Winter is the season for your richest, glossiest brunette. Shorter days and softer light make deep shades look luxurious, and darker colors are easier to keep up when you'd rather not be in the salon every few weeks.
Below are eight winter hair colors for brunettes, who each one suits, and the exact words to use at the salon. If you're coming from a fall shade, our fall hair color guide covers the lighter, warmer end of the season.
What is the best hair color for winter?
Deep, glossy brunettes lead winter: espresso, cool mocha, black cherry, chocolate truffle and "expensive brunette," a multi-tonal dark brown with soft dimension. Cool skin tones suit espresso, mocha and black cherry, while warm skin tones suit chocolate truffle and honey-toned lowlights. A clear or tinted gloss keeps winter color shiny.
Winter hair colors to try
Save the shade closest to what you want. That's the photo to show your colorist.
1. Expensive brunette
A rich dark brown with very soft, barely-there dimension, so the hair looks healthy and glossy rather than highlighted. It's the low-maintenance luxury shade of the season.
Ask for:rich dark brown base, very soft babylights one shade lighter, glossy finish, no visible stripes.
2. Cool mocha
A medium-dark brown with a cool, coffee tone and no red. It suits cool and neutral skin, and it stops brown from looking brassy under indoor lighting.
Ask for:cool mocha brown, ash-toned gloss, no warmth.
3. Black cherry
Near-black hair with a deep red-violet glow that shows in the light. It's dramatic and festive, and perfect for party season.
Ask for:near-black base with a black cherry red-violet gloss through the lengths.
4. Chocolate truffle
A deep, warm chocolate brown with a velvety, glossy finish. It flatters warm and olive skin and looks rich against winter knits.
Ask for:deep warm chocolate brown, glossy finish, even from root to ends.
5. Soft black
A soft, brown-based black rather than a flat blue-black. It looks bold but natural, and it's very glossy.
Ask for:soft black with a brown base, not blue-black, clear gloss.
6. Dark brown with caramel lowlights
A dark brown base with a few soft caramel pieces placed lower through the hair. It keeps brightness near the face without lightening the whole head.
Ask for:dark brown base, soft caramel pieces through the lengths, darker at the root.
7. Smoky brunette balayage
A dark root melting into a cool, smoky light brown on the ends. It's a softer, cooler alternative to caramel balayage for winter.
Ask for:dark root, smoky ash-brown balayage through the ends, cool toner.
8. Mahogany brown
A deep brown with a red-brown warmth, between auburn and chocolate. It looks rich and seasonal on medium-length hair.
Ask for:deep mahogany brown, red-brown tone, glossy finish.
Which winter shade suits your skin tone?
- Cool undertones: cool mocha, soft black, black cherry and smoky balayage.
- Warm undertones: chocolate truffle, mahogany and dark brown with caramel lowlights.
- Neutral undertones: expensive brunette suits almost everyone.
Caring for winter color
- Indoor heating dries hair, so use a hydrating mask once a week.
- Book a gloss halfway between color appointments to keep the shine.
- Wash in cool water with a color-safe shampoo.
- Use a heat protectant before blow-drying, since hair takes longer to dry in winter.
FAQ
What hair color is in for winter?
Deep, glossy brunettes: expensive brunette, cool mocha, black cherry and chocolate truffle. Soft black and mahogany are also popular for the season.
Should I go darker in winter?
Many people do, because deep shades look rich in winter light and need fewer touch-ups. A gloss one to two shades darker is an easy first step.
What is expensive brunette hair?
A rich dark brown with very soft, subtle dimension and a glossy finish. It looks healthy and natural rather than obviously highlighted.
How do I keep winter hair color from fading?
Use a color-safe shampoo, wash in cool water, add a weekly hydrating mask, and book a gloss between appointments.
The bottom line
For winter, go deep and glossy. Expensive brunette suits almost everyone, cool mocha and soft black suit cool skin, and chocolate truffle and mahogany suit warm skin. Save the shade you like and browse more hair ideas for the season.
