You may think of raccoons as little more than furry trash-scavenging nuisances, but we often find hair inspo in the most unexpected places. Case in point: raccoon tail hair color. The punchy, multi-tonal trend is just what you need to liven up your look without a full-on dye job. Keep scrolling to discover exactly what raccoon-striped hair is, how it differs from skunk highlights, and three things to know before penciling in your salon appointment.
What Is Raccoon Tail Hair Color?
Raccoon tail hair is a coloring approach that involves painting horizontal stripes—often in varying colors–down one panel of hair to mimic the pattern of a raccoon's tail. The traditional version of the look features alternating bands of black and white, but you can also use vivid fantasy colors (as shown above) to make the look come to life. After deciding on your color palette, you can then customize the placement of your raccoon stripe; we love it as a face-framing streak, a peek-a-boo highlight, or as an accent down one side of the head.
What’s the difference between raccoon hair and skunk hair?
Raccoon and skunk hair may sound similar, but the former features multi-tonal stripes, while the latter boasts one singular streak of color. With that said, both critter-inspired trends are similar in that they add playful contrast to your hair and allow you to experiment with a fun pop of color (sans an all-over commitment). If you’re on the fence, we recommend opting for raccoon tail hair if you have multiple colors on your radar, and going for a skunk highlight if there’s one solid hue you had in mind.
3 Tips for Trying Raccoon Hair
It often looks best straight
Generally speaking, raccoon-striped hair has the most visual impact when worn straight. The dark and light hues tend to appear more distinct and pronounced when hair lies flat, showcasing the contrast more effectively. In addition, straight hair usually reflects light more uniformly, making your colors appear extra vibrant and multidimensional. That’s not to say you shouldn’t rock raccoon hair on waves, curls, or coils because you absolutely can (and should!). Just keep in mind that your stripe may appear more blended, which actually may be preferable for those wanting a less dramatic look.
Whether you wear your locks sleek or define them with a curling iron, you’ll need a good heat protectant to ward off color fading. Redken’s Acidic Color Gloss Heat Protection Leave-In Treatment is among our favorite formulas to shield hair against heat damage, extend the life of salon-grade color, and add intense shine. Use it as a complete routine with the Redken Acidic Color Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner to prolong color vibrancy for up to 32 washes.
It may require bleaching
If you’re attempting raccoon stripe hair on a dark base, you may need to bleach your hair before applying your desired colors. Bleach will always cause some damage, which is why we recommend leaving it to the pros to help preserve the integrity of your hair. A good aftercare routine can also keep your strands strong and healthy-looking after an intense lightening session. Give weakened strands some TLC with a bond-repairing haircare collection like Biolage Professional Bond Therapy. The five-piece system, which is infused with citric acid and coconut oil, helps repair broken hair bonds and condition damaged hair from the inside out. Learn more about the range in our Biolage Professional Bond Therapy Review.
It benefits from less washing
Overwashing your hair can contribute to your color fading faster. This is the case with most salon hair colors, but it’s especially true if you opt for high-maintenance vivids. To extend the time between wash days, refresh your roots with a few spritzes of an oil-absorbing dry shampoo. We love Pureology’s Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo because its patented AntiFade Complex means the formula won’t dull your hair color.
Alternatively, if your raccoon stripe can be easily sectioned off from the rest of your hair, clip it out of the way while you wash the remaining strands. Then, after drying and styling, work a bit of a revitalizing hair serum like Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ashita Supreme Hair Serum through your multi-tonal strip to restore some much-needed shine.
Next Up: Tap Into Your Wild Side with the Calico Hair Color Trend
Header photo credits: SalonCentric
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