Embracing Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2026

1 January 2026

Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2026 is Cloud Dancer, a neutral white that's a statement of calm, clarity and fresh starts in our hectic world.

“The 2026 Pantone Colour of the Year, Cloud Dancer, is a beautiful clean, white tone with a slight grey/neutral tone to give it balance,” says Tracey Ann Smith, Creative Director at MOOD. “It's a shade that has a very calming and peaceful appearance and that signifies a fresh start – perfect as we enter a new year.

“Regarding hair, this is a beautiful shade for the winter season – almost snow like. It's bold yet chic, and a great choice for those who are already blonde. Those with darker hair may need significant lightening to achieve this hue and to keep it looking clean and free of brassiness.”

Suzie McGill, Artistic Director at Rainbow Room International, adds:

“Cloud Dancer is a beautiful soft, vanilla whipped, fluffy-esque shade of white. This is a perfect choice for blondes who prefer a lighter, creamier, slightly ashy hue and don't like their blonde to be too warm or golden toned. For those who like to stand out from the crowd, I love to pair a short, quirky, pixie cut with a clean toned ice white shade to really make a statement.”

Seung Ki Baek, Creative Colour Expert at RUSH Hair, comments:

“Within RUSH we love nothing more than a colour trend and ‘Cloud Dancer' is a welcome addition as the Pantone Colour of the Year. This shade is a step away from your typical platinum blonde shade – traditionally being perceived as a cool, almost-white hue with blend of vanilla and cream ribbons to create a multi-dimensional finish. In recent months we have noticed a rise in clients opting for icier, cooler blondes – it's dreamy, soft appearance makes it the perfect colour for showcasing the hair's health and natural shine.

“Cloud Dancer gives us colourists a blank canvas to experiment with minimalism, partnering different variations of depth, dimension, and tones to create our own interpretation of this colour trend for clients in the salon.”

Take inspiration from Pantone and bring the trend into your salon immediately with this selection of hair, nails and makeup products…

Andreia Professional Hybrid Gel Polish in H3 Milky White