Each year, we cue up the ultimate hair color showcase—a dynamic lineup of hues, tones, and techniques from today’s leading brands and artists. This year’s setlist hits all the right notes: from soft-focus neutrals to vivid fashion shades, and from tried-and-true formulas to trend-forward innovations by brands new to the color scene.
Consider this your backstage pass to the freshest formulas, all designed to elevate your artistry and keep your color game on repeat. So grab your brush, press play, and dive into the creativity of COLORFEST 2025.
Blonde brilliance starts here → Blonde Solutions
Specializing in high-performance lighteners and tools designed for maximum lift and shine, this brand empowers stylists to create bold blondes with confidence and control. Known for its dust-free powder lightener and developer system, it helps reduce irritation while delivering clean, even results.
Blonde Solutions is all about precision, power, and protecting the integrity of the hair—helping stylists who want to push the limits of lightening and creative color. Whether you're lifting to platinum or prepping for vibrant shades, this system supports fearless formulation.
And for those of you passionate about pixies, this platinum shortcut is by a pixie perfectionist, Kendall Johnson.
Power Pixie
Foil with purpose → CabelloFoil.com
Celebrating color, inclusivity, and eco-conscious beauty, Cabello Foil introduced LUV 4 ALL—premium pre-cut foil sheets designed to make a statement. These recyclable foils are embossed for perfect grip and effortless use, all while honoring every stylist and client—no ink transfer, just clean, bold results.
Founded by Jonathan Bermudez, Cabello Foil continues to be a “brand with a message” that is made with love. Sustainable, purposeful, and designed for precise placement, the most perfect blend is achieved here by Bermudez, showcased in our favorite way—the client selfie!
Cabello Foil was created to uplift artists by offering them the best tools to do their best creative work while also uplifting the industry.
One Luv
Mix your masterpiece with ECRU →
STEPS
Step 1: Choose the desired shade.
Step 2: Apply on clean, damp, or dry hair.
Step 3: Leave on for 5–20 minutes.
Step 4: Rinse thoroughly.
PRO Tip: When mixing COFFEE, use a smaller ratio to your intermixing color.
ECRU New York is where high fashion meets high performance. Born backstage and rooted in the world of runway styling, the brand blends luxury skincare science with professional hair artistry. Known for its sophisticated, multitasking formulas, ECRU New York serves up everything from styling to treatment and now color.
With the launch of Luxe Gloss, an ammonia and peroxide-free true gloss, ECRU New York empowers stylists to create personalized tones with polish and ease. Application is easy. What you see is what you get. Start off with equal parts. Like it? Maybe not there yet? Simply add the intermixing color till you see what you want.
Whether enhancing shine or adjusting tone, the pigments are balanced to reduce off-tones and improve in-salon color results, every time.
High-Powered Color
See the full fiery formula →
Step 1: Apply Formula 1 to create the luminous base:
• 1 part CHI Ionic Color – 11W
• 0.5 part CHI Ionic Color – Clear
• 1.5 parts CHI Developer – 40 volume
Step 2: Infuse radiant copper tones with Formula 2:
• 1 part CHI Ionic Color – 6CG
• 1 part CHI Developer – 20 volume
Step 3: Add dimension and depth with Formula 3:
• 1 part CHI Ionic Color – 6G
• 1 part CHI Ionic Color – 7G
• 2 parts CHI Developer – 5 volume
Step 4: Elevate vibrancy using Formula 4:
• 1 part CHI Ionic Color – 7C
• 1 part CHI Developer – 10 volume
Step 5: Perfect the golden glow with Formula 5:
• 0.5 part CHI Ionic Color – 9CG
• 1 part CHI Ionic Color – 10G
• 1.5 parts CHI Developer – 5 volume
A pioneer in hair innovation, CHI Haircare—created by Farouk Systems—has long been trusted by professionals for its commitment to advanced science and high-quality ingredients. With its iconic ceramic tools and ammonia-free color technologies, CHI fuses salon creativity with healthy hair solutions.
The brand’s Ionic Permanent Shine Hair Color is known for delivering vibrant, multidimensional color while prioritizing hair integrity. CHI’s bold formulations and meticulous layering techniques help stylists craft radiant, customized looks.
Creating this dynamic, glowing color requires expert formulation and careful layering of CHI Ionic Permanent Shine Hair Color. In the hands of Vice President of Education Mego Ayvazian, this luminous color shines bright.
Bright Idea
Get glowing with Itely Hairfashion →
Step 1: Lift new growth with DelyGlow 8CF (Mocha Series) and 20 volume in lowlight foils.
Step 2: Intersperse highlights through the mohawk section.
Step 3: Tone all over with DelyGlow 10PC (Pearl Ash Series) and 5 volume.
