Fall’s Biggest Hair Trends Are Subtle But Impactful

02.09.2025, 17:30 allure.com

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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.

Meet the experts:

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.”

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.

In general, though, a neutral tone like this should allow you to stretch out the time between seeing your colorist. “It has warmth, but it's not so warm that it's going to read orange,” says Kim. “So when the color starts to fade, if you can't make it back into the salon, it's still going to look good.”

If you’re looking to deepen your natural brunette color this fall, the pros are feeling a dark, velvety, cool tone that New York City-based colorist Jenna Perry has described as “plush brunette.” Not quite black, the allover hue features espresso highlights that are undetectable when you’re indoors, but provide a flash of brilliance under the sun. Perry named Kaia Gerber’s current color as a reference.

“If someone's hair is naturally black, they're going to have to do a little bit of lightening,” Kim says. But for brunette shades, the color is achievable through an alkaline semipermanent gloss, or a single-process treatment if they require gray coverage.

Keeping the hair glossy is key to maintaining a plush brunette. A color-safe shampoo and conditioner are nonnegotiable (we love the Biolage ColorLast Duo), as are products that both moisturize and protect your hair. “I always recommend that clients hydrate their hair, especially for fall, with a nice cream like R+Co Waterfall Moisture and Shine Lotion,” says Perry.

Kim recommends L’Oréal Professionnel’s new Vitamino Color Spectrum Glass Shine Serum, which leaves strands lustrous and protects them from color-fading UV damage, while we love Wella’s Ultimate Smooth Miracle Oil Serum, which offers all of the above plus heat protection of up to 450 degrees.

“Less orange, more richness,” is how Schwartz describes the season’s coolest copper tones. “I think we’re going to see a shift this fall toward more lived-in reds with depth, dimension, and warmth that still make a statement but feel a little more autumnal,” he says, citing auburns that lean into brown and cinnamon.

It may seem like copper requires a simple single process, but you can experiment with the color in various ways. “It can be done as an allover color or lowlights, on panels and pieces, depending on your own personal style,” says Scottish colorist and hairstylist Bea Carmichael. Kim loves the look of softer shades of copper around the face, which then opens up the possibility of playing with deeper shades on the back of your head for a multidimensional effect.

For reds to look vibrant and healthy, Schwartz recommends a demi-permanent dye, which adds a gorgeous sheen and helps soften the grow-out (Schwartz uses Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Vibrance). “It’s also worth remembering that coppers and reds tend to fade faster, so be prepared to visit the salon for maintenance every six to eight weeks at least to keep the color looking fresh,” adds Carmichael. Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner are classic, color-safe formulas and integral if you want to keep your copper from fading.

You might assume that a fall focus on natural-looking colors means Technicolor shades like neon orange or vivid violet fade into the background, but rest assured, they’re there—just tucked under the top layers of hair. “I think color-blocking will be a way people experiment with bright tones this season,” says Shvonne Perkins, colorist and Madison Reed education director. “Think creative placements of color, whether that’s a piece through the bangs to accent a cut or on the under layers of your hair.” (Kristen Stewart’s shocks of pink at Cannes are just one example of how to try it.)

Perkins continues, “It’s a great option for someone who doesn’t mind a little DIY, because once you’ve lightened your hair [at the salon], you can then use a temporary color to change it up.”

Madison Reed has a violet-pink option in the brand’s Demi-Permanent Hair Color collection, but the Good Dye Young Semi-Permanent Hair Color range offers the most vibrant hues, including traffic cone orange and My Little Pony pastel purple. You can apply the color when you want it, and the pigments will last for about 25 washes.

Thinking of going for a close crop this fall? Take a page from Emma Stone’s book and keep it playful with what her hairstylist, Mara Roszak, calls the “whimsy pixie.” Says Roszak: “This version of the pixie is slightly grown out around the perimeters of the face. Everything is soft without any blunt lin