As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, isn’t it time your hair also reflects the rich, vibrant colors of fall? Whether you’re a brunette looking for a subtle change or a blonde aiming to deepen your tones, the right highlights can completely transform your look. But what kind of highlights best capture the essence of fall? Let’s explore some stunning options.
Warm Caramel Ribbons
Caramel ribbons are perfect for adding warmth and depth to brown hair, creating a seamless transition into fall. This style suits those with a warm skin tone, making the hair appear lush and vibrant. Ideal for brunettes, these highlights add a soft, yet rich color that enhances the natural base without overwhelming it.
To maintain the lusciousness of caramel highlights, use color-protecting shampoos and conditioners. Brands like Redken Color Extend Magnetics or Oribe’s Beautiful Color Shampoo help preserve the shade’s vibrancy and prevent fading.
Golden Honey Accents
For those with blonde hair, golden honey accents can add a rich, autumnal touch without straying too far from the natural hair color. These highlights are perfect for blondes seeking a subtle transition towards deeper fall shades. The golden tones are particularly flattering for light to medium skin tones.
To keep your golden honey highlights looking fresh, opt for products that enhance blonde hues, like the Aveda Blue Malva shampoo, which prevents brassiness, or Moroccanoil’s Light Toning Shampoo for extra shine.
Rich Chocolate Tones with Subtle Highlights
Brunettes can deepen their allure with rich chocolate tones interspersed with subtle highlights. This combination is not only timeless but also adds a sophisticated flair suitable for any age. It particularly compliments individuals with cooler skin tones by warming up their overall appearance.
Maintain these rich tones with a sulfate-free shampoo, like L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo, and consider a gloss treatment once a month to keep the hair shiny and the color intact.
Auburn Streaks for a Pop of Color
Auburn streaks are a bold choice that can breathe life into both light and dark hair. They work particularly well for brunettes and those with black hair, offering a vibrant contrast that is perfect for fall. This style best suits those with a bold personality or someone looking to make a statement.
To protect these vibrant auburn tones, use a color-conserving product like the Bumble and Bumble Color Minded Shampoo, which helps seal in color and minimize fading.
Bronze Glow on Dark Hair
Bronze highlights can spectacularly define dark hair, giving it a warm, sun-kissed glow that mirrors the golden hues of autumn. This style is excellent for those with dark or olive skin tones, enhancing the natural darkness of their hair while bringing a touch of lightness.
For maintaining this glow, products like Joico Color Infuse Brown Shampoo, which boosts brown tones and adds a subtle radiance, are recommended.
Copper Hues for a Fiery Look
Copper hues are quintessentially autumn, evoking the fiery reds and oranges of fall foliage. This warm, dynamic color works beautifully on brunettes and redheads looking to intensify their natural shades. It’s especially flattering for individuals with fair to medium skin tones that have warm undertones.
To keep your copper highlights radiant, invest in color-preserving hair care products. We recommend the Kerastase Reflection Bain Chromatique shampoo and conditioner duo, which are excellent for protecting vibrant colors and adding shine.
Sun-Kissed Blonde Tips
For those already sporting blonde hair, adding sun-kissed tips can bring a light, rejuvenating touch to your overall look, reminiscent of the last warm rays of summer sun. This technique is perfect for both light and dark blondes who desire a subtle, natural enhancement.
Maintain the brilliance of your blonde tips with the Paul Mitchell Platinum Blonde Shampoo, which helps brighten blondes and eliminate brassiness, paired with a weekly deep-conditioning treatment to keep hair healthy.
Sable and Espresso Swirls
Combining sable and espresso tones creates a rich, multidimensional look that adds depth and sophistication. This style is ideal for brunettes with darker base colors looking to add subtle complexity to their hair without overwhelming brightness.
To ensure these dark tones remain luscious, use Aveda’s Black Malva shampoo, which enhances dark shades and adds a lustrous sheen.
Maple Red Highlights
Maple red highlights are a bold choice that can transform your look with their vibrant, rich hue. They work best on brunettes and those with black hair, providing a striking contrast that is both bold and warming, much like the beloved autumn maple.
For care, the Joico Color Infuse Red shampoo is excellent for enhancing red tones and preventing fading, ensuring your highlights stay vibrant through the season.
Rustic Chestnut Warmth
Rustic chestnut is a timeless choice that brings warmth and richness to your hair, perfect for those looking to soften their look with a more subdued, natural color. It’s particularly flattering for people with medium to dark complexions.
Keep these warm tones fresh and vibrant with the Bumble and Bumble Color Minded shampoo, which is designed to lock in warmth while preventing color washout.