Rooted in Italian artistry and precision, Itely Hairfashion brings a performance-driven approach to professional hair color. Known for its high-quality formulations and rich pigment technology, the brand blends scientific innovation with a respect for hair health.
The DelyGlow line empowers stylists to create dimensional, natural-looking results with ease. In this featured look, Education Advocate Erin Overstreet demonstrates how strategic placement and tonal contrast using DelyGlow shades can deliver effortless radiance and depth.
Tone Perfection
Light up your creativity with Moroccanoil →
Moroccanoil Professional is renowned for infusing argan oil into every formula, delivering both luxury and performance. The brand blends nourishing ingredients with high-impact color, allowing stylists to create looks that are as healthy as they are head-turning.
The core of Moroccanoil Professional Haircolor is their proprietary ProArginine + ArganID System, created to provide exceptional protection throughout the color process. Its sophisticated formulas support creativity while preserving hair integrity.
In this Blazing Bob look from the Moroccanoil Global Trend Team, led by Vice President of Artistry Kevin Hughes (@hairbyeleven), vibrant orange-red hues are layered over a beautifully pre-lightened base for maximum impact. The result? A precision bob that’s bold, fiery, and full of energy.
Fire Starter
colorfest
This annual celebration spotlights the brightest brands in hair color, sharing their latest techniques, formulas, and inspired finishes.
2025
colorfest
colorfest
2025
STEPS
Step 1: Consult with client to ensure they are a candidate for the color application.
Step 2: Schedule application.
Step 3: Cut the hair.
Step 4: Mix the lightener: 1 part powder, 2 parts 35 Volume developer.
Step 5: Mix for 2 minutes.
Step 6: Apply lightener to hair, heavily saturated.
Step 7: Process naturally without artificial heat using foils and a plastic cap.
Step 8: Allow to process for 1 hour.
Step 9: Rinse and shampoo.
Step 10: Apply chrome conditioner toner.
Step 11: Mold and style as desired.
Color Finish: Platinum Dream
Artist: Kendall Johnson (@kendallthemasterstylist)
Color Finish: LUV 4 ALL
Artist: Jonathan Bermudez (@cabellofoil)
STEPS
Step 1: Section hair using fine slices or weaves for better lift.
Step 2: Apply lightener with a creamy texture and full saturation.
Step 3: Place and fold using LUV 4 ALL foil for a no-slip grip.
Step 4: Process and check every 10–15 minutes.
Step 5: Rinse and tone as needed.
Color Finish: Gloss
Artists:
Lisa Lobosco (@lisalobosco)
Amanda Jenkins (@jenkzzzz)
Color Finish: Sun Ray Cascade
Artist: Mego Ayvazian (@mego_ayvazian)
Color Formula & Application Steps:
Color Formula & Application Steps:
Color Finish: DelyGlow
Artist: Erin Overstreet
(@fleaemoji)
Step 1: Balayage using Blonde Voyage Clay Lightener + 20 volume developer (1:1.5 ratio).
Step 2: For the roots, apply a mix of 8g 10.0/10N + 2g 7.6/7R + 1g 6.6/6R + 9g Color Infusion Red with 30 volume developer (1:1 ratio).
Step 3: For lengths and ends, apply 5g 6.6/6R + 35g Color Infusion Red + 2g Color Infusion Yellow + Gloss Activator (1:1 ratio).
Color Formula & Application Steps:
Color Finish: Blazing Bob
Artists:
Barri Gibson (@barrigibsonhair)
Gonzalo Murillo (@gonzalomurillo)
Tatiana Dudley (@tantalizingtresses)
Kevin Hughes (@hairbyeleven)
Make a plan to level up your color education today →
Achieving salon-perfect color begins with education. Whether you’re refining your balayage technique, leveling up your color theory, or getting inspired by the latest trend-driven shades, continued learning is essential to successful color results.
That’s why the brands under the SalonCentric umbrella make professional education a top priority. With a focus on empowering hairstylists through advanced technique, innovative product knowledge, and artistic mentorship, these brands offer a robust lineup of classes that meet pros where they are—both in and out of the salon.
Education Station
Some of the current and upcoming class offerings include:
Matrix: Quick Dimensional Color – From Basic to Brilliant in 30 Minutes
Discover the secrets to achieving stunning, multi-dimensional color results in record time. This interactive class is tailored for both new stylists and seasoned professionals, focusing on techniques that create depth and vibrancy efficiently. Learn how to utilize one of the most viral hair color techniques on social media to enhance your services.
Taught by Carlos Rojas (@colorbycarlos)
Carlos Rojas is a Dallas-based hairstylist and co-owner of Global Group Hairdressing. As a Schwarzkopf Professional Brand Ambassador and OLAPLEX Artist, he is celebrated for his engaging educational content that blends humor with hair color techniques.
