Believe it or not, fall is fast approaching. The season of crisp leaves, crisp mornings, and the scent of pumpkin spice in the air is only a few weeks away. It’s time to start looking for fall hair colors, as the rich, earthy hues of the changing landscape give way to the season’s feel-good fashion and beauty trends.
“The most popular colors this fall are golden honey tones, warm chestnut browns, and bold auburn and copper tones,” says celebrity hairstylist Ashley Gomilla. “These colors are always the most popular because of the ‘instant makeover’ factor. It’s really cool to transition from a timeless balayage look to something more exciting and vibrant.”
Are you inspired to try a new hairstyle this fall? We spoke to some of the best colorists and hairstylists to reveal this season’s popular hair colors, including cherry cola red, dark chocolate brunette, and old money blonde. Read on to get inspired!
blonde
Hailey Bieber
It is a great choice for natural hair. It can create an adorable look that blends blonde and brown hair. The ultimate trendsetter, Hailey Bieber, has styled her blonde look in an eye-catching yet natural way.
Burnt Auburn
Emrata
Deep auburn hair is always a great choice for fall thanks to its bold, striking hue. “To help the red last longer, I recommend sealing your hair with argan oil after each wash to close the cuticle,” says celebrity hairstylist Glenda Romeraer.
Icy Blonde
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This bright, cool-toned style has been seen before and isn’t going away anytime soon. This Megan Fox-inspired ash color is a chic, avant-garde alternative to your typical blonde shade.
Honeysuckle Blonde
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Dye your hair in a warmer, brighter color this fall. “Soft blondes with creamy tones, like latte blonde or honey blonde, give off a more natural vibe,” says Romelarre.
Bombshell Black
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For dark-haired girls and espresso brown ladies, the transition from summer to fall is a breeze. The key to this style is hair gloss, a treatment that prevents fading and loss of shine.
Lion’s Mane
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Wild, free and strong, as worn by the one and only Khloe Kardashian, this colour is the perfect easy style for natural brunettes. Add in some long, voluminous waves and you’ll instantly transform your drab, late-summer hair into a stunning bombshell brow.
Soft Caramel Highlights
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This style is the perfect example of a lived-in brunette look, thanks to soft caramel highlights. To achieve this look, ask your stylist to seamlessly blend your dark roots with lighter ends, says Romeraere.
Brown Bunny Brunette
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The rich, deep hues of Kaia Gerber’s colors add an extra layer of sophistication and shine without sacrificing dimension, says colorist Renée Valéry. Basically, it’s all about luxury.
Chocolate Hazelnut
Carajian Brown
Chocolate Hazelnut is an irresistible color that complements all fall backdrops and activities. As worn by beauty editor Kara Jillian Brown, the warm, rich hue creates a golden hour effect that will have you snapping selfies at any time of the day.
Toffee Balayage
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What’s caramel? The new go-to color is toffee. Inspired by the sweet, alluring candy, Megan Thee Stallion’s hair color is a warm, rich hue that’s so tasty you’ll want to eat it.
Penny Lane Copper
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This vibrant copper is the quintessential It-girl color that will flatter your features and add shine to your hair. “This color works well on any skin tone, but is especially great for adding shine and pairing with cooler tones,” says Valerie.
Carrot cake
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Recreate the fall foliage with this vibrant red hair color. Inspired by the iconic ginger spice, influencer and model Meredith Duxbury’s fresh pussy cut is the ultimate fall accessory.
Butterscotch Blonde
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Staying true to the mouthwatering theme of fall, butterscotch hair color is a warm mix of brown sugar and buttery blonde hues that will make for the ultimate fall hairstyle.
Vanilla Chai Highlights
@andrewfitzsimons
Balayage is all the rage this time of year, with Khloe Kardashian showing off another iconic color that shows blondes might have more fun. When you go to the salon, talk to your colorist to find out what you need based on your natural hair color. For example, if you have dark hair, you’ll need to bleach and tone it completely to lighten the base before adding highlights, says Purvis.
Y2K Chunky Highlights
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Who better to look to for Y2K beauty inspiration than Xtina herself? The singer’s iconic bold highlights create a sharp contrast that perfectly replicates the melancholic, edgy feeling that comes with the changing of the seasons.
Golden Honeydew
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Sofia Richie Grainge can do no wrong, especially when it comes to hair and makeup. This golden hue is achieved with multiple blonde colors and toners for a soft, dimensional look.
Vintage Wood
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Similar to Toffee Balayage, Vintage Wood Brunette is an ideal choice for brunettes looking for a more subtle yet light shade for autumn. Keeping your roots dark will add depth to your hair and soften it as it grows out.
Soft strawberry blonde
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A light gold base with a hint of red that resembles the pink of a strawberry, hence the name, this soft strawberry blonde has a multi-faceted texture and a natural, sun-kissed shine.
