Whether you spent the summer lounging in your air-conditioned living room or going full throttle at a resort with an Aperol spritz in hand, the fall ushers in an undeniable urge to hit the metaphorical reset button. Some people decorate their porch or update their wardrobe, but Team Allure’s favorite way to welcome autumn? A trip to the hair salon. We asked the experts for their thoughts on the season’s biggest cuts and color trends to get us ready for the crisp, cool months ahead.
When it comes to color, more and more people are leaning into their natural hue, says New York City-based hairstylist Vanessa Ocando: “I’m seeing a big shift toward soft, sun-kissed highlights that enhance natural base color rather than change it.”
Longevity for a look, especially as people navigate an uncertain economy, is also top of mind, according to hair colorist Min Kim. “I think the world is in a state, so clients are looking for something that’s lower-maintenance,” she says, emphasizing that people aren’t asking for something entirely maintenance-free, but a style that “lets them come in at their own pace while keeping the color looking great.”
The opposite is true for cuts, though, as hairstylists are noticing that clients seem more game for total transformation. “There’s this collective energy around reinvention,” says Ocando. “A bold haircut feels like a fresh start. That’s what a lot of people are craving right now.”
In terms of fall trends, though, a reinvention doesn’t necessarily mean a big chop or a big change. Sure, the blunt bob remains this year’s boldest haircut (“Bobs are ruling for fall,” says New York City-based hairstylist Garren), but there are less drastic ways to transform your look, like adding bangs to your current cut or trimming your sun-bleached lengths into ’70s-inspired layers.
In general, the ’70s are having an outsize influence on fall’s most popular cuts, from the shag to voluminous Afros. “Hair in the ’70s had personality, movement, and fullness that was unapologetically sexy,” says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Sunnie Brook. “We need some fun, spirited, rebellious hair in the world right now, don’t you think?”
We enthusiastically agree. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
- Sunnie Brook is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist and Biolage ambassador.
- Bea Carmichael is a Scottish colorist, hairstylist, and global styling educator for Aveda.
- Tracey Cunningham is a Los Angeles-based colorist, owner of Meche Salon, and a US creative director for Schwarzkopf Professional.
- Kellon Deryck is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist.
- Monae Everett is a New York City-based hairstylist and educator.
- Garren is a New York City-based hairstylist and cofounder of R+Co.
- Sophie Gutterman is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist.
- Luke Hersheson is a hairstylist and CEO of Hershesons salons and product line in London.
- Franck Izquierdo is a hairstylist and cofounder of IGK Hair.
- Min Kim is a colorist at Butterfly Studio Salon in New York City and L’Oréal Professionnel ambassador.
- Tia Lambourn is a colorist and the founder of Bay Studios salon in Derby, England.
- Vanessa Ocando is a New York City-based hairstylist.
- Shvonne Perkins is a colorist and education director for at-home hair color brand Madison Reed.
- Jenna Perry is a New York City-based colorist and founder of Jenna Perry Hair Studio.
- Kathleen Reilly is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist and Prose hair care expert.
- Mara Roszak is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist and founder of Roz Hair Care.
- Jacob Schwartz is a Los Angeles-based colorist and Schwarzkopf Professional color-trend ambassador.
Fall Hair Color Trends
Crème brûlée blonde
Getty Images
Getty Images
The pros call it everything from “crème brûlée” and “creamed” to “supermodel,” but regardless of how you describe it, fall’s hottest blonde hue is all about subtlety. Neither too warm nor too cool, the “low-contrast blonde offers a quietly luxurious vibe that I predict will dominate this fall,” says London-based colorist Tia Lambourn.
A good example is Bella Hadid’s hair color at the Cannes Film Festival, which was created by Los Angeles-based colorist Jacob Schwartz. It was a soft, multidimensional tone that didn’t feel too bright or overdone. “It’s warm, transitional, and still has that healthy glow without looking too processed,” Schwartz says.
The golden-peachy, transitional shade offers an easy way to slowly begin winter-proofing your blonde. “It’s very low-maintenance, it’s more forgiving, and you have that creamy, buttery tone without the brassiness,” says New York City-based colorist Min Kim.
As this color lives between ashy and warm, there’s a lot of flexibility to adapt the shade to someone’s natural skin tone and coloring, says Kim. For Hadid, Schwartz looked to Brigitte Bardot, as well as photos of the model’s own childhood hair color, to ensure the most natural-looking shade possible. He lifted her hair and added lowlights throughout to add “depth, richness, and movement, without losing that blonde impact.”
Schwartz also gave the roots a natural shadow and hand-painted a few pieces: “Honestly, it’s all about balance with the right products, right placement, and knowing when to stop.”
Between appointments, Kim recommends using the Olaplex Shampoo and Conditioner “to keep the hair strong, shiny, and ready for whatever’s next.”
Brown-sugar brunette
Getty Images
Getty Images
The buzziest brunette shade for fall feels equally as easy-going. “It’s all about capturing warm, sun-drenched depth, like the tones you see in the desert,” says colorist Tracey Cunningham, who dubbed the shade “brown-sugar brunette” after trying it out on Lana Del Rey. “We wanted something dimensional and low-maintenance that could shift depending on how she styled it,” Cunningham explains. “When [Del Rey’s] hair is pulled up, the brunette looks rich and uniform. When worn down, the lighter ends come through and give it that earthy, lived-in vibe.”
The color requires a soft yet multidimensional base that’s a blend of ash and neutral tones. “We called it ‘brown sugar’ because brown sugar isn’t really warm, it’s more of a smoky shade,” notes Cunningham, who also lightened Del Rey’s ends to add the illusion of movement and a sun-kissed vibe. ”The goal was seamless blending, something that grows out gracefully, and feels luxe without being high-maintenance.”
There is, obviously, some maintenance involved. Cunningham suggests sticking to sulfate-free shampoo (like the Best of Beauty-winning Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Sulfate Free Shampoo Density Boost Hydrating Shampoo), cool-water rinses (to prevent fading), and a weekly deep-conditioning mask (we love the hyaluronic acid-infused Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Mask). A clear gloss between salon appointments helps bring back shine and richness. You can apply IGK Expensive Amla Oil Hi-Shine Topcoat in the shower, and it leaves strands ridiculously glossy.
