ICYMI, Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year is Cloud Dancer, an airy white meant to evoke a sense of calm in a loud, chaotic world. Pantone describes the hue as a “key structural color whose versatility provides scaffolding for the color spectrum.” Not everyone knows what to make of the choice, but many colorists and blonde specialists have been enthusiastic, creating some of the purest platinum looks in celebration of the Pantone pick.
See some of our favorite Cloud Dancer creations, collections and tips below!
hair by PRAVANA Global Artistic Team member George Blanco @georgeeblancoo
photo courtesy of George Blanco
For the perfect white cloud-like color, PRAVANA recently partnered with George Blanco (@georgeeblancoo) using Express Tones Clear with a little Violet and Pearl to create a soft, white all-over color.
“I think one of the biggest challenges when creating ‘white hair’ is ensuring that the base is perfect before filtering out that last little bit of warm pigment. If the base isn’t right, it won’t be white,” says Blanco. “So to tackle this, it’s as simple as a good product. In this case, I used PRAVANA Pure Light Ultra Lightener, which is my favorite lightener to date, plus proper saturation and patience.”
To create the perfect Cloud Dancer white, Blanco and PRAVANA recommend first bringing the hair to a clean level 10 using their Pure Light lighteners, then cleansing with their Perfect Blonde shampoo and toning with the Express Tones Pearl or Violet mentioned above, depending on the desired result. Clients should cleanse their hair once a week with Clear Cleanse shampoo, which helps diminish minerals that cause hair to yellow.
Hair – Tracey Ann Smith | Photographer – Richard Miles | Makeup – Lauren Mathis | Styling – Ellen Spiller
Tracey Ann Smith (@tannsmithhairartist), Creative Director at UK hair color brand MOOD, immediately thought of the winter season when Pantone announced its Cloud Dancer pick.
“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,” Smith explains. “Those with darker hair may need significant lightening to achieve this hue and to keep it looking clean and free of brassiness.
“When achieving this shade on clients, I would use MOOD Level 7 Bleach to pre-lighten the hair to a clean base, then tone using MOOD Demi Doubles for the perfect ice white.
“I would then recommend the MOOD Silver Specific Shampoo and Conditioner once every couple of weeks for my clients to use at home to keep the hair fresh and neutral without any yellow tones, switching between this and the MOOD Ultra Care Shampoo and Conditioner which is created specifically for bleached hair and helps to repair even the most badly damaged hair.”
Suzie McGill
Hair – Suzie McGill International | Photographer – Chris Bulezuik and Michael Young | MUA – MV Makeup, Jak Morgan and Maddie Austin | Stylist – Detroit Law and Claire Frith
Suzie McGill (@suziemcgillhair), Artistic Director at Rainbow Room International in Scotland, loves to complement the striking white shade with a cut or style that makes an impact:
“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,” McGill shares. “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.
“As this colour requires bleaching, ensuring the hair is kept in its optimal condition through the bleaching process is so important. I would use Fibreplex to protect the hair from damage during the colour process and keep the hair strong and healthy. I would then use Schwarzkopf Professional BLONDME 2% to create a beautiful platinum base, toning it down using 9,5-1 Vibrance to create an ashy, almost grey tone with no signs of brassiness in sight.
“If the client is looking for a bolder, more fashion-forward result, colour blocking can add that extra edge. Because it’s such a pure tone, I love contrasting it with blocks of brunette or black to create more drama in the hair.”
