The plum hair color sits somewhere between eggplant and burgundy hair, as it is a natural blend of red and purple tones that is dark but not too dark, and flatters almost everyone. This is one of those fashion hair colors that are not too out there, so it feels extremely special but is appropriate for all situations.
Plum hair dye can be applied in all manner of techniques, with balayages, ombres, and colormelts all being super popular plum hair choices. We’re showcasing all of them in this article, so you can get inspired to try plum hair in a way that’ll fit your personal style. Find 57 creative ways you can wear this pretty hair color!
1. Deep Plum Waves
This take on plum hair color combines darker and lighter tones to achieve a rich multidimensional effect that is hard to resist. Lighter tones at the ends add brightness, while a touch of deeper dark brown at the roots keeps things healthy.
2. Black and Plum Reverse Balayage
Plum hair is already on the dark side of things, but if you prefer adding even a bit more edge to it, then a reverse balayage could be the way to go! A reverse balayage, of course, is when darker colors are added in natural-looking streaks to the ends of the hair, starting at different levels. This example of it, with both black and plum, feels a little gothy but still super flattering.
3. Bright Plum Bob
Lighter plum hair color shades almost veer into magenta, so they can be a lot of fun for spring and summer. This combination of plum hair with a shorter haircut is playful, but it still has the sophisticated edge of a sleek bob.
4. Vivid Plum Waves
This Guy Tang take on plum hair color is a little on the warmer side, with a great mixture of red and purple hair tones. This is the kind of shade that really gleams as the light hits it, so it can look totally different from day to night!
5. Smoky Plum Hair
This ultra-cool plum tone has a smoky tinge that is dark and sexy, a perfect winter hair color. This dark look gets a tinge lighter at the ends, but the roots are kept dark for easy maintenance.
6. Dark Chocolate and Plum Sombre
A gradual ombre is a great way of easing into fashion hair colors, and it is subtler than a harsh ombre. This wavy ‘do shows us a take on plum hair color that has just a hint of copper to it – perfect for those ready to be newly initiated.
7. Plum and Magenta Balayage
If you’re in the mood for a brighter take on plum hair, consider combining it with a brighter magenta! This look utilizes subtle balayage and colormelt techniques to create a vivacious look that is seamless and beautiful.
8. Plummy Balayage Lob
This dark long bob is sophisticated, showcasing the subtlest cool plum balayage along the ends. The feathery styling adds some airiness to the darker hair color, keeping it perfect for every season.
9. Three-Tone Plum Hair Color
The balayage technique was used here to create a gorgeous plum hair color gradient. The roots are as dark as can be, but they gradually turn into streaks of plum, which transform to a deep magenta at the ends.
10. Graduated Plum Bob
A graduated bob can be a little bit too severe, so adding some colorful streaks is a great way of livening it up! Thinner streaks of warm plum hair dye add a lot of brightness, especially around the face.
11. Eggplant and Plum Hair
As far as food combinations go, this one might require finesse to pull off, but these two shades of purple combined are as easy as can be. The dark, eggplant color base of the hair is rich, while a touch of brighter plum balayaged on the ends lightens up the look.
12. Plum Streaks
This mixture of black-brown and plum hair color in this look is rich and deep. This is the kind of look that will really make you feel like you’re straddling brunette and redhead, as the streaks of the red-based plum are plentiful.
13. Auburn Plum Melt
The flowiness of a curled colormelt is hard to resist, especially in this gorgeous auburn plum gradient! The roots are a dark reddish brown that fades into an auburn plum hair color with a hint of magenta at the tips.
14. Short Plum Balayage
The effect that bright balayaging can have on a bob haircut is surprisingly beautiful – it adds dimension and volume to shorter hair, making it seem lusher. This gorgeous blend is perfect, because it keeps the bulk of the hair a dark, healthy plum, while brightening up the fronts and flattering the face with a lighter plum that leans towards magenta.
15. Plum Brunette Waves
This is a brown-based plum look that is shining with health and moisture. The roots are a deep brown tone, while the mids and ends are dyed a natural-looking plum that is a blend of brown and purple with very little red.
16. Plum Jelly Waves
Sweet and fruity with just a hint of darkness – this multidimensional long bob is delicious. It is an expert look that utilizes a ton of different streaks in different colors, with a mixture of both cool and warm plum hair tones that is super fashionable.
