The modern ombré had a major comeback this summer, fueled by 2010s nostalgia and the style’s low-maintenance appeal. But as August burnout sets in, stylists are looking ahead to fall hair trends, including deeper, richer hair colors — from spiced auburn and soft mocha to creamy beige blonds.
According to celebrity hair artist Cody Renegar, the hues that will likely dominate are deeper and richer but still warm. “Spiced auburn and bright cinnamon are two red tones to watch for, specifically,” Renegar said. “They’re more brown than the vivid reds we saw last year, so they’re more natural.”
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With this, Renegar predicted a burgeoning affinity for “deep chocolate browns and creamy beige blonds,” along with the continued rise of “espresso melt,” a color technique that involves blending dark roots with subtle highlights.
Moe Harb, hair educator and cofounder of Beauty Club London, agreed that the turn of the season won’t bury the blond; it’ll juxtapose it with darker shades. “[People] still want to feel brighter around the face, but they don’t necessarily want highlights everywhere,” Harb explained. “We’re keeping more depth through the root and underneath, then adding different tones through the mid-lengths and ends. That contrast is what makes the hair look fuller and gives it movement.”
On a half-brunette, half-blond client, Harb said he’d likely work in chestnut, soft mocha, caramel or honey tones around the face, and beige or creamy hues for uniform blonds. The idea is to add texture, but not in stark stripes à la calico color.
Balayage, Harb continued, might also bleed into the fall, with many women looking for ways to update their sun-kissed approach to fit the cool front moving in. To do so, the artist said: “I would take some of the very bright summer balayage and add depth back into it. That doesn’t mean making the whole head dark. Sometimes adding a few lowlights and a gloss is enough. You keep brightness where it matters, particularly around the face and through the ends, but bring richer tones back through the rest of the hair. It immediately feels more appropriate for autumn and winter.”
On top of the balayage resurgence, salon owner and creative director Francine Gersting said to look out for cinnamon brunette, strawberry blond, buttercream blond and toasted almond brunette — the “foodification of beauty” is real. Copper, the color that ruled last fall, will continue its reign, as will low-maintenance glosses.
Legendary stylist Susy Oludele, the artist responsible for Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s aesthetic on the set of “Lemonade,” also noted an uptick in the number of women who’ve stopped fighting their grays. “More women are embracing their gray and silver hair rather than feeling obligated to cover it. Gray hair paired with an amazing cut can be incredibly striking,” Oludele told WWD.
That said, both color-treated and gray hair are more susceptible to dryness, especially as the seasons change. To combat the straw-like texture, she suggested “incorporating treatments like the Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque to help replenish hydration and support stronger-looking hair.”
