Halloween Hair: How to Get a Candy Corn-Inspired Color

Dyeing your hair to look like your favorite candies isn’t quite a new trend, but it’s never been better suited to a season than it is to fall. Think about it. Fall means Halloween, and Halloween means candy. Can’t argue with that. More specifically, it’s practically impossible to get through autumn without consuming at least a few handfuls of candy corn. To satisfy your sweet tooth, turn your tresses into a beautiful ombré that looks just like the yellow, orange, and white candy that’s so popular on Halloween. Keep reading to learn how to get—and take care of—a candy corn-inspired hair color.

Step 1: Prepare Inspiration Pictures

When you say candy corn, it would be hard for anyone to not know precisely what you want, but it never hurts to provide visuals as inspiration. Besides showing up to your appointment (or the hair color aisle at your local beauty store) with a bag of the sweet treats, look for pictures that match the mane you have in mind. When you know how you want your color to look, it’s time to move onto the next step.

Step 2: Decide to DIY or Seek Out a Colorist

Before you color your hair, it’s important to decide how you’re going to achieve your new shade—or shades, in this case. In some cases, you may want to do it totally DIY, while others may be better off making a trip to a professional. If you’re starting with strands that are very dark, it’s best to put your hair in the hands of a coloring pro. A trained colorist should be better equipped to help your hair reach the exact candy corn colors you’re looking for, since this look will require bleaching. Plus, since candy corn hair features multiple shades, a pro colorist will be able to expertly place the hues to create a custom look that’s unique to you.

For those who want to change their shade completely solo, try using the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Bleach and the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Tangerine and Peach. If you have blonde, bleached, or highlighted hair, you can skip the bleach and move directly to the color.

Step 3: Switch to a System of Hair Care Products Formulated for Color-Treated Hair

After you’ve dyed your hair, it’s a good idea to swap out your regular shampoo and conditioner for ones formulated for color-treated hair, as your hair will now have different needs. Take care of your candy corn color with the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Color Vibrancy Intensive Shampoo, L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Color Vibrancy Intensive Conditioner, and L’Oréal Paris Hair Expert Color Vibrancy Intensive Ultra Recovery Mask. Once or twice a week, swap out the conditioner for the hair mask. Bonus tip: Turn down the dial in the shower, as hot water can strip your strands of essential oils, which can make it feel drier and look duller.

Step 4: Try Air Dried Hairstyles

This Halloween season, embrace your hair’s natural texture by styling it sans heat. When your hair is damp, apply the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Wave Swept Spray, L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Ruffled Body Mousse, or L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Undone Style Cream, then let your hair air dry to create definition and shape.

Step 5: Touch Up Your Color

Candy corn-inspired hair isn’t exactly the most low maintenance color option out there. Once your roots start to show, you’ll need to touch up your color if you’d like to rock this shade once Halloween ends. Book an appointment with your colorist in advance—or keep your bathroom stocked with dye—so that you can ensure your candy corn hair color looks fresh.

Candy corn hair isn’t the only rainbow hair color we’re loving these days. For more inspiration, check out our guides to some of the most popular hair colors of the moment, including denim hair, unicorn hair, and mermaid hair.