Fall is the perfect time to refresh your hair with a warmer, richer or more dimensional shade. As summer highlights begin to fade, autumn hair colors bring depth back into the hair through glossy brunettes, toasted blondes, copper tones and deep reds.
You don’t have to choose an entirely new color to create a seasonal look. A gloss, lowlights or a few face-framing pieces can make your current shade feel ready for fall. If you’re considering a bigger transformation, shades like cherry cola, cowboy copper and burgundy plum offer a bolder change.
Use this guide to compare the best hair colors and fall beauty trends and find the shade that fits your starting color, maintenance preferences and desired level of commitment.
In this article
Meet the hair color expert: Darlene Grullon-Johnson
Darlene Grullon-Johnson is a Sally Beauty Licensed Colorist on Demand with about 20 years of hairstyling experience. Her background includes working behind the chair, managing a salon and helping customers across the country navigate hair color, products and realistic at-home results.
As a Licensed Colorist on Demand, Darlene helps customers make informed choices based on their hair history, current condition and color goals.
“I love the Licensed Colorist On Demand role because it gives customers access to expert advice when they need a second opinion on color, products, or how to approach their hair goals.”
Quick guide to the best fall hair colors
| Fall hair color | Overall look | Best starting point | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso Brown | Deep and glossy | Brunette or black hair | Low to moderate |
| Chocolate Brown | Warm and dimensional | Light to dark brunette | Low to moderate |
| Cherry Cola | Deep red-brown | Brunette or red hair | Moderate |
| Cowboy Copper | Warm copper-brown | Blonde, brunette or red hair | Moderate |
| Auburn | Natural red-brown | Blonde or brunette hair | Moderate |
| Toasted Honey Blonde | Warm and golden | Blonde or highlighted hair | Moderate |
| Caramel Bronde | Dimensional blonde-brown | Brunette or dark blonde | Low to moderate |
| Mushroom Blonde | Cool and muted | Blonde or light brown hair | Moderate |
| Burgundy Plum | Deep red-violet | Brunette or black hair | Moderate |
| Soft Black | Rich and dramatic | Dark brunette or black hair | Low |
The best fall hair colors to try
Fall hair colors often lean warmer and deeper, but that doesn’t mean every seasonal transformation has to be dark. The best shade will complement your current color while creating the richness associated with autumn.
Sally Beauty Expert Darlene Grullon-Johnson has already seen customers begin making that seasonal shift.
“Even though blonde is popular for summer, some people are already leaning into cherry cola, cherry reds, and deeper brown tones for fall.”
– Darlene Grullon-Johnson, Sally Beauty Expert
Glossy Espresso Brown
Espresso brown hair color creates a deep brunette result with a smooth, reflective finish. It’s a strong option for anyone who wants to deepen faded brown hair without moving all the way to permanent black.
Best for: Medium to dark brunette hair
Commitment: Low to moderate when achieved with a gloss or
demi-permanent color
Maintenance tip: Use color-safe products and add a clear gloss
when the hair begins to look dull.
Rich Chocolate Brown
Chocolate brown hair color adds warmth and richness without creating an overly red result. It can also make faded brunette hair look fuller and more dimensional after summer.
Best for: Light, medium or dark brunette hair
Commitment: Low to moderate
Maintenance tip: Choose a formula that complements your
existing warmth and refresh shine between full-color applications.
Dark Cherry Cola
Cherry cola blends brunette depth with rich red or violet tones. The result may look like a deep brunette indoors and reveal more red when the hair catches natural light.
This shade can be customized based on how bold you want the red to appear. Choose a deeper brown-red for a subtle change or a brighter cherry red hair color for greater contrast.
“For fall, all variations of cherry cola are still very popular, along with cowboy copper. Some people prefer more copper, some prefer more red, and cherry reds continue to be popular for the season.”
– Darlene Grullon-Johnson, Sally Beauty Expert
Best for: Brunette, black or existing red hair
Commitment: Moderate
Maintenance tip: Wash with cooler water and use products made
for color-treated hair to help slow fading.
