of colorful sand art!
49. Blue Fire Holographic Hair
We’ve seen a few looks that combine hot and cold shades, but this one really manages to capture the movement of a hot blue fire with a yellow-orange core. The symmetrical gradient in the hair is stunning, of course, with the slightly off-kilter way the horizontal streaks were applied, making it seem as though the hair is a shimmering flame.
50. Candied Holographic Hair
Have a sweet tooth? Let your holographic hair color show that! Over a nearly platinum base, the ultra-slim diagonal layers of holographic pink, purple and blue are like a swirl of cotton candy! It’s a pretty, girlish look that feels like childhood joy.
51. Holographic Bronde
Many of those who experiment with holographic hair dye do so over other dramatic colors, so this is a nice example of how those unusual tones can look with natural hair colors. This look keeps the roots dark and healthy, while the bleached mids are the perfect canvas for the neon rainbow.
52. Holographic Balayage
Balayage is normally a technique that’s meant to look very natural and to be easy to care for. However, doing it with such dramatic colors all over the head certainly turns the concept upside down! The blue base is vivid, but thankfully, it doesn’t require the same intense level of bleaching as the pastel highlights on the ends. A purple strand near the face helps cement the uniqueness of this look.
53. Dramatic Holographic Hair
We’re finishing off with a masterpiece! This dramatic holographic hair color was done by Guy Tang, over the most intense purple hair color. It’s giving us serious anime vibes! The horizontal layers of vivid color are on the thicker side, which makes this look intense and powerful.
What Is the Holographic Hair Trend About?
Holographic hair is a trend in hair dyeing where multidimensional metallic, neon or pastel hair dyes are applied to the hair in a way that mimics light, rainbows, or prisms. It doesn’t have much to do with actual holograms, beyond the fact that it mimics the unique way that light can reflect. This technique was first developed by master hair colorist Kelly O’Leary, and since then has become a staple of other artists like Josh Rainville.
Instead of the hair looking like it’s been dyed, it’s meant to look like it’s a surface over which unusual colors are being reflected! The result is always breathtaking, and it’s a fantastic twist on other colorful trends like pastel or unicorn hair. What’s interesting about it is that it often relies on a horizontal application of color instead of the typical streaks.
5 Best Holographic Hair Dyes to Try
Just in case you think you want to try your hand at holographic hair dyeing at home, here you have five of the best dye kits to get!
1. L’Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color Pastels
Pastels are the ideal colors for holographic hairs, and L’Oreal makes some phenomenal ones that are easy to work with. These are the only shades that will work even over unbleached (but still light) hair. Combining smokey blue and smokey pink, in particular, will give a subtle iridescent effect, and you can add a yellow shade from a different brand to really complete the look. Order it from Amazon!
2. Pravana Chromasilk Vivids Long-Lasting Vibrant Color
Pravana is a hairstylist favorite brand, so if you want salon-worthy holographic hair dye, this is the brand to purchase from! Their range of semi-permanent dyes work beautifully over bleached hair, and they can be mixed and matched to create any kind of prismatic look that you’d like. The formulas are gentle and conditioning, so you don’t need to worry about damaging your hair. Buy it from Amazon!
3. Punky Colour Semi-Permanent Conditioning Hair Color
Punky is one of the OG dyes for achieving fashion colors at home! While they’re missing a yellow that is essential for a holographic look, the other colors absolutely work, including a delicate cotton candy and a vibrant turquoise. You can mix the colors together or dilute them in conditioner to achieve a pastel, and they’ll leave your hair feeling and smelling absolutely delicious. You can get them at Ulta.
4. Arctic Fox Vegan and Cruelty-Free Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye
Arctic Fox is another great option for semi-permanent fashion dyes, with a massive color selection! They offer every shade necessary for rainbow holographic hair color, and they also carry a diluter that will turn every color into a softer pastel, so you can experiment with different types of holographic looks. Their dyes are available on Amazon.
5. Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Semi-Permanent Hair Color Full Coverage
If you’re not one to mix and match, you will find the precise colors you want from Lime Crime. These unicorn hair colors come in shades beyond the typical fashion colors, and they are intensely pigmented. As a bonus, they smell just like candy, so you will truly feel your unicorn fantasy! The neon shades, in particular, are a great fit for more intense holographic hair. Shop for them at Ulta!
How to Get Holographic Hair?
