The Moonlights Hair Color Trend Will Have You Running to the Salon

The beauty world is forever reinventing itself, and that certainly rings true for hairstyles and hair dyeing techniques. When balayage popped off in the early 2010s, it quickly became a mainstay in salons and on heads across the world. Recently, we’ve seen an influx of moonlights, which put a chic and subtle spin on balayage’s “hair painting” approach. The before and after videos are gorgeous, which is fueling the momentum and excitement around the technique. 

What Are Moonlights?

Moonlights are a mashup between low-level, vibrant highlights and balayage. They incorporate the hair painting technique of balayage—only the painting is focused more on the lower half of the hair—and the highlights are only a few shades lighter than the hair so they blend better. 

“This technique is generally done without foil. Rather, I use a free-form placement of slightly lighter shades—typically done with bleach—throughout the last several inches of the hair,” says Marco Pelusi, celebrity stylist and educator based in West Hollywood. “It’s different from balayage because the effects are much more subtle.” 

It’s a great look year-round, but it’s especially perfect for autumn since hair colors tend to stay deeper and less “sunkissed” during the colder months. The goal is to add some lightness from the mid-lengths to the ends without being too intense. 

“The application of moonlights is less structured, using a brush or comb to strategically place the color,” adds Jennifer Korab, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon and Spa. “The result is a striking, glowing effect reminiscent of moonlight, rather than the sun-kissed finish of balayage.” 

Which Hair Colors Look Best With Moonlights?

Moonlights work well on most hair colors since the idea is to just subtly lighten things up a bit. Those with ultra-light hair—think platinum blondes or tinsel beauties—probably won’t get the same effect. Meanwhile, brunettes and dark blondes will probably enjoy this hair painting technique the most. 

“It’s most effective on darker hair for more of a noticeable lift because it’s only a few shades lighter—just for extra dimension in the hair,” Pelusi says. “So, it’s perfect for brunettes who want dimension in their hair but do not want to become blonde.” 

He adds that moonlights also work across all hair textures. In wavy or curly hair, it adds a nice subtle boost and gorgeous dimension. 

How to Maintain Moonlights 

Maintaining moonlights requires a similar approach to caring for bleached or dyed hair. Korab says you’ll want to stick to color-safe (and ideally sulfate-free) products designed to preserve your color. And since bleach can take a toll on hair, even when applied by a professional, it’s wise to incorporate some deep conditioning treatments into your regimen. Also be mindful of how much you’re heat styling to prevent excessive wear and tear on your strands. 

As for dyeing upkeep, the beauty of moonlights (and balayage in general) is that it’s super low-maintenance.

“It doesn’t even necessarily need to be done again, or could be redone months later, or perhaps you might get a toner after a few months,” Pelusi says. “Talk with your stylist. You could decide to do it again, or not. You could simply just let it grow out. And the good news is, it will have a very natural grow-out process.”

If you do want to maintain the look versus growing it out, Korab says to plan for a visit to the salon every eight to 12 weeks.