Asian hair color trends are taking the beauty world by storm. With Korean pop culture influences and creative colorists, Asian hair in 2023 promises to be vibrant, playful and seriously on trend.
This extensive guide explores the latest Asian hair color ideas and Korean hair trends set to be huge. From balayage to vivid rainbow hues, we cover techniques, styling tips and inspiration to refresh your look.
Let’s explore the vibrant Asian and Korean hair color trends that are about to explode in 2023.
Korean Hair Color Trends
Korean pop culture continues influencing beauty and fashion globally. K-pop stars like Lisa, Rose and Jisoo are hair trendsetters. Their stylish looks inspire fans to be bold and adventurous with hair color.

Asian hair color used to mean only natural black, dark brown or subtle highlight techniques. But Korean idols have sparked a revolution in vivid dye colors and statement styles.
Korean hair color trends to try include:
- Pink hair – From rose gold to cotton candy. Pink is THE trending Korean hair color.
- Rainbow colors – Multiple vivid hues like lilac, orange, green, pink and blue.
- Grey & silver – Soft smoky hues offer an edgy vibe.
- Unnatural colors – Vibrant green, blue and purple options.
- Glossy glass hair – Super sleek, shiny jet black.
- Blonde with dark roots – Bleached blonde ends with black regrowth.
- Two-toned hair – Blocks of contrasting color.
Use Korean pop stars like Blackpink as inspiration. Their hair colors are adventurous yet always super stylish. Recreate your favorite vivid look!
Asian Hair Color Techniques
Before choosing a color, it helps to understand the techniques. Popular options like balayage and babylights work beautifully on Asian hair texture.
Here are the top techniques and trends for Asian hair coloring in 2023:
Balayage
Balayage remains a huge hair trend, suiting Asian hair perfectly. Color is painted directly onto sections of hair without foils. This creates a soft, natural-looking effect at the regrowth.

The colorist hand-paints balayage highlights, concentrating most lightness towards the ends. This technique looks beautiful and understated on Asian hair.
Ombre
Ombre has been popular for years and still looks fresh in 2023. It creates a gradual shift of color from roots to ends.

For Asian hair, deep brown or black roots that transition into caramel, honey or ash blonde ends look especially pretty. Avoid stark blonde contrasts.
Sombre
Sombre is a more subtle, blended version of ombre. It combines multiple coordinated colors for a harmonious graduated effect.

Asian hair takes beautifully to sombre. It transitions from black to brown to light blonde ends seamlessly. The mix of shades flatters all complexions.
Highlighting
Subtle highlights swept through the lengths of Asian hair look gorgeous. They introduce lightness while leaving plenty of natural color showing through.
Babylights
Babylights remain an on-trend highlighting technique. As the name suggests, the thin fragmented highlights imitate the natural finer baby hairs around our hairline.
When blended with dark roots, babylights give Asian hair a soft sun-kissed radiance. The pale strands also reflect light for added dimension.
Subtle Highlights
Chunky highlights tend to look unnatural on Asian hair. The emphasis for 2023 is on subtle, sparse and face-framing highlights.
Concentrate fine, balayage-style highlights mostly around the face. Then sparsely mid-lengths to ends. This looks chic, modern and emphasizes your cut.
Glossing
Gloss treatments shine a light on Asian hair trends this year. The semi-permanent sheer glazes boost shine and refresh color between salon visits.
Gloss deposits a hint of color while making hair ultra-glossy. It also helps prolong the vibrancy of hair dye.
Use a gloss treatment every 4-6 weeks to keep Asian hair looking salon-fresh.
Natural & Subtle Asian Hair Colors
For a natural yet dimensional look, consider subtle hair colors that harmonize with your complexion. Here are ideas to inspire your 2023 makeover.
Dark Hair with Babylights
Babylights swept through long, dark Asian hair look striking yet natural. The warm, fragmented highlights give hair a sun-kissed multi-tonal effect.
Keep the babylight strands minimal so plenty of natural color shows through. Add lightweight conditioning treatments to boost shine.
