Fall has only just begun and already we’ve seen a string of exciting beauty trends come to the forefront. From the dreamy gothic fairy aesthetic at Rodarte to the cherry red looks spotted…well, practically everywhere, the last stretch of 2023 is calling for fabulously bold colour and plenty of dimension. And the world of hair is no different. Silky brunettes, rich golden blondes and cinnamon-flecked copper are the most in-demand shades of the season, drawing inspiration directly from nature.
“Whatever you see on trees, just put it on your head,” says Carolyn Mila Shariff, master colour technician at Toronto’s Thic Studio. Who are we to argue? Here, three hair pros share the fall hair colour trends on their radar.
The hair colour trend: Café caramel
Brown is never boring, but this season the spotlight is squarely on warm, chocolate-caramel hues with hints of bronze. See: Canadian icon Nelly Furtado’s multi-tonal brunette colour, which Shariff created for the VMAs. “Usually brown gets left behind, but Nelly is right on trend this season,” she says. “She’s the ultimate inspiration for a sexy chocolate brown.”
When it comes to placement, look to Winnie Harlow’s toffee-coloured balayage for inspo. “Highlights are sparse, natural and a bit softer than the ‘money piece’ we’ve been seeing,” says Marilisa, Artistic Director for Marc Anthony Hair. “Think walnut with brown sugar accents, or maple with mocha highlights.”
The hair colour trend: Rich espresso
“Blondes are trading in their highlights for an all-over medium brown ‘rich girl’ hair gloss for fall,” says Jess Elbaum, celebrity hairstylist for Sisley Paris. If you love the latte-inspired hues but want to take your colour a touch deeper, “espresso shades, whether macchiato or neat” will be your best friend this season, according to Marilisa.
Avoid ashy tones and opt for a dark, warmed-up colour to channel celebs like Laura Harrier and Camila Morrone (whose hair Marilisa styled during TIFF). The key to keeping it fresh, not flat, is to maintain your hair’s natural shine with plenty of conditioning oils and treatments.
The hair colour trend: Chocolate copper
Lived-in red is trending big time. “The colour I’m seeing most is a natural version of red; that perfect cinnamon-copper, autumn leaf red,” says Elbaum. From Emily Ratajkowski’s ‘copper cowboy’ colour to Zendaya’s barely-there red undertones, all signs point to seasonally inspired hues.
“For so long, brunettes didn’t want their hair to shine red and they didn’t want to see any copper in their hair. That’s gone now,” says Shariff. “Now people are getting glosses in the auburn and deep caramel tones with a touch of copper. Is she a brunette? Is she a redhead? Who knows.”
This can be a surprisingly low-maintenance look. “Ask for a really natural balayage, a little bit lighter around the face,” says Shariff. “The other thing you could do is gloss or tone your hair overtop your natural colour. It’ll shine more red.”
The hair colour trend: Inky almost-black
“The elements of goth and punk that are swirling about in fashion and on runways will bring some richer, darker shades for fall and winter,” says Marilisa. Inky black hues are making a comeback, inviting a sense of mystery and sophistication to an otherwise cozy colour season.
When it comes to styling, think Kylie Jenner’s jet -lack hair shaggy fringe moment at Acne’s Spring 2024 runway show in Paris. It’s edgy, eye-catching and a little bit rebellious. For a sleeker look, Amelia Gray Hamlin’s straight centre-part style shows off just how shiny dark hair can be.
The hair colour trend: Honey butter blonde
“For blondes, we’re seeing café au lait tones with shortbread-tinted strands,” says Marilisa. Ask for Sofia Richie’s sunkissed highlights or Jennifer Lawrence’s honey-dipped hue to add dimension to your hair while maintaining an air of effortlessness. “I love semi-grown out babylights right now, with bits of colour that alter the overall vibe without standing out.”
“If you want to keep your hair super light or are used to that platinum look, adding just a little bit of warmth is really big right now,” says Shariff. Ask for face-framing highlights in a contrasting colour to update your look for the season. “Look at little kids; they always have a little sprinkling of highlights around their face where the sun hits the most.”
The hair colour trend: Cherry Kool-Aid
Brighter, juicier shades of cherry red are an edgier take on those laid-back copper tones. Take it from Megan and Julia Fox (no relation!), who are putting their own unique spin on the look. Go for a full-on fire-engine red for something super bold and *very* current, or try crimson ends if you’re after a retro rooted look that’s slightly more subtle.
“Cherry cola hair, which is a dark brown with a red twist, is also coming back. I remember loving this colour in the ’90s,” says Elbaum. Time to break out the Manic Panic.