Elevate your blonding services with Redken's Shades EQ, the #1 demi-permanent color in the world. This class delves into the science behind acidic color technology, demonstrating how it can revolutionize your blonde services by delivering unparalleled results. Learn how to achieve incredible results that visibly reverse damage and offer high-impact shine.
Taught by Adrienne Dara (@adriennedara) and
Philip Foresto (@philipforesto)
Based in Philadelphia, Adrienne Dara is a renowned colorist, educator, and business coach. She owns Adrienne Dara Hair Education, where she offers both in-person and virtual classes aimed at empowering stylists through simplified color theory and business strategies.
Philip Foresto is a Nashville-based salon owner, Redken Brand Ambassador, and founder of Expensive Hair Education. With over a decade in the industry, he specializes in luxury color transformations and is known for his "Expensive Hair" technique, which emphasizes high-impact, low-maintenance color.
Redken: Unstoppable Shades EQ Blondes
L’Oréal Professionnel: 3-Dimensional Technique Featuring iNOA
Unlock the secrets to creating 3-dimensional color results using the ammonia-free iNOA system. This class focuses on transforming traditional single-process clients into bespoke, multi-dimensional masterpieces. Learn personalized placement, custom formulation, and techniques to maximize your service potential with iNOA.
Taught by Tippi Shorter (@tippishorter)
Tippi Shorter is a celebrity hairstylist and Global Artistic Director for Mizani. With a career spanning over two decades, she has styled icons like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Alicia Keys. Tippi is a leading advocate for textured hair education and diversity in the beauty industry.
Before
Capture the golden light with Satin Hair Color →
Color Finish:
Golden Lived-In Brunette
Artist:
Adam Ryan (@adamhairmakeup)
COLOR FORMULA & APPLICATION STEPS
Step 1: Apply a full head of teasy light foils, using 10 volume developer around the face and in the back, and 20 volume developer elsewhere.
Step 2: Lift the hair to a clean level 8 to create the perfect canvas.
Step 3: On damp hair, apply 4MOCHA at the roots and melt into 7G through the mids and ends using the DEMI developer.
Step 4: Process for the full recommended time.
Infused with natural botanicals and conditioning agents, Satin Hair Color is designed to respect the hair's health at every step of the coloring process. Known for its gentle, ammonia-free formulas and superior gray coverage, Satin delivers rich, long-lasting results without compromising on shine or softness.
In this featured look, artist Adam Ryan creates a Golden Lived-In Brunette using a foil technique and a seamless color melt. The result is a soft, dimensional brunette that feels effortlessly natural and luxuriously glossy—perfect for clients seeking low-maintenance beauty with high-impact results.
Laid Back Luxury
Tippi
Shorter
Make your color come to light with IGORA VIBRANCE →
Color Finish: Contrast Blonde
Artist: Patricia Nikole (@paintedhair)
With over 120 years of innovation and trusted performance, Schwarzkopf Professional is a cornerstone of salon color excellence. Known for its IGORA VIBRANCE and BLONDME lines, the brand offers stylists advanced technology, long-lasting vibrancy, and versatile formulations for every client need.
In this Contrast Blonde formula by Patricia Nikole (@paintedhair), bold pre-lightening and precise toning come together to create a luminous blonde with depth and dimension. It’s a modern take on blonde that balances cool tones with softness and shine.
Step 1: Pre-lighten using BLONDME® Premium Lightener 9+ and 20 volume developer in a 1:1.5 ratio.
Step 2: Apply IGORA VIBRANCE 5-0 with IGORA VIBRANCE Activator Lotion 4% (13 vol) to the roots in a 1:1 ratio.
Step 3: Apply IGORA VIBRANCE 9.5-24 with Activator Lotion 4% (13 vol) through the mid-lengths and ends, also in a 1:1 ratio.
Color Formula &
Application Steps:
Better Than Blonde
Before
Explore Vitality’s Italian color and custom results →
Color Finish: Venetian Beauty
Artists:
Nicola Livraghi, Gioconda Moschiano for @vitalitys_official
COLOR USED:
Nuance 5/9 (level 5 mocha-pearlescent) delivers a rich light-brown base with an iridescent twist—ideal for neutralizing unwanted red while adding soft violet reflection. It’s great for toning or for clients who prefer muted, ashier tones without harsh contrast.
Tone / Reflect: .9 indicates a soft iridescent or pearly reflect, typically with cool or violet tones—ideal for neutralizing warmth.
