There’s nothing more autumnal than leaves changing color—nature’s palette shifts from vibrant green to golden yellows, burnt oranges, and rusty reds; it literally defines the season. Like the leaves, I, too, like to change color as the calendar approaches September. For the past few years, I’ve held a steady hair appointment right at the start of fall to dye my hair to match the vibe of the season. Most recently, I’ve gone from honey-brown highlights to a moody auburn and from muddy brown to a rich, chocolatey shade. This year, however, I feel slightly uninspired. Are we doomed to keep repeating the same five hair colors for fall, or could an understated gem emerge this season?
The answer is yes and no. While staple fall shades like chestnut and auburn are making a return, our approach to fall 2026 hair color trends is different. “It's less about chasing a new fall shade and more about bringing warmth and depth back into color that's already there,” says Kadi Lee, celebrity colorist and founder of Highbrow Hippie. This fall, the goal is color that looks intricate and expensive but is actually designed with ease in mind.
