TREND ALERT: Soft Roots
Why 2026’s Biggest Color Movement Relies on Alkaline Demi
The biggest color shift of 2026 isn’t a new shade—it’sa new approach. Clients are moving away from harsh root lines, all-over saturation, and high-maintenance routines. Instead, they’re asking for something softer, more dimensional, and more lived-in: the soft-roots trend. It’s the new natural, the new luxury, and the new low-commitment color philosophy.
And while soft-roots can look effortlessly blended, the chemistry behind them is intentional. This movement depends on our new SHADES ALK alkaline demi to provide enough cuticle shift to create depth, diffusion, and believable regrowth without committing clients to permanent color.
Soft-roots are defined by a muted, seamless root area—something that mimics the way natural hair grows, but with a more flattering, polished tone. Clients want roots that look touched by light, not boxed-in or two-dimensional. The goal is to blur contrast, not hide it, and to create an ultra-natural finish that still elevates the client’s overall color.
This is exactly where alkaline demi stands apart. Its slightly higher pH gives it just enough alkalinity to:
• Add believable depth at the roots without feeling opaque
• Diffuse early grays while maintaining natural base variation
• Grip resistant strands, which is essential in the root zone
• Create longer-lasting blends than acidic demi or gloss-only formulas
Acidic demi like Shades EQ still plays a major role—it’s perfect for adding shine through the mids and ends, refreshing tone, and polishing the overall look. But acidic demi alone cannot create the softened, dimensional root area that defines the soft-roots trend. Clients need that gentle cuticle shift and richer deposit that only alkaline demi can deliver.
What makes soft-roots so compelling is the grow-out. Instead of harsh demarcation, the color fades gradually and gracefully. Clients return because they want to, not because they have to. Alkaline demi is the backbone of this movement because it gives stylists the ability to build dimension at the root that looks natural on day one—and even better at week eight.
The soft-roots era isn’t about hiding regrowth; it’s about elevating it. And SHADES ALKis the technology making that possible.
