17 Fall 2023 Hair Color Trends to Know Right Now
As seasonal trends go, fall hair colors might be our favorites of the year. They're always varied, drawing on a palette of both warm, rich hues and cooler, cleaner shades. You've got your icy blondes and ashy browns, as well as pumpkin spice and auburn locks, giving you plenty of opportunity to get creative with your clients' hair.
And, if you're wondering what shades and techniques will be trending this fall, we've got 17 to watch out for. Keep scrolling to discover the go-to fall 2023 hair color trends for the coming season…
1. Color Blocking Hair
Image Credit: @kennyhairartist and @_manuel_papa_
Color blocking is set to be a huge trend this season, so get experimenting with your bold colors and statement placement. From half-and-half manes, to vivid dip-dyes, to chunky face frames, any color combination and painting technique goes with this show-stopping look. For this particular masterpiece, the model is working neon yellow locks, with emerald green painted through the lower layers of hair. Try it yourself on pre-lightened locks, mixing up Koleston Perfect 0/30 + 0/33 for the yellow, and 0/30 + 0/28 for the green.
2. Bold Face-Framing Highlights
Image Credit: @camouflageandbalayage
Because skin tends to be drier when it's colder, complexions can start to look dull as we leave summer behind. That's why we're tipping face-framing highlights as the lust-have trend for an autumn glow boost. Adding ribbons of brightness to the face-framing layers lends an instant injection of radiance – especially if you perfectly tailor the hue to your client's skin tone and eye color. Here, a chunky, cool blonde face frame has been added to contrast against dark hair and green eyes, with BlondorPlex + 3% being used to pre-lighten ribbons to perfection. Then, Shinefinity Color Glaze 09/13 + 0/00 has been applied as a toner; a toffee milk hue that gives the face frame a dose of light, bright shimmer.
3. Pumpkin Spice Hair Color
Image Credit: @emilycooper_hair
Pumpkin spice hair is virtually synonymous with fall, just as our favorite pumpkin spice latte is a must-have for cool, crisp autumn morning walks. It's a combination of red and brown, giving clients a multi tonal twist on copper hair color with a mix of rich, radiant highlights and lowlights. You want this look to be as luminous as possible, so opt for the Vibrant Reds range of colors, which you'll find in the permanent, pure-pigment Koleston Perfect portfolio, as well as the demi-permanent, shine-boosting Color Touch collection. Want this exact shade? Then alternate sweeps of Koleston Perfect 8/74 + 7/34 + 12% with strokes of 8/34 + 7/34 + 9/03 + 12%, before rinsing and neutralizing locks. Then follow with Shinefinity Color Glaze 8/34 to blend the tones together.
4. Dark Golden Ash Blonde
Image Credit: @sparkleofbry
While it's not the case for every client, some like to take their existing shade a little darker the moment temperatures start to dip. For ash blondes, this might mean experimenting with a dark ash blonde or – if they want to go brunette – an ash brown shade, whether by toning their current ashy hue or adding a scattering of lowlights. We love this glossy, ashy gold creation for inspiration. Try recreating the look with Illumina Color 5/81 + 5/ + 3% on the root, BlondorPlex + 12% on the lengths and ends to lighten, and a final toning formula of 10/96 + 9/.
5. Ice Blonde Hair Color
Image Credit: @edgybgirl
Is there a time when ice blonde hair isn't trending? The platinum blonde-inspired shade is forever striking, but never more so than in fall, when the cooler light casts a flattering, reflective sheen. For this look, Blondor Permanent Liquid Hair Toner in /18 Pale Platinum was applied to an already-light base color, delivering a boost of brightness that appears crisp, cool and clean. If you’re applying it to a warm-toned mane, you can also mix in the customizable Brass Kicker additive for that extra kick to neutralize stubborn underlying pigments.
6. Auburn Hair Color
Image Credit: @jordannacobella
Red hair colors are always big for fall, and for good reason; deeper, rust tones and burnt oranges are reminiscent of the shades of autumn leaves. And one of our favorite seasonal shades is auburn; a reddish-brown that goes deeper than pumpkin spice, but still locks in plenty of multi-dimensional shine. To recreate this hair trend on a natural brunette, first apply sweeps of BlondorPlex to create natural-looking highlights through the hair. Then, tone with Color Touch 7/43, rinse locks, and neutralize, before leaving the Color Fresh Mask in Copper Glow on hair for up to 10 minutes. The layering of copper shades on brown locks gives the final look extra radiant richness.
7. Dark Purple Bold Highlights
Image Credit: @kennyhairartist
While natural-looking hair colors are largely taking the crown through fall 2023, purple hair still reigns – especially in a deeper, darker hair shade. Opt for an almost black hair base, then sweep violet hues in vampy highlights. We love how, in this look, even the bangs are adorned with an amethyst overtone. Try it yourself by highlighting your brunette client's natural shade with BlondorPlex, then paint on Shinefinity Color Glaze 00/66 + 04/65 to create a berry tone that even natural color lovers can't resist.
8. White Chocolate Hair
Image Credit: @augustoallencar
We all love dark chocolate hair – a shade that transcends trends and looks flawless year-round. But now let's look at the new chocolate hue on the block: white chocolate hair, aka Milky Bar locks. It's rare that a pale, almost platinum blonde is described as rich (we usually reserve the term for sun-kissed blondes), but something about this color puts it firmly in the decadent camp. To replicate it for your clients, follow these steps: apply BlondorPlex to achieve the desired level of lightness, then tone using Illumina Color 10/93; a light hair hue with just a touch of gold in it.
