Kiku Loves: The New Summer Hair Manifesto by Kiku Salon

Welcome trendsetters and hairstyling professionals. Gugu here, your MDP Beauty Advisor.

Forget the usual summer clichés, the over-processed artificial blondes, and the aggressive lightening techniques that strip the hair fiber of its vitality. This season, the ultimate summer trend is being rewritten with an entirely new code—one defined by understatement, deep curation, and a decidedly couture elegance. I am thrilled to give you an exclusive look into Kiku Salon’s latest editorial creation: the KIKU LOVES… collection.

This highly sophisticated, editorial concept is tailored for salons looking to anticipate the desires of their most discerning clientele. It places ultimate hair health and bespoke, tailored reflection right at the center of the conversation.

Here are the three chromatic stages of this high-fashion color journey.

Muted Colours: The Allure of Sophisticated Shades

While a transition in seasons often signifies the return of brighter, lighter hues, this summer Kiku Salon is encouraging a chic change of direction. KIKU LOVES soft, subtle, sophisticated shades that allow the hair’s natural beauty to shine without being overpowered by harsh lightening techniques.

We’re talking relaxed, effortless colors that aren’t fussy, yet still effortlessly command attention in any room. These are fashion-forward, avant-garde hues designed specifically to let a colorist’s true artistry take center stage.

1. Toasted Brunette

Toasted Brunette radiates a soft, natural warmth. Its brilliance lies in the seamless melting of cool-toned mushroom hues with warm honey undertones.

• The Visual Result: It reflects light in a quiet, understated way, visibly enhancing the hair’s overall health and mesmerizing shine.
• Why to Offer It in the Salon: This is the perfect transitional hue for the summer months. Its immense versatility means this subtle shade can work beautifully for almost all skin undertones.
• The Technical Advantage: It allows clients to focus on hair health as there is minimal bleaching and no harsh, blunt regrowth. This shade is ideal for those wanting to soften their color without dulling their shine or flattening their natural base.

2. Nectarine Copper

Nectarine Copper blends soft golden babylights with a darker auburn base to beautifully maintain the shade’s muted tone. In a season where color often becomes artificially vibrant, this shade remains deeply grounded in its organic elegance.

• The Color Architecture: This warm cocktail mixes rich copper tones with ultra-fine golden babylights. A few strategic lowlights are blended throughout to add dimension, depth, and structural movement.
• Why Clients Will Love It: It requires little to no maintenance between salon visits and far less bleaching to achieve a beautiful, lived-in feel. The hair grows out more naturally, avoiding that overly done or high-maintenance look.

3. Bitter Chocolate

Bitter Chocolate blends rich cocoa and cool espresso hues, making it one of this season’s most sought-after flagship shades. Neither too warm nor too cool, this color sits perfectly in the middle, striking an immaculate chromatic balance.

• The Salon Effect: Even though it is a darker hue, it maintains incredible internal depth and dimension throughout to give the hair a truly mesmerizing, glossy finish.
• The Luxury Touch: We love this shade for its extreme versatility—it maintains its neutrality while looking expensive, rich, and incredibly glossy.

Bitter Chocolate will be everywhere this season, capturing that timeless brunette allure without ever being too dominating or heavy.

What are your thoughts on this return to understated luxury and hair health prioritization? Which of these three shades will you be introducing to your technical menu first? Let me know in the comments below!