Result: Expect a cool, slightly violet-tinted light brown—
Technology: Ammonia-free, acidic pH, gentle on hair structure
Hailing from Italy, Vitality’s is a salon-exclusive brand that blends scientific precision with natural inspiration. Known for its gentle, dermatologically tested formulations, Vitality’s offers a full portfolio of permanent and demi-permanent hair color, lightening systems, and haircare solutions designed to protect and enhance hair health.
The Mix & Match series is designed to deliver long-lasting shine and customizable color, using formulas that are gentle on the scalp and hair. It is Vitality’s newest tone-on-tone coloring system with an acidic pH that leaves hair visibly fuller, softer, and extra glossy. With 11 intermixable shades, stylists can create bespoke color in minutes, tailoring the perfect level of warmth, coolness, or depth on demand.
Mix & Match is ideal for refreshing, toning, gray-blending, neutralizing, and more. The formulas contain powerful actives including Sea-buckthorn Fruit Oil and Creatine Shield, an amino acid derivative that fortifies the fiber against mechanical and chemical stress.
Italian Radiance
Email: kathryn@vitalitys.com
By Anne Moratto
HAIR:
Kendall Johnson
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Lynn Austin
Each year, we cue up the ultimate hair color showcase—a dynamic lineup of hues, tones, and techniques from today’s leading brands and artists. This year’s setlist hits all the right notes: from soft-focus neutrals to vivid fashion shades, and from tried-and-true formulas to trend-forward innovations by brands new to the color scene.
Consider this your backstage pass to the freshest formulas, all designed to elevate your artistry and keep your color game on repeat. So grab your brush, press play, and dive into the creativity of COLORFEST 2025.
Specializing in high-performance lighteners and tools designed for maximum lift and shine, this brand empowers stylists to create bold blondes with confidence and control. Known for its dust-free powder lightener and developer system, it helps reduce irritation while delivering clean, even results.
Blonde Solutions is all about precision, power, and protecting the integrity of the hair—helping stylists who want to push the limits of lightening and creative color. Whether you're lifting to platinum or prepping for vibrant shades, this system supports fearless formulation.
And for those of you passionate about pixies, this platinum shortcut is by a pixie perfectionist, Kendall Johnson.
STEPS
Step 1: Consult with client to ensure they are a candidate for the color application.
Step 2: Schedule application.
Step 3: Cut the hair.
Step 4: Mix the lightener: 1 part powder, 2 parts 35 Volume developer.
Step 5: Mix for 2 minutes.
Step 6: Apply lightener to hair, heavily saturated.
Step 7: Process naturally without artificial heat using foils and a plastic cap.
Step 8: Allow to process for 1 hour.
Step 9: Rinse and shampoo.
Step 10: Apply chrome conditioner toner.
Step 11: Mold and style as desired.
Unlock the secrets to creating 3-dimensional color results using the ammonia-free iNOA system. This class focuses on transforming traditional single-process clients into bespoke, multi-dimensional masterpieces. Learn personalized placement, custom formulation, and techniques to maximize your service potential with iNOA.
Taught by Tippi Shorter (@tippishorter)
Tippi Shorter is a celebrity hairstylist and Global Artistic Director for Mizani. With a career spanning over two decades, she has styled icons like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Alicia Keys. Tippi is a leading advocate for textured hair education and diversity in the beauty industry.
In this featured look, artist Adam Ryan creates a Golden Lived-In Brunette using a foil technique and a seamless color melt. The result is a soft, dimensional brunette that feels effortlessly natural and luxuriously glossy—perfect for clients seeking low-maintenance beauty with high-impact results.
With over 120 years of innovation and trusted performance, Schwarzkopf Professional is a cornerstone of salon color excellence. Known for its IGORA VIBRANCE and BLONDME lines, the brand offers stylists advanced technology, long-lasting vibrancy, and versatile formulations for every client need.
Before
Hailing from Italy, Vitality’s is a salon-exclusive brand that blends scientific precision with natural inspiration. Known for its gentle, dermatologically tested formulations, Vitality’s offers a full portfolio of permanent and demi-permanent hair color, lightening systems, and haircare solutions designed to protect and enhance hair health.
The Mix & Match series is designed to deliver long-lasting shine and customizable color, using formulas that are gentle on the scalp and hair. It is Vitality’s newest tone-on-tone coloring system with an acidic pH that leaves hair visibly fuller, softer, and extra glossy. With 11 intermixable shades, stylists can create bespoke color in minutes, tailoring the perfect level of warmth, coolness, or depth on demand.
Mix & Match is ideal for refreshing, toning, gray-blending, neutralizing, and more. The formulas contain powerful actives including Sea-buckthorn Fruit Oil and Creatine Shield, an amino acid derivative that fortifies the fiber against mechanical and chemical stress.