To the indecisive girls out there, we understand your struggle! We know what it feels like to scroll through Instagram, bookmark endless hair inspiration photos, and mull over whether you want to be a blonde or a redhead. Recently, however, women are embracing a unique type of dye job called half and half hair color. This bright and bold trend allows you to wear two of your favorite hues simultaneously (while embracing different sides of your personality).
If you like your hair color to be as unique and extraordinary as you are, half and half hair color is the trend for you. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know, including what half and half color is and 18 inspirational photos to take to the salon, whether you want full-on fantasy hair or something subtle.
What is half and half hair color?
Half and half hair color (also known as split dye) is when your colorist dyes half of your hair one color and the other half a different shade. It's perfect for people who love to stand out in a crowd and just can’t commit to one color. The only thing better than one spectacular hair color is two!
If it sounds like half and half-colored hair is just the hair color trend for you, we're here to help. We've rounded up 18 half and half hair color ideas you'll want to take to your colorist ASAP.
The Best Half and Half Hair Color Ideas to Try Now
Purple and Green
If we had to pick the most surprising color combination, it would definitely be purple and green. We love how the brightness of the purple hue perfectly complements the grungy green for an edgy final look.
If you’re opting for fantasy hair colors, add a shampoo and conditioner system like Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid Shampoo + Conditioner Duo to your routine. Its sulfate-free formula produces a milky, high-foam lather that gently cleanses, so your new hue remains vibrant and lasts for up to 65 days, when used as part of the Keep Me Vivid system.
Pink and Peach
Your half and half hair colors don’t have to be exact opposites to make a statement. We love how these two colors help each other stand out while blending together perfectly.
Ash Blonde and Red
There are plenty of photos of ash blonde hair floating around the internet, but none paired with a crimson red hue. This half and half color creation is perfect for you if you’re searching for a look with extreme contrast.
Blonde and Brunette
They say blondes have more fun, but that doesn’t mean brunettes have to abandon their dark locks to join in on it. Ask your stylist to lighten up the outer layer of hair but keep the layers beneath as dark as possible. When you flip your hair over, you’ll get a little surprise!
Since the bleach needed to take your hair from dark to light can damage and dry strands, add a treatment like Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment to your hair care routine. The intensive acidic rinse-off treatment helps reinforce weak hair bonds and repair damaged hair.
Plum and Red
Parting your hair down the middle and dyeing each side a different color is the most dramatic way to achieve half and half colored hair, but it’s not the only way. Highlight your envious length by coloring the top half of your hair one color and the bottom half another.
Speaking of length, you don’t want dry, split ends to rain on your locks’ parade. Matrix Total Results Instacure Anti-Breakage Porosity Spray can bring you one step closer to healthier hair with a formula designed to target damage caused by chemical, mechanical, and environmental stress
Orange and Hot Pink
It’s called half and half hair color, but that doesn’t mean your colorist has to execute it so literally. If you’re completely obsessed with one color, ask your colorist to paint it onto the outer layers of hair and dye the remaining layers underneath a complementary shade that pops out when you sweep your hair over your shoulders.
Violet and Turquoise
If cool-toned shades are more your vibe, you can’t go wrong with this violet and turquoise half and half color combination. Vibrant shades like violet and turquoise look best with intense shine, so we recommend adding a serum like Pureology Style + Protect Shine Bright Taming Serum to your routine. This lightweight, sulfate-free serum works to tame frizz and flyaways while leaving your mane with the perfect amount of shine.
Black and Green
Black hair is a statement all on its own but combined with neon green, it’s an out-of-the-box look that’s practically begging to be photographed.
Black and Rainbow
Don’t pick between two colors when you can have them all—literally! If you can’t settle on two hair colors, allow your colorist to create a rainbow effect with just one side of your hair.
Chocolate Brown and Auburn
You don’t have to choose fantasy colors to take advantage of this trend. If neutral colors are much more your jam, opt for two shades that go well together, like this chocolate brown and auburn pairing. A dash of L’Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair 10 in 1 Oil will help these earthy tones shine to the high heavens.
Pink and Blue
Bread and butter, bacon and eggs, blue and pink; those are just a few classic duos that come to mind. They say opposites attract, but the bubblegum pink and laidback blue just go together. And when paired with bangs? *chef’s kiss*
White and Brown
We get it; sometimes platinum hair needs a little more of a wow-factor. So, consider dyeing a large chunk of it brunette around your face to cleverly test the waters of the half and half hair color trend before truly diving in.
Blonde and Red
There's something so satisfying about symmetry. Perfectionists will rejoice in the balanced blonde to red ratio, a clean middle part, and straight, blunt ends.
A flat iron like L’Oréal Professionnel Steampod Hair Straightener + Curling Iron is the best way to style this beautifully symmetrical look, and you’re going to want to add a multi-tasking heat protectant into your routine as well. Pick up Mizani Style Shift Society Heat Screen Protectant Spray, which provides protection from heat damage up to 450°F.
Black and Gold
Golden blonde is officially the “it” shade of the summer, and we can hardly blame you for wanting to experiment with it, even if you aren’t fully committed just yet.
If you’re rocking your natural curly texture, turn to Biolage Professional Ultra Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Balm For Very Dry Or Curly Hair to leave coils hydrated and defined. All praise goes to the formula’s star ingredient, cupuaçu butter.
Sunset Ombré and Dimensional Brunette
Patience is a virtue, and you’ll need a lot of it for this stunning half and half colored hair. One side is a sunset-inspired balayage, while the other blends together a deep auburn and mahogany. Safe to say, it’s worth the wait.
Color-Blocked Pink and Purple
We were pleasantly surprised to discover the endless creativity of half and half hair color ideas. We dig this look for its diagonal pops of color that are so striking and unusual that everyone around you will do a double-take in the best way possible.
Platinum and Peach
This one is for the really bold. Have your colorist paint just the perimeter of your hair a fantasy color to create a geometric shape around your face. The sharp edges will make your cheekbones and jawline look chiseled beyond reason.
Angular Purple and Yellow
On the topic of geometric shapes, this pointed duo of violet and sunshine yellow proves that when it comes to coloring our hair, there’s nothing that a seasoned colorist can’t do!
Interested in trying half and half hair color for yourself? After visiting your colorist, head to Hair.com to find all the professional products you need to keep hair healthy at home.