So, there’s no denying that milk tea hair is EVERYWHERE right now! I’ve been doing this color nonstop at the salon – it’s this gorgeous creamy blonde tone reminiscent of the drink. I’m constantly receiving photos of milk tea hair from clients who find inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest – it’s just a very beautiful, yet natural-looking color.
But, what exactly is milk tea hair? Essentially it’s a combination of cool blonde and beige tones. So, think neutral and soft – not too warm, not too cool. We typically use balayage to add some dimension. And the best part is, when your roots grow out, it’s not like the whole thing goes from light to dark – it still looks great. Plus, it’s definitely better than having to do regular blonde roots all the time. Here are some examples of how you could rock this look:
1. Cool Ashy Milk Tea Hair
Classic milk tea hair – a mix of cool ash with soft blonde tones. Very creamy and dreamy – the waves enhance the overall look by showing off all the layers of color.
2. Ash Balayage with Medium Brown Roots
Using medium brown roots keeps the overall look natural. But then you have the lighter ashy tones at the bottom, giving you a more subtle version of the milk tea look – if you’re not ready to go full-on light head-to-toe.
3. Beige Blonde with Ash Undertones
Beige is a great color – not too warm, not too cool – and the ash prevents it from going brassy (which you never want). I have done this color on literally every client I’ve done it on, and it always looks stunning.
4. Subtle Warm Milk Tea
Some days you might just want it a little more subtle. This version has soft dimension throughout – it looks completely natural. A great option for anyone who wants to try milk tea hair, but also doesn’t want everyone to be like, “Oh wow, did you dye your hair?” even though they totally will be.
5. Butterscotch Ombre with Dark Roots
A warmer take on the traditional milk tea color. But I really like it – the gradient created with darker roots and butterscotch-toned ends is really pretty. An added bonus is ombre requires less upkeep than some other options.
6. Warm Caramel Beige
If you have warm skin, this is your color! When caramel and beige are combined, they create a rich look, but still soft. The way the colors transition on those waves is just really pretty.
7. Milky Tea Balayage with Deep Roots
Wow! Look at that contrast! Darker roots make your blonde look brighter. If you have naturally dark hair, this is a great way to test the milk tea waters without going full-on light.
8. Natural Looking Caramel Blonde
Long hair needs that root shadow. It helps keep the color looking healthy and not damaged. Caramel blonde is a great color for straight hair – the color catches the light beautifully.
9. Champagne Blonde Highlights over Beige
Champagne blonde is a sophisticated color. One of my favorite versions of milk tea hair. The shadow root creates the illusion that you were born with this hair color (you weren’t, but hey, it looks good).
10. Champagne Rose Balayage
I love this version! Adding rose tones to champagne blonde creates an adorable peach-pink effect. Still neutral enough to where it’s not crazy different from your original hair color.
11. Milk Tea to Honey Transition
How smoothly does chocolate melt into honey?! Warmer milk tea with the creaminess of honey – perfect balayage placement makes the blend of colors seem almost seamless.
12. Cool Beige on Straight Hair
Straight hair is fantastic at showcasing cool tones – you can really see the ash blonde color. Looks polished. Great for those with cooler skin undertones.
13. Milk Tea Beige with Shadow Root
Cool beige almost has a silvery quality to it. Complete milk tea hair vibes. Having a shadow root gives you the opportunity to go longer between appointments – it’s basically genius.
14. Honey Blonde from Dark Roots
Not too yellow honey blonde. That’s important. Going from a darker shade to a softer honey blonde creates a beautiful layering of color. The waves really help each section of color blend together naturally.
15. Natural Golden Bronde
Soft golden bronde – warm but not too warm. The contrast of the dark roots against the lighter hair creates a dramatic look. I really enjoy how the contrast brings out the color. Would look great on someone with a warm complexion.
16. Sunny Blonde with Milk Tea Base
Going from a medium brown to a sunny blonde is a classic combo. Warm and pretty. This color would be relatively easy to maintain since the root color is close to many people’s natural hair color.
17. Mauve Blonde Magic
Mauve blonde gets so little love! Cool blonde with purple undertones. Creates the most unique version of milk tea hair. Different, but not too different, which is nice.
18. Mushroom Blonde Cool Tones
Mushroom blonde is so hot right now! Cool, almost greyish blonde. Totally milk tea hair. Photographs amazingly – looks high-end – looks editorial too.
19. Mushroom Blonde Shadow Root Style
Same mushroom color but with a shadow root. Less maintenance than having a solid mushroom blonde. Seriously, this color is so pretty. Photos really well too, for you Instagram fans.
20. Warm Milk Tea on Super Long Straight Hair
Long straight hair needs color that is going to make it appear healthy. This warm beige is soft and pretty – the contrast of the darker roots adds a natural touch instead of fried-looking.
21. Ashy Honey with Brown Base
Another ashy honey! Perfect for fall and winter. The brown base adds depth to the honey blonde – adds brightness without being too intense. Very easy to wear.
22. Warm Honey Milk Tea on Straight Hair
Warm honey blonde is a great color for straight hair – you can see the color as it catches the light. The shadow root makes it look like you had this hair color naturally – it adds dimension to the entire head of hair.
23. Warm Taupe on Fine Very Long Waves
Taupe is a very pretty version of milk tea hair – it’s like beige with a hint of grey. On long wavy hair, it looks soft and romantic. The brown roots make it a great everyday color option.
