The holiday season is the perfect time to try something bold, cozy, or magical with your hair. Whether you’re attending Christmas parties, planning winter photoshoots, or just want to feel extra festive sipping cocoa by the fire, your hair color can totally transform your holiday vibe. From frosted silvers to deep mulled wine reds, there’s no shortage of creative and flattering ways to show off your holiday spirit—right from the top of your head.
You don’t need to commit to a full head of neon red or green (unless you want to!). There are subtle and stylish ways to weave Christmas-inspired tones into your hair, no matter your base color, length, or style. Think rich balayages, shimmering peekaboo highlights, or even a bold ombre that makes you feel like the star on top of the tree.
And the best part? These looks aren’t just great for the holidays—they can carry you into the New Year with flair. This list of 21+ Christmas hair color ideas is packed with inspiration, from classic wintery hues to playful, on-trend tones you’ll want to wear all season long.
21+ Christmas Hair Color Ideas
So if you’re ready to give your hair a festive upgrade, scroll through these ideas and find your perfect holiday hair color match.
Mulled Wine Red
A warm and spicy take on traditional red, mulled wine hair combines rich burgundy, deep cherry, and hints of plum. This cozy tone works beautifully on brunettes and adds instant depth and sophistication. You can go full head for a bold effect or opt for balayage or lowlights if you want a more dimensional, layered look.
Perfect for winter, this color pairs effortlessly with soft waves or sleek, straight strands. It catches the light beautifully and gives off a warm glow—just like your favorite holiday drink. It’s an excellent choice if you’re craving a rich and romantic color that still feels festive and classy.
Icy Platinum Blonde
Icy platinum is a go-to winter shade that channels snow queen vibes with a modern edge. It’s cool-toned, bold, and dramatic, making it perfect for anyone who wants to stand out during the holidays. This silvery blonde works especially well on cooler skin tones and pairs gorgeously with bold makeup or statement earrings.
Achieving this color may require some pre-lightening if your hair is darker, but the final look is striking and well worth the effort. Pair it with a sleek bob or long, layered waves to show off the icy brilliance. It’s glamorous, eye-catching, and the perfect statement for holiday photos.
Chestnut Brown with Caramel Highlights
Looking for something subtle yet seasonal? Chestnut brown with caramel highlights is a cozy, understated option that still feels festive. The warm tones bring out the richness of the base color while the caramel pieces add depth and glow—like golden lights on a Christmas tree.
This combo is ideal if you want a natural look with a touch of glamour. It’s low-maintenance, flattering on most skin tones, and great for transitioning into winter without going too bold. Perfect for curling or styling into soft, romantic waves for a holiday gathering.
Silver and Lavender Frost
Blend the magic of the season with a cool mix of silver and pastel lavender. This icy combination is whimsical yet edgy, perfect for creative spirits who want a hair color that stands out. The lavender softens the silver, giving it a frosted fairy-tale quality that’s totally holiday-appropriate.
This look shines best on lighter bases and works beautifully when styled with braids or curls to show off the color dimension. It’s dreamy, unique, and gives you an ethereal glow that feels straight out of a winter wonderland.
Gingerbread Spice
Gingerbread spice is a warm, spiced copper shade with golden undertones that glows in the winter light. It’s rich, radiant, and totally seasonal—bringing to mind holiday cookies and cozy firesides. This color suits a wide range of skin tones and gives off a soft, sun-kissed warmth even in the coldest months.
Pair it with loose curls or soft waves to highlight its dimensional tones. Whether you choose a full dye or a warm balayage, gingerbread spice is a festive favorite that feels both timeless and trendy.
Emerald Green Accents
Bold and festive, emerald green hair is a true statement during the Christmas season. While a full green head is an option for the daring, adding emerald peekaboo streaks or dip-dyed ends can give you the seasonal edge without overwhelming your look.
This jewel-toned green contrasts beautifully with dark brown or black hair and can be styled in updos or braids to show off its vibrancy. It’s a fun, fearless color that gives instant Christmas magic while still being fashion-forward.
Candy Cane Streaks
For the truly bold at heart, candy cane hair brings a whimsical twist to your festive look. By alternating bright red and icy white streaks, you get a vibrant contrast that screams Christmas fun. This playful color idea is perfect for parties, photoshoots, or even just turning heads at holiday events.
You can go for all-over candy cane stripes or add subtle slices to the underlayer for a peekaboo effect. Either way, it’s cheeky, cheerful, and packed with personality—just like the holidays themselves.
