Whether you’re tweaking your current hair colour or colouring your hair for the first time, changing your hair colour can have a massive impact on your mood, because let’s face it, there are few things that feel as good as leaving the salon with a fresh new colour.
Not only can a fresh new colour job boost your confidence, it can also help you create a whole new aesthetic as you match your clothes and makeup to your new hair shade. If the only thing holding you back from making that salon appointment is what HR would say or whether it’s suitable for the office, we’ve got you. Scroll through to see hair colour options that will allow you to express your personality without breaking the office dress code.
Mauve, mushroom brown hair has been trending since 2018, no surprise since it’s a low-maintenance style that looks incredibly natural. Check out more ways to wear this colour!
More striking than brown, but definitely more subtle than red, this shade is will get you noticed for all the right reasons. Bronde is the perfect mix of blonde and brown, add copper undertones to it and you get this perfect copper bronde that gives you the best of all worlds.
Rock grey hair with a gorgeous ombre or colourmelt like this one, but keep your roots dark or closer to your natural colour so regrowth looks less noticeable.
Liven up dark hair by weaving in some coloured highlights, but on a dark base so it’s not too obvious.
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Popular in Korea, this hair colour is striking and subtle at the same time. Plus, if you have dark hair, the ash purple tone helps combat brassiness that occurs with bleached hair, helping you maintain the colour for longer.
Pronounced bah-lee-AHZGE, this style of concentrating colour near the ends and sweeping the colour towards the crown of the head creates a soft, natural look that doesn’t look half bad when it grows out.
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Not your mum’s box brown hair colour, chocolate brown is offset with rich golden and creamy tones. In fact, you should ask your colourist to place lighter caramel or cognac tones around your face to make your features pop.
Copper meets deep, red-brown tones in this colour that is ideal for those who are looking for something that won’t damage their hair too much as this doesn’t require too many bleach sessions. Plus, over time, it washes out to a gorgeous peach blonde, so you can extend the length between your colour appointments.
This is probably the hair version of “business in the front, party at the back”. When hair is let down the purple is virtually invisible, but once you have it up in a ponytail or bun, it reveals a gorgeous colour that’s been hidden.
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This sandy shade of blonde has neutral undertones with subtle hints of grey and green making it a softer version of the traditional blonde shades. Since it is not too warm or overly ash-toned, it is suitable for most skin tones.
Black and blue complement each other so well, and in this case, the dark royal blue makes for discreet highlights on a head of black hair. Step into the sun, and the brilliance of the colour will come into light (pun intended).
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This is a great way to switch up your hair colour without it looking too striking. It’s also a good way to ease into your own greys if that’s what you’re looking to do. Ask your colourist to tweak the colour to be slightly warmer or cooler depending on your skin tone.
Like royal blue, darker purples like aubergine and plum are generally quite inconspicuous when paired with black.
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How gorgeous is this sangria-tinted copper? It suits cooler undertones best, but the great part about deep copper is that you can tweak it to suit your skin tone. Opt for a ginger-tinted copper if you’ve got warm undertones.
By lightening hair by a few shades and colouring it to a grey, you can give it texture and shine. Pro tip: If your boss is super strict, flip your hair to the side that’s not facing him/her. They might catch on eventually, so you might want to consider peekaboo colours instead.
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This may sound like a boring shade, but it looks stunning, especially if you give it the right gloss treatment to ensure your locks look healthy and lustrous. Plus, this colour looks good on all skin tones.
Babylights will be the next big thing this year. Less obvious than highlighting, babylights are micro-fine highlights that give shine and dimension to hair – kinda like the highlights you get when you’re exposed to the sun.
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A go-to colour for most people when they first start colouring their hair, red signifies everyone’s first foray into unnaturally coloured hair. This version is stylish and flattering for all ages.
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If you’ve always wanted to colour your hair a cool-toned platinum, but hesitated because of what your boss might say, this is underlayer is for you. Thanks to this peek-a-boo colour placement, the colour is only seen from certain angles, or when you tie up your hair.
This fiery hairdo is not for the faint of heart and requires plenty of maintenance to keep it looking fresh and beautiful. But if you like pushing the boundaries, this Black Widow-esque red will have you in the overlapping territories of “office-appropriate” and “not suitable for the office”. Attempt at your own risk.
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Barbie pink might be too bright for the office, instead opt for this deeper, gradient pink that has darker undertones at the top and gets lighter at the ends. Darker undertones up top ensure the grown-out roots are less noticeable.
Denim hair is the next big thing after granny hair. The best thing about denim hair is its resemblance to denim jeans — the more they fade, the better they look. It usually starts out as a dark ashy blue, and transitions into a pale blue-grey.
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Like the colours you see on an oil slick, this hair colour uses deep purples, blues and burgundy for a gorgeous hair colour that is barely there. Step into strong sunlight during lunchtime, and you’ll be treated to envious stares when the colours truly come alive.
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Layered hair would look great with the hidden peacock, with just vivid purples and fuchsia peeking through at the ends.
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Not just reserved for those with shorter hair, medium-length hair would look great with this style as well. For a more inconspicuous look, a one-length style would do good in hiding all the coloured parts as opposed to a layered hair cut.
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Blue is an extremely flattering colour on Asian skin, and this colour is one of the easiest to maintain. If you are attempting a light ashy-blue, bleaching may be required but you only need blue shampoo to maintain the colour and to keep brassiness away.
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Even if you have short hair, it’s likely you can get away with coloured hair in the office if done properly. This black and purple combination is understated but shines with vivid brilliance once you are out in the sun.
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This look is great for those who hate obvious roots. Balayage technique with red and darker roots are extremely forgiving and easy to maintain when hair is growing out.
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The emerald green ends of this hair colour combination makes a unique combination that’s often not attempted.
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Denim hair was popular in 2016 but it doesn’t mean you can no longer rock this look. When paired with black, looks great on both medium-length and long hair.
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Unbeknownst to your colleagues, you’ve actually got some unicorn strands of hair underneath! This look’s more subtle yet fun.
Get on board the ash train with a cool brown hair tone! If you’re afraid of experimenting with too much colour, this shade is perfect for you.
Despite its purple tones, this platinum shade is actually quite tame for work.
It’s safe for work and it’s so pretty!
Hidden in between chic curls, this sea green colour gives a nice touch of surprise to light brown hair.
One of the most flattering colours for Asian skin tone, bright purple complements black hair really well.
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Instead of going all out on the rose gold hair colour trend, applying the colour on just the tips makes the style more refined and classy.
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Text: Arissa Ha & Elizabeth Liew