*This* Color Is the Hot New Hair Hue for Summer

1. Just a Hint: If going full-blown lilac isn’t in the stars for you, go for just a tint of the purple hue with your show-stopping granny gray hair. The royal shade will really stand out in the sun without hogging the spotlight.

2. Curly Locks: Shiny, bouncy barrel curls are the perfect way to show off your smokey lilac hair. Create an ombre effect by focusing the color on your spirals instead of your roots. This gives us serious hair envy!

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@hairbesties_ Throwback pic from 2015 of this icy blue on @shadyondeck ❄️❄️ deciding on what color to do on her next!

A post shared by Guy Tang® (@guy_tang) on Jul 3, 2016 at 8:15am PDT

3. Mix It Up: Are you a bit of a commitment-phobe? Can’t decide between icy blue or lilac strands? Go for both with this look that is reminiscent of stormy skies.

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#glambot Alex rocking #greyhair with #purple #highlights #purplehair #greyhair #babe #glambotsbytim

A post shared by ✨💇🏼💄✨TIM✨💇🏻✨❤️✨💇🏾 (@glambotsbytim) on Jul 11, 2016 at 3:30pm PDT

4. Smokey Highlights: Highlights are usually lighter than your hair (hence the name), but who says they can’t add a bit of superhero magic to your tresses? Accent your face with some smokey lilac sections for a look that is still totally on trend.

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m o o n • l i g h t • g y p s y 🌜🔮 (sound on) Music: Kygo- Raging (feat Kodaline) Happy Friday! I'm so excited to share a well over due post of Alex's new look! I had so much fun creating this color. For her first session with me, we lightened her ends using @jbeverlyhills lightener. I tell my clients that I prefer to gradually lighten your hair in steps, (patients/ your hair will thank you!) until we reach our desired brightness/ to allow us to play around with fashion tones. Once your hair is light enough, it works as a blank canvas to play around with color (especially pastels). Fashion tones are a blessing and a curse they fade out much faster than normal color, but it makes for more fun. I say to my clients "it's almost like makeup for your hair, once a color fades you can play around with another! One week you could be a pastel pink, the next you can be a smokey indigo!" For Alex's color we used a combination of violets/magentas/and pinks/ then last minute added a blue cast to create a smokey lilac for a multi dimensional/shimmer effect using @pravana @keunenamerica @redken5thave . Styled using my favorite tools @thebeachwaver and @love_amika products! Finished off with a fun half top knot braid, for a effortless boho vibe. Get the hottest looks this summer! ✨Saturday Special!✨I still have some openings for tomorrow (Saturday) the first few to call dibs on them will receive a complimentary @olaplex deep conditioning treatment (normally a $25 add-on!) Create a chicer you book an appointment today! ✨

A post shared by j o h n || h a r t t (@hairbyhartt) on Jul 8, 2016 at 6:08am PDT

5. Purple Plaits: Combine several summer trends — smokey lilac, braids and luscious curls — to create a look that is adorbs and totally wearable. Bonus points for styling this look with a so RN half-up style.

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My ultimate mermaid shade 💜 Color by Mona B & styled by Nate . . . #mermaid #mermaidhair #waves #lilachair #denver

A post shared by Mona B🐝👄💄💋💇🏻💅🏼😁✌🏼️💁🏻 (@mona_loves_makeup) on Jul 11, 2016 at 4:22pm PDT

6. Smokey Ombre: What’s dark on top, light on the bottom and moody all over? This smokey lilac ombre look, that’s what! Sport this style when you want to go from girl next door to street style star in a flash.

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GOODMORNING 💜 Welcome back Silver-Lilac Hair! 🐠 Vi piace il mio nuovo colore? 💦 Color by: @martinabmoc for @oreamalia #mrdanielmakeup #grannyhair #hairstyle #haircut #crazycolor #purplehair #lilachair #silverhair

A post shared by M R D A N I E L (@mrdanielmakeup) on Jul 11, 2016 at 2:52am PDT

7. Short and Purple: This hair color trend isn’t just for people with long hair, or just women, for that matter. Keep things long on the top, short on the sides and totally lilac (put a little throughout your beard if you have one) to get heads turning.

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D u s k y A m e t h y s t By Ben using @lorealprouk 50g p01 3g 4.20 1g blue mixtone #lilachair #pasteltones #pastelhair #lorealprouk #lpeuk #idartist #benbrownhair #behindthechair #hairbrained #hairdressersjournal #prohairmag

A post shared by Bbeducation (@bbeducationuk) on Jul 10, 2016 at 8:27am PDT

8. Pin Straight: Sometimes you just gotta save the waves for the beach. Keep it bone straight with the help of your trusty flat iron to show off your hair colorist’s hard work.

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After @shadyondeck wear this dark denim look for over a year, we are deciding to go green next! What do @hairbesties_ think? Green would be nice right?

A post shared by Guy Tang® (@guy_tang) on Jul 6, 2016 at 9:07am PDT

9. Brunettes Have More: The foggy violet version of this trend looks great on raven-haired girls with long flowing hair. Use a large barrel curling iron to get ghostly waves that are to die for.

10. Acid Washed: The smokey lilac look can also work for you ’90s lovin’ grunge girls out there. Get your colorist to use a lighter hand for hair that looks perfectly washed out.

What smoky lilac pic will you take to the salon? Follow us on Pinterest for more genius hair hacks and inspo!

(Featured photo via Ethan Miller/Getty)