All About Milk Tea Hair Color, This Season’s Coolest Color Trend

Food-and-drink-inspired hair colors are nothing new: Espresso browns are a classic pick in the winter, while punchy cinnamon is a perennial fall favorite. If you’re looking for a new hue to get you through the warmer months, however, we suggest going with something lighter—specifically, a milk tea hair color. This trendy hue features a blended mix of ashy blonde, silvery gray, and light brown tones, making it a flattering option for nearly every skin tone. Plus, achieving a milk tea hair color at home is pretty simple—all you need is the right hair color kit. Ahead, we’ll spill all of the details on milk tea hair, introduce you to a few of our favorite milk tea hair dyes to get the look, and explain how to keep your new color looking fresh all season long. 

What Is Milk Tea Hair?

Milk tea hair—sometimes referred to as milk tea brown hair—is best described as a cool-toned bronde hair color. Classically, it features an ashy brown base brightened up with cool blonde and silvery highlights. However, there’s more than one way to embrace milk tea colored hair. Those who prefer lighter hues can try milk tea blonde (a paler, beachier take on the trend), while darker versions, like milk tea ash brown hair colors, are ideal for those who want to stay firmly in brunette territory. Since it’s so versatile, this on-trend hair color is an excellent option for anyone looking to give cool-toned tresses a try. 

8 Milk Tea Hair Color Ideas To Try

If you’re craving a color refresh but aren’t quite sure which direction to go in, keep scrolling. Below, we’re sharing eight of our favorite takes on the milk tea hair trend.

1. Cool milk tea brown

2. Milk tea blonde 

If you find yourself drawn to blonde hair, this creamy version of milk tea hair might just be your cup of tea (pun intended). The shade’s distinct silver cast gives the classic mid-toned blonde base an edgy twist. DIY the chic look with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Ash Blonde.

3. Milk tea balayage

You don’t have to choose between brown and blonde—if you love both hues, embrace the best of both worlds with a milk tea balayage. This in-between hue features a medium milk tea brown hair color accented with hand-painted silver blonde highlights. Because balayage highlights start a bit further down from the root than traditional highlights, grow-out is a breeze, making this a solid pick for anyone unwilling to commit to monthly root touch-ups.

4. Rosy milk tea 

If you have warmer skin and are wary of going too ashy with your hair color, try rosy milk tea. It’s more of a milky rooibos rather than a milky black tea, with a distinct pinkish overtone that veers ever-so-slightly into pastel hair territory. Since this color involves blending multiple hues, including ash blonde, silver, and rose gold, we recommend leaving it to the pros. 

5. Bronze milk tea

With an equal mix of ashy gray and golden brown tones, bronze milk tea is another neutral-leaning take on milk tea hair that works for almost everyone. If you’re up for an at-home hair color transformation, you can DIY the look with the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Downtown Brown.

6. Milk tea gray

A slight variation from a brown milk tea hair color, gray milk tea is cool-toned, ashy, and bright. It’s also distinctly silver in tone, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to slowly transition to natural gray hair. We suggest heading to the salon to get this milky gray color—your colorist should be able to whip up the perfect shade to blend with your roots. 

7. Earl Grey milk tea

Earl Grey tea is a type of black tea often made with bergamot and cornflowers—the latter of which bear a distinctive violet hue. Earl Grey milk tea hair color takes inspiration from those flowers, with a purplish-gray tint that’s far more wearable than you might imagine. If you’re looking to keep touch-ups at bay, opt for a rooted look—this will allow you to extend the time between touch-ups.

8. Rich milk tea brown

If you’re not willing to part ways with your brunette roots, consider giving your hair a subtle milky tint by swapping your usual golden brown for an ashy brown shade. This cool-toned hue is subtle, timeless, and super easy to achieve at home with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Cool Light Brown.

How To Care for a Milk Tea Hair Color

Once you’ve made the switch to milk tea hair, you’re going to need a solid haircare routine to keep it looking just right. Here are some tips to help you out. 

Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner 

When you dye your hair, it’s crucial to ensure you’re using a shampoo and conditioner that won’t strip away your color. On wash days, we recommend reaching for a gentle, sulfate-free system for color-treated hair to keep your strands looking and feeling their best. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair system gets our vote—it consists of a pre-shampoo treatment, a gentle sulfate-free shampoo, and a moisturizing conditioner that work in conjunction to help strengthen and repair damaged, color-treated hair. 

Tone weekly

If you opt for a blonde milk tea variation, it may be helpful to wash your strands with a purple shampoo, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo once a week to keep brassy tones away. This can help ensure your ashy hue stays cool-toned and bright. 

Alternatively, give your color-treated mane some TLC with the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Anti-Brass Purple Mask Treatment. Like the shampoo, it helps to neutralize unwanted warm tones in bleached or lightened hair. It also provides deep nourishment to help your hair look and feel its best.

Use heat protectant

Whenever you heat style your hair, use a layer of heat protectant to shield your strands from unnecessary damage. Depending on what milk tea hair color you choose, your hair may need to be bleached, which can make it dry and more susceptible to damage. Stay smart and use the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture 21-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner for Dry Hair before styling your strands. This lightweight multitasker hydrates, smooths, tames frizz, and adds shine—all while protecting your hair from temperatures up to 450°F. Remember to take a break from heat styling when you can, too—the best way to protect your tresses from heat damage is to minimize your usage of hot tools.

Next Up: 12 Strawberry Blonde Hair Color Ideas We Love for Spring

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris