Gemini Hair Is the Bold Hair Color Trend You’ve Been Waiting For
Gemini hair, as it’s called, is a colorful, astrology-inspired look that consists of dyeing your hair two different contrasting colors. Expert hair colorists Jonathan Colombini and Nikki Lee break down the two-toned trend that’s expected to be everywhere.
Shades of blonde and brunette go in and out of style all the time, but one of the hottest hair color trends of the new year so far is all about embracing bold colors. Gemini hair, as it’s called, is a colorful, astrology-inspired look that consists of dyeing your hair two different contrasting colors. We tapped two expert hair colorists to break down the two-toned trend that’s expected to be everywhere.
What Is Gemini Hair?
Named for the twins of the Zodiac, gemini hair is a two-toned hair color look in which one half of your head is one color (often your natural color or close to it) and the other half is a bright, contrasting shade like red, blue or pink. The key to nailing the striking look is to split the two colors along the part of your hair. Duality is the whole point.
According to Jonathan Colombini, Celebrity Hairstylist & Creative Director of Style & Color for L’Oreal Paris,
“This hair color trend has been popular for decades — now, the ’90s grunge presence is still prevalent, but with an elevated look.”
He credits celebrities with bringing the look back in recent months.
“I think Gemini hair is becoming popular because it’s a fun change and allows you to try out two different colors at the same time,” says Nikki Lee, co-owner of Nine Zero One Salon, “almost like if you were wearing different wigs with different outfits and moods.”
How to Try the Gemini Hair Trend
Since this statement look is a bit of a long-term commitment, it’s important to know exactly what you want when you head to the salon, says Colombini. “If you have never dyed your hair a bright color before, I would start with something on the more natural side and ease into it,” recommends Lee.
When it comes to choosing your colors, you can really have fun with it and try whatever you want. However, Lee advises that you think about how dark your natural hair color is when making your decision. “If you have super dark natural hair, to avoid damage from bleaching prior to the color, I would go with a darker or warm-toned bright color,” she says. “If you have light natural hair, it’s easier to do light and bright tones because your hair can easily be bleached to white before applying the color.”
Otherwise, the choice is yours. If you’re not sure where to start, Colombini likes neons paired with black hair and copper shades for brown or brunette hair. With platinum hair,
“any color is going to be contrasting, which is the vibe,”
he notes. “From black to pink, you can’t go wrong.” If you want to test the look at home before taking the plunge, the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color collection has great pink options.
As far as post-salon maintenance, Colombini warns that it’s common for hair colors to bleed together. Since the key to the Gemini hair look is clean contrast, he recommends sectioning off your hair by color when you wash it and washing each color separately.
To combat any damage from the dye process, check out the Garnier Whole Blends Hair Honey Repairing Serum.
It reduces split ends and breakage while infusing your hair with moisture.
Experts Say This Is the Best Way to Try the Two-Toned Hair Trend
There are very few rules with this trend.
Jonathan Colombini says the colors can be the same tone, such as pink on pink or red on red, or they could be the complete opposite. Get the inside scoop from experts on what to ask for in the salon if you want to nail the two-toned hair trend.
Experts agree: This is the best way to approach two-toned hair.
Old trends are new again, with TikTok stars highlighting oft-forgotten fads. The most recent example is two-toned hair.
“Oh, the ’90s are back with the high contrast of two-toned colors making a very bold statement,”
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“Hair history always repeats itself. Artists like Billie Eilish have reintroduced this typical ’90s grunge into mainstream.
Garnier’s celebrity colorist Nikki Lee, who has worked with stars like Selena Gomez and Hilary Duff, believes two-toned hair is trending because it’s something different. “It can be done more subtle like a pop of color on the underneath of your hair, or something more dramatic like a thick money piece right in front,” says Lee.
There are very few rules with this trend. Colombini says the colors can be the same tone, such as pink on pink or red on red, or they could be the complete opposite. We got the inside scoop from experts on what to ask for in the salon if you want to nail the two-toned hair trend.
Two-toned hair options
Ahead of your appointment, it’s essential to decide how you want to lay out the dual tones. You can ask for absolutely anything so do some photo research to find an example of what you want to show your colorist. “Two-toned hair can be achieved with chunky highlights or lowlights to create contrasting colors,” says Lee. “The money piece is also a trendy form of two-toned hair,” she adds. Other options include dying the underside of the hair, ombre, dyed ends, stripes and more.
When heading to the salon, be sure to have photos of what you want. Pictures of what you don’t want can also be helpful. Colombini suggests mentioning the “back-to-back foiling technique” to your stylist when looking for two-toned hair.
Color combination inspiration
The fun of this trend is that you can really make it whatever you want. However, if you need a bit of inspiration, the experts have a few thoughts. Colombini loves seeing colors of the same tone together, especially reds. He likes “something that isn’t of contrasted colors but rather tone on tone.”
Lee also suggests “keeping the colors in the same tonal family,” such as warm brown with warm blonde highlights. “If you keep the tones in the same family, you can maintain them at home” with a product like Garnier Nutrisse Color Revivers ($10).
