Rose Gold Hair? Yes, Please
Your Guide to Rose Gold Hair
We’ve got two words, and two words only, for you: Rose Gold.
That’s right rose gold locks—we’re still hung up on rose gold hair and honestly, we probably will be forever. Stunning shades of rose gold have been on-trend for a while, but this style has refused to become a fad.
Why?
Because rose gold is both stunning and subtle—it’s an easy way to bring your clients’ hair from dull to vibrant with a multi-layered, multi-tiered, multi-fabulous look that provides depth, polish, and a beautiful brightening sheen. And it does all of this without looking over-processed, overdone, or like your client put any effort whatsoever into looking glamorous.
And TBH, gifting our clients that effortless, we-woke-up-like-this beauty is kind of our primary goal as talented stylists, right?
Whether you’re totally on #teamrosegold or you need a little more info before you hop onto our side of the fence (come on over, the grass might not be greener, but the hair sure as hell looks good), we’ve got the rose gold deets you need to know before you start diving into the shades.
Introducing Your Client to Rose Gold—Gas That Color Up
We’re never saying you should talk a client into something they seriously don’t want—but if you’ve got a client lookin’ for a little extra somethin’-somethin’ to make their hair pop, rose gold hair is the perfect choice.
Why? Because rose gold hair is a bold statement that doesn’t require any shouting. It’s a subtle touch, a soft glimmer in the right light, and a badass style that your edgiest or meekest clients can rock without hard-core committing to a bright and bold dye job.
We like to think of rose gold coloring as a hair enhancer rather than an entire style change—it brings a little sheen to a style that’s seen better days. It’s a quick and easy way to add a dash of opalescence or muted color to take a sorta-drab style to a stunning shade in no time.
PS—if you need an extra way to sell your clients on going for the (rose) gold, offer them a subtle reminder that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and a teeny-little-pop-of-color could bring their hair to the next level.
Looking for insight on which formulas to dive into or recommend to your clients? At the end of this blog, we have a list of top formulas for you to use.
How to Talk Client Care for Rose Gold Hair
One of the biggest concerns your clients (likely) come to you with about dyed or colored hair is post-appointment treatment. You know all the right ways to talk treatment with your client, but if you’re looking for something a little more rose-gold-specific, we advise passing this knowledge along to them.
Wash Rarely
We suggest you give your clients the skinny on washing from the get-go so they know that the less they wash their locks, the longer that color will stick around. Suggest a solid dry shampoo to help your clients skip as many days as possible and keep that color on lock.
When You Do Wash, Pick a Premium Shampoo
Let your clients know that a solid, color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo can work wonders for their hair when they do have to wash it (because dry shampoo can only take us all so far).
Toning Is Their Best Friend
Have a solid toner you can recommend to your clients or make sure you stress the importance of an in-between appointment so you can tone their luscious locks to keep that initial color around as long as possible.
Just Say No to Chlorine
If your clients are super into swimming in chlorinated pools, we suggest they stay far away from the diving board (if they can). A swim cap could help, but overall, a no chlorine on the hair rule is typically the best way to go.
Thermal Protectors for Heated Styling
If your clients aren’t interested in staying away from heated styling, make sure you advise that use a strong thermal protector on those delicate locks. Unfortunately, heated styling tools can damage your beautiful rose gold work on your clients’ hair—we suggest trying to talk them out of heated styles, but if you can’t a protectant spray is a must (have several good recommendations or products on hand).
Good Things Fade, But You Can Bring the Gold Back
Lastly, let your clients know the honest truth—rose gold hair is faint, light, and doesn’t stick around for as long as you might like, but by scheduling regular touch-up appointments with you, they can keep that fancy-schmancy color around consistently and healthily.
Rose gold is the perfect on-point color for your clients this year, so make sure you’re ready to talk it up, execute, and have the insight your clients need on how to keep their rose gold hair lookin’ good as hell (*Lizzo voice*).
Tops Brands For Rose Gold Hair Color
Schwarzkopf Igora Royal Pearlescence Pastel Hair Color
This gorgeous formula from Schwarzkopf Professional comes in a stunning range of multi-dimensional pearlescent shades.
Kenra Rose Metallics
One of Kenra’s freshest new offerings, the Rose Metallics' line is intended to deliver glossy, shimmering metallic rose gold tones to any shade. The Rose Metallics' line is designed specifically to provide the on-trend rose gold shade.
To drench any color in a gorgeous rose gold hue, this permanent color comes in two variations: one lighter and one deeper. These shades are made to last, promising serious longevity and shine.
There is a demi-permanent option available for those looking to give rose gold a try but aren’t sure if it’s the right choice for them.
Kadus Permanent Hair Color
For a look grounded in a more natural shade, Kadus’ Permanent Hair Color is a perfect choice for rocking a fresh rose gold. With variations on rose gold, it works for any skin tone, coloring, and level of intensity. The hair will look beautiful and nourished more than just on day one.