Ash Brown Hair
Cool-toned ash and beige browns flatter many Asian complexions. The hues counteract yellow undertones in skin beautifully.
For an allover ash brown, use a demi-permanent toner. To introduce an ash brown tint while keeping your natural base, opt for a brown gloss treatment instead.
Chocolate Brown Hair
Rich chocolate browns are a gorgeous choice for 2023. The shades add depth and dimension to black Asian hair.
For cool complexions, avoid red undertones by choosing an ash brown base with dark chocolate lowlights. Warm complexions can handle a touch of red throughout.
Caramel Highlights
Buttery caramel and honey blonde highlights warm up Asian complexions beautifully. A few face-framing accents let the natural hair color show through.
Concentrate fine highlights around the face, then lightly throughout mid-lengths and ends. Use a demi-permanent dye for subtle color that blends easily.
Honey Blonde
Honey and beige blonde shades make gorgeous dimensional highlights on black Asian hair. They introduce lightness while retaining plenty of depth.
Focus most highlights around the face and fringe area. Then scatter sparsely through mid-lengths to ends. Avoid heavy chunky foils.
Vivid & Unnatural Asian Hair Colors
Vibrant hair dyes offer a fun way to express your style. Asian hair, especially when pre-lightened, holds bright unnatural colors beautifully.
Some trending Asian hair dye ideas include:
Pink Hair
Pink is THE trending Asian hair color right now. From rose gold to cotton candy, it looks gorgeous against dark hair. Choose a semi-permanent dye for longer-lasting results.
Ways to wear pink:
- All-over block color
- Peek-a-boo underlayer
- Highlighted panels
- Ombre fade from roots
- Color-melt with purple
Purple Hair
Vibrant purple looks amazing as an all-over color or as highlights on warm Asian complexions. Play with shades like lilac, violet and eggplant purple.
Rock purple hair with:
- Dark roots for contrast
- Silver or grey blended ends
- Softer highlight pieces
- Heavy bangs or fringe
Blue Hair
Blue is such a statement! Use vivid cobalt, sapphire or electric blue dyes for an eye-catching effect on your dark Asian hair.
Amp up the drama of blue hair with:
- Super sleek styling
- Heavy full bangs
- Extra-long lengths
- Matte lipstick
Green Hair
Vibrant green is making a statement in 2023. The high-impact color looks amazing when applied freshly to pre-lightened Asian hair.
Make it pop with:
- A bold green lipstick
- Complementing earthy makeup tones
- Futuristic space buns
- Graphic liner
Grey & Silver
Smoky grey and shimmering silver suit Asian complexions so well. They create an edgy yet soft look on natural dark hair.
- Opt for semi-permanent grey dye
- Transition from black roots into grey mid-lengths
- Try a gloss for temporary grey toning
- Add silver pieces for a metallic effect
Rainbow & Multicolor
For a fun and fearless look, go rainbow! Blend multiple shades for an unexpected wow-factor look.
- Use 2-4 vivid semi-permanent dyes
- Concentrate colors mostly on mid-lengths and ends
- Outline sections with foil to prevent bleeding
- Pair with neutral makeup to let the hair pop
For multicolor hair, block out sections and apply different shades. Think pink, purple, green, orange or blue. Rainbow ends look amazing blended into natural dark roots.
Asian Hair Color Inspiration
Need some hair inspo? These gorgeous Asian celebrities showcase beautiful hair colors from subtle highlights to vivid rainbow hues.
Jisoo
Jisoo rocks a pink-purple color melt that looks edgy yet pretty on her warm complexion. Her jet black roots provide contrast.
Lisa
Lisa’s golden honey highlights frame her face softly. A touch of caramel throughout the lengths adds dimension.
Joy
Joy’s chocolate brown hair with subtle ash brown highlights and rosy gold ends looks gorgeous. The palette matches her complexion beautifully.
Jennie
Jennie’s vivid cherry red hair makes a statement against her porcelain skin. A matching red lip ties the dramatic look together.
YoonA
Yoona’s glossy black hair is the essence of classic Korean beauty. A center part lets the super straight lengths shine.
