Fall will always have that back-to-school allure for most of us: new clothes, new beauty and a chance to refresh our style. Even though most of us are too old to buy school supplies, we never give up that excitement of showing up in fall as a cooler, newer, better version of ourselves — and one surefire way to do that is with a fresh new hair color.
This season’s runways were filled with plenty of beauty and fashion flashbacks along with new takes that are bound to inspire you to try a whole new “lewk.” We asked Rachel Bodt, senior colorist for Red Door Salon in New York City, to weigh in on the hair color trends we’ll see making their way from the catwalk to the sidewalk. Bodt, who works on runway stunners like Andreja Pejic, Kiki Willems and Lili Sumner, along with an editorial body of work that includes Olivia Wilde, Tilda Swinton and Jaws Nelson, dished on the season’s hottest hair colors, how to get them and how to keep them looking gorgeous all season. Read on for the Fall 2018 hair color trends that are sure to make an impact.
[ Next: These Will Be the Most Popular Hair Colors of 2018, According to Top Stylists ]
This article originally appeared on TotalBeauty.com
These Will Be the Top Hair Color Trends for Fall
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Power Brown
Bodt points to models like Binx Walton and Kaia Gerber as an example of the luxurious take on brunette for the season. It seems brown is anything but boring: we're talking a rich medium to dark brown, a powerful color that looks lush and saturated. "It's not overly warm, not overly ashy. For the longest time we saw brunettes with highlights running through it, but now we're seeing that chic, rich tone. Think sable-y, very Old Hollywood raven-haired brunette."
If you're already naturally in the brown family, Bodt says this is the season to really lean into a lush version of your natural hair color. "I think this is the season to really embracing being brunette. I think we're going back to that luxe, rich brown."Image: Imaxtree
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Power Brown: Get the Look
If you’re already in the brunette family, a color glaze can deepen your brunette color. Bodt recommends finding a colorist to apply Redken Shades EQ or Wella Color Touch for a color treatment that adds rich depth and shine. She also recommends using color-enhancing shampoos and conditioners like John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Colour Protecting Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner, $6.99, to refresh your hue as well as continue adding depth to your color.
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Power Brown: Keep the Look
Bodt says to watch your cleansing regimen if you’re trying to cover up highlights. “If you have overly highlighted hair, the more you wash it, the more it’s going to come out.” In this case, Bodt recommends using a cleansing conditioner or sulfate-free shampoo like Bumble and Bumble Color Minded Shampoo, $31, in addition to a monthly color glaze treatment for rich brunette impact.
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Super Ashy Blonde
Blondes have been having fun for seasons and this fall, the hue borrows some inspiration from the '80s with a cool, frosty take (think recent Cara Delevingne). "The color is a very grey-white marbleized blonde that's super ashy with a neutral root. It's a very frosty update on that ashy '80s blonde with more tone to it. It's very neutral: it doesn't mess with skin tone, it's not sparkly. It's a real statement."
Image: Imaxtree
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Ashy Blonde: Get the Look
Once a professional has created this multi-dimensional color, the key is preserving the purity of the color, which means using products to keep the blonde from turning. Bodt likes R+Co Acid Wash ACV Cleansing Rinse, $32, to keep blondes pristine. “Super blonde hair is very porous, so you have to continually remove mineral deposits that come through your water pipes, which can turn it yellow and/or orange. This product is essentially an apple cider vinegar rinse that will take those deposits off the hair without stripping it.”
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Ashy Blonde: Keep the Look
Speaking of water deposits, Bodt says one of the best investments blondes (everyone, TBH) can make is a showerhead with a filter like the T3 Source Showerhead, $150, which filters mineral deposits out before they can ruin your color investment. It’s not just great for your hair, but it’ll do wonders for your skin as well.
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Creamy Champagne Blonde
The evolution of platinum blonde is a softening of the hue to a color that Bodt created for her client, model Andreja Pejic. She describes the color as a cross between champagne and cream. "This isn't a platinum blonde, but a gorgeous champagne color with notes of gold and cream in it. It's still a cool hue, but there are hints of light and radiance. It's like a glass of champagne but the hues are creamier and softer."
Image: Imaxtree
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Champagne Blonde: Get the Look
The trick to getting this kind of color is finding a colorist who specializes in this beautiful, multi-dimensional blonde. “Don’t be afraid to ask someone you see who has the hair color you want where they get their hair done,” advises Bodt. She also recommends a strand test for those going for a more extreme color variation. If you want to enhance the blonde you already have, color masks like Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care Baby Blond, $53, can help brighten and enhance your existing shade.
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Champagne Blonde: Keep the Look
Since this is a multi-dimensional blonde, it requires hair care that follows suit. Bodt recommends mixing a purple conditioner for blonde hair care, like Kristin Ess The One Purple Conditioner, $12, with a golden blonde-enhancing product, like Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care Golden Blond, $53, or the perfect nourishing, color-boosting hair care product.
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Fiery Copper
Redheads have been having a moment for a while, but this fall we're seeing reds that are fiery and orange in nature, like the super coppery, vibrant tone she created for her client, model Kiki Willems. "It's so impactful and vibrant, like a brand-new copper penny," says Bodt.