Kadus utilizes their Vitaflection Microsphere technology, providing deeper color penetration and long-lasting results. The technology uses spheres 1,000 times smaller than the hair fiber, and the rich cream color is enhanced with lipids to strengthen and nourish.
Try Dark Blonde Copper Violet for blondes or Light Brunette Copper Violet for brunettes for a cooler, more natural, and rosier-toned shade.
Wella Color Touch
Wella is a name any stylist will recognize. An industry leader in all arenas of haircare, Wella revolutionizes the way stylists have worked for years.Check out Wella’s vast array of options to find the perfect rose gold for your client.
Joico Color Intensity Confetti Collection
Joico is a brand with a serious focus on intense, vibrant color. Their Confetti Collection is a perfect choice for a bold rose gold! This semi-permanent color lasts up to 10 shampoos, making it an ideal choice for those who are looking to give rose gold a test drive without the commitment of permanent color.
Their Pastel Extend Technology locks the color in place to deposit a bright, intense rose shade to any natural hue. Joico is dedicated to maintaining healthy hair, including their Quadramine Complex in this formula, which helps to repair and strengthen hair during each service.
For those who like to switch up their color frequently without the damage that can occur with frequent dyeing, Joico’s Confetti Collection is a slam dunk.
Rose Gold Hair FAQs
Rose gold hair is just like any other dyeing process - if you take careful care of the color treatment, you can make it last a lot longer. Right after you have the rose gold hair process completed, it is recommended that you forego washing your hair for a few days. After two to three days, you can then use a shampoo that’s color-safe and with cold water to avoid rinsing out the color.
We always recommend using a premium shampoo that’s also sulfate-free. After that, washing only every few days will help the color last the longest. You can also prolong the time in between washings by using a dry shampoo. Touch-ups with toning can help prolong the coloring as long as possible. To maximize the luscious color, avoid chlorinated pools and if using heated styling, you should make sure to use thermal protectors.
If you are a brunette, the change may be a little more involved as you are needing to lighten your hair to make the color stand out. With your stylist, you’ll go through a bleaching phase and once this is complete your stylist will apply a tinted gloss holding the rose gold hair shade.
With dark hair colors, the change is even more dramatic as you’re moving from dark to blonde. With these hair types, the process can take a bit longer to pull off.
There are several top brands out there for rose gold hair color. Schwarzkopf Professional, Kenra Rose Metallics, Kadus Permanent Hair Color, Wella Color Touch, and Joico Color Intensity Confetti Collection are all very well known brands and each offers some beautiful lines of rose gold hair dyes. L’Oreal Paris is also well known and a little less expensive.
They also offer permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary dyes so you can choose the best look duration for your circumstances.
While it may be tempting to try rose gold hair color yourself, especially after you’ve poured over a number of YouTube videos, bottom line, it’s best to leave this complicated style to a professional. Your stylist will take into account your current hair color, your scalp condition, and a million other variables in order to pull off the perfect rose gold hair shade for you to rock, in a manner that’s healthy for your hair.
After a bleaching session to lighten the hair, your stylist will apply the rose gold tinted dye to the hair and may also incorporate toners. When this is all complete, your new hair color can be styled however you desire to look beautiful in the new color.
Yes, when you first start your rose gold hair coloring treatment, your stylist will bleach with foils or painting to help elevate the color to somewhere around a golden hue. This is done because lighter hair makes the rose gold tones all the more vibrant.
Yes, there are three levels of rose gold hair dye you can choose from depending on how long you want the effects to last. The longest is permanent rose gold hair dye. This will last quite a few weeks, especially if you maintain it well with minimal shampooing (and then only using color-safe, premium shampoo) and avoiding chlorine and heated styling. Semi-permanent rose gold hair dye will last a few weeks if maintenance steps are taken.
You can also try rose gold hair dye on a limited basis with temporary dye, which generally will only take you until the next time you shampoo your hair.
Rather than coloring, toner helps you manipulate the hair dye into the perfect custom look by emphasizing or deemphasizing different elements. Remember, dyeing does not penetrate into the hair - it is just a coating for the outside. While toner isn’t a change in color, it does help brighten the color and adds shine.
Schwarzkopf Professional offers a tremendous variety of professional-level toners, dyes, and bleaching products and is one you’ll likely see on your stylist's shelf. Other mainstays include Wella Color and Jaico. L’Oreal Paris also offers many DIY products for the more adventurous seeking at-home treatments.
Absolutely! This cascade of different shades is an absolute showstopper. Since balayage uses a sweeping motion to paint hair, the vibrancy of the rose gold color can be even more pronounced in the hands of a skilled stylist. As well, different shades of rose gold can be used to create different effects. Layering in different tones such as metallic shades can help enhance the color pairings and make the overall effect simply stunning.
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