Not Ready for an Autumn Hair Transformation Yet? Consider These 6 Transitional Shades Instead
As we approach the end of summer, I'm getting that all familiar seasonal itch to switch up my hair colour. Whilst I'm excited to try some autumn hair colour trends (I'm currently tempted by a deep, icy espresso brunette hue), I'm not ready to commit to a drastic hair colour transformation quite yet. So, I've been scrolling my feeds and saving some summer-to-autumn transitional hair colour trends for my next salon visit, ready to tie me over until we get into the full swing of autumn.
Between summer and autumn, I always favour a subtle transformation over a whole hair colour makeover. You see, if you're anything like me, your hair may be feeling dry or frazzled from the sun or days spent at the beach, or perhaps your colour may be looking a little dull or brassy. So, at this time of the year, I step up my hair care routine with nourishing hair masks and hair glosses to revive my current colour, and often experiment with a colour-depositing hair mask to dip a toe in a hair colour without the commitment of permanent colour. In the salon, some ribbon highlights or soft balayage can be a great way to revive your hair colour, or semi-permanent glosses can rejuvenate your hair colour whilst delivering a glossy shine.
In need of some inspo? Scroll ahead for a peek inside my inspo folder of the hair colours that are perfect for transitioning your hair from summer to autumn.
1. Malted Brunette
If you're currently a light brunette, then opting for a shade or two deeper in a cooler tone is a great way to welcome in autumn without feeling too dark. Take Zendaya's glossy malted brunette shade that she's been wearing at the Spider-Man and The Odyssey this summer. It's a cool, mid-toned brunette that looks so glossy and expensive. This can easily be achieved with a semi-permanent gloss in the salon, or a colour-depositing hair mask if you want to test out the new shade at home first.
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I recommend these hair colour depositing masks to everyone I know who tells me they want to try a new hair colour. They leave a semi-permanent tint on your hair that gradually washes out over a couple of weeks.
A clear hair gloss is one of the easiest ways to breathe life into your hair colour, especially if your hair is looking dull or flat after the summer. Our entire beauty team adores this one for a mirror-like shine.
2. Suede Blonde
Just look at this stunning hair colour. Gigi's suede blonde is the perfect shade for blondes wanting to transition their hair colour from summer to autumn. Note the carefully placed blonde balayage that melts in smoothly from her dark blonde base. It feels multi-dimensional and suitably autumnal whilst making your hair look like you've just returned from a late-summer holiday. I've never been more tempted to go blonde.
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A good purple shampoo and conditioner are essential to keep your blonde tones looking salon-fresh. This duo comes highly recommended from my blonde colleagues.
This purple hair gloss helps to counteract the brassy tones in between salon visits.
3. Ribbon Brunette
If you, too, have been watching The Shards, you may also have been swooning over Kaia Gerber's hair colour this summer. Her warm chestnut brunette hair colour is given dimension with ribbon-like swirls of caramel highlights that only add more gloss to that multi-dimensional shine. This is a great choice to go for if you want a warm brunette hair colour that works between seasons. I'll be taking this photo to show my hair colourist at my next salon appointment.
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This helps to prevent your highlights from turning brassy, helping them to look more vibrant and glossy.
Trust me, having shiny hair makes your hair colour look ten times for expensive. This is one of my favourites for glowing hair.
4. Sandy Blonde
Bella Hadid's sandy hair colour may just be the coolest late-summer blonde shade going. The dark brown root smudge melts into golden, sandy tones that feel perfect for blondes at this time of the year. It's not so bright that it looks too summery, but won't look out of place come the start of autumn either. It looks great paired with some surfer-inspired, beachy S-waves like Bella's.
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Prevent your blonde hair colour from turning brassy long into autumn with this purple-toned shampoo.
If you live in a hard-water area, then you have to try adding a shower filter into your bathroom. It removes the impurities from the water that can distort your hair colour prematurely, so you can extend the life of your hair colour.
5. Teddy Bear Brunette
Aside from her stunning lob haircut, Hailey Bieber's hair colour has a very natural and healthy-looking glow, which has both subtle cool and warmer tones that make it look plush and velvet-like. A tinted hair gloss or hair mask is a great way to subtly tweak your hair colour, whilst a few lighter face-framing pieces can help to add further dimension.
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Want to try a cooler, ash brown shade? This mask allows you to try it without the commitment of permanent hair dye.
This colour-shielding shampoo helps to keep brunette tones looking rich and glossy.
6. Burnt Umber
The burnt umber hair colour trend has already been gaining momentum over the summer, and it just so happens to make a great summer-to-autumn hair colour. Consider it strawberry blonde's autumnal sister. The warm yet muted copper tones make a great change from the dark reds we've typically seen over the past few years.
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A good colour shampoo and conditioner, such as these, will help to keep your colour looking fresher for longer.
Want to dip a toe into the hair colour? This at-home tinted hair gloss is a great way to try the trend first.
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