With the arrival of autumn comes cooler weather, falling leaves, and an urge to change up your look.
And what better way to embrace the fall season than with a fresh new hair color?
This year, warm metallics, rich neutrals, and pops of cranberry are trending for fall hair hues.
I’ll go in-depth on how to achieve each look, what skin tones and hair types they work best for, styling tips, and more so you can find your perfect autumn hair inspiration.
Let’s get started!
Sunset Inspired Colors
Take inspiration from the warm, vivid sunsets of fall and ask your colorist to re-create that look in your hair.
Vibrant shades of orange, gold, pink, red, and yellow can be painted through the mid-lengths and ends for a bright ombre effect.
Who should try it: Sunset hair looks beautiful on blondes and brunettes alike. Fair to medium skin tones will glow next to the warm shades. Those with already lightened hair will more easily achieve the look.
How to get it: Hand-paint a mix of fall’s boldest colors through the mid-lengths and ends in a balayage or ombre pattern.
Keep roots darker for grow-out purposes. Use vivid semi-permanent dyes for the most saturation.
Styling tips: Show off this fun, head-turning look with beachy waves. Scrunch in salt spray while hair dries for sexy texture.
Part down the middle to ensure the colors cascade evenly on both sides. Sunset hair makes a statement on its own.
Warm Caramel Balayage
As the leaves transition from green to shades of gold and orange, warm caramel hues come into focus.
For hair, think creamy and buttery blonde tones swept through with light brown lowlights. The result is a soft, dimensional look that flatters a range of skin tones.
Who should try it: Warm caramel balayage works beautifully on light to medium or olive complexions.
It’s meant to softly enhance your natural hair color, not overwhelm it, so is ideal for anyone with light brown to dark blonde hair.
Those with very dark hair may need to lighten their base first.
How to get it: Ask your colorist for buttery babylights throughout the mid-lengths and ends to mimic the way the sun naturally lightens hair.
The darker lowlights at the root area will blend seamlessly into your natural shade. Focus the color heavily around the face for maximum dimension.
Styling tips: Embrace your natural texture and flow with this look. Let your hair air dry or diffuse it with a dyson dryer for soft, touchable waves.
Show off the dimensional color with middle parts or by tucking one side behind an ear. Finish with a smoothing oil or cream for added shine.
Rich Chocolate Brown
As pumpkin spice everything invades menus, get in on the seasonal aesthetic with luscious, cocoa-inspired brown hair.
Opt for a single process shade or add chocolate highlights to amp up the richness.
This dark, saturated brown flatters all skin tones.
Who should try it: Chocolate brown hair complements fair, medium and olive complexions alike. If you have naturally dark hair, enhance it with all-over color for opacity.
For light to medium brunettes, ask for chocolate brown highlights on the mid-lengths and ends for a dimensional update.
Blondes can go for an all-over change or subtle highlights through the front.
How to get it: Talk to your stylist about altering your base shade to a milk chocolate or dark chocolate brown.
Or incorporate molten highlights in varying cocoa shades – think bittersweet, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate flecked throughout.
Keep the roots darker for contrast.
Styling tips: Show off the warm, cinnamon undertones with cascading waves.
Skip harsh lines and embrace the softness of the color with loose curls or a tousled, natural finish. Use a glossing treatment once a week to boost shine and maintain richness.
Spicy Cranberry
Cranberry is the “it” color for fall.
And the juicy hue isn’t just for clothes – it’s ideal for hair too.
From rich burgundy to vibrant red-violet, cranberry hair is guaranteed to make a statement. It’s bold yet wearable for anyone wanting to spice up their look.
Who should try it: Fair to medium skin tones look best in cranberry hair color. Cool rosy complexions will glow next to the fruity shade.
Those with naturally light to dark brown hair make ideal candidates – blondes may need to go darker first.
Olive and warmer skin tones will also suit this daring shade.
How to get it: Ask your colorist for an all-over cranberry shade or weave in pieces for subtle pops of color.
Keeping the roots and around the face darker will prevent the color from looking overly bold. For upkeep, use color-depositing shampoo or conditioner between salon visits.
Styling tips: Show off cranberry hair with sleek styling. Try a straight look or soft waves, keeping the texture smooth and frizz-free.
Pull hair back in a low ponytail or chic bun to spotlight the color all over. For extra drama, create a deep side part and sweep color behind the ears.
