Snowlights are icy blonde highlights applied in a snowflake-inspired pattern around the crown of the head. The result is a frosty finish without committing to all-over platinum hair.
We’ve seen hair color inspired by everything from opals to rainbow roots. Back in 2016, winter got its own answer to those colorful dye jobs: snowlights. That’s right, snowlights, not highlights. We had pumpkin spice hair for fall, so an icy blonde look for winter seemed only fair.
For once, the trend didn’t call for crazy hair colors. No arctic blue or frostbitten gray required. Snowlights were designed for a softer, more natural-looking blonde with a cool finish rather than a solid, snow-white bleach job.
Snowlights were created by colorist Chloe Ascott at London’s Hare & Bone salon. The key isn’t just choosing icy shades. It’s where the highlights go. Instead of the more traditional “T” placement, the colorist arranges lightened sections in a snowflake-inspired pattern radiating from the crown. The name describes the application, not a special shade of dye.
To get the frosty effect, think ash blonde, platinum, and silvery tones rather than golden blonde. If you’re considering snowlights, show your colorist a reference photo and ask how much lightening your starting color would need. Darker hair may need more lifting to reach an icy blonde, and your colorist can help you decide whether a softer, cooler highlight is a better fit.
Even if you hate winter and snow, you have to admit the idea is pretty. It’s a subtle way to cool down your color without going full ice queen. And unlike an actual snowflake, these highlights don’t have to disappear when spring arrives.
