Last edition, we focused on winter hair care, and while it’s true winter is usually a time for hunkering down and taking extra care with your hair, you can still have fun and switch up your look with a potential new color. Of course, you can get a new style or cut, but I think it’s best to wait until spring for a brand-new do. If you’re aching for a change, consider the following trending shades.
If you’re not in the market to make a splash but instead looking for a subtle refresh to your hair color, then consider a soft, neutral-warm shade that sits between blonde, brunette, and copper. Shades like this tend to be low maintenance, but still versatile and chic. Depending on your natural color, this is your color-but-better option. Like a no-makeup makeup for your hair. When you’re going to a colorist, ask for a natural, earthy undertone to your shade of choice in this muted warm range. Maintain this tone with general glossing treatments, like L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Hair Mask, to keep the finish refined and the color looking shiny and intentional. For a gloss specific to your new color, check out Glaze’s Supergloss — you can shop by brunette, raven, red, or blond.
Speaking of blonde, there are no two alike, and this season, there are so many options if you’re looking to go blonde, go back to blonde, or brighten your current blonde. For winter, consider asking for a honey butter blonde. The warmth and creaminess of this shade speak to the cozy nature of winter, which can give your hair a soft, as if by candlelight, glow. Ask for a warm-neutral blonde with subtle golden dimension and a glossy finish to enhance the buttery warmth. However, if sunshine, not candlelight, is more your preference, then there’s golden strawberry blonde. This shade combines the brightness of blonde with copper warmth to create a glowing golden feel. This works best for blondes who want depth or brunettes ready to go lighter this season. Ask for a warm honey base with golden copper undertones.
A third blonde to mention is the heritage gold blonde. A honeyed but muted blonde that feels retro and nostalgic, think of Betty Draper’s blonde or Jane Fonda’s blonde in the ’60s. You can even use photos as a reference. This shade works best for natural blondes or brunettes looking to add warmth in a mature, elegant way. Ask your colorist for a muted golden balayage, a subtle freehand coloring technique that looks more natural than traditional foil highlights. Or if highlights are your go-to, ask for a warm gloss afterward to restore richness to your strands.
Moving on to brunettes. If you’re looking for a brooding shade to match up with your winter vibes, then look to cherry cola brunette. This darker shade gives hair a moody, polished glow without tripping into a full red. This is a great choice for brunettes who want something new, and it can suit blondes looking to go dark. Ask for a deep brunette base with soft violet-red lowlights or a cherry-toned gloss.
For a more luxe, darker look, consider molten brunette, which combines chocolate and amber tones. If you are currently brunette, this shade will bring out a natural glow, depth, and shine. For those looking to darken lighter locks, it will bring dimensions and luminosity to your hair, especially when you follow up with a glossing treatment such as Overtone’s The Gloss: Shine Reviving Treatment Mask. Or, if you’re looking for a very dramatic change this season, there’s a gothic brunette. This is an ultra-dark, almost inky brunette with intense depth and shine. This shade works best for those with a naturally dark base, not something a bleached blond wants to jump into headfirst. Ask your colorist for an espresso or a black-cherry-toned shade to deepen your natural color by several shades. The darker the hair, the glossier it will appear when it catches the sporadic winter light.
If heritage gold, molten, and gothic are way out of your range, but you’d want to experiment with color, then there’s custom depth. This hair color technique involves a low-commitment demi-permanent gloss that deepens the natural base, while (if you have them) keeps your existing highlights visible. This is a middle ground that is meant to add shine, tone, and depth without feeling too heavy. And with custom depth, you can, in theory, “build it up” similar to a foundation. Go for an initial treatment. If you want to add more depth, go back for a second gloss and customize as you go.
Changing up your color during winter is a great way to see through the cold months in style and experiment with your look. I normally color my hair at home; however, for these shades and treatments, it’s best to go to a professional. But follow up with at-home hair care.