Golden Bronze Ombre
Channel sun-kissed California beach vibes with golden bronze ombre hair.
The look starts darker at the root and gradually lightens towards the ends in shimmering metallic bronze hues.
It’s a bold yet easy way to wear fall’s top hair color trends.
Who should try it: Bronze ombre happens on a spectrum, so can be customized for blondes and brunettes with different skin undertones.
Those with medium to tan complexions will glow next to the bronze shades.
Cooler skin tones should opt for more rose gold and coppery hues.
How to get it: Begin with natural hair color at the root for a seamless grow-out.
Slowly blend down into metallic beiges, coppers, golds, and bronzes, concentrating the most saturated shades on the very ends for an ombre effect.
Focus on enhancing existing warm tones in your hair.
Styling tips: Embrace the mermaid vibes of bronze ombre hair with soft beach waves. Scrunch in salt spray while drying for sexy tousled texture with ample shine.
Show off the color by pulling the front pieces back and letting the ombre ends cascade forward.
Bright Copper
Spicy ginger and bold copper hair colors come into focus for fall.
They lend warmth and vibrancy to any complexion.
For fair skin tones, copper hair can create an especially striking contrast. And it’s guaranteed to get you noticed.
Who should try it: Fair and porcelain complexions glow against vibrant copper hair. Those with medium cool tones can also pull it off beautifully.
If you have blonde or light brown hair, opt for an all-over copper shade.
Brunettes and black hair will need bleaching first to achieve the right base color.
How to get it: Discuss your desired copper tone – more burnt orange or true red – with your colorist. Ask for foily highlights in shades like pennies, cinnamon, and carrots to create dimension.
Keep roots and around the face slightly darker so the color pops without overwhelming your features.
Styling tips: Show off the beautiful variation within copper hair by wearing it down and wavy. Create piecey, touchable texture with sea salt spray.
For polished days, straighten hair and sweep it over one shoulder to spotlight the copper color all over.
Vibrant Cherry Red
While chocolate browns may dominate fall, cherry red hair adds striking vibrancy this season. It’s dramatic, sexy, and impossible to miss.
Fair and light complexions look best in this high-impact crimson shade.
Who should try it: Porcelain to light beige skin tones work beautifully with cherry red hair, as it creates high contrast.
Medium brunettes can achieve the look by lightening to a reddish-orange base first. Keep in mind it will require regular toning and maintenance.
How to get it: Ask your colorist for an all-over application to get hair to a vivid true red. Avoid brassiness by incorporating violet toners.
For dimension, blend in subtle darker lowlights around the front and ends.
Prepare for the color to fade faster than others, since red molecules are smaller.
Styling tips: Show off that killer cherry red color by wearing hair poker straight.
Try a structured center or side part and sweep sides behind the ears for dramatic impact.
Use glossing treatments and color-depositing products to keep the red looking rich between salon visits.
Smoky Quartz Brunette
For an elegant fall hair refresh, smoky quartz adds subtle dimension and richness to brown hair.
The blend of cool-toned greys, silvers, and slate blue-browns results in a sophisticated look for medium to dark brunettes.
Who should try it: Smoky quartz works beautifully on natural brunettes with cool or neutral skin tones. Light brunettes can incorporate it as highlights while darker hair makes the perfect base.
The muted tone suits those with fair to medium complexions best.
How to get it: Ask your colorist for an overall single process in a smoky quartz hue or incorporate subtly within brown hair for a dimensional look.
Focus cool smoky highlights around the mid-lengths and ends while keeping roots natural. The muted tone blends gracefully into hair.
Styling tips: Show off smoky quartz hair with lightly tousled waves or a sleek low bun or ponytail. The subtly of the color comes through in natural to polished finishes.
Opt for center parts or side sweeps to spotlight the smoldering mix of silvery greys and ash browns.
Rich Espresso Brown
Coffee lovers, this hair hue is for you.
Deep, dark espresso brown hair color is having a moment for fall.
It looks gorgeous on olive and medium-tan complexions or can add striking contrast on fair skin.
Feel free to sweeten it up with mocha cream highlights.
Who should try it: Espresso brown looks beautiful on just about anyone with warm to neutral undertones. Fair or olive skin will both come alive next to the dark shade.
Those with naturally dark brown or black hair should opt for an all-over application to enhance color.
How to get it: Ask your stylist for a lush espresso brown base with melted caramel or mocha highlights throughout.