Cowboy Copper
Cowboy copper hair color combines copper warmth with brown or auburn depth. It’s richer than a bright orange copper and can be adjusted to complement different starting shades.
Blondes may achieve a brighter copper result, while brunettes can choose a deeper copper-brown that retains more of their natural depth.
Best for: Blonde, brunette or red hair
Commitment: Moderate
Maintenance tip: Use a color-depositing product when needed to
refresh copper tones between applications.
Classic Auburn
Auburn hair color sits between brunette and red, making it one of the most approachable fall hair colors. Lighter auburn shades emphasize golden copper, while darker auburn shades create a richer red-brown result.
Best for: Blonde, light brown or medium brown hair
Commitment: Moderate
Maintenance tip: Protect the shade from excessive heat and
frequent washing, which can cause red tones to fade more quickly.
Toasted Honey Blonde
Blonde doesn’t have to disappear when summer ends. Honey and golden blonde hair color brings warmth into bright or faded blonde hair through golden, amber and caramel tones.
This shade can help soften an overly cool blonde and create a smoother transition into fall.
Best for: Blonde, highlighted or light brown hair
Commitment: Moderate
Maintenance tip: Add lowlights or a warm toner rather than
recoloring the entire head.
Caramel Bronde
Caramel bronde blends brunette depth with warm blonde highlights. It’s ideal for someone who wants to deepen their summer blonde without giving up dimension.
Brunettes can add caramel highlights around the face and through the lengths. Blondes can add deeper lowlights or a shadow root to create a more grounded autumn look.
Best for: Brunette, dark blonde or highlighted hair
Commitment: Low to moderate
Maintenance tip: Keep the root close to your natural color to
make new growth less noticeable.
Mushroom Blonde
Mushroom blonde combines beige, taupe and ash tones for a cooler fall color. It provides an alternative to the golden and copper shades that typically dominate autumn.
Explore ash and mushroom blonde hair color if you prefer a smoky, neutral finish.
Best for: Light brown, dark blonde or highlighted hair
Commitment: Moderate
Maintenance tip: Use toning products as needed to prevent
unwanted yellow or orange warmth.
Burgundy Plum
Burgundy plum combines red, violet and brunette tones for a deep jewel-toned result. It’s a bold seasonal option that may appear more subtle on dark hair and more vibrant on a lighter base.
Explore wine red and burgundy hair color to compare deep red-violet shades.
Best for: Brunette, black or red hair
Commitment: Moderate
Maintenance tip: Deeper violet-red shades can fade, so limit
hot water and frequent shampooing.
Soft Black
Black hair color creates a sleek, dramatic fall look. Soft black is slightly less intense than the deepest jet-black or blue-black shades, making it more approachable for dark brunettes.
Think carefully before choosing permanent black if you may want to go lighter later.
“I don’t believe black hair color has to be avoided at home, but customers should think it through first. Permanent black color has a lot of pigment and can be very difficult to remove, whether it’s box color or professional color.”
– Darlene Grullon-Johnson, Sally Beauty Expert
Best for: Dark brunette or naturally black hair
Commitment: High when using permanent color
Maintenance tip: Try a dark brown or black gloss first if you
aren’t ready for a permanent change.
How to choose a fall hair color based on your current shade
Your starting color affects how a fall shade will look and whether lightening, toning or color deposit may be needed.
Fall hair colors for brunettes
Brunettes can transition into fall by adding warmth, richness or subtle contrast. Strong options include:
- Espresso brown
- Chocolate brown
- Cherry cola
- Cowboy copper
- Caramel highlights
- Burgundy plum
If you want a lower-maintenance result, keep your base close to your natural brunette shade and add dimension through highlights, lowlights or a gloss.
Fall hair colors for blondes
Blondes can create a seasonal change without going fully brunette. Consider:
- Honey blonde
- Caramel blonde
- Mushroom blonde
- Strawberry blonde
- Auburn lowlights
- A warm shadow root
Adding lowlights can restore dimension to hair that became overly bright during summer.
