Or is it just me, but fall is literally begging us to do something different with our hair? The autumnal breeze, the woolen sweaters and the cinnamon-flavored everything always makes this small spark inside me to change it up- particularly when it comes to brown hair. Since after all brown is no longer boring. Whether it be honey-drizzled tones, espresso gloss and warm caramel ribbons, there is something wildly magnetic about brunette shades in autumn.
So if you’re craving a little color refresh that still feels lived-in and effortless, this fall is delivering. Not in a new season, new me kind of way, but in a comfy, secure, this is so right kind of way. So, let us get into the shades that are currently sneaking into salons, one hair at a time.
Sunlit Twist Butter Caramel Layers
This is a dimensional look, and it does move. What you’re seeing here is a beautifully blended mix of warm caramel, creamy blonde, and medium brown, fanned out in feathered, face-framing layers that just scream soft sophistication. The highlights are subtle and begin at the roots and blend into the hair giving it that expensive, sunlit look that is not over the top. It is the sort of color you see on a person strolling through a downtown park in a long camel coat, holding a coffee in his or her hand, and immediately want yourself.
If you’re maintaining this look through the colder months, you’ll want to treat your strands with a color-safe, hydrating shampoo. I am obsessed with the Pureology Hydrate Shampoo, particularly with the corresponding conditioner- it keeps the tones shiny but not brass. A mask once a week is also no bad thing, especially one as buttery as Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask.
As an individual, I think that this color is in that dreamy middle ground: too soft to be artificial, yet too deep to be old. This is your shiny reset in case your hair has been dull after summer. And to brunettes who are afraid of becoming blonde- this is the ideal baby step.
Shiny Cinnamon Chocolate Waves
And this shade? It is fall in a glass. These glossy, chocolatey curls are flavored just slightly with the spice of cinnamon heat all through, and it makes the entire appearance look warm and extravagant without going too far towards the red end of the spectrum. It has that low key drama–subtle, yet impossible to miss. The brushed-out waves are soft and only enhance that richness, giving it a bit of retro glamour that is not dated in 2025.
This color benefits massively from gloss treatments—don’t skip them! Between color visits, things can stay rich, reflective and vibrant with a demi-permanent gloss such as Redken Shades EQ in a warm brunette shade. And protection against heat? Non-negotiable. I am a fan of Color Wow Dream Coat, particularly when I am using irons or blowouts.
I am totally in love with this being wearable. It is refined, yet not so serious. Fall clothes are practically calling out to this color, cable knit sweater, gold hoops, and a trip to the farmer market with a bag of apples. It is brunette done very, very well.
Smooth Chestnut Straight and Barely-There Ombre
This one is to all my girls who live for polish. A silky, super-smooth chestnut brown is cascaded down in a pinpoint-straight finish, with the most delicate change of tone towards the ends–a whisper of ombr, not a full statement. The simplicity is what makes this work so well. It’s a nod to ’90s minimalism but with a softer, more modern palette.
To continue with this appearance, one has to go all out with smoothing products. Begin with a blowout balm such as Kerastase Discipline Keratine Thermique, and seal it all with a flat iron. Seal it off with a light oil- Ouai Hair Oil is a must-have forever favorite to give you shine without the weight.
I have had variations of this haircut when I needed a reset, when I wanted to feel sharp, styled, but still low effort day to day. It is clean girl aesthetic, even without trying. And in case you have naturally straight or slightly wavy hair, this is one of the easy ones you can achieve regularly.
Soft Brunette Curtain Bangs
This is where things begin to take on a light-hearted tone. This medium ash brown color is smudged perfectly, matte, smooth, and ultra-blended, leaving a soft canvas to allow those airy curtain bangs to shine. The cut is airy, airy, and somewhat flirty, as though you are prepared to put on a scarf and go to a wine tasting with your best friends.
Curtain bangs do require some styling touch. To make them appear full and lifted, I always have a round brush and dry shampoo. A quick spritz of Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo gives that effortless bounce even if you’re on day three hair (no judgment—same here).
Have you been thinking about bangs but you are scared of the commitment? This is where you begin. I recall the moment when I tried curtain bangs… and then I thought why I never had them. They simply work some magic on your cheekbones, right?
Feathered Fringe Ash Beige Layered Shag
This is moody cool girl. Here the tones are more subdued, an ash beige brunette with pearl and soft mushroom overtones, blended out into a modern shag with lots of airy movement. The birdy trim makes it a little Parisian, a little disheveled, a little mysterious. This is one of those colors that changes gorgeous in fall light and is cool or warm depending on what you put it with.
It is a low-maintenance color, in that the root grow-out is forgiving, but tone maintenance is important. Use a blue-tinted shampoo (like dpHue Cool Brunette Shampoo) once a week to keep brassiness in check and preserve that ash edge. Styling should be kept to a minimum- this haircut is crying out to be finger-tussled or a quick flat iron wave.
I have been obsessed with this kind of layered look ever since I saw it everywhere on the Copenhagen street style. It is casual yet effective, as though you did not make an effort… but you clearly did. When you are in the mood to go a little edgier yet still wearable, this could be your fall moment.
Layers of Warm Chestnut with Lived in Dimension
These layers of chestnut tones are so comfortably cozy, as though they were created to be worn during pumpkin spice season and brunching in flannel on the weekends. The cut itself is feathered and hangs just below the shoulders, which creates the effect of having woken up looking expensive. The foundation is a rich mocha brown and the layers are lightened slightly by golden beige ribbons. This is the type of fall hair color that is not yelling out that it is a trend but is saying it is a taste.
