Candy Cane Is The Sweetest Hair Colour For Christmas - Here's How To Get It

'Tis the season of sweet treats, with stripy candy canes dangling from the Christmas tree and the annual family-size tin of glistening Quality Street being cracked open.

But what if we want to translate those sugary colourways to... our hair?

Creative sweetshop-inspired hair dos are cropping up across Instagram - and we're feeling the sugar rush.

Think artfully blended cherry-red tones, contrasted with paler pastel accents of lilac and powder-pink.

Honestly, this mouth-watering trend looks good enough to eat.

Want to achieve the look yourself? Step up Declan Haworth, Colour Director at award-winning boutique salons Blue Tit, with some handy colour advice.

"To me, this style looks like a blonde with vibrant red tones woven through," says the expert colourist. "In terms of your base, the look would be suited to pre-lightened or naturally blonde colour. If your hair isn't already lightened, it would need to be in order to achieve this kind of result."

"As the colour is on the warmer end of the colour spectrum, it will enhance paler skin tones," he continues.

"In some of these images we're also seeing examples of the look at the more ashen end of the spectrum, with powdery pinks, greys and violets."

What should we be bearing in mind with an extreme style like this?

"One thing to note is durability and sustainability," says Declan. "In the industry it's acknowledged that 'fashion shades' like this - which are intentionally artificial looking rather than taking on a natural aesthetic - are more temporary."

"As your colour fades, it may take on more of a pinkish tone," he continues. "So, the commitment factor is worth keeping in mind - but then, maybe this is a style you want for the Christmas holidays and will change when January rolls around!"

For aftercare, Declan recommends "a really great colour protection shampoo and conditioner - and not washing your hair with water that is too hot a temperature!"

Try styling the look with big barrel tongs to really bring out the variety of colourways - and to heighten the swirly, stripy candy cane effect.

A bold look like this would look incredible offset by a simple little LBD for Christmas parties. Alexa, play 50 Cent's Candy Shop.

Featured Image Credit: Unsplash

Topics: Hair and Beauty, Style News, Hair

Mary-Jane Wiltsher

Mary-Jane Wiltsher is a freelance lifestyle and culture journalist. Elsewhere she writes for Stylist, Euronews, PHOENIX and What We Seee.