Image: Imaxtree
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Fiery Copper: Get the Look
“You have to lift the hair to get this color, but you don’t have to lift the hair to white depending on the base color," explains Bodt. “The undertone of brunette for most is red and orange, so you just lift the hair until you get to that orange color and then you work with that. It’s better to start with that orange tone to go red anyway, rather than a blonde.” Those already in the red hair color family can go in for a color glaze or try color depositing conditioners to shift the color to a more vibrant hue like Overtone Extreme Red Daily Conditioner, $18.
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Fiery Copper: Keep the Look
Red is the hardest hair color to maintain, so be ready to dedicate yourself to regimented use of color-depositing products like an intensive hair mask used once a week to keep color bold. “You can make your own color conditioner for maintenance,” she advises. “You can get a good nourishing deep conditioner and then mix in a hue like Manic Panic Electric Tiger Lily, $13.99, until you get the right tone. Test the mixture on a little piece of your hair (somewhere in the back where no one will see it) and keep mixing until you get the right hue. That’s your color mask: super easy.”
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Hair Painting
Everything old is new again and the homages to the '80s and '90s on the fall runway don't stop with clothes: hair painting is back but in a fresh new way. "Hair painting isn't going anywhere: it's here to stay," Bodt says. "But we're going to see less ombre and highlights coming up to the root and more an homage to Cindy Crawford from the '90s. Doutzen Kroes and Candice Swanepoel are good examples of this: beautiful base color with a soft root and very thick, ribbony highlight pieces painted all around."
Image: Imaxtree
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Hair Painting: Get the Look
Bodt recommends going to a professional but if you’re going to do it at home, do it right. “Look, in a pinch if you needed to paint a few pieces around your face, absolutely go for it. Section off areas you want to paint, base your hairline so you don’t get bleach in your eye, and be really careful. If you’re just adding some face-framing highlights, just rinse it as it’s done: don’t get too experimental.” She likes the Madison Reed Light Works Balayage Highlights Kit, $44.95.
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Hair Painting: Keep the Look
Your greatest enemy? Heat damage. “Hair that’s been highlighted is pretty sensitive, so usually when people come in with damage it’s because of these insane hot tools,” Bodt cautions. “Hair that’s been previously lightened doesn’t need high heat when styling; medium heat will do the trick. Also, use a heat protectant like Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique Blow Dry Primer, $37. You want to put a barrier between your highlighted hair and that high heat.” She also recommends sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase to reduce friction on sensitive hair and to avoid using metal brushes when heat styling, they heat up too fast.
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Golden Ends
Let's call this the End of the Age of Ombre: those golden strands have made their way to the final fifth of your hair and, well, they look pretty good. "Essentially, it's most likely people who've grown out their blonde and the ends are super golden, but it's a good look. It's evolved: kind of a neutral, ashy root and a golden end. It's a nice way to grow that ombre out and help it look more connected to the root. The days of that stark line of lighter color vs. a dark root is over. There's some connection between the two colors."
Image: Imaxtree
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Golden Ends: Get the Look
Since this is most likely the end of your ombre color, Bodt suggests going to a professional to marry the different hues of your hair together as well as bring the levels of golden blonde back up on the ends. “This could be like a twice-a-year thing; super easy to maintain,” she recommends. You can also enhance your ends at home with a golden color treatment like dpHUE Gloss+ Golden Blonde, $30.
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Golden Ends: Keep the Look
Bodt recommends regular protein bonder treatments like Olaplex to strengthen processed ends. Also, get the right shampoo and conditioner to manage the color post-treatment. “Once you leave the salon your hair is open from the treatment, so the right post-treatment products help shut the cuticles back down for those critical first two weeks post-service.” She’s a fan of Wella Fusionplex Intense Repair Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask, $22 each, for post-service maintenance.
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'80s Neon and Candy Brights
Fantasy colors are here to stay and this season, we saw a shift away from mermaid hues to neon bright colors at Jeremy Scott and Marc Jacobs. "I think fantasy colors will always be around in some way but in the future, I think we're going to see them go to really rich hues like royal blue."
Image: Imaxtree
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Neon Brights: Get the Look
Here’s where you have to judge your level of commitment with this type of color. If you’re just trying it out, colored wigs or spray-on hair color like L'Oreal Paris Colorista 1-Day Spray, $7.39, is a great way to play with this kind of hue before you make the commitment. “If you’re dying to wear this permanently, I would really suggest trying a wig on,” warns Bodt. “Things seem really good and great until it’s on your head and around your face.” But if you want to put a ring on it, then absolutely do your research and go in for consultations: you want to seek someone known for this type of bleach-and-tone work who will use a protein bonder to maintain the integrity of your hair. “It will save your hair. I cannot stress this enough,” she cautions.
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Neon Brights: Keep the Look
The key to maintenance is going back in for regular touch-ups on the color and having your colorist create a custom color-depositing mask with the hue they’ve created for you – Davines Nounou Hair Mask, $36, is a great option for the base. Bodt also advises having a plan for how long you want to commit to such an extreme color choice for the long-term health of your hair. “If it’s just for a month or three, great, but have a long-range plan of where you see this look evolving. It does take a lot out of your hair. That’s why celebrities wear wigs.”
