Living Coral: Everything You Need To Know About Pantone’s Color of the Year

Pantone just announced living coral as the official color of 2019, and we can’t contain our excitement. Pantone colors don’t just dictate what’s hot in makeup and fashion, they also inspire hair colorists around the world. Whether you have dark brown hair or ash blonde locks, you’re going to want to book an appointment with your colorist ASAP to get the hottest color of 2019.

Contemplating whether or not living coral hair should be your color of the year? Continue reading for everything you need to know about the on-trend shade.

What is living coral hair?

Living coral hair is inspired by the vibrant and full of life coral reefs that thrive in the ocean. The soothing combination of bright pink and mellow orange blend together to create a color that is both vibrant and delicate.

“Pantone living coral emits the desired, familiar, and energizing aspects of color found in nature. In its glorious, yet unfortunately more elusive, display beneath the sea, this vivifying and effervescent color mesmerizes the eye and mind,” Pantone’s press release reads. “Lying at the center of our naturally vivid and chromatic ecosystem, Pantone living coral is evocative of how coral reefs provide shelter to a diverse kaleidoscope of color.”

Chances are good you won’t find the shade living coral in the drug store, so it’s best to leave this color job to a world-class professional. . Lucky for you, Matrix is always on-trend. Shortly after Pantone’s news, the brand filled us in on a new range of SoColor Cult hair dye shades called Cool Aquatics. Matrix’s version of living coral (called Starfish Cora)l will launch in March 2019 and be available in semi, demi, and permanent technologies.

Amanda Epstein, Matrix master colorist, can’t get enough of living coral hair.

While you’ll have to wait until March to get your hands on Matrix’s starfish coral shade, Epstein explains how she would create the color on a client who just can’t wait.

“I would mix SoColor Cult shades in bubblegum pink with drops of SoColor Cult orange alert—testing before adding more drops—and then throwing in a drop or two of SoColor Cult disco silver,” she explains. “I love the way adding the silver to the pink smokes it out so perfectly.”

How do you care for living coral hair?

Living coral hair looks absolutely breathtaking, but with Instagram-worthy hair color comes great responsibility. Like most fantasy shades, living coral hair may fade pretty quickly. To ensure your hair color looks it’s best for as long as possible, you’ll need to do a major rehaul of your hair care routine.

First, swap out your regular shampoo and conditioner for a system that is formulated to protect your hair color. We recommend Matrix’s Biolage R.A.W. Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner. The shampoo and conditioner system is formulated with coconut milk and meadowfoam to help protect color-treated hair, leaving it soft and shiny with lasting color vibrancy.
 
Next, incorporate a deep conditioning treatment into your weekly hair care routine. Unless you’re a natural blonde, chances are good your colorist will have to use bleach to lift your natural color before applying the living coral hue. It’s important to note that bleach will always damage your hair, but a hair care professional can help minimize the look and feel of the damage. We recommend Matrix’s Total Results Miracle Creator Multi-Tasking Hair Mask. This single-use formula intensely nourishes, revitalizes and strengthens hair in just 60 seconds.

Lastly, prepare to get really comfortable at your hair salon. If you want your hair color to look it’s best at all times, expect to head to the salon for touch-ups every four to six weeks. This schedule allows your stylist to keep your color looking vibrant and make sure your roots don’t show too much. 

How does living coral look best?

If you’re going to slay the hottest color trend of the year, you might as well pair it with the hottest haircut of the year: the shag. Your stylist will feather out your ends with the end goal of boosting volume at your crown. The resulting style is textured with tons of movement throughout.

Whatever you decide, we want to see your reed-inspired color. Use the hashtag #hairdotcom to tag us in your posts.

Interested in having a professional give you flawless living coral? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.