Miley Cyrus, cats and Kelly Clarkson—what do they all have in common? They’ve all inspired us to consider the calico hair trend one way or another. Clarkson on the cover of her album Thankful, Cyrus on her W Magazine cover and cats of the calico variety have all sported similar chunky highlights, and we’re not sure which one is at fault, but now calico hair is trending. Pinterest reported that online searches for calico hair skyrocketed by 6,500 percent—here’s how to get the look.
Featured experts
- Ryan Dickie is a colorist at IGK Salon Miami
- Adrienne Dara is a hair expert and Redken ambassador
What is calico hair?
“Calico hair is a trending colorway that borrows its name from a calico cat, inspired by the tri-blend of blonde, red and brown hair, creating a bold and striking look,” says colorist at IGK Salon Miami Ryan Dickie. The trend goes hand-in-hand with the resurgence of early 2000’s trends, notes hair expert and Redken ambassador Adrienne Dara.
Why is early 2000s calico hair trending?
Dickie says calico hair is likely familiar to millennials as it’s a recycled trend from the early 2000s chunky highlight, noting the particular colorway was famously worn by Clarkson during her debut era. “If you notice how trends emerge, we began late last year seeing the return of the big ’90s blowout, followed by chunky 2000s highlights, and now we’re moving into the more emo era of 2002 to 2006,” says Dara.
“With the rise in popularity of all Y2K trends, it isn’t surprising this look is currently trending. I feel it will be partnered with ultra contrasting block color, reminiscent of early era Christina Aguilera, with bold color choices such as black and platinum, with pops of fantasy color throughout,” predicts Dickie.
How to get the calico hair look
Dara says this look is all about color blocking. “The colorist will need to create bold bands of color, alternating blonde, brown and a vibrant red, all throughout the hair,” says Dickie. More specifically, Dara says, “The blonde tone can be either cool or warm, the brunette tone can be light or dark and the red can be copper or bold cherry.”
Dickie notes that “This technique abandons the principles of modern techniques, which have become increasingly blended and subtle—instead, opting for a very bold, unblended result.” To get a more visible stripe, “it’s usually most effective to stack several foils of the same color back to back, using vertical sections throughout the mohawk section, as well as the back and sides of the hair,” he says.
The key to success with this look is precision, notes Dara. “Due to the complexity of such contrasting colors, it’s imperative to rinse with consideration to avoid bleeding. I recommend rinsing each red and brown section with cool water, keeping the blonde foils isolated until all ‘hair color’ is rinsed and water is running clear,” advises Dickie. This will help prevent “any overly-porous hair from absorbing pigments from hair color and staining the brighter blonde.”
How to style calico hair
Styling your hair is a matter of preference and aesthetic, but there are some aspects of calico hair worth noting before you get into it. “Wavy or curled hair will diffuse color, appearing more blended and soft, while straight and sleek hair will feature the bold stripes of color, creating a much more editorial look,” says Dickie. “Due to the nature of this trend, it tends to lean towards the bold and editorial look while remaining versatile based on individual styling choices.”
