Pantone announced its 2026 Color of the Year: PANTONE 11-4201, Cloud Dancer. The shade is described as a calming, lofty white that promotes reflection and serenity. This choice signals a potential shift towards softer, more minimalist aesthetics across various industries, including hair colour services.
Industry colourists offer mixed but largely positive reactions. Michelle Summers Davies of Michelle Davies Hair views Cloud Dancer as a versatile neutral, a 'clean canvas' for colourists. She suggests it quietly enhances bolder colours and refines softer tones, aligning with a contemporary desire for clarity over noise. Dean Lawton-Taylor from Trinder Hair Studios is enthusiastic, calling the shade 'gorgeous' and 'perfect for all year round'. He highlights its adaptability for techniques like global blondes, balayage, and even subtle highlights on darker bases or grey blends.
Georgina Greenslade of The Hair Movement finds Cloud Dancer 'beautiful, soft, and graceful'. She believes the colour brings peace and ease, adding brightness without harshness for a natural effect. She notes that colour is a form of self-expression, and this shade offers empowerment through subtle confidence.
However, Lloyd Court from seanhanna expresses a slight reservation. While acknowledging white as a colour, he expected Pantone to set a more vibrant creative tone for the year. He interprets Cloud Dancer as a move towards softer palettes, potentially signalling the decline of high-contrast work in favour of gentler ombré blends that are flattering on the skin. This suggests a broader trend of seeking less punchy, more harmonious colour choices.
