What inspires Gen Z’s funky hair colours?

Want a trick to spot Gen Z in a crowd? Just take a look around. If your eyes catch flashes of lavender or burgundy, cherry red, electric blue, or any other funky hue splashed across someone’s hair, you’ve got it.

A flash of lavender at a coffee shop, ombre green and black curls on a university campus, or perhaps cherry red bangs peeking out from under a bandana! Colourful hair has become one of Gen Z’s favourite ways to express themselves, and they are nailing it effortlessly. In a world where trends come and go overnight, vibrant hair remains one of the generation’s boldest forms of self-expression.

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“I usually colour my hair when I feel sad or down,” said Nabila Tabassum, a university student. “I always go for electric blue because somehow I feel that blue represents my personality and aesthetics.”

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For this generation, hair colour means more than what it looks like. They paint their hair not just to look cool but to let you know their personality.

Some dye it impulsively; some do it after a breakup. Others simply wake up one morning and decide black or brown isn’t cutting it anymore. Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: this generation is not afraid to wear its personality, quite literally on its head.

Muntaha Rahi, an artist, still remembers the first time she dyed her hair red. “I felt powerful, to be honest.” She added, “It gave me an incredible sense of confidence.”

For Rahi, experimenting with hair colour is not just about changing her appearance; it’s about how it makes her feel. “Once you discover the power of hair colour, you might keep changing the shades, but you will probably never want to go back to plain black,” she expressed with a laugh.

It’s hard to scroll through social media without watching a dramatic hair transformation video. One minute, someone’s showing off their natural brunette locks; the next, they are rocking icy silver or bubble-gum pink. Before you know it, you are wondering if maybe burgundy highlights would not be such a bad idea after all.

“I’ve definitely been influenced," stated Sabit Ahmed, a 26-year-old university student. “It was very impulsive. I was watching hair transformation videos, and then I felt like I had to paint my hair blue.”

Social media may spark the idea, but K-pop often seals the deal. With every comeback, idols seem to debut a new hair colour: platinum blond one month, mint green the next, followed by cherry red or ash grey.

Fans do not really copy the exact look, but they do borrow the confidence to experiment.

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Western musicians and influencers have embraced the same playful approach, treating hair colour like an accessory that changes with the mood, the season or even the playlist.

Yet for many young people, colouring their hair goes beyond keeping up with trends. Sometimes, it’s less about the colour itself and more about how it makes them feel.

In Bangladesh, this hair colour revolution is quietly gaining momentum too. From university campuses to trendy cafes, these places are becoming showcases for ash grey, wine red, deep violet, copper orange and peekaboo highlights.

And of course, colourful hair comes with its own set of responsibilities. Sulphate-free shampoos become your bestie, maintaining a hair care routine becomes a regular thing, and you will probably learn more about hair masks than you ever expected. However, ask anyone rocking cobalt blue curls, and they will probably tell you it is worth every faded towel and every extra minute in the shower.

Because at the end of the day, funky hair is not just about following the trend. It’s a feeling that stays with you.