Dark chocolate brunette, pure white, three different types of shades of red… No matter what kind of cold-weather transformation you’re seeking, this season is all about standing out from the crowd with gorgeous hair and making a major statement. Winter is just around the corner, and whether the thought of cold air, shorter days, and layering knits appeals to you or not, I think we can all agree that the change of the season is a great excuse to refresh your hair color. If the ongoing (sigh) pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that people are even more down than ever to experiment with their hair color, both at home and in reopened salons. This winter, there is no shortage of options for those who may want to go bold, and those who prefer a pretty, more conventional hue.Whether it’s making your hair more golden for the glitz and glam of the new year or deepening and richening your hair, the winter commands that level of newness that we all want to carry into 2022. But before you head into the salon, why not peruse some of the cute color ideas a few of our esteemed professionals are seeing a lot of? And with that, let’s get into the winter hair color ideas the pros are loving, along with a little celebrity inspo to tie it all together. Sit back, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and scroll on for the best ones ahead:
Sepia Brown
You already know sepia’s warm, reddish-brown tone looks great when it comes to old-timey photos and Instagram filters. Turns out, it’s also a gorgeous hue for your hair. “It’s one of the perfect transitional winter hair colors because it’s that happy medium for someone who wants to make a change, but doesn’t want to commit to anything long term (as we know darker shades of brown and more intense reds can be),” says Felicia Dosso, colorist at Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York City. Momina Mustehsan’s sepia hair color is a slightly deeper shade than her signature vibrant red. At the salon, ask for a single process color of “a rich medium brown with flecks of golden warmer tones, plus a touch of copper, but nothing too intense.
Jet Black
Dark chocolate not dark enough ? Take your color a notch deeper with a jet black dye job. People tend to want to darken their hair in the winter. It’s bold and it can also be done in a single process. If a jet black color like Ayeza Khan’s is what you’re going for, first prepare a few questions for your colorist like, “Are you using a semi-permanent or permanent color on me? Will the color fade between appointments? How easy will it be to lighten my hair if and when I’m ready for a change?” Being mindful of the process and upkeep will save you from any surprises later on.
Dark Chocolate
Similar to the chocolate brown fall hair-color trend, winter calls for a rich hue. This particular take on brown hair is a slightly richer shade that can make your hair look super shiny. During winter, many people prefer to take their hair darker, so toning out highlights and sticking to an all-over brunette shade for the season is a great choice. To find the right hue for you, first talk to your colorist about whether warm or cooler shades best complement your skin tone. As for maintenance, we hear a lot of talk about purple shampoo for blondes, but brunettes need a good blue toning shampoo as well to neutralize unwanted orange, red, and brassy tones.
Bronde Feels
T tonalities like beige blondes, neutral light browns, and brondes have a way of looking cooler in the winter and not to mention go with a lot of clothing options. If you choose a bronde hue this season,the perfect middle ground if you can’t decide which one you prefer. But besides getting the best of both worlds, there’s another benefit to a bronde hue – the grow-out period will still keep the color looking fresh and essentially not brassy because of the neutral tones. Although it may seem a little scary to go so neutral, you’d be surprised with how much lighter your hair can look without going full blonde or fully leaving the light brown category.
Root Balayage
Selena Gomez beautifully demonstrates how this kind of dye technique works for hair colors other than blonde. As we see here, her roots are a deep chocolatey, almost black hue and the ends are a lighter brown. Again, almost any hair color looks cool when it’s anchored by a darker root, but, as a pro like Anderson will always tell you, “make sure to talk to your colorist first and foremost” before taking the plunge.