Cocoa Brown with Cinnamon Babylights
Cocoa brown hair with soft cinnamon babylights is a subtle yet stunning way to warm up your look this winter. This combo adds a touch of spice and light without going too bold, making it perfect for those who want a holiday refresh without the maintenance of a bright color.
The cinnamon tones glimmer in the light and work well on both straight and wavy hair. Style it in soft curls or a sleek ponytail to highlight the warm dimension. It’s classic, cozy, and full of seasonal charm.
Snowy White Blonde
Channel a frosty aesthetic with snowy white blonde hair—a high-impact look that evokes freshly fallen snow. This ultra-light blonde requires commitment but delivers serious holiday glamour. It looks especially striking on cooler skin tones and pairs perfectly with red lips or jewel-toned accessories.
Whether you wear it stick-straight or in voluminous curls, snowy white blonde is crisp, clean, and undeniably stunning. It’s the ultimate winter transformation if you’re looking to embrace an icy, ethereal style.
Rose Gold Glow
A year-round favorite with a festive twist, rose gold hair adds warmth and shine to any winter look. With soft pink undertones and metallic dimension, this color looks particularly beautiful when illuminated by Christmas lights or candle glow.
It works on a variety of base tones and can be customized from soft and subtle to bold and shimmering. Style it in loose waves to maximize its luster. Rose gold is romantic, cheerful, and surprisingly versatile for the holiday season.
Holly Berry Red
Inspired by the rich hue of winter berries, this vibrant red is a bold yet wearable option. It’s not quite fire-engine red but deeper, with undertones of crimson and ruby that add dimension and drama.
Holly berry red looks great on both warm and cool complexions and works beautifully in a variety of styles—from sleek bobs to voluminous curls. It’s a spirited, head-turning shade that feels instantly festive without being over the top.
Frosted Blue Tips
Add an unexpected chill to your look with icy blue tips. Whether paired with platinum blonde or a darker root, this color pop gives you a wintry, edgy vibe that feels both modern and magical.
You can opt for a soft pastel blue for a subtle frost or a deeper sapphire for a bold contrast. Perfect for braids and buns that show off the gradient, this look feels like an icy breeze captured in hair form.
S’mores-Inspired Brunette
Think melted chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and golden graham. This rich brunette look combines warm, multi-tonal shades that bring a delicious touch to your holiday hairstyle.
With dimensional highlights in cream and caramel layered into a deep brown base, this color idea is flattering, low-maintenance, and endlessly cozy. It’s the ideal blend for brunettes looking for subtle seasonal flair.
Cranberry Ombre
A stunning way to bring color to your strands, cranberry ombre fades from a natural base into rich reddish-purple ends. This berry-inspired hue is dramatic, moody, and totally festive without being cliché.
The ombre effect adds visual interest and works especially well on long hair, where you can show off the gradient. Style it straight or wavy—it’s bold, sultry, and seasonal in the best way.
Champagne Blonde
Add a little sparkle to your winter with champagne blonde—a soft, creamy shade that shimmers like your favorite bubbly. With golden and pearl undertones, this color is flattering, festive, and endlessly chic.
It’s perfect if you want something light and elegant that still feels special. Pair it with glam waves or a tousled updo for your next holiday gathering.
Midnight Blue Black
Channel the mystery and elegance of a starry winter night with a deep midnight blue-black hair color. From afar, it may look like a traditional jet black, but up close, the cool-toned blue undertones catch the light and add unexpected depth.
This shade is perfect for those who prefer darker hues but still want a festive twist. It works beautifully on straight or wavy hair and offers a high-shine, dramatic finish that feels moody yet sophisticated for the holiday season.
Golden Blonde with Honey Lowlights
This warm and radiant color combo is the ultimate soft glam holiday look. Golden blonde brings brightness and light, while honey lowlights add rich, sun-kissed depth that keeps the look dimensional and natural.
The blend works beautifully on medium to light hair and pairs perfectly with glossy waves or a voluminous blowout. It’s effortlessly elegant and ideal for anyone wanting to glow through the colder months without going overly bold.
Ruby Red Peekaboo Highlights
Peekaboo highlights are a fun way to add a pop of festive color without fully committing to an all-over dye. Ruby red tucked beneath darker layers offers just the right amount of holiday flair, especially when styled in braids, buns, or loose curls.
This is a great choice for anyone looking to experiment with color in a more subtle and playful way. The red only peeks out when you move, giving your look a mysterious and magical edge—like a little holiday surprise hidden in your hair.
