Last updated: March 04, 2024

Your Guide To Fall & Winter 2023’s Hair Color Trends

Photo Credit: Instagram via @danielmbeauty

Fall 2023’s Biggest Hair Color Trends & What They Really Mean

Yes, another season of client-requested colors that are all over your books! Scroll through this must-know list of color trend names your clients are finding on IG and find formulas and tips about what they really mean and how to bring those inspo pics to life.

Check out our full 2023 Trend Report for formulas, cutting diagrams, galleries, techniques and more.

#1. Old Money Blonde

This crisp, delicate blonde is all over your clients’ IG feed. The old-money look is reminiscent of icons like Marilyn, Madonna, Courtney Love, Gwen Stefani—the blonde bombshells that fell right in between the ash and warm colorway.

As you might assume, this color requires a high lift. If you have a client with fragile hair, you may want to consider skipping the all-over lightening process and opt for a Scandinavian hairline technique to satisfy brightness around the face until their hair strength improves to handle a heavy lightening process.

Formulas to get you started:

To achieve this soft, creamy blonde you’ll need a balanced toner to avoid pulling too warm or ashy. Try these pro-recommended lines:

–Moroccanoil® Color Calypso Ash Gold Series

–Schwarzkopf Professional® IGORA Cools

–Redken Shades EQ™ GI (Golden Iridescent) Series

Photo credit: Instagram via @dimitrishair

Photo credit: Instagram via @bruno_color_nyc

Photo credit: Instagram via @weezydidit

Photo credit: Instagram via @megumicolor

Photo credit: Instagram via @haircolorkilla

Photo credit: Instagram via @bel_pipsqueekinsaigon

Photo credit: Instagram via @slickback_buttahtoast

Photo credit: Instagram via @braggnbeauty

Photo credit: Instagram via @sabrinathehairwitch

Photo credit: Instagram via @dimitrishair

Photo credit: Instagram via @hairbyreema

Exclusively on BTC-U: Master the old money blonde trend with @hairbychrissydanielle!

#2. Natural-Toned Copper Shades

Whether you’re a fan of trend names or not, it is undeniable that Cowboy Copper—a term forecasted by Evo artist Tom Smith (@tomsmithhd)—exploded across social media and brought plenty of business to our chairs. The consensus to this trend is this: Clients want natural-looking copper tones however, there are three slight tonal variations to be aware of:

Orange-based copper
Brown-based copper
Red-based copper

To an untrained eye, one look at an inspo photo will not reveal the tonal differences of just how drastic these three coppers differ from one another.

Orange-Based Copper

This shade range is what most clients consider to be “a true copper.” These formulas are commonly heavy on gold and leave a lot of clients feeling “neon orange” due to the glow that copper shades tend to leave around the face. Although we LOVE an orange-based copper, be conscious of just how opaque you formulate a first-timer’s toner to avoid the sticker shock.

Photo credit: Instagram via @dimitrishair

CLICK HERE for Megan Fox’s Copper Formula!

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Orange-based copper, or as @romeufelipe calls it, Fox Hair 🔥

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A post shared by ROMEU FELIPE (@romeufelipe)

Brown-Based Copper (Cowboy Copper)

The color of the season, and every client’s top Pinterest search. Read our full cowboy copper guide for color theory insights and at-home care tips for clients.

Photo credit: Instagram via @megumicolor

Photo credit: Instagram via @danielmbeauty

Photo credit: Instagram via @jesseniaspallet

Photo credit: Instagram via @lulustone_

Photo Credit: Instagram via @taylorlashae @emilylandino

CLICK HERE for the formula!

Red-Based Copper

A lot of “natural redheads” fall into this category. When formulating red-based coppers, you’ll need to have a light hand when adding straight red shades into the formula.

For copper to still be considered copper, your formula will have to maintain the penny-colored glisten. Don’t make the mistake of over-formulating a red-based color—most of the time, you’ll only need a cap full or two!

Check out IG-loved @larisadoll Cowgirl Copper red transformation with the formula:

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A post shared by ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ Larisa Love™ (@larisadoll)

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Photo credit: Instagram via @derekcashstyles

#3. Brunette Frosting AKA “Skinnylights”

Pivoting from the expensive brunette wave—a term forecasted by Evo artist Tom Smith (@tomsmithhd)—we’re now seeing a big “ask” from clients to add a bit of shimmer to their dark mane. No matter the tonal range, strategic foil placement is the key to this *kiss of highlights* look.