Yuri
Yuri’s silver grey ombre melt is an edgy look for Asian hair. Her naturally dark roots blend seamlessly into the smoky grey ends.
Irene
Irene’s vivid red hair looks incredible with her porcelain skin. Red glossy lipstick ties the monochrome look together.
How to Maintain Asian Hair:
Use Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Sulfate-free shampoos are gentler and help preserve hair color. Look for formulas specially designed for color-treated hair.
Deep Condition Regularly
Use a weekly hair mask or treatment to boost moisture and minimize color fading. Leave on for at least 5-10 minutes before rinsing out.
Protect from Heat Styling
Always use a heat protectant before using hot tools. The layer of product helps shield hair from damage and color fading.
Rinse with Cool Water
Rinsing hair with cool instead of hot water helps lock in color. The cooler temperature causes the cuticle to close tightly.
Refresh Color Regularly
To keep regrowth looking seamless, refresh hair color every 4-6 weeks. Roots tend to show through quickly on dark Asian hair.
Do Occasional Glosses
Gloss treatments boost shine and pigment between full color appointments. Opt for temporary clear glosses without peroxide.
Trim Split Ends
Schedule trims every 8-10 weeks to snip away dry, damaged ends and keep hair looking healthy. Avoid over-trimming.
Use Purple Shampoo (for blonde)
Purple shampoo helps counteract brassiness and yellow tones on lightened Asian hair. Use 1-2 times per week.
Wear a Swim Cap
Chlorine and salt water can cause color to fade quickly. Always wear a protective swim cap when pool or ocean swimming.
With the right maintenance regimen, your beautiful Asian hair color will stay vibrant for weeks. Schedule professional salon refreshers as needed.
Styling Tips for Colored Asian Hair
Style your vibrant Asian hair color with confidence. Here are tips to make your color pop:
- Boost shine – Use shine-enhancing products like serum or glossing treatments. Asian hair looks amazing ultra-sleek.
- Protect with heat styling – Always use a heat protectant and avoid overusing hot tools. This helps extend color vibrancy.
- Amp up your hair parting – Make a statement with a dramatic side or zig-zag parting to show off bold hair colors.
- Add hair accessories – Decorative clips, pins and headbands complement bold hair hues. Go for metallics or matching colors.
- Change up your texture – Add waves or curls with a curling iron or finger waves with gel for extra dimension.
- Pull hair back – Highlight face-framing color work with pulled back ponytails, buns and braids.
- Maximize contrast – If you have dark roots with light ends, emphasize the contrast with slick straight styling.
Have fun playing with different parts, textures and accessories. Vibrant hair color deserves to be shown off!
FAQs
How long does vivid Asian hair color last?
On average, semi-permanent vivid dyes last 4-8 weeks on Asian hair before fading significantly. Ensure hair is pre-lightened to get the most longevity.
What about bleached Asian hair damage?
Bleaching inevitable causes some damage. Always use Olaplex in lightener to minimize breakage. Deep condition regularly and avoid over-styling to keep bleached hair healthy.
Can I do vivid Asian hair colors at home?
Yes! Brands like Splat, Manic Panic, Arctic Fox, Lime Crime, and Punky Color all make great semi-permanent vivid dyes for home use. Just ensure you prep and protect hair properly.
How do I prep hair for vivid color?
Lighten hair to a very pale yellow first for the most intense color payoff. Tone hair to remove brassiness. Then use a bonding treatment before applying your chosen vivid shade.
What about work suitable Asian hair colors?
For a professional look, go for subtle babylights, natural-looking highlights, gloss treatments, brown lowlights, or temporary natural-toned shades. Avoid bold rainbow colors.
How do I fade vivid hair color quickly?
Use a clarifying shampoo containing sulfates 2-3 times per week to help strip out semi-permanent dye faster. You can also use a color remover, but this is drying. Vitamin C treatments also work to speed up fading.
Have fun with your Asian hair makeover in 2023! From balayage to mermaid rainbow hues, let your hair reflect your bold personality.
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