Call it Blue-Black, “comic-book color” or the “Superman shade”—a rich, jewel-toned black with a cool, glossy blue undertone, emerging as one of the must-haves this fall in Los Angeles, according to celebrity colorist Chad Kenyon, who is fielding the fever.
“I thought about Superman and Wonder Woman’s comic book hair color and made them more editorial,” says Kenyon of his unexpected source of creativity.
Kenyon began developing the look in 2025 and says it has since moved from concept to a look he’s asked to create across every type of client. “I'm doing it for celebrities such as Taylor Ortega, from her series with Dan Levy streaming now on Netflix, as well as content creators and civilians alike.”
The color tends to work best on a specific starting point, Kenyon says. “I’m mostly doing it on women with brown hair that appears to have lost its luster, and they want some light around their face without doing highlights.” His go-to formula is a single product: R+Color’s Inkpot, which he uses across every Blue-Black application. “It's available to professional hair artists as both a permanent hair color and a super high-impact-shine demi-permanent liquid color that delivers the Blue-Black brilliance that helps give you that glowing, lit look.”
What sets the shade apart from a standard dark brown or black, Kenyon explains, comes down to how it handles light. “Oftentimes, dark brown and black hair color can appear flat, which can give an appearance of hardened facial features. Inkpot is unique because it delivers an incomparable shine, softness and luster that helps the hair, and beyond, glow.”
Kenyon is careful to note that, like most things, the look is not a one-size-fits-all formula. “Every color client is their own universe and has their own unique hair, hair color history, etc., so leave this to your hair color professional when it comes to formulation and application.” For colorists looking to execute the technique, he pointed to pro.ranco.com as a resource.
As for why the color feels especially suited for the upcoming weeks, Kenyon ties it to the mood of the season itself. “Blue-Black is ideal for fall because it’s deep, dark and striking, as are many elements of fall. It’s a refreshingly profound color look that’s giving striking, yet uniquely subtle vibes.”