Scrolling through the inspo photos below, you will notice each variation of these highlights has a specific pop of brightness at the high points of each section around the face. Leaving a lot of dimension at the root, these highlights are designed to create a thin veil of brightness that leaves a noticeable gleam to dark hair.

Pro Tip: Take a look at Moroccanoil®‘s new Chocolate Series ranging from Level 4 to 9 in their Color Calypso line for a variety of newly developed brunette shades.

Photo credit: Instagram via @themaneartistry

Photo credit: Instagram via @jaye_edwards

Photo credit: Instagram via @nubiarezo

Photo credit: Instagram via @hairbyreema

Photo credit: Instagram via @malcolmcleavoncuts

Photo credit: Instagram via @iamkendraalia

Photo credit: Instagram via @hairbymickk

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Did you know BTC-U has an entire library of brunette classes? Earn your certifications & start charging for your niche expertise today!

#4. Muted Golden Blonde

Last year, the revival of golden blonde took almost every client into their warm era. Now that warm blondes are everywhere, the allure of ✨going golden✨ has taken on a subtle tone this fall.

Instead of blasting your client’s high lift with straight-up gold, we’re seeing a huge request for a neutral golden hue. Expert colorist and educator Larisa Love (@larisadoll) shares, “Warmth is a must for bright blondes, sometimes I’ll just add a cap full of Joico Lumishine 6CCR to add that warm shine back into the hair.”

Golden formulas to get you started:

Pro Tip: Avoid your muted golds fading to yellow, add OLAPLEX No.5P Blonde Enhancer Toning Conditioner to your retail setup for a bi-weekly at-home refresh your clients can take home.

Photo credit: Instagram via @colorbymattrez

Photo credit: Instagram via @romeufelipe

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Photo credit: Instagram via @dimitrishair

Photo credit: Instagram via @nubiarezo

Photo credit: Instagram via @romeufelipe

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CLICK HERE for Margot Robbie’s Barbie Blonde Formula!

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Photo credit: Instagram via @yogacolourist

Photo credit: Instagram via @hairbycm

#5. Color Blocking: Bold Placement, Neutral Palette

We don’t know if the revival of the money piece sparked color blocking to make a comeback, but we’re leaning into all the edgy vibes this fall!

Bold color-blocking placement is the go-to canvas for neutral tones this year. Mixing up natural shades, black-and-whites and neutral combos are all the rage. Check out our diffused color blocking lookbook for tons of inspo images with ready-to-try formulas here:

Photo credit: Instagram via @isthatpat

Photo credit: Instagram via @sahrita23

Photo credit: Instagram via @colorsbyjaime

Photo credit: Instagram via @christiandomingos

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#6. Cherry Cola

Dust off those RV and VR bottles, deep cherry cola color is back! We all remember the color trend that took over our books in 2014; and just when you thought you got the last bit of red out of your client’s hair, we’re back.

Luckily, the formulation could not be more simple and is super customizable for any Level, hair type or previous color your client has. The biggest reminder we’ll leave you with is AT-HOME CARE. Not only will your client’s hard water be fighting against giant red color molecules, but the violet undertones will be fading just as fast—leaving your client with a muted red if not cared for properly.

Photo credit: Instagram via @isthatpat

CLICK HERE for the formula!

Photo credit: Instagram via @denisdervisi

Photo credit: Instagram via @jesseniaspallet

Photo credit: Instagram via @isthatpat

Photo credit: Instagram via @sarabotsfordhair

#7. Chestnut Brown

We don’t play favorites…but this warm brunette pulls on our heartstrings. The beauty (pun intended) of this chestnut brown is the versatility and ease of changing your client’s tone while working with their current brunette shade.

Whether you’re going all in or just adding a few foils, the lightening process is nearly risk-free. Aim for a Level 6 to 7 before toning, leaving a lot of color in the hair to later correct with toners as opposed to over-lifting and filling the cuticle with a golden brown. The reason being; there is a fine line between chestnut and brass. Overloading prelightened hair with golden brown will leave your client feeling brassy—aim for natural-toned, warm brunettes that are close in Level to their base color.