9. Chocolate Brown Hair Color
Image Credit: @hairstylist_sarabea
Chocolate hair color relies on varying shades of radiant brown, as if you've mixed in a little caramel for an extra-delicious treat. Here, mid-lengths and ends have been painted with Blondor Freelights for a brunette balayage. The reason Freelights is great for this look is because it has an adhesive mass, which allows it to stay exactly where you apply it without bleeding onto other strands. Then, the highlights have been toned with Color Touch 7/7 + 7/73; two medium browns with a hint of a golden tone for a drizzle of caramel goodness.
10. Cold Brew Dark Brown Hair
Image Credit: @danielmbeauty
No milk, no sugar; cold brew hair is all about pure coffee-toned locks that are cool, crisp and dark – often with a scattering of very subtle highlights added in. Case in point: this expensive brunette creation by Wella Professionals USA Brand Ambassador Daniel Mora Ayala, which saw face-framing BlondorPlex ‘lights wrapped in foils to add amazing dimension through the front and sides of a dark base shade. Next up, Shinefinity Color Glaze 07/12 was used to lend locks an ashy brown tone. Each ribbon shimmers and shines in the most delicate way, bringing out the true beauty of this dark fall hair color.
11. High Gloss Brown-Black Hair Color
Image Credit: @michellethompsonhair
Ashy highlights and sweeps of balayage can be hard to resist, but never underestimate the impact of a single-tone, dark brunette mane that’s packed with shine. No lightener needed; this look is all about rich black hues from root to tip, and the key to nailing the look is using the perfect color product. Try demi-permanent Color Touch for intense vibrancy and shine, which lasts for up to 15 washes. For this look, the shade 3/0 was applied all over to warm blonde, curly hair, veiling every ringlet in the most lustrous, lit-from-within radiance.
12. Gemini Hair
Image Credit: @kennyhairartist
One of the biggest trends for the upcoming colder months is gemini hair, delivering a dose of bright color as the dark mornings and nights start to draw in. It's a two-tone look that reflects a gemini's impulsive and creative side – and a dream come true for edgy clients (or, indeed, hair colorists) who strive to make a statement. For this particular bright pink and purple mane, Koleston Perfect is your go-to. After lightening locks all over with BlondorPlex, apply 0/65 + 9/81 + 55/46 to achieve magenta panels. Then, after rinsing and neutralizing the formula, mix up Shinefinity Color Glaze 00/89 for the violet. Gemini hair has never looked so good.
13. Walnut Blonde Hair
Image Credit: @hairbysamspezia
If your client loves warm-toned, lighter hair colors – think honey blonde, lived-in blonde or caramel blonde – then they'll adore this fall update on their favorite shades. Walnut blonde is the ultimate bronde, delivering warm tones and brightness in equal measure. So, how can you create the look in the salon? Take inspiration from Sam's formula. On existing blonde highlights in need of a refresh, Color Touch 9/16 + 9/01 was applied; a combination of rich blonde shades that, teamed with already-there lowlights, give locks some walnut warmth. Then, the root was tapped with 7/71 for a multi-tonal finish. At last, warm shades of blonde are feeling fall-ready.
14. High Contrast Balayage
Image Credit: @jasblack
Balayage is popping for fall 2023. High contrast balayage is making waves, lending extra definition and dimension to your freehand painted looks. Create the look by sweeping on chunky highlights, or by swapping open-air development for balayage wrapped in foils (AKA foilyage). This particular look is a foilyage masterpiece, which you can recreate with Blondor Freelights to pre-lighten hair, followed by Koleston Perfect 8/03 to mimic those warm caramel highlights.
15. Pastel Pink Hair
Image Credit: @younessconcept.elnaz
Who says you can’t work pastel shades in the cooler months? While it’s usually a spring/summer staple, a pink pop of color is getting a fall-ready makeover in the form of this icy, metallic hue. Packed with cool tones on an ash blonde base, it relies on soft sweeps of Color Touch 9/75 + 9/96; two blonde tones subtly tinted with a hint of ballet blush. You could also use Color Fresh CREATE semi-permanent hair color in Nu-Dist Pink, Shinefinity 09/05 Silk Blush, or the temporary Color Fresh Mask in Rose Blaze.
16. Black and Burgundy Hair Color
Image Credit: @mayssas_beauty_mark
If your client prefers a more vibrant red than copper or auburn, introduce them to burgundy red, made all the more striking when combined with dark, brunette ribbons. If their natural hair color is black, adding red highlights is a sure-fire way to turn heads – and Magma by Blondor has you covered. The shades /65 and /44, applied in alternating sweeps, will lift and tone your client's dark hair to a burgundy red in one step. To further kick things up a notch, rinse and neutralize the color, then treat locks to a final toning session with Color Touch 66/45 + 77/45 for 15 minutes. Flawless.
17. Frosted Blue Hair
Image Credit: @jordannacobella
Blue hair color is getting a frosted twist for fall 2023 in the form of these icy curls by Jordanna Cobella. You're looking at locks that have been pre-lightened all over with BlondorPlex, followed by a 20-minute zero damage, zero lift and zero ammonia Shinefinity Color Glaze. Follow this formula: mix 08/8 with 09/81 for a pearlescent baby blue, then add just a touch of the 00/89 Blue Booster to rev up those frosted vibes. Not only will locks appear icy fresh, but they'll also shimmer with shine you can feel from root to tip.
Now you've got the lowdown on fall 2023's biggest hair color trends, which ones will you be recreating for your clients? Let us know by sharing your new-season looks with us on Instagram by tagging @WellaHairUSA.