Okay, ladies, I need to share something that’s been taking over my Pinterest boards and consuming my late-night salon research sessions! Milk tea hair is having a MAJOR moment right now, and trust me when I say it’s going to be the defining color trend of 2025. I literally gasped when my stylist, Tanya, showed me her color portfolio last week – half her clients are rocking some version of this deliciously named shade!
For those of you who haven’t fallen down this rabbit hole yet (where have you been?!), milk tea hair captures that perfect balance between warm and cool tones – exactly like your favorite boba drink. It’s this gorgeous blend of soft beige, delicate brown, and muted golden tones that somehow manages to be both subtle AND statement-making.
My cousin Zoe jumped on this trend early last year, and I swear, every single time we grab coffee downtown, someone stops her to ask about her hair color. It’s one of those rare shades that seems to flatter literally EVERYONE. I’ve seen it on my friend Melissa with her fine, straight hair, and it looks just as amazing on my coworker Darcy with her thick curls. The versatility is insane!
What I absolutely adore about milk tea hair (besides the fact that it makes me crave boba every time I hear the name) is how low-maintenance it can be. After years of fighting brass with my previous blonde attempts (the struggle was REAL), finding a color that fades gracefully feels like discovering hidden treasure. And can we talk about how incredible it looks in different lighting? My bathroom selfies versus outdoor photos look like two completely different colors, but both are absolutely dreamy!
Is milk tea hair color high maintenance?
Unlike those super trendy pastel colors that had me in the salon every three weeks last year (my bank account is still recovering, thank you very much), milk tea hair is surprisingly forgiving. The natural-looking blend of warm and cool tones means that as it fades, it still looks intentional rather than brassy or washed out.
That said, a good purple shampoo once or twice a week is your BFF with this color. I found this out the hard way after swimming at my friend’s pool party last summer – my previously perfect milk tea started taking on some seriously orange vibes. A quick Amazon order and two purple shampoo treatments later, and order was restored to my hair universe!
Since the shade relies on those subtle neutral undertones, you’ll probably want to schedule touch-ups every 8-10 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows. But honestly? The grow-out process is WAY less obvious than with traditional blonde, so you can definitely stretch those appointments if you’re trying to save some cash (or if you’re like me and completely forgot to book your follow-up appointment before leaving the salon. Oops.).
Does milk tea hair color look good on everyone?
In my humble opinion as someone who’s been hair-obsessed since my first disastrous box dye experiment in 9th grade (please tell me I’m not the only one with that folder of hair disasters on my phone!)… milk tea is one of the most universally flattering shades I’ve ever seen.
What makes it so versatile is that there isn’t just ONE milk tea color – it’s more like a family of shades that can be customized to complement your skin tone. My friend Aisha has the most gorgeous olive complexion, and her stylist mixed in slightly warmer caramel tones that look absolutely breathtaking on her. Meanwhile, my super pale, pink-undertoned skin needed a cooler, more ashy version to avoid looking like I had jaundice (always a risk with me and warm colors, unfortunately).
The key is working with a colorist who understands how to adapt the milk tea concept to your specific coloring. When my sister-in-law Jen wanted to try this trend, I basically begged her to skip the discount salon and splurge on someone who specializes in dimensional color. The results were so worth the extra money – her milk tea has these gorgeous ribbons of light and depth that catch the light in the most amazing way.
How do I ask for milk tea hair?
Let me tell you about the disaster that happened when I just waltzed into the salon and said, “I want milk tea hair!” My poor stylist looked at me like I had three heads, and I walked out with something that was definitely NOT what I had in mind. Learn from my mistakes, people!
First off, bring pictures. LOTS of pictures. And not just of the final result – try to find images that show the starting hair color too, especially if it’s close to yours. When I was transitioning from my grown-out highlights to milk tea, showing my stylist that journey helped her understand exactly what I needed.