Keeping the roots darkest will prevent an overly harsh line of demarcation. Use color-enhancing gloss or masks between salon visits.
Styling tips: Make dark espresso hair pop with sleek blowouts or tousled loose waves. Middle parts are perfect for showcasing the deep color all over.
Or create drama with a deep side part, sweeping the front pieces back. Use finishing products to enhance shine and richness.
Dimensional Dark Chocolate
For brunettes who don’t want to lose their dark side, dimensional dark chocolate hair provides texture and depth without lightening.
The blend of cocoa browns, coffee blacks, and caramel creams results in a multidimensional look ideal for fall.
Who should try it: This works best on those with already dark hair.
Those with black, espresso, or dark brown locks can get this added nuance and color variation while enhancing their natural shade.
Warm to neutral skin tones will glow next to the color.
How to get it: Ask your colorist for a full head of highlights in alternating warm and cool brown tones like chestnut, coffee, caramel, and chocolate truffle.
Concentrate the highlights around the mid-lengths and ends to add interest without overwhelming your base.
Styling tips: Show off the dimension of dark chocolate hair by wearing it loosely waved. Alternatebetween middle and side parts.
Embrace the natural texture rather than over-polishing for softness. A touch of smoothing serum will increase shine and craveability.
Sparkling Silver
Add shimmer and illumination to your look with sparkling silver hair.
The icy hue contrasts beautifully on darker complexions while creating an edgy yet elegant look on blondes.
Silver color can range from steely grey to bright platinum.
Who should try it: Those with high contrasting features and darker complexions make the perfect silver-haired vixens.
But blondes and light brunettes can also achieve the look by lightening hair first. The tone flatters those with cool pink or neutral undertones best.
How to get it: To go silver, hair must be pre-lightened to pale blonde first. Then apply a silver toner or dye all over or just on the ends for an ombre effect.
Incorporate violet shampoo and conditioner to prevent brassiness and maintain the icy color.
Styling tips: Show off sparkling silver strands with polished sleek styling.
Let hair fall pin straight down your back or create a side part and lightly sweep behind one ear.
Resist over-layering products to keep the luminosity of the color center stage.
Mushroom Blonde Balayage
The perfect fall hair color for blonde and darker blonde hair is mushroom blonde.
Combining ashy beige and brown hues with silver and platinum, it’s an edgy twist on traditional balayage.
The cool-toned look flatters fair to medium complexions.
Who should try it: Light to dark blondes are ideal candidates, as the color combines seamlessly with beige and yellow undertones.
Those with neutral to fair skin will glow next to the muted yet striking shade.
Olive and darker complexions provide contrast if desired.
How to get it: Lightly hand paint or sweep sheer brown and pewter shades through the mid-lengths and ends while keeping the roots brighter.
The darker lowlights will blend into your base for a soft look. Incorporate blue or violet toner to neutralize yellow.
Styling tips: Wear mushroom blonde hair straight and sleek to show off the cool dimensionality. The subtle ombre effect comes through beautifully in middle or side parts.
Piecey waves also showcase the whimsical mix of tones and textures.
Cocoa Dusting
Add softness and warmth to brown hair this fall with all-over cocoa dusting.
The technique involves spraying a sheer cocoa powder shade all over to transform color into a rich milk chocolate hue. It’s subtle yet effective on brunettes.
Who should try it: Those with light to dark brown hair can opt for cocoa dusting to amp up color for fall. It works regardless of your skin tone and won’t overwhelm your natural shade.
For lighter brunettes, cocoa mixes in like highlights.
How to get it: Instead of traditional highlights or dye, your stylist will mist an all-over cocoa sheer shade to infusion color with warmth and richness.
The result is like topping your hair with powdered hot cocoa mix! Less commitment than full color but still impactful.
Styling tips: Show off the dimensional, powdery effect of cocoa dusting with loose tousled waves. Let hair air dry or diffuse for soft texture that allows the brown tones to peek through.
Part hair to the side or down the middle to get an even dusting all over.
With warmer weather on the way out, autumn is the perfect season for hair transformations.
Any of these 13 stunning colors will have you looking and feeling fabulous just in time for fall.
So embrace the change of seasons and your inner fall goddess with these beautiful hair colors to usher in the autumn.
Your stylist can help you find the perfect hue and method to enhance your natural beauty this fall. Just decide how dramatic or subtle you want to go, then take the plunge!
