Nature-Inspired Hair Colors Are The Biggest Fall Trend Fashion Girls Are Wearing

With triple digit temperatures invading multiple cities, it’s hard to believe that fall is just around the corner. But pretty soon you’ll be swapping your open-toed sandals for ankle boots. Lucky for you, part of our job as beauty editors is to prepare you for the next season — and what better way to do that than with a highly vetted and expert-approved list of popular fall hair color trends.

This year, spicing up your look is easier than you think, thanks to the plethora of inspiration seen on the runways, social media, and A-list celebrities. Ashley Streicher, hair stylist and owner of Striiike Salon deems fall a good time to add depth to hair. “People are ready to tone down their summer highlights to richen things up,” the pro shares. Hair color is falling into two categories this autumn: modern updates to your natural color and texture, and bold and dramatic splashes of color. Meaning, everything from mushroom blonde to copper red is all up for grabs.

Ready to blow it out of the water this season? Ahead, seven celebrity hair stylists and colorists weigh in on the hottest color trends out there right now. The experts even dish out some hero products to achieve salon-worthy looks at home. Hint: you’ll want to bring this list to your next in-person color appointment.

Caramel Balayage

According to George Papanikolos, Matrix celebrity colorist and brand ambassador, a caramel balayage is a, “freehand painted technique that gives hair soft movement and dimension to the outer surface, mimicking the effects of the sun.” This hair color looks great on all textures and tones and can be maintained with Matrix Instacure Anti-Breakage Porosity. “This spray has protein in it which is great for colored hair that tends to need protein to hold onto the color and moisture,” says Rachel Bodt, Matrix brand ambassador.

Targaryen Blonde

Jamie Mazzei, creative director for NuBest Salon & Spa credits the rise of Targaryen Blonde — the icy, platinum blonde color — to the hit HBO show, House of the Dragon. “You can do a cooler, platinum blonde, or warm it up a bit like Taylor Swift, depending on what looks best with your skin tone,” the pro tells TZR. To achieve, he suggests you, “Ask your colorist for an all over color (or work with your own natural base) and a soft balayage around the bottom.” Next, your colorist will gloss it all over with the chosen tone. This type of blonde requires regular maintenance, both in-salon and at home.

At home, you can keep your color looking fresh by using Celeb Luxury Gem Lites ColorWash Color Depositing Shampoo and Celeb Luxury Gem Lites Colorditioner Color Depositing Conditioner with BondFix Bond Repair. “It is a semi-permanent direct dye that is a glaze right in your shower and can lengthen time in between salon visits — keeping your blonde hair color looking it’s best every day without any brassiness,” Mazzei continues.

Barbiecore

If you’re looking for something a bit more daring and bright, try the Barbiecore trend, which leans into everything girly, pink, and Barbie. “One of the signature looks of this trend is pink hair, either in a pretty pastel pink or a vibrant fuchsia,” says Mazzei. Decide which side of the pink spectrum you want to be on, and then ask your colorist to match your preferred pink. For blond hair, it’s a simple process adding a gorgeous pink hue. But for darker hair where the pink needs to pop, your stylist may need to bleach your hair first to ensure longevity, says Mazzei.

Champagne Beige

This season, Madison Reed’s master colorist Shvonne Perkins is seeing natural blondes move toward champagne beige, a great balance of cozy, lived-in blonde and cashmere-like brown. “It combines both gold and violet tones to create a gorgeous warm, blonde color with a soft hue of beige for the winter season,” the expert shares. For upkeep, Perkins suggests Madison Reed Color Reviving Gloss in Prosecco to add shine and light golden tones for depth and dimension.

Maple Leaves

Quia Querisma, Dallas-based natural hair specialist recommends taking your cues from nature with this combination of gold, orange, brown, and red hair color trend. “These color trends are flattering on all hair types, from straight to coily and most skin tones can wear it,” the expert tells TZR. “To maintain your color treated-hair, opt for salon-quality shampoo, conditioner, and stylers.” Her suggestion: The entire Pureology brand was designed with color care in mind, Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Deep-Conditioning Mask and Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray to moisturize and repair the hair while protecting color.

Red Frenzy

Mazzei sees red being a hot color for fall. “If you have a light skin tone, try strawberry blonde or a light copper,” the pro tells TZR. “For medium olive skin tones, opt for copper or coral. And for darker skin tones you can go for shades of purple and burgundy.”

Caramel Swirls

Jamie Mazzei, creative director for NuBest Salon & Spa in Manhasset, New York recommends carmel, the creamy brown with golden sun-kissed highlights, for its customizable ability to compliment any skin tone. As for maintenance tips, Lorena M. Valdes, colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago encourages less washing and a hair mask at least twice a month to retain moisture.

Dark Mocha

Dark Mocha, the darkest brown you can go, is one of the most popular colors you’ll see this fall according to Shvonne Perkins, lead educator at Madison Reed. Perkins recommends keeping up with a gloss or toning either by going to a salon or with Madison Reed Color Reviving Gloss Espresso to keep the color looking fresh.

Shadowed Roots

Goodbye ombré, hello shadowed roots. “Instead of root to end highlights, this trend is about creating a deeper base with lighter mids-to-ends for a more shadowed root and less of an ombré, giving the illusion of big, full hair,” Perkins tells TZR. It’s also a great trend for those that don’t have the time for regular touch-ups as perfection is the least concern. To maintain your roots between salon visits use Madison Reed Root Perfection to blend seamlessly with your color.

Muted Copper

According to Matt Rez, celebrity colorist, muted copper has a brick color background with golden copper reflects. The color is perfect for those with more olive skin tones, as the warm brown background to muted copper hair color will complement the olive undertones in your skin. “Adjust the level of this hair color to your eye color - lean in more on the brunette end of this color trend and have muted copper highlights woven within your brunette base color if you have darker eyes.”

Modern Mushroom Blonde

Streicher is seeing an elevated mushroom blonde where there are more cool and earth tones enhanced by light cool brown highlights. “The best way to keep warm colors vibrant and rich is to be sure to use good natural color safe products,” the expert says while discussing maintenance. Her go-to product is Vegamour ENSO 02 Shampoo and Conditioner for its ability to provide moisture and color protection.

Deep Plum

The wave of sweet strawberry blonde and copper shades that you get with a deep plum color isn’t going away any time soon. In fact, as we move deeper into fall, Perkins even predicts more vibrant violet and red hues in dark, red brunettes – creating a cherry-cola look with mahogany tones that sit between red and violet. “One way to try this trend on is to add a pop of red over brunette hair with a temporary mask such as the Madison Reed Color Therapy Mask Rubino,” the expert tells TZR. “You’ll see the depth of the brunette stay the same but the red sheen shines through in the light.”

Champagne Blonde

Champagne blonde has been trending for a few seasons now but this fall it steps away from it’s light shade and instead sports a mid-to-dark blonde with complex gold tones swirled in. “The slightly beige-tone and gold highlights will perk up your eyes and skin and are flattering with so many tones in makeup,” says Perkins.

Ready to experiment with one of the above fall hair color trends? Incorporate one of the expert-approved products below to maintain.

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