Use specific language too. Instead of just saying “milk tea,” describe what you’re seeing: “I want a soft beige-brown with subtle dimension,” or “I’m looking for a neutral light brown with tiny ribbons of caramel.” During my consultation with Kate (my hair magician), I mentioned that I wanted something that would complement my neutral wardrobe without washing me out, and that specificity really helped her customize the color.
Also – and I cannot stress this enough – be realistic about the process! If you’re starting with box-dyed black hair like my roommate was, you’re not getting perfect milk tea in one session. When Rachel tried to rush the process, she ended up with some seriously damaged ends and a color that was nowhere near the subtle, dimensional shade she wanted.
What’s the difference between milk tea hair and bronde?
Okay, let’s clear up the confusion I had for MONTHS. After showing my stylist Marcos a milk tea inspiration pic last spring, he said, “Oh, you want bronde!” I nodded along while frantically Googling under the cape because… what exactly is the difference?
From what I’ve gathered after way too many hours on hair forums (please send help), bronde is specifically that middle ground between blonde and brown – it’s literally blonde + brown = bronde. It tends to have more obvious highlights and lowlights with higher contrast. Think Jennifer Lopez’s signature dimensional color.
Milk tea, on the other hand, is all about that seamless blend with minimal contrast. While it does incorporate both blonde and brown elements, they’re melted together in a more subtle way, creating that creamy, dreamy effect. The tones lean more neutral or slightly warm, without the distinct ribbons of lightness you often see in bronde styles.
I finally understood the difference when I was at my friend Tara’s wedding last month. She had classic bronde – gorgeous caramel and honey highlights framing her face against a light brown base. Meanwhile, her sister had this perfect milk tea situation happening – a seamless, blended beige-brown that looked almost airbrushed in its smoothness. Both were stunning, just in completely different ways!
1: Honey Swirl Milk Tea
This stunning dimensional look captures the perfect balance of warm golden tones and neutral beige, creating that signature milk tea vibe we’re all obsessed with! The subtle waves add incredible movement, allowing those beautifully blended highlights to catch the light at different angles.
To recreate this dreamy color, ask your stylist for a neutral light brown base with delicate honey-toned money pieces framing your face. Trust me, this shade is absolutely magical for warming up lighter complexions while still giving that sophisticated, natural look everyone’s craving right now.
2: Creamy Latte Waves
The face-framing softness of this milk tea variation brings a gorgeous brightness to the face while maintaining that lived-in, effortless vibe we’re all after these days. With its perfect balance of cool and warm undertones, this particular shade looks incredible in both natural light and those inevitable bathroom selfies (come on, we all take them!).
You’ll want to ask your colorist for a neutral beige base with subtle face-framing highlights and soft rooting to ensure that grow-out phase is as painless as possible. I’m absolutely smitten with how versatile this shade is – it’s giving me all the coffee shop casual vibes while still being polished enough for my friend’s upcoming wedding.
3: Vanilla Boba Blush
Can we take a moment to appreciate this stunning rose-tinged milk tea shade that’s giving me major heart eyes? This cooler-toned interpretation features subtle blush undertones that create the most gorgeous neutral with just a hint of something special.
For this delicate color, you’ll need to start with a light base (or prepare for a few lightening sessions) before your stylist adds that signature beige-pink toner that makes this shade so unique. I’m head over heels for how this particular milk tea variation brightens the complexion – my friend Jackie got this exact shade last month, and I swear it makes her look like she’s always perfectly lit!
4: Dimensional Chai Cream
This gorgeous, multi-tonal take on milk tea hair incorporates slightly warmer ribbons of color through the mid-lengths, creating incredible dimension without high-contrast highlights. The subtle waves showcase the seamless blend of beige and caramel tones that make this color so captivating from every angle.
Your colorist can achieve this look using a balayage technique with neutral-warm toners that add depth without venturing into brassy territory. I’m absolutely living for how this particular milk tea shade transitions from season to season – my coworker has maintained this color through both winter and summer, and it somehow looks perfectly appropriate year-round!
