How to Get an Ocean-Inspired Teal Hair Color

Not all of us are able to spend as much time by the ocean as we’d like during the summer months. But you can bring the ocean vibes home by opting for a sea-inspired teal hair color. There are plenty of rainbow hair color trends that have become popular this summer—including quite a few shades of blue (we see you, denim hair!). But one of our favorites for summer is definitely teal, as it reminds us so much of the ocean. Of course, as with all rainbow hair hues, getting teal hair will take some work. Want to give this look a try? Below, learn all about coloring your hair a teal shade and caring for your new shade.

What You Need to Know About Getting a Teal Hair Color

When it comes to dyeing your hair teal, there are a few things you should know before diving into this look. For starters, if you’re starting with a dark base color, you’ll need to bleach your hair first. And the darker your base, the more sessions it may take to reach your desired level of teal. Whenever you’re making a drastic hair color change, visiting a professional colorist is always a good idea, as they can help guide you through the process with their expert skill. Also keep in mind that root regrowth will be very visible—so if you’d like to maintain your teal hue, regular touch-ups will be necessary. That being said, it is possible to do teal hair at home—and we’ve got instructions for you coming right up!

How to DIY a Teal Hair Color

Want to color your hair teal from the comfort of your own home? Try the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Teal, which is designed for dark brown to light brown hair and requires no bleaching beforehand. If you don’t want allover teal color, consider applying it just to your ends for a mermaid-approved ombré pattern. (Find more ombré ideas here.)

How to Care for Your Teal Hair

Color-treated hair requires special care. That means that once you have a teal hair color, you’ll want to switch up your regular hair care routine. Follow our steps below for showing your teal hair some love.

1. Use a system of hair care products formulated for color-treated hair. When you have teal hair, it’s important to cleanse and condition with products formulated for color-treated hair. Try 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. Swap out the conditioner for the mask once or twice a week.

2. Embrace your hair’s natural texture. Mimic the ocean’s waves by rocking wavy hair. Create beach-inspired waves by spritzing the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Wave Swept Spray onto towel-dried hair. Put your hair into a braid, then undo the braid once your hair has dried for gorgeous-looking waves. (Watch our video for step-by-step instructions on creating beach waves.)

3. Show off your ombré in a braid. If you’ve opted to just color your ends teal, show off the color by wearing a braid. You’ve got plenty of braiding techniques to choose from—although we’re partial to the fishtail. Simply split your hair into two sections, then alternate crossing tiny sections of hair over each other until you reach your ends, tying things off with a mini clear elastic.

4. Stock up on heat protectant. If you’d like to pair your teal hair with a smooth style, make sure to apply a heat protectant first. Try the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Blow Out HeatSpray before blow-drying or the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Iron Straight Heatspray before flat ironing.

Want more hair color inspiration? Check out our tutorial, How to Get a Unicorn-Inspired Hair Color, to learn how to create a multi-colored mane.