17. Warm and Cool Plum Balayage
Over these brunette locks the most interesting plum balayage was created. I’m basically obsessed with undertones, and this look showcases streaks of both blue-based plum and red-based plum in a way that works so well because the brown base acts as a balancing force.
18. Peach-Glazed Plum Hair
That touch of peach on the ends of this plum hair is the secret to the chic, high-fashion impact of this look! It’s especially impactful because this is a super cool take on plum hair, with blue-black roots and smoky purple plum mids.
19. Glossy Plum Sombre
A touch of hair oil instantly adds health and shine to fashion hair colors! These ultra-long locks were gussied up with plum hair dye applied as a sombre, in a look that is easy to maintain yet so gorgeous.
20. All-Over Smoky Plum
While sombres, streaks, and balayages are great, sometimes a simple all-over color is all you really crave. This smoky plum hair color was applied all over, with just the roots left bare, for that sleek, dramatic look.
21. Plum Wine Waves
Just looking at this hair is making me feel a little drunk! This red-based plum hair color gives a magnificent wine effect to the hair, and the blend of both lighter and darker streaks of it ensures maximum volume.
22. Plum Flame Balayage
There is something fiery about this balayage, despite the fact that the plum hair dye used wasn’t overly warm. The base of the hair is nearly black, but the ends were balayaged with a mixture of thick streaks of smoky dark plum and thin streaks of magenta, leading to a dynamic look that reminds us of a dancing flame.
23. Plum Heatwave Colormelt
This perfect gradual fade is like a plum wave of warmth. The deeper roots fade into a burgundy-plum, with just a hint of magenta at the ends adding fire to the look.
24. Plummy Touch
This hand-painted graduated bob features a subtle take on plum hair color that is perfect for those hesitant to try fashion hair colors. This subtle look involved a lot of brown-plum strands near the face, so you’ll still feel like you’ve experienced a change, without overwhelming the hair with dye.
25. Light and Dark Plum Hair
This wavy long bob was styled perfectly for the plum balayage it showcases. The bulk of the hair is a darker plum that borders on burgundy, with lighter golden magenta tones balayaged through adding high contrast.
26. Streaky Magenta Plum Hair
Sometimes the best way to show off streaks is by blow-drying the hair so it is straight yet soft and fluffy. The mixture of magenta-based plum streaks over a chocolate brown base leads to a sophisticated yet bright look.
27. Plum All Over
This is another take on an all-over plum hair color that brings the drama! The long waves ensure that the wearer looks like a dark princess, with a plum hair dye that is heavy on the red undertones.
28. Plum Marcel Waves
A little bit of retro curls never hurt. The plum hair in this look is multidimensional thanks to subtle highlighting that makes the Marcel waves gleam.
29. Pinky Plum Highlights
The highlights in this look might look complex, but this is actually one of those balayaged plum hair colors that were simple to create. First the hair was highlighted with the thinnest streaks, and after was dyed all over with a pinky plum tone, so the ends look brighter.
30. Deep Plum Sombre
Some more princess plum hair for you to drool over! These lush, long locks are the perfect canvas for this deep purple plum sombre.
31. Hand-Painted Plum Hair Color
Often the professional touch is really worth it, especially if you want a natural-looking, hand-painted effect. Dyed with a smoky, cool-toned plum hair dye, these waves nevertheless seem flowy and natural.
32. Black Plum Locks
If you find yourself thinking that most of these plums are not edgy enough for you, then this black plum hair color might be the shade you need. This style proves that even those with super dark hair can still rock plum shades without bleaching, and that the effect is still striking.
33. Golden Plum Waves
So while there is no gold actually used in this look, there is a warm, metallic effect that makes it seem as though it’s there. The base of the hair is a deep plum, but a wash of warm magenta over it gives that golden metallic sheen.
34. Blended Plum Hair
Combining lighter and darker tones of plum hair color without having it look like streaks is the work of a true artist. This smoky plum look has volume and dimension without any obvious color shifts – subtle and stunning!
35. Two-Tone Plum Hair Color
Can’t choose between light and dark? A two-toned plum balayage might be the way to go – the darker shade is healthy and easy to maintain, but the lighter plum ends give life.
36. Witchy Plum Hair
There is something a little sinister yet seductive about these deep, glossy plum curls. The dark base, touch of dimension, and extra shine all lead to a dynamic hairstyle that suggests the hair itself is alive.
37. Simply Plummy Balayage
This look is all about taking virgin dark brown hair and just lightly painting it with some high-impact color. The plum hair dye is very cool and fashion-y, so the overall effect is attention-grabbing and unique.
