Lava Streaks Are the Latest ’90s-Inspired Hair Color Trend to Try

Amid quarantines and lockdowns, many have seized the opportunity to get more experimental with bold and bright hair color. Vogue magazine reports that one of the most striking trends that’s emerged within the fantasy hair color world has been the rise of ’90s-inspired, chunky lava streaks.

Recently, more than a few It girls have stepped out with the fiery, two-toned hair look, beginning with model Devon Lee Carlson, who received a set of chunky crimson streaks from editorial hairstylist Evanie Frausto. Her inspiration? None other than Christina Aguilera, according to a photo Carlson shared of the pop star in her “Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)” music video. Also embracing the look was Bella Hadid, who stepped out in New York City recently wearing clip-in red extensions in her updo, echoing the ones she wore on the runway for Versace’s 2017 Fall runway show, which saw hairstylist Guido Palau administering electric-hued hair pieces to “peep through the hair.”

London salon Bleach London, which has seen a major increase in demand for experimental color since lockdown began, has been serving up thick swathes of retina-burning red on all kinds of hair, from long, pin-straight lengths to clouds of tight coils. “[Streaks] are one of my favorite looks to create, and they’re so simple,” explains Alex Brownsell, Bleach London’s cofounder and creative director. “The application process is obviously very quick and the maintenance is even speedier as there isn’t much root to touch up.” As redheads who color their hair will tell you, red hair color is among the trickiest in terms of achieving and maintaining high saturation. Taking a striped approach not only elevates your look to punk-chic effect, but is easier to pull off DIY-style and better for the health of your hair.

Moreover, red is a symbolic color, and if thick swathes of red woven through the hair has a similar transformative and empowering effect as red lipstick, it could be all the more appealing in this time of uncertainty. So if you’re craving a change for fall, wanting to spice things up in time for Halloween, or just daring yourself to go for it in this chaotic time, consider a vivid dose of red.

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Photo Credit: MAKOVSKY ART / Shutterstock.com