11 Hair Color Trends for Fall and Winter

The weather is turning cooler, and the days are getting shorter. It’s time to switch the summer wardrobe of bright colors and tank tops over to the muted hues, cozy sweaters, and cute boots of fall. But what about changing up your hair color? For everything from blonde to brunette and balayage to bold vivids, read on for your fall/winter hair color forecast.

#1: Champagne Blonde
To bring your summer blonde into the changing season, warm it up with a champagne gloss. To create this look, bring up the highlights only around your face and use your natural color for dimension and a rooty feel. Then tone faded highlights with a soft golden blonde to enhance warm undertones in your skin and brown eyes.

Champagne Blonde Fall Haircolor
Instagram / @BIXIECOLOUR

#2: Sweet Tea
For a fresh fall take on strawberry or auburn hair, try adding a hint of rose to golden or coppery locks for a sweet tea inspired hue. The added cool tone gives tons of contrast while maintaining a mellow ginger vibe. This is going to be a new spin on the red/copper tones we see pick up in the fall and will make Hazel eyes pop!

Sweet Tea Fall Haircolor
Instagram / @KELLYBOWENHAIR

#3: Mushroom
Mixing warm and cool tones within one look is super modern and adds interest and mystery to your color. This look will work best for dark blonde/light brown beauties. Try out a shadow root slightly warmer than your natural color and tone highlights using super cool ash tones. The warmer shadow root plays up skin tone and the cool dimension takes summer highlights into fall and winter.

Mushroom Fall Hair Trend
Instagram / @KELLYBOWENHAIR

#4: Dulce De Leche
Weathers’ original, anyone? This season, brunettes are warming up with rich caramel tones. Balayage is my go-to technique to achieve perfectly placed pieces that are heavier around the face for pop and spread out through the back to preserve depth and dimension. For extra ooey-gooey goodness, ask for a gloss with a hint of golden copper for extra pop against chocolatey brown hair!

Dulce De Leche Fall Haircolor
Instagram / @GILSONBITENCOURT

#5: Vivids
Vivid colors have been gaining popularity, and this season they are not going anywhere! To transition into fall/winter, try playing with moodier tones in an ombré effect. I’m getting all the fall feels from this rooted coral balayage. Deep aquamarines, violets, and fuchsias will scream cooler weather as well, and multiple vivid and bright tones will play well together for a dimensional look.

Vivid Hair Fall Trend
Instagram / @KELLYBOWENHAIR

#6: Pastels
Do you want to try a fun fashion color, but looking for something on the softer side? Try out vivid’s pastel relatives in rose gold, baby blue, and steely lavender. Adding a powdery or smokey undertone will give a worn in feel that pairs perfectly with your favorite cozy sweater!

Pastel Hair Fall Trend
Instagram / @KELLYBOWENHAIR

#7: Copper Penny
With the increasing popularity of vivids and fashion shades, natural bases need to pack more punch to keep up. In reds, get ready to see bright coppers as shiny as a new penny! To keep the vibrancy, don’t go too dark, or your copper will become “browned-out.” Too light, and you’ll appear orange…try to find somewhere in the middle for that true copper. To get maximum impact, use a glaze to intensify midlengths and ends.

Copper Hair Fall Trend
Instagram / @KELLYBOWENHAIR

#8: Merlot
A close relative of its cousin burgundy, Merlot is going to have a more natural and modern vibe. Try this out on a darker base if you want something fun and on trend, but need to keep it natural for work or lifestyle. This works really well as a global color for a deep and dramatic look or is beautiful in an ombré to pack a little brighter punch through the ends.

Merlot Hair Fll Trend
Instagram / @BRIT_BELLASALONANDBOUTIQUE

#9: Chestnut Brown
Washed out brunettes can warm up this season with a beautiful Chestnut Brown. This super rich color is going to be flattering for more skin tones than an ash brown and is so reflective it practically glows. Ask for a demi-permanent color, which is ammonia-free for maximum shine and no line of demarcation (invisible grow out!). Your luscious locks will look and feel healthy and revitalized after a summer of fun in the sun!

Chestnut Brown Fall Haircolor
Instagram / @KELLYBOWENHAIR

#10: Warm Black
This season, blue black is making its way out. Enter warm black, a shade with all the drama and without all the baggage of appearing harsh or washing you out. Warm tones don’t naturally live in a true black level, so ask for the darkest possible brown and add lots of gold and copper tones. The warmth won’t read as gold and copper, it will appear super warm, rich, and shiny. This is going to be especially flattering on fair skin and brown eyes.

Warm Black Fall Haircolor
Instagram / @KELLYBOWENHAIR

#11: Silver Fox
Stunning on all ages, this winter we’ll be seeing silver sparkle. Silver works great as an overall color, as popping highlights, and even as a way to blend in your natural gray sparkle! The more you prelighten your hair, the more of a silver effect you’ll be able to achieve. Also consider an at-home mask to maintain your color and keep it from going brassy. My favorite is the new Color Depositing Mask by Moroccanoil in Platinum. It will maintain your silver fox while conditioning and repairing prelightened strands.

Silver Haircolor Autumn Trend
Instagram / @SHELBY_CONNELL

This fall/winter is going to be in keeping with the anything-goes-vibe we’ve been seeing take shape in recent seasons. To stay relevant, grab your pumpkin spice latte and push the boundaries a little further than you did for summer or switch it up entirely. Go deeper, more vibrant, or swap warm tones for cool or cool for warm. Whatever you do, make it your own and have fun! Follow me on Instagram @kellybowenhair to see my exciting fall makeovers behind the chair!