Pumpkin Spice Tones
Pumpkin spice isn’t just for your latte—it’s also a fabulous inspiration for blondes looking to warm up their look. These golden-orange tones add a spicy warmth perfect for those with a pale or neutral skin tone, offering a cheerful pop of color to brighten the dreary days of fall.
To keep these vibrant tones looking fresh, incorporate a color-enhancing shampoo such as John Frieda Radiant Red Boosting Shampoo. This will help maintain the vividness of the orange and golden hues.
Mahogany Highlights in Black Hair
Mahogany highlights can add a subtle yet striking dimension to black hair, infusing a touch of autumn warmth into your natural color. This style is especially flattering for darker skin tones, offering a glossy, reflective quality that makes the hair appear richer and more vibrant.
To care for these highlights, use a moisturizing and color-preserving product like SheaMoisture’s Illuminating Hair Color Care Shampoo, which is formulated for dyed hair and helps keep the color from fading.
Amber Lights in Brown Hair
Amber lights are perfect for brunettes wanting to enhance their hair with a soft, natural-looking glow. The warm, honey-colored highlights can illuminate your face and are ideal for those with medium to olive skin tones, providing a subtle yet noticeable change.
Sustain the luminosity of amber highlights with the Biolage Colorlast Shampoo, designed to maintain the depth and shine of color-treated hair.
Mocha Infused Highlights
Mocha infused highlights are a sophisticated choice for adding depth and dimension to darker hair. These rich, deep brown highlights work well for anyone looking to enrich their natural hair color without dramatic change, suitable for all skin tones.
For optimal care, consider products like the Matrix Biolage Hydrasource Shampoo, which hydrates and adds shine to keep the highlights looking sleek and polished.
Burgundy and Wine Overtones
Burgundy and wine overtones are a bold choice that mesh beautifully with the fall palette. These rich, deep reds are stunning on brunettes and black-haired individuals, offering a vibrant color that stands out beautifully against cooler weather wardrobes.
Maintain these intense colors with a color-depositing conditioner like the Overtone Red Conditioner, which refreshes hair color and keeps it looking bold and bright.
Cherry Wood Red Accents
Cherry wood red accents are ideal for those looking to add a fiery touch to their hairstyle this fall. Particularly flattering on brunettes, these highlights bring out a vibrant, energetic feel in darker hair, perfect for enhancing olive and darker skin tones with a warm undertone.
To keep these red accents from fading, I recommend using sulfate-free shampoos like Pureology Hydrate Shampoo, which is gentle on color-treated hair and helps maintain its vibrancy.
Ash Blonde Streaks
Ash blonde streaks offer a cool contrast to the typical warmth of fall colors, making it a standout choice for blondes. This color works best for those with lighter skin tones, adding a chic, sophisticated flair to any haircut.
For maintenance, using a purple shampoo, such as Clairol Shimmer Lights, once a week will help counteract any brassiness and keep the ash tones crisp and clear.
Iced Cinnamon Sprinkles
Iced cinnamon sprinkles are a sweet and subtle way to spice up your hair color. These highlights are perfect for light brown to blonde hair, offering a hint of warmth with a dash of brightness, ideal for those with peachy or creamy skin tones.
To enhance and protect these delicate highlights, opt for a color-enhancing conditioner like John Frieda’s Brilliant Brunette Visibly Brighter Conditioner.
Smokey Quartz and Silver Lining
Combining smokey quartz and silver linings creates a sophisticated, multi-dimensional look that mirrors the foggy, mysterious days of late autumn. This style suits dark to medium hair and is especially flattering on those with cool undertones.
Preserving these complex colors requires a balancing shampoo, such as the Redken Graydiant Shampoo, which tones silver and enhances natural grays.
Deep Plum Reflections
Deep plum reflections are a bold and luxurious choice that complements the deep hues of the autumn season. Best suited for dark-haired individuals, this color enriches the hair with a deep, saturated tone that looks stunning on deeper skin tones.
Maintain this rich hue with a color-depositing shampoo like Viral Colorwash in Extreme Purple to keep the plum tones vibrant and deep.
Salted Caramel Highlights
Salted caramel highlights are the perfect choice for brunettes looking to lighten their locks with a soft, warm glow. This color works wonders in adding dimension and warmth, ideal for those with medium to dark skin tones or anyone wishing to brighten their autumn palette.
Maintain these gorgeous highlights by using a color-safe shampoo like Olaplex No. 4, which helps to repair bonds while cleansing, keeping your hair healthy and your color vibrant.
Conclusion
This season, let your hair be a reflection of the beautiful changes around you. Which of these fall hair highlights resonates with your style? Share your thoughts and any questions in the comments below!