Honey Ginger
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Honey ginger hair refers to a warm golden-hued hair color that is a perfect blend of red and copper shades. With a rich, spicy hue, this color is a versatile shade that can complement a variety of skin tones and add a vibrant, natural glow to your look.
Pumpkin Spice
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A vibrant, multi-toned color named after the alluring seasoning that’s synonymous with fall, Pumpkin Spice Hair combines rich copper and fiery red hues for a dynamic, eye-catching effect.
Cherry Cola
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“Dua Lipa has become famous for her dark cherry hair color,” says colorist Clara Purvis. “That deep cherry cola red shade is an accessible red for those with naturally dark brown hair, but still packs a punch!”
Old Money Blonde
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Famous for some of the biggest blockbusters this summer, Sabrina Carpenter is also known for her vintage glam blonde hair with a coquette vibe. The style graced the cover of Playboy in the ’60s and we’re obsessed. “The color is ideal for those with warm skin tones, creating a balanced and sophisticated look,” says Valerie.
Smoke and mirrors
@andrewfitzsimons
Bold is the theme for this season’s beauty looks. A rich chocolate base with hints of warmth offers a twist on dark and smoky classics, while streaks of light colour create a natural glow for a multi-faceted look.
Golden Cherry
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This beautiful shade blends warm gold tones with deep red lowlights to create this golden cherry shade.
Shiny Espresso
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Why wouldn’t it be me, Espresso? Like the deep, delicious shade of fine Italian coffee, this nearly black hair color features warm undertones that add a touch of depth and shine, giving hair a smooth, sophisticated finish.
French Vanilla Blonde
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Blondes are making a bolder comeback than ever, with buttery, creamy vintage bombshell hues like those seen on Julia Garner, Matilda Gelf, Zendaya, and Beyoncé. Wearing a light, creamy golden blonde gives you an aura of both class and cool (a perfect combination, we think).
Rock Star Red
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Fiery red might not be on your Pinterest inspiration board, but it should be. Natasha Lyonne’s striking color has copper undertones for a bolder contrast.
Beach Brunette
@andrewfitzsimons
Not ready to give up on summer just yet? Try a beachy brunette shade a la Hailee Steinfeld for a polished, sophisticated look that transitions seamlessly from season to season.
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Ice Spice
While neutrals and pastels were all the rage over the summer, eye-catching colors are back for fall. “I love Ice Spice’s peach-cinnamon hair color,” Purvis says. “It’s definitely a multi-step color to achieve and requires a lot of maintenance, but luckily it doesn’t fade as quickly as darker red tones.”
Dark chocolate
JB Lacroix/FilmMagic
Is dark chocolate hair ever not chic? The answer is, of course, no. Selena Gomez is back with a super dark chocolate brown. When you go to the salon, be sure to tell your colorist you’re looking for a “rich, shiny, dark chocolate brown” to achieve this gorgeous hue, Purvis says.
Whipped meringue
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Like meringue, this shade is simple and easy to achieve. Renée Lapp wears the airy light shade with deep roots for contrast and depth.
Grilled peaches
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Baked Peach Hair is a soft, warm, and soothing color that blends pale orange and subtle pink hues to create a light, pastel color that resembles the delicate hue of its namesake fruit, almost nude and almost orange, but neither.
Creamy Latte
Bobbie Elliot
Just like any delicious drink, a creamy latte hair look relies on a neutral mix of dark browns and lighter tones. Amanda Seyfried rocks this soft blend of pink and orange tones for a warm, sunny effect.
Ash Brown
Bobbie Elliot
This color is for natural brunette girls who want to soften their hair color for the season, and Romeraer says the balayage technique, which crosses different browns, is an easy way to achieve this color.
Apple Cider
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A warm, rich blend of medium brown and reddish hues, this style is reminiscent of the deliciously fresh fall beverages we all know and love. With a deep golden brown base and sun-kissed highlights that add depth and dimension, it’s perfect for any skin tone.
Mulled wine
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We’re expecting to see a lot of warm, vibrant, rich colors this season, and this mulled wine hue is no exception. Our favorite It girl, Sophie Turner, rocks the muted red hue mixed with brown tones throughout.
Dark color block
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Colour doesn’t have to be one dimensional – if you can’t choose just one colour, try going for two. A rich, warm brown base combined with copper tips creates a vibrant, dimensional finish – perfect for those who prefer darker colours with a bit more edge.
Burnt Chestnuts
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Looking for a warm, inviting hair color? Introducing your new favorite, burnt chestnut brown. This shade is a beautiful blend of alluring, rich, warm brunette tones that are perfect for fall vibes.
Bright and Bold
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Bright red is predicted to be a huge trend this fall. It’s playful and can be worn in all styles, shapes and forms, making it perfect for daring people who want to shake up their look with a splash of vibrant colour.
Brunette in Paris
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Parisian brunette hair is a chic, sophisticated shade that captures the essence of French elegance. Preferred by Lily Collins, this color typically features a rich, deep brown base with subtle, cool undertones that give hair a sophisticated, understated texture.