5: Classic Beige Milk Tea
This quintessential milk tea shade is absolute perfection – a neutral beige-brown that somehow manages to be both subtle and statement-making at the same time. The sleek, straight styling shows off the remarkable evenness of this color, highlighting its creamy consistency from roots to ends.
For this signature milk tea look, ask for a neutral light brown base with the faintest hint of warm beige throughout, avoiding any obvious highlighting patterns.
You’ll be amazed at how this particular shade seems to enhance every outfit – I literally changed my entire wardrobe color palette after getting a similar color because it made everything in my closet look more expensive!
6: Gradient Caramel Melt
Look at this gorgeous transition from deeper roots to the lightest ends – it’s giving expensive, lived-in color that screams “I woke up like this” in the best possible way! The soft waves showcase how the color gradually shifts from a richer brown at the crown to that perfect milk tea shade through the lengths and ends.
Your stylist can create this natural-looking dimension using a subtle root smudge and hand-painted balayage pieces that get progressively lighter toward the ends. I’m totally obsessed with how this particular milk tea interpretation grows out – my sister has this exact color and has stretched her salon visits to every 12 weeks because the grow-out looks intentional rather than neglected!
7: Platinum Milk Tea
This lighter interpretation of the milk tea trend leans heavily into the cream aspect, with its gorgeous pale beige tones that hover just between blonde and light brown. The super straight, glass-like finish really highlights the remarkable consistency of this color from roots to ends. This shade requires more maintenance than deeper milk tea variations, so prepare for regular toning sessions to keep that perfect neutral-cool balance.
Listen up – if you’ve been struggling with brassy blonde for years (raising my hand right here), this sophisticated alternative might be the perfect way to lighten up while avoiding those stubborn yellow undertones!
8: Pearl Milk Waves
The incredible glossiness of this pearl-toned milk tea variation practically radiates light, creating the most beautiful dimensional effect even without obvious highlights or lowlights. These loose waves showcase how the color shifts subtly between neutral beige and the faintest hint of golden honey, depending on how the light hits it.
To achieve this luminous effect, your colorist will likely use a gloss treatment over a perfectly blended base color, creating that signature “lit from within” shine. I can’t get over how expensive and sophisticated this shade looks – my friend spent way less than I expected for her similar color, but everyone assumes she’s dropping serious cash on her hair!
9: Toasted Almond Blend
This richer interpretation of milk tea incorporates deeper ribbons of color throughout, creating a stunning multi-dimensional effect that has incredible depth and movement. The subtle waves allow you to see all the beautiful variations in tone, from soft beige to deeper caramel threads that add warmth and richness.
For this complex color, ask your stylist for a medium-toned neutral base with hand-painted balayage pieces in varying shades of caramel and beige. You’ll fall in love with how this particular milk tea variation flatters olive and golden skin tones – my college roommate with Mediterranean heritage got this color last month, and it brings out the most gorgeous warmth in her complexion!
10: Milky Way Blonde
This breathtaking, ultra-light milk tea shade incorporates the faintest whisper of beige into an otherwise bright blonde base, creating that perfect balance between statement blonde and wearable neutral. The long, loose waves showcase how beautifully consistent this color is from roots to ends, with just enough dimension to avoid looking flat or artificial.
This high-maintenance version of milk tea requires regular toning and likely a shadow root technique to keep grow-out looking intentional rather than neglected. I’m completely enchanted by how this particular shade looks in natural sunlight – I literally stopped a stranger at the farmers market last weekend to ask about her nearly identical hair color (sorry not sorry)!
The Perfect Blend
If there’s one hair trend worth exploring in 2025, it’s definitely milk tea hair in all its gorgeous variations. Whether you’re drawn to the richer, caramel-infused versions or the lighter, creamier interpretations, there’s a milk tea shade waiting to transform your look. Don’t be afraid to bring lots of inspiration photos to your stylist and have an honest conversation about maintenance expectations. The perfect milk tea awaits!