Vanilla Blonde with Ashy Roots
Cool and creamy, vanilla blonde paired with ashy roots is the perfect winter blonde. It creates a natural-looking gradient that’s easy to maintain and totally on-trend. The ashy roots ground the light blonde, giving you that lived-in, effortless look while still feeling bright and fresh.
This combo works well on cooler skin tones and is ideal for those wanting a softer version of icy blonde. It’s modern, low-fuss, and ideal for keeping things chic through all your December festivities.
Chocolate Mauve
Chocolate mauve is a soft and surprising twist on traditional brown. This rich brunette shade is infused with hints of mauve and dusty rose, giving it a subtle, romantic tone that feels luxurious and seasonally appropriate.
It’s a unique yet wearable color that works on a variety of skin tones and adds a hint of warmth and whimsy without being loud. Pair it with soft curls or a sleek lob for an effortlessly elegant Christmas style.
Metallic Copper
Make a statement this season with metallic copper hair. This bright, shimmering hue reflects light beautifully, making it ideal for the festive season. Think glowing tree ornaments or holiday candles—this hair color offers that same radiant, show-stopping shine.
It works best on fair to medium skin tones and pairs well with a tousled bob or long, voluminous curls. It’s bold, fiery, and perfect for anyone wanting to shine bright this holiday season.
Soft Mocha Melt
A mocha melt hair color blends various shades of brown—espresso, mocha, and latte—into a seamless, dimensional masterpiece. It’s like a cozy winter coffee in hair form. This rich blend is sophisticated, warm, and incredibly flattering for colder months.
Perfect for brunettes looking for a seasonal update, the mocha melt transitions beautifully from workdays to holiday parties. Whether straightened or curled, the depth and tone variations create a luxe, effortless finish.
Winter Rose Balayage
Winter rose is a dusty, muted pink that pairs gorgeously with blonde or light brown bases. A rose-toned balayage gives you a romantic, icy glow that still feels warm and wearable. It’s like a holiday blush, adding just the right touch of color and softness.
This look is especially beautiful on medium to long hair, where the gradient can really shine. It’s delicate, feminine, and just unexpected enough to make a festive statement.
Cinnamon Red Balayage
Spice up your look with a cinnamon red balayage. This warm and spicy hue looks incredible on darker bases, bringing a subtle firelight glow that lights up your face. It’s a wearable red that doesn’t scream holiday but still gives off that cozy, festive vibe.
Whether curled or styled into an updo, the dimension in this color comes to life beautifully. It’s a great option if you want something seasonal but versatile enough to wear well into the new year.
FAQs
1. What is the best hair color for Christmas?
The best Christmas hair color depends on your personal style and skin tone. Popular festive shades include mulled wine red, icy blonde, emerald green accents, and warm balayages with caramel or cinnamon tones.
2. How long do Christmas hair colors last?
It depends on the color technique and dye type. Semi-permanent colors like peekaboo reds or pastels may last 4–6 weeks, while permanent colors can last much longer with proper care.
3. Can I do a festive hair color without bleaching my hair?
Yes! Many seasonal shades like chestnut brown with caramel highlights or cocoa with cinnamon babylights can be done without bleach. However, for bold shades like icy silver or emerald green, lightening may be required.
4. Which festive colors look good on dark hair?
Rich reds, deep greens, and gold-toned highlights work beautifully on dark hair. Try cranberry ombre, ruby peekaboo highlights, or cinnamon balayage for a festive yet flattering upgrade.
5. Are Christmas hair colors high-maintenance?
Some can be, especially icy blondes or pastel tones. However, balayage styles and warm brunettes are generally lower maintenance and grow out more gracefully.
Conclusion
The holiday season is the perfect excuse to refresh your look and embrace something new and festive. Whether you’re dreaming of icy blonde, deep berry reds, or shimmering caramel highlights, the right Christmas hair color can add an extra sparkle to your celebrations.
This list offers a wide variety of styles, from bold statements to soft, wearable shades. There’s something here for every personality, skin tone, and level of commitment—whether you want a full transformation or a simple seasonal touch.
Remember, your hair is an extension of your holiday spirit. Let it reflect the joy, warmth, and magic of the season. Whether you’re gathering with family, attending holiday events, or just taking a snowy walk through town, your festive hair color will help you feel confident, creative, and ready to shine.
So go ahead—pick your favorite and book that salon appointment. Your perfect holiday hair is just a color away.