Holographic hair is not something you can simply achieve at home. It’s so complex that even experienced hair stylists might not be able to achieve it! The best way to get holographic hair is to book at an appointment with a colorist who has a ton of experience working with fashion hair colors and already has some examples in their portfolio of very complicated highlights.
You should also be aware that like all fashion hair colors, for holographic hair dye to really show up, your hair needs to be extremely light blonde or even a silvery-platinum. For a slightly darker vivid variation on holographic hair, you might be able to get away with having your hair only bleached down to level 8, but in most cases, you’ll need level-9 or level-10 hair.
In this guide, we’ll discuss how you can achieve holographic hair over already bleached hair, so read our guide to bleaching your hair platinum at-home if you haven’t done that yet.
If you haven’t bleached your hair before (especially if you are naturally a brunette or darker), you likely won’t be able to achieve this level of lightness in one bleaching session and definitely not without seriously damaging your hair. In other words, holographic hair is an investment of time, money, and even the health of your hair… however, it’s so pretty that it might be worth it!
Realistically, it’s nearly impossible to achieve holographic hair by yourself since it requires dyeing the hair in horizontal rows with foils. It’s best if you get a friend to help you. Make sure to start with already bleached hair, and to have an action plan in place for your holographic pattern!
If it’s your first time, we suggest only dyeing a smaller streak of hair. Since most holographic hair looks involve horizontal streaks, consider what order you want the colors to show up in. It’s very common to choose a rainbow pattern, but it’s not mandatory. You can also change up how thick or thin the horizontal streaks of color are, depending on your preferences. This is your chance to get creative!
You Will Need:
- 3-7 semi-permanent hair dye colors
- 3-7 plastic mixing bowls
- 3-7 hair dye brushes
- Hair foils (we like these ones from Amazon)
- Hair conditioner
- Old clothes
- Conditioner
The Process:
- First, prepare all of your holographic hair dye colors by placing them in bowls with corresponding brushes. If you want the shades to come out more pastel, mix them with a diluter or a conditioner to reduce their pigmentation.
- To start, select the strand of hair you want to dye and separate it out from the rest of your hair. Either clip up or tie back the rest of your hair, leaving that one strand loose.
- Depending on the thickness of the strand, you will likely want to work on it in a thin section.
- Hold the foil under the strand of hair, and then section out the first layer, flipping the rest of the hair up, so it’s out of your way.
- Begin applying the first row of dye along the roots, being careful to keep the line straight.
- Next, apply the next color in a thin row below the first color.
- Continue applying layers of color in horizontal stripes until the entire layer of hair is covering.
- Flip the next layer of hair over, so it lays on top of the first one.
- Begin applying rows of dye in the same manner as you did for the first layer of hair, and when you’re done, flip over the next layer and continue to do the same.
- Once the entire section of hair is covered in horizontal streaks, clip it to the foil, so it doesn’t move, and leave it for 20 minutes or so for the dye to take hold.
- As the 20 minutes pass, unclip the hair and remove the foil carefully.
- Next, pop in the shower and wash out the dye with cold water. You can condition your hair as well, but do not shampoo it.
- Once you’re out of the shower, blow-dry your hair on low heat. Once it’s dry, enjoy your new look!
Tips for Maintaining Your Holographic Hair Bright
Fashion hair colors do not like to stick around, and this is especially true for holographic hair dye, especially if it leans towards pastel. We have a few tips that’ll help you keep your color looking fresh, but keep in mind that you will still need touch-ups within a month or two.
- Holographic hair is almost always achieved with semi-permanent dye, so try to avoid washing your hair to keep the color locked in. Once or twice a week should be enough, especially if your hair has been bleached.
- When you do wash your hair, keep the water temperature low. Heat will open the hair cuticle and leech the color out of your hair.
- While color-refreshing shampoos don’t work with holographic hair, it’s still important to only use super gentle, sulfate-free formulas. Ideally, shampoos that don’t foam up are the best!
- Sun exposure will also fade color from the hair, so when going outside, either wear a hat or use heat protectant sprays.
- If you’re a swimmer, make sure to get your hair wet before going into the pool, in order to prevent the chlorine from changing up the color of your holographic hair.
- Try to limit how often you heat-style your hair and stick to gentler methods like blow-drying on low heat rather than intense irons or curlers.
Photos via Instagram
