And when you are saying, Can I do this? And the answer is yes–with a colorist who understands undertones. Golden undertones deep skin? It is never a loss.
Caramel Melt Balayage and Lush Volume
This style is fall romance hair style-wavy locks dipped in deep caramel that blends into the warmer undertones of honey. The roots have that flattering shadow, the roots add that depth, allowing the face to glow and the color to lift up to the ends. It is dimensional, but soft, visible, but wearable. The most wonderful thing is? It does not shout out, it speaks of luxury. And with that lived-in middle part? Effortlessly gorgeous.
This type of balayage is most effective when toned every 6-8 weeks. The Redken Color Extend Brownlights shampoo is what I tend to suggest to most people with deep skin, it keeps that toasted caramel color rich without turning brassy or orange. And yes, a weekly deep conditioning mask like Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Repair! is your BFF here.
I have experimented with caramel shades that have made me look dull. This one? Quite another thing. The stratified position and the progressive light effect serve as contour to the hair. Celebrity stylist Justine Marjan has discussed the way undertones are revealed on darker skin with strategic placement in caramel balayage, and I can not disagree. There’s a reason this combo is seasonless — but fall is when it thrives.
And one more reason to say yes to this shade? It comes out in a beautiful way. That makes a difference if you are a low maintenance girl like me when it is chilly. Let your roots have a little life.
Auburn Pumpkin Spice Layers
Spiced, warm and so very fall, this auburn masterpiece is your favorite chai latte, rich, bold and warming in all the right ways. The thing I like is that the color is not flat, it changes with motion, alternating between cinnamon and copper. The chop is also all-out 70s blowout, as the long, flipped-out layers are nostalgic and on trend. You can tell I am obsessed, can you?
To keep auburn this vibrant, one needs a little bit of commitment. I use the DpHue Color Fresh Conditioner in Copper once a week – it freshens the tone, but is not dye based. And heat protectant is a must, unless you want to fry your hair like this. Give IGK Good Behavior Spray a go it is a bottle of keratin treatment.
Last fall when I went copper, so many people asked me what shade it was. Spoiler: it was a blend. Never be afraid to request a custom blend to your stylist, the correct combination of auburn, cinnamon and rust is what makes it pop on darker skin. Colorist Aura Friedman pro tip: “Never add warmth without purpose, it will make you look red, not glowing.” True story.
Bonus? This tone gives your hair a light without bleaching it to death. It is healthy-looking and dimensional, not too lifted, and not taking away your texture.
Dusty Rose Gold as a Low Key Statement
Rose gold is not a fad, it is now a fall neutral, and this soft, muted dusty take is the best yet. It adds a bit of fantasy and yet it still looks surprisingly down-to-earth. It is cool mauve with almost imperceptible peach and pink undertones that reflect the light in a way. And yes, it does indeed pop on warm, deep complexions without overwhelming. It is subversive and I am all here for it.
Fashion colors can never have enough TLC. Even pinks should wash with Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Shampoo to counteract fade-out yellow that can sneak in. Then apply a color-safe mask, such as Pureology Hydrate Superfood Treatment, which is thick and rich without being heavy.
The first time I wore pink, I was bubblegum all the way. I soon found out: the gentler, the better. Such dusty rose colors are not costume-y at all, but rather mature, deliberate, and classy in the most surprising manner. Even hairstylist Chris Appleton referred to this tone as the most universally flattering pink in an interview last year. Daring enough to feel daring, discreet enough to feel wearable.
What’s missing? Just the daring to do it. This is your chance to take the plunge in case you have ever saved a pink hair post and never did it.
Curtain Bangs and Mocha Blonde Drama
A good mocha blonde is magnetic, particularly when it is combined with the daring curtain bangs and the soft layers that frame the face like velvet. The color is an ash-brown base that fades into deep beige-toned blonde ends to provide the hair with movement and form even when it is still. The contrast is everything, but it’s all done in a way that still feels harmonious. A victory of both equilibrium and aesthetics.
This appearance is texture and form driven. Apply a blowout gel (Ouai Volume Spray) to your hair before styling it, in case it is prone to falling flat. It gives that lift without stiffness. To style it on a daily basis, I use a large barrel curling iron and then use Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray to make it fluffy without being frizzy.
I am a fall bangs sucker, it is just so cozy and mysterious like layering your hair. Yet, these curtain bangs do not require the same maintenance as blunt cuts. And they even grow out easily into face-framing layers. Jen Atkin once said, Curtain bangs are the gateway fringe and wow, was she right.
This mocha-blonde combination also looks great under chunky scarves and knit hats, too, it provides contrast and vivaciousness without requiring daily re-styling.
Frosty Champagne Blonde Wavy Hair
This is cold-weather cool, as far as I am concerned, a platinum-champagne mix that glitters like frost on autumn mornings. It is not aggressive or silver; it is muted with warm undertones that make it surprisingly wearable on dark skin tones. The trick in this? That modestly rooted bottom that makes the scalp look natural and allows the rest of the hair to shine. It is classy with a pinch of boldness.
Maintaining platinum is a hobby that keeps you busy all the time. I always have Fanola No Yellow Shampoo in rotation, and I never skip weekly hydration treatments (looking at you, K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask). When you are bleaching to achieve this, then you cannot afford not to invest in bond repair products.
I recall my first experience with cool blonde, I was scared. However, with soft glam makeup and comfy neutrals, it did. The trick is the tone champagne is not as cold as icy silver and it suits deep complexions instead of draining them. In an interview with Elle, Kim Kimble explained that tone control is everything and anyone can go light as long as it is the right light.
So, you know, when you have been considering going blonde-blonde… this is your grown-up, chic solution.
Long Curtain Layers Creamy Champagne Blonde
The long creamy champagne blonde with soft curtain layers is something cool in an effortless way. The tone leans on the cooler side of blonde, but not too icy—which makes it more wearable for deep skin tones when there’s warmth in the undertone. It is a beautiful contrast that is not overwhelming and it gives an immediate glow to the skin.
