Your Official Guide to Winter 2026 Hair Colors: From Frosted Espresso to Creme Brûlée Bronde

Celebrities like Margot Robbie and Kristen Bell are making the case for Boho Blonde in 2026. According to Sherry, this live-in blonde color is slightly muted with a mix of warm and neutral tones. She further explains, “It complements the soft, effortless texture and undone finish that echoes the free-spirited bohemian style of the ‘60s.” In order to achieve the look, a stylist applies minimal highlights throughout and uses a gloss to balance the tones and ensure it doesn’t get too bright or icy. 

Move over Cowboy Copper, there’s a new sheriff in town. “Clients are still drawn to the copper tones that have been trending for a while, but it’s a new updated look,” says Sherry. “It creates a soft natural look, taking the Cowboy Copper of last season and lightening it up for a more gentle finish.” A hairstylist will use a combination of gold, red and copper tones to add depth and brightness to the mid and ends for a natural-looking appearance. In order to preserve the color like Leighton Meester, Sherry suggests applying a glaze treatment in-between touch ups.

I reported Molten Caramel was going to be a hit for fall, and now, we’re seeing its older (more sophisticated) sister taking its place this season. “It’s a deep, rich brunette laced with chocolate-amber and mocha tones. It’s finished with a high-gloss, liquid sheen that gives hair a warm, glowing finish,” explains Stenson. “Dark Molten Brunette shows a lot of dimension without needing high-maintenance work, making it ideal for the colder months when people want simpler upkeep.” If you’re a natural brunette, the expert suggests a gloss with subtle warm babylights. When it comes to your wash routine, a color-safe shampoo and lightweight hair serum is the way to go in maintaining shine and smoothness.

We’re keeping the copper train going for winter. If you want a more vibrant finish like Keke Palmer, Stenson recommends starting with highlights before toning it down with warmer hues for a richer, shiner look. “It’s a rich copper hue that glows with golden undertones. It adds warmth, vibrancy and shine, while being a great contrast to your darker wardrobes and palettes,” he adds. 

If you’re searching for a low-maintenance color, look no further than Real World Blonde. Mohapi predicts more clients will look for single process tints or glosses to calm down hair’s dimension and bring a more solid hue into play. “It’s the back to natural hair color. A ‘real’ color without enhanced dimension. Leaning into tone is the key,” he shares. We may want to push the gold or red tones in the hair, which will maintain the shade and underlying base color,” he explains. 

Spotted on celebs like Zendaya and Dakota Johnson, this multidimensional shade continues to be loved by many brunettes for winter. As O'Connor tells me, “It’s a rich warm brunette tone that has the perfect balance of gold and red. The warmth and richness of the color looks good on most skin tones.” You can make an appointment at the salon or use a color-depositing gloss that can add warm tones to your hair, while prevent color from fading. 

Alexa, play “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter. This rich color is a great option for the colder months ahead as evidenced by Demi Moore at the 2025 LACMA Art+Film Gala. “It’s a softer take on black. It’s rich and shiny, making it expensive-looking and reflecting the darker winter months,” says O'Connor. If you’re a natural brunette, the stylist suggests an espresso gloss for a silky, smooth finish like Moore. 

The experts all agree that red will always be a dominant shade for winter, and this warm auburn is on the top of the list for the festivities coming up. “It’s a warm auburn with muted copper tones that add softness, warmth and depth,” explains Michael. “It fills that space between blonde and brunette for people who want something new and dimensional without going dark or committing to a bold red.” Need a reference? There are plenty of auburns out there, from Kate Mara to Julia Roberts. 

If you’re looking for any light brown hair color ideas, Bellemare predicts this warm shade will be the most requested color in 2026. “It’s a golden brown shade with soft caramel and amber undertones to give off that honey, cinnamon color,” she shares. “It’s perfect for winter because it delivers warmth and richness without going too dark. Cider Brown adds a golden brightness that keeps hair looking radiant even in the colder months.” In order to achieve this Hailey Bieber-approved look, a stylist will hand paint honey and amber highlights throughout and finish with a golden gloss to enhance the natural color. 

The coolest hair color is here and we’re already seeing stars like Jenna Ortega showing it off. As Min shares, “Frosted Espresso takes the richness of deep brunette tones and infuses them with a cool, reflective glaze that mimics the sheen of fresh coffee under winter light. It’s multidimensional and silky with subtle ribbons of smoked taupe and brunette for added contrast.” In order to achieve the hue, Min starts with a pre-shampoo treatment to neutralize strands and boost color longevity before going in with a deep mocha gloss. Then, she adds subtle babylights for the ‘frosted’ effect. 

No one has rocked a striking red hue quite like Dua Lipa, and I predict this shade will be buzzing for the holidays. According to Kim, this shade has a rich blend of red velvet and dark cherry tones that are bold yet wearable to rock all season long. “Reds are trending strong again, but this season they’re deeper and moodier—less fiery, more refined. It’s the perfect way to make a statement without feeling overdone,” she adds. FYI: Red tends to fade the fastest, so Kim recommends applying a hair mask weekly to boost vibrancy and strengthen strands.

Blondes do have more fun and it all has to do with this latest color for winter. Hingorani describes it as a soft, creamy blonde tone that blends vanilla and neutral almond undertones—neither icy platinum nor brassy gold—for warmth and dimension. She tells me, “My blond clients often pivot toward cooler, more subtle blondes in winter to avoid the stark brightness of summer blonde. This shade is fresh, elegant, cozy yet luminous—has winter light appeal and is versatile across skin tones.” If you want to keep the tone fresh like Gisele Bunchen, Hingorani suggests a violet or cool-blonde toner to neutralize brassy or yellow tones. 

Jennifer Lopez, Karol G and Rosie Huntington all have this trendy hue in common and Ruiz says it’s going to be *the* color of 2026. “It’s a way for blondes to have a change without it being a big commitment. It’s an easy color to either transition into going to darker or light if change is wanted after.” The process is relatively simple, a professional colorist will spend less time highlighting and more focus on toning your natural hair color. Ruiz says lowlights will be able to add warmth and depth back into the hair. As for how to maintain your bronde, a color safe shampoo and conditioner is the way to go.

It’s no surprise I’m adding another reddish hair color to the list. This one works best for brunettes with a hairstylist adding subtle blend of gold, copper and red tones. “Brunettes typically fade in the summertime and this is a great way to add depth and shine back into their hair giving it a refresh and change for the season,” says Ruiz. If you want to maintain shine like Francia Raisa, the expert suggests a heat protectant to maintain hair’s vibrancy. 

Additional Experts

• Sean Michael is a nationally recognized hairstylist and educator, and the founder of Salon Beau outside Boston, known for his lived-in color, seamless extensions and signature haircutting technique that creates soft, natural movement and dimension.
• Christine Bellemare is the co-founder, owner and lead stylist at Maven A Collect in Boston. With over 20 years of experience working with high-profile clients, she is known for her thoughtful approach to both cutting and coloring, creating soft, natural hues for a lived-in look. 
• Min Kim is a master colorist at Butterfly Studio Salon in New York City. She’s also a global brand ambassador for L’Oréal Professionnel and premier balