Plum hair colour sits in the sweet spot between drama and wearability: deeper and moodier than burgundy, softer and more romantic than black, with violet undertones that catch the light in the most flattering way. These 32 ideas cover the full range, from near-black plum espresso to vivid purple ombre, across bobs, pixies, long layers, balayage and braids, each with honest notes on upkeep and who it suits best. We break down a similar look in Hair Color Chart 2027.
1. Long Wavy Plum Layers
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Long, softly layered waves are one of the easiest ways to wear plum, because the movement in the cut stops the dark colour from looking flat. The shade reads as a rich purple-brown indoors and turns more violet in sunlight, which gives the style two personalities without any extra effort. Related reading: Peekaboo Hair Color 2027 takes the same concept further.
Ask for long layers and a plum gloss over a dark base if you want this effect with minimal upkeep. The darker root area means regrowth blends in, and a violet-depositing conditioner every couple of weeks helps the purple tones stay visible between salon visits. For a different spin on the same theme, browse Cinnamon Hair Color 2027.
2. Deep Plum Gloss Waves with a Seamless Blend
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A high-gloss finish is what separates a good plum from a great one. Here the colour is blended so evenly from root to tip that there is no visible line anywhere, just a continuous wash of deep plum that catches the light as the waves move.
Gloss matters more than depth with this look: dull ends will make plum read as plain brown. A clear or plum-tinted glaze every six to eight weeks, plus cool-water washing, keeps the shine that makes the blend look seamless.
3. Plum Burgundy on Long Waves
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Plum with a burgundy lean is the warmest way into this colour family, and it suits anyone who finds pure violet a little too cool. The red warmth keeps the shade looking rich rather than grey, especially on medium to deep skin tones.
Because red tones fade fastest, expect the burgundy side to soften first. Colour-safe shampoo and washing less often will slow that shift, and a refresh gloss can bring the warmth back without a full recolour.
4. Textured Plum Waves with Dark Undertones
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Texture is doing the heavy lifting here: choppy, piecey waves break up the plum so the darker undertones show through in places and the lighter violet pieces flash in others. The result has far more dimension than a single flat application.
This is a good choice for hair that falls flat when coloured one solid shade. A texturising spray on dry waves adds separation, and the darker undertones mean the grow-out stays soft for ten weeks or more.
5. Berry Plum Blowout with Big Barrel Waves
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A bouncy blowout in berry plum leans brighter than the moodier plums, with the big barrel waves giving the colour room to show its pink-purple side. It is a polished, evening-ready version of plum rather than an everyday wash of colour.
Big waves need a good blow-dry foundation, so a round brush and a heat protectant are essential. The brighter berry tones will fade sooner than deep plum, so plan a toner refresh around the six-week mark. The concept gets a fuller treatment in Ombre Hair Color 2027.
6. Velvet Plum Layers in Deep Burgundy
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Velvet is a good word for this shade: dense, matte-leaning and deep, with the burgundy warmth sitting just under the surface. The layered cut keeps all that depth from feeling heavy, since the ends are thinned out enough to move freely.
Matte-leaning colour can look dry if the hair is not in good condition, so weekly deep conditioning is worth the effort here. The payoff is a shade that looks expensive in low light, where brighter plums can wash out.
7. Sleek Dark Plum Straight Hair
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Straight, sleek hair shows plum at its most jewel-like, because there are no waves to break up the colour. The dark plum reads almost black in dim rooms and reveals its purple heart the moment light hits it.
Sleek styling demands healthy ends, since a straight finish shows split ends immediately. A smoothing serum and a flat iron on a moderate heat keep the surface glassy, and trims every eight weeks protect the blunt line.
8. Dark Plum Waves with Subtle Contrast
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Not every plum needs high contrast to work. Here the dimension is deliberately quiet: slightly lighter plum pieces woven through a dark base, visible mainly when the hair moves. It is plum for people who want depth without drama.
Low-contrast colour is also low-maintenance colour, since there is no harsh line as it grows out. A gloss refresh every eight to ten weeks is usually enough to keep the subtle pieces from disappearing entirely.
9. Plum Ombre in Dark Tones
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A dark-toned ombre keeps the roots natural and lets plum take over gradually toward the ends, which makes this one of the most forgiving ways to try the shade. The darkest version of plum sits near the crown, so regrowth is barely noticeable.
The ends carry the lightest, most processed colour, so they need the most care: bond-building treatments and regular trims stop them from turning dry and frizzy. The trade-off is worth it for a grow-out that can stretch past three months. For more ideas in the same lane, see our Red Hair Colors 2027.
10. Plum Ombre on Long Hair
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This longer ombre gives the transition more room to breathe, moving from a near-natural dark base through plum and into brighter violet ends. The length is what makes the gradient look gradual rather than striped.
Long ombres suit wavy or loosely curled hair best, since the texture softens each stage of the transition. Straight hair can work too, but the lines between shades will read more sharply, so ask for a melted blend if that bothers you.
11. Deep Plum Pixie
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A pixie in deep plum is punchy rather than pretty, and that is exactly its appeal. The short length concentrates the colour, so even a dark plum reads as a deliberate statement instead of a subtle tint.
Short cuts need reshaping every four to six weeks, which conveniently doubles as a colour refresh appointment. The small amount of hair also means fading is quick to correct, so vivid plum is easier to maintain on a pixie than on long hair.
12. Berry Plum Pixie
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Berry plum on a pixie leans brighter and more playful, with the shorter pieces at the nape and around the ears showing the pink-purple tones most clearly. Texture through the crown keeps it soft rather than severe.
Styling is minimal: a dab of matte paste or texturising cream defines the crown pieces, and the colour stays brightest with a tinted conditioner between salon visits. It flatters oval and heart-shaped faces especially well.
13. Violet Plum Short Blunt Bob
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A blunt bob gives violet plum a graphic, editorial edge. The sharp perimeter makes the colour look intentional and modern, while the violet lean keeps it cooler and more fashion-forward than burgundy plum.
Blunt bobs need sharpening every six weeks to hold their line, and cool water helps the violet tones from sliding warm. Straight, fine to medium hair holds this crisp shape best; very thick hair may need internal layering to avoid a triangle silhouette. This pairs naturally with the ideas in Hair Color Ideas 2027.
14. Frosted Plum Short Pixie with Razored Texture
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Frosted plum adds a whisper of lightness over the deeper base, and razored texture breaks the colour into feathery pieces. The combination reads softer than a solid plum pixie, almost like the colour has been dusted over the cut.
Razored texture grows out faster than blunt cuts, so trims every four to five weeks keep the shape. The frosted pieces are the most lightened sections, so they will fade first; a violet gloss at home between visits keeps them from turning brassy.
15. Plum Brown Pixie for Naturally Curly Hair
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Plum brown is the quietest member of the plum family, and on natural curls it reads as a warm, dimensional brown with violet flashes rather than an obvious fashion colour. The curl pattern multiplies the dimension, since every coil catches light differently.
Curly pixies need moisture above all else: colour on curls fades faster when hair is dry, so leave-in conditioner and curl cream are non-negotiable. The brown-leaning base also means regrowth is far less visible than with vivid plum.
16. Plum Balayage on a Dark Base
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Balayage is plum’s best friend, because the hand-painted placement creates a soft, diffused edge rather than a hard line. The plum starts below the ears and builds toward the ends, so the grow-out looks intentional for months.
Expect the lighter painted pieces to fade sooner than the base, since they are more porous. A purple shampoo once a week and a gloss every six to eight weeks keep the plum from drifting toward orange or brown.
17. Deep Plum on Long Hair
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A uniform deep plum on long hair is a commitment, but the payoff is a saturated, glossy sheet of colour that looks almost liquid when it moves. The even application means the shade reads the same from every angle.
Uniform colour shows every inch of regrowth, so touch-ups every four to six weeks are realistic if you want the line to stay clean. The upside is simplicity: one shade, one process, and a shine spray is all the styling it needs. If this look speaks to you, Dark Hair Color 2027 continues the thread.
18. Deep Plum Balayage with a Satin Finish
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A satin finish sits between matte and high-gloss, giving this balayage a soft sheen that looks healthy without looking wet. The plum ribbons are woven finely enough that the overall impression is depth, not stripes.
Fine balayage placement like this suits medium to thick hair, since very fine hair can look over-processed if too many pieces are painted in. Ask your colourist to keep the ribbons fine and the root area untouched for the softest grow-out.
19. Plum Burgundy Balayage on Black Hair
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On a black base, plum burgundy balayage glows rather than shouts: the dark starting point keeps the colour grounded, while the painted pieces add warmth and movement. It is one of the most flattering entries into plum for naturally dark hair.
Lifting black hair to plum usually takes two sessions for a true, visible result rather than a tinted brown. The patience pays off in a gradient that grows out gracefully, with touch-ups needed only every ten to twelve weeks.
20. Plum Espresso Hair
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Plum espresso is plum at its darkest and most wearable: a near-black brown base with just enough violet to stop it reading as plain espresso. It is the office-friendly plum, visible in sunlight and subtle indoors.
Because the violet is so restrained, this shade fades gracefully into a rich brown rather than going brassy. It is an excellent first step for anyone nervous about fashion colour, and it needs little more than colour-safe shampoo to maintain.
21. Plum Hair Colour with Dimensional Shades
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Dimensional plum layers several tones of the same family — dark plum, mid plum and a violet highlight — so the hair never reads as one flat colour. Waves are the ideal texture for showing off that layering, since each bend reveals a different tone.
Dimension like this is built in the salon, not at home, since the tones need careful placement. At home, the job is preservation: cool water, minimal heat and a colour-depositing mask every couple of weeks. Our Curly Hair Color 2027 rounds up more takes on this exact idea.
22. Soft Plum Waves with Lighter Pieces
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Lighter plum pieces scattered through soft waves give this style an airy feel that a solid plum cannot match. The contrast is gentle, so the overall impression is a plum that has been lit from within rather than painted on.
The lighter pieces will need toning every six to eight weeks to stay plum rather than fading to a muddy blonde-brown. A texturising spray on damp hair before air-drying helps the waves land without looking overstyled.
23. Plum Violet Waves with Subtle Contrast
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Violet-leaning plum with low contrast is a cool-toned option that stays elegant rather than electric. The violet sits just beneath the surface, appearing most clearly when the hair moves or catches direct light.
Cool violet tones fade faster than warm burgundy ones, so a violet-depositing conditioner is the single most useful product for this shade. Without it, expect the colour to drift warmer within a month.
24. Appealing Plum Hair Colour
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This is plum in its most crowd-pleasing form: deep enough to look rich, violet enough to look interesting, and glossy enough to look healthy. The long waves give the colour plenty of surface to shine on.
Long plum hair benefits from a weekly hair mask, since length plus colour processing is a recipe for dry ends. Keeping the ends healthy is what keeps the whole shade looking expensive rather than tired.
25. Burgundy Plum Hair Colour
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Burgundy plum leans red, which makes it one of the warmest and most universally flattering plums. On long hair it reads as a deep wine shade indoors and turns more berry-toned in bright light.
Red-leaning colour is the quickest to fade, so washing in cool water and avoiding daily heat styling will extend its life noticeably. A burgundy gloss refresh every six weeks restores the warmth before it dulls. The same theme, explored from another angle, is in Copper Hair Color 2027.
26. Sleek Plum Burgundy Long Bob
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A long bob in sleek plum burgundy is polished without being stiff: the collarbone length keeps it modern, while the smooth finish lets the wine tones read clearly. It sits well under a coat collar and works for both office and evening.
Sleek bobs reward regular trims, since the length needs to stay even to hold the polished line. A paddle brush blow-dry and a light smoothing cream are all the styling this cut really needs.
27. Ombre Plum Balayage
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Ombre balayage combines the two softest techniques in colouring: the gradient of an ombre with the painted softness of balayage. The result is plum that appears gradually, with no line anywhere from root to tip.
The double technique means a longer salon appointment, but also a longer gap between visits — twelve weeks is realistic. The ends, being the lightest part, need the most conditioning to stay soft.
28. Deep Plum Passion Purple Ombre
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This ombre pushes the purple side of plum to the foreground, moving from a deep plum base into vivid purple ends. It is bolder than a burgundy ombre and best suited to anyone who wants their colour to be noticed.
Vivid purple ends fade fastest of all plum variations, so cool water, colour-safe products and a purple-depositing mask are essential. Expect a refresh every four to six weeks if you want the ends to stay vivid rather than pastel.
29. Deep Plum Purple Curly Crochet Braids
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Crochet braids in deep plum purple show how well this colour works in protective styles: the curls give the shade endless surfaces to catch light, and the purple reads rich rather than costume-like against most skin tones.
Protective styles in coloured hair need gentle handling, since lightened strands can snap if braided too tightly. A light oil on the braids keeps flyaways smooth, and the style itself protects the natural hair underneath from daily styling damage. We covered this territory more deeply in Winter Hair Color 2027.
30. Twisted Burgundy Box Braids
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Burgundy box braids are a classic for good reason: the twists reveal lighter and darker strands in every turn, so the colour looks dimensional from every angle. The burgundy lean keeps the shade warm and wearable.
Braids in coloured extensions need no colour maintenance at all, which is part of their appeal — the shade stays exactly as installed. The natural hair underneath benefits from the break from heat styling, though the scalp still needs regular cleansing.
31. Burgundy Red Hair Colour
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Burgundy red sits at the warm edge of the plum family, closer to wine than to violet. On long waves it glows in sunlight and reads as a deep, expensive red indoors, making it the most low-risk plum-adjacent shade.
Because it leans red, this shade warms further as it fades, so a cool-toned gloss can be useful if it starts drifting orange. Otherwise it is one of the easiest plum-family colours to live with day to day.
32. Plum Hair Colour on Long Layers
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Long layers are plum’s natural partner: the layering stops a dark, saturated colour from looking heavy, and each layer shows a slightly different depth of plum as the hair moves. It is a simple formula that rarely goes wrong.
Layers need a trim every eight to ten weeks to keep their shape, and plum on long hair needs regular glossing to stay even from root to tip. Together, those two appointments are the whole maintenance plan.
Whatever version of plum you choose, the decision comes down to two questions: how much contrast you want, and how often you are willing to refresh it. Quiet, dark plums with soft dimension are the easiest to live with, while vivid violet and bright berry ends reward more frequent glossing. Pick the end of that spectrum that fits your routine, and plum will repay you with a shade that looks rich in every light.
Hi, I’m Zoey Mitchell, the creator of ChicStyle Blog.
I share simple, wearable outfit ideas, hairstyles, nail trends, and beauty tips that feel natural and easy to recreate.
This blog is where I explore everything that makes a woman feel put together and confident every day. I’m not an expert — just a woman who genuinely loves style, mixing looks, and discovering what works.
If you love effortless fashion with a personal touch, you’ll feel at home here.