38. Amethyst Waves
When plum hair is this multifaceted it takes on a jewel-like effect that is truly astounding. The careful streaking of light and dark plum hair dye over dark black hair has an amethyst-like effect that is glamorous and luxurious.
39. Plum Mermaid Hair
You can absolutely style plum hair into beachy waves, and the effect is just as magical as with pastels or reds! These vibrant plum locks would be fitting on any mermaid.
40. Smoky Plum Gradient
This gradient plum hairstyle really celebrates the dark roots, as it allows to slowly and gradually progress into a lighter smokier plum through the mids and ends. It’s a combination of balayage and ombre that is perfect for shorter haircuts.
41. Sunset Plum Hair
There is quite a bit of contrast between the darker roots and magenta plum locks, but because of the seamless transition the effect isn’t even a little bit jarring. Instead, we get to enjoy a gorgeous late sunset hair effect.
42. Sleek Auburn Plum Hair
Auburn and plum hair tones are a match made in hair heaven. They blend together to create a wine-like effect that is full of depth, even when the hair is styled straight.
43. Anime Plum Hair
This ultra-vivid mix of dark purple and plum hair colors is straight out of an anime! It’s hard to achieve such perfectly saturated hair, but that’s exactly why it’s so worthwhile.
44. 3-Tone Plum Hair Melt
This is one of the most interesting takes on plum hair color that we’ve seen so far. The colormelt is made up of darker roots, brighter magenta mids, and cool plum ends. This tri-tonal effect ensures a ton of volume in the center thanks to the high contrast between the different undertones.
45. Jewel-Toned Plum Bob
This ultra-shiny plum bob is cute yet sophisticated. The hair itself is extra shiny thanks to clever highlighting, and the overall tone is gorgeous and vibrant thanks to the dominance of purple shades.
46. Magenta Plum Wave
There is something very beachy about this magenta Marcel wave. While the styling is sleek, the plum hair color is bright and fruity, with a lot of zest.
47. Slate Plum Long Bob
This plum hairstyle is as cool and sleek as slate, with ultra-thin streaking that gives a subtle texture. The tone itself is a dark brown-plum that is low on reds, perfect for those who want wearable fashion colors but are over all burgundy plums.
48. Plum Wine Princess Curls
This burgundy-based plum hair color is so perfect in these lush princess curls. It’s the kind of color that exudes sophistication, while the styling makes it seem soft enough to sleep in.
49. Delicate Plum Streaks
Adding ultra-thin but vividly purple plum streaks to brown hair creates a gorgeous blend that is bright and complex. Give it a try if you’re not ready to totally give up on your brunette base!
50. Copper Plum Sombre
This super warm, copper-based plum hair color is to die for! The sombre itself is perfectly applied, as can be seen even when the hair is straightened, and the intense warmth is perfect for those with yellow undertones to their skin.
51. Ultra-Shiny Purple Plum Hair
This is another plum hairstyle that would be perfect for a gritty anime heroine. The long locks are dyed a solid purple-based plum that is edgy yet cartoonish, perfect for someone who is a little out of this world.
52. Wild Plum Hair Color
There is something wild and adventurous about this plum hair dye! While the bulk of the hair is dyed with deep plum tones, the magenta ends add that touch of adventure.
53. Icy Plum Streaks
These plum streaks have an icy, metallic effect over the dark black base. It’s a take on plum hair that is perfect for winter or just for anyone who wants to exude a tough vibe.
54. Grape and Plum Waves
Is anyone else getting a hankering for some fruit salad? This blend of purple and plum hair tones is vibrant despite the dark colors, thanks to a high saturation of purple tones and some bright streaks here and there.
55. Voluminous Smoked Plum
The ultra-thin streaks of light and dark plum in this look have a volumizing effect that is just a little smoky. I might not want to eat a smoked plum, but I can’t help but love it for hair.
56. Chocolate-Covered Plum Hair Color
Chocolate-covered dried fruits are delicious – the chocolate gives a deep, smooth flavor, while the dried fruits are just a little tart. That’s exactly the effect this plum hair color has, with chocolate brown as the dominant tone that is made a bit zestier with a slight plum undertone.
57. Glazed Sugar Plum Hair
Super glossy, shiny plum hair can be sugary sweet and hard to resist. These sleek locks were dyed exactly in such a way, with a bright magenta plum that is as gorgeous as can be.
Photos via Instagram