Fall hair colors for redheads
Red hair can be adjusted for fall by moving warmer, deeper or more violet. Copper can transition into auburn, while brighter red can shift toward cherry cola or burgundy.
A color-depositing mask can also help refresh or adjust the tone without immediately committing to permanent color.
Fall hair colors for black hair
Deep cherry, burgundy, violet and blue-black shades can add a seasonal dimension to black hair. These tones may appear subtle in lower light and become more visible in the sun.
Lighter caramel or copper pieces may require pre-lightening, so perform a strand test and evaluate whether the hair can safely handle the change.
How to transition summer hair color into fall
You don’t always need a full-color application to transition your hair for autumn. Small adjustments can add depth and correct fading while preserving your existing dimension.
Consider these options:
- Add lowlights to overly bright blonde hair
- Apply a warm or neutral gloss
- Deepen the root with a shadow-root effect
- Add caramel or copper face-framing pieces
- Refresh faded red with a color-depositing mask
- Try a demi-permanent shade before choosing permanent hair color
- Tone unwanted yellow or orange warmth
If your hair has been exposed to sun, chlorine or frequent heat styling, check its condition before coloring. A dramatic transformation may need to happen gradually.
How to maintain your fall hair color
The right care routine can help preserve richness and shine between color applications.
- Wash with cooler water
- Use shampoo and conditioner made for color-treated hair
- Reduce washing when possible
- Reapply heat protection before using hot tools
- Alternate moisture and protein treatments based on your hair’s needs
- Use color-depositing products when appropriate
- Protect hair from UV exposure
- Refresh shine with a clear or tinted gloss
Color maintenance should be considered before choosing a shade, especially if you’re lightening your hair or selecting a color that fades quickly.
“If someone wants to color or lighten their hair, they need to be willing to care for it throughout the process. I recommend rotating between moisture and protein treatments to give the hair what it needs.”
– Darlene Grullon-Johnson, Sally Beauty Expert
What to know before coloring your hair at home
Always read the product instructions and complete the recommended allergy alert test before applying hair color. You should also perform a strand test to preview the result and see how your hair responds.
“My number one recommendation is strand test, strand test, strand test. It helps avoid surprises and gives you a better idea of how the hair will react before committing to the full process.”
– Darlene Grullon-Johnson, Sally Beauty Expert
Hair history matters. Virgin hair and previously colored hair may react differently to the same formula. Permanent dark color can also affect your ability to go lighter later.
If you’re unsure which shade or formula to choose, reach out for free hair color advice from our Licensed Colorists on Demand.
Find your fall hair color at Sally Beauty
Whether you’re ready for glossy espresso, warm honey blonde or bold cherry cola, Sally Beauty has professional-quality hair color for a range of seasonal looks.
Explore permanent, demi-permanent, semi-permanent and temporary options to find a fall shade that fits your starting color and desired commitment.
Frequently asked questions about fall hair colors
What hair colors are popular for fall?
Popular fall hair colors include espresso brown, chocolate brown, cherry cola, cowboy copper, auburn, caramel blonde and burgundy plum. Both warm shades and deeper jewel tones can create a seasonal look.
What’s a good fall hair color for brunettes?
Brunettes can try espresso, chocolate brown, caramel highlights, cherry cola, auburn or burgundy. Keeping the base close to your natural color can make the result easier to maintain.
What’s a good fall hair color for blondes?
Honey blonde, caramel blonde, mushroom blonde and strawberry blonde are strong fall options. Blondes can also add lowlights or a shadow root to bring more depth into their existing color.
Do I have to go darker for fall?
No. You can transition your color for fall by adding warmth, lowlights, a gloss or a few dimensional pieces. Bright blonde can also shift toward honey, beige or caramel without becoming significantly darker.
What fall hair color is easiest to maintain?
A shade close to your natural color will typically be easier to maintain. Rooted color, dimensional brunette and subtle highlights can also make new growth less noticeable.
Can I try a fall hair color without using permanent dye?
Yes. A semi-permanent color, demi-permanent color, temporary rinse or color-depositing mask can help you experiment with a seasonal shade without immediately choosing a permanent color.
