The Jet-Black Hair-Color Trend Is Going to Be Popular in 2021, but It's Anything but Basic

As much as we love experimenting with fun hair colors like pastel plum, amaretto biscotti, and black cherry, sometimes nothing is better than a classic shade like jet black. It’s timeless, it’s chic, and it’s always on trend.

To state the obvious, jet-black hair never went away, but the shade has taken a back seat to other color trends over the years (see: bleached blond and chunky highlights) – but that’s about to change. As one of the hottest hair color trends of 2021, according to the pros, glossy black hair is stepping back into the spotlight, and it’s more dynamic than ever.

“This sounds easier than it is since most people think of glossy black as one color, but there are actually multiple tones involved to get the right shine and movement without looking inky and solid,” celebrity colorist and Matrix expert George Papanikolas told POPSUGAR. “Hair color comes in 10 levels and half of them are in the dark family, ranging from level one, black, to level five, medium brown. Glossy black incorporates all of these.”

If you’ve never gone this dark before, don’t let the idea scare you away from trying it – just understand that, depending on your natural hair color, it can be a big responsibility. “Jet black is a vibe, it’s a whole commitment,” celebrity hairstylist Bianca Hillier said. “Cool-tone black gives off an eclectic feel helping any artist get into the groove. Be sure to specify with your colorist what tone you want the hair to shine in the light to nail it exactly.”

To maintain the color at home, Papanikolas recommends incorporating a green-based shampoo and hair mask into your hair-care routine to keep unwanted red tones away. Keep scrolling for more jet-black hair-color inspiration.