Colour expert and educator Siobhan Haug shares her thoughts on Pantone's divisive Color of the Year Cloud Dancer – and considers the alternative shades better suited for client inspiration this spring/summer
Every year, Pantone unveils its Color of the Year, helping to set the tone for trends across fashion, beauty, interiors and more. This year, it was Cloud Dancer – a soft, airy, pale neutral that promise effortlessness and modernity. Viewing the shade from a hair perspective, Siobhan Haug, Schwarzkopf Professional Ambassador and co-founder of Haug London Haus, comments: “While I do understand the appeal, the circumstances of the hair need to be so specific in order to achieve this colour, which really limits the number of clients that can have a look like this.”
Siobhan continues: “What really excited me, however, was Pinterest’s Palette for 2026. Not because it told us what colour is “in”, but because it tapped into emotion, mood, and how people want actually to feel, and gave a range of gorgeous inspiration which translates much better into gorgeous hair. That’s where I feel the future of hair colour really lives, as day to day clients are asking for solutions, confidence and colours that feel intentional and true to themselves.”
Taking inspiration from Pinterest’s Palette, here are the colour directions Siobhan believes will define 2026 … and why I think they’re far more interesting (and relevant) than another whisper-soft neutral!
Plum Noir: Quiet Luxury for Dark Hair
Plum Noir is, in my opinion, the ultimate quiet luxury shade for clients with dark hair. It lives in that space between dark brown and soft black, where depth does the heavy lifting. In low light, it can almost seem black. But the moment natural light hits it, subtle violet and plum tones come alive. The key here is balance; cool violet with the tiniest hint of red creates a nuanced, almost burgundy undertone without tipping into brightness.
This dual-tone effect feels incredibly rich and intentional. It offers mirror-like shine and reflection while still remaining understated. Clients love it because it feels special without being obvious, and I would describe it as a colour you notice, but can’t quite put your finger on.
As we head into warmer months, this is an excellent colour for your darker haired clients who want to stay true to their dark base, but also want to inject a little bit of warmth.
Cool Mattes
Cool mattes are quietly becoming the unsung heroes of modern brunette colouring. This trend is for anyone who’s tired of fighting warmth. Whether it’s the balayage client whose ends constantly turn raw and yellow, or brunettes battling coppery tones the moment the sun hits their hair.
You can think of cool mattes as an anti-orange shield. These tones specifically target the underlying red and copper pigments that emerge when brown hair is lifted or exposed to the environment. Instead of chasing brightness, cool mattes focus on control and refinement.
What I love most is the finish. Unlike high-shine glosses that reflect light and can exaggerate warmth, matte tones slightly absorb the light, giving the hair a velvety, sophisticated appearance. They keep balayage transitions soft, seamless and intentional, making the colour last longer and look better between appointments.
Persimmon Copper: Joy, But Make It Wearable
Persimmon copper is one of pure joy and energy. It’s juicy, optimistic, confidence-affirming and the kind of colour that instantly lifts both the wearer and the room they walk into. But what makes this shade exciting for 2026 is its versatility – you don’t need to commit to a full head of bright copper to enjoy it. Persimmon can be woven through gold and apricot tones for a modern auburn, or used to soften vibrant reds by adding a nuanced variation of tones that build up in intensity toward hot red shades.
The most important factor here to consider with this colour is fading, and protecting the vibrancy is essential. That means using sulphate free products (such as Schwarzkopf Pro’s Fibre Clinix Vibrancy Shampoo and Conditioner) reduced washing, and pigmented maintenance products. In-salon, we’re seeing huge success with bespoke colour care, like our Haus Mix, which is a custom blend of a client’s exact shade into an ultra-conditioning mask – keeping that joy alive for longer!
Trends like Cloud Dancer look beautiful on a mood board, but I think 2026 should be about hair that lasts, evolves and reflects how clients want to feel – confident, expressive and intentional. The future of colour isn’t lighter, softer or quieter for the sake of it. It’s smarter, and as colourists, that’s where we do can our best work to bring these shades to life!
