@carmen.solomons / Instagram
If girlhood (gender neutral) is a spectrum, this summer, that spectrum has been Brat to Demure. Brat, inspired by the Charli XCX album of the same name, is bold, artfully messy, and always out; demure, taken from creator Jools Labron’s satirical TikToks, is tongue-in-cheekily modest, put-together, and cozied up at home.
When applying that spectrum to hair colors, I’m here to argue that a Demure tone is, overall, soft. The contrast between the hair and the skin might be lower; the color might be less saturated or bright; it might perfectly align with one’s undertones; often, it’s all the above.
Ahead, find 10 soft hair color ideas for your daintiest, most mindful shade yet.
01 of 10
Soft Natural Blonde
@bleachlondon / Instagram
This blonde has a natural, almost ashy hue that will look most organic on those with cooler undertones. The subtle golden touches—concentrated toward the ends—brighten things up in a summer-ready way.
02 of 10
Soft Honey
Zendaya may have gone bright by summer, but the Challengers star made the press rounds in a cozy honey color in the spring. As hairstylist Elyse Clark told us earlier this year, “golden, honey tones are a natural pigment that already live inside our hair,” yielding a more organic—and, by extension, softer—look.
03 of 10
Soft Rosé
@bleachlondon / Instagram
That said, soft doesn't always mean natural. If you're looking to dip your toes into the pool of unnatural hair colors, rosé is one of the gentlest ways to do so. The shade can work for everyone—it's all about finding your right balance—but this particular tone provides a gorgeous low contrast against medium-tan skin.
04 of 10
Soft Champagne Blonde
@beyonce / Instagram
Champagne blonde’s lighter, cooler characteristics make it a natural pick for those with—you guessed it—cooler undertones. But it can still be a great soft choice for those with warmer tones: Just sprinkle in some buttery blonde dimension, a la Beyoncé.
05 of 10
Soft Copper
@carmen.solomons / Instagram
Model Carmen Solomons came by her “cowgirl copper” curls naturally, but if you have warm undertones and are looking for a softer shade of red, it could be worth exploring via bottle. Earlier this year, hair colorist Melissa Dwyer told us this shade works equally beautifully on blondes and brunettes, albeit for different reasons: “On blondes, it makes the facial features pop, while on brunettes, it brings out natural warm tones,” she said.
06 of 10
Soft Browns and Blondes
@zayawade / Instagram
Boho braids are a great opportunity to play with color, soft or bright. Take a page from Zaya Wade’s book and pair your platinum and champagne blondes with a lighter brown (instead of the standard off-black 1B).
07 of 10
Soft Pearl
@bleachlondon / Instagram
Another unnatural option, this soft pearl shade blends silver and lilac tones for an ethereal effect. It’ll work on any hair length, but if you’re concerned about the day-to-day wearability of a shade this unusual, a chic bob or lob will help ground things.
08 of 10
Soft Mushroom Brown
@jordynwoods / Instagram
If there’s a hair color Jordyn Woods can’t pull off, we have yet to see it. Her shade of mushroom brown has just the subtlest touch of warmth—complementing her golden undertones—but creates an overall low-contrast look that’s about as soft as it gets.
09 of 10
Soft Mushroom Blonde
@brycescarlett / Instagram
While it’s a little less low-contrast, Lily-Rose Depp’s mushroom blonde color roots (pun intended) silvery champagne blonde in mushroom brown for an overall look
10 of 10
Brat But It's Soft So IDK If It's Really Brat?
@bleachlondon / Instagram
So yes, Brat is essentially the exact opposite of soft. But hear us out: You can still get in on Brat summer without going full neon green (though of course, if that’s your vibe, we’re very here for it). A green-tinged platinum blonde has major indie sleaze energy. It’ll make a fun juxtaposition against a dirty white tank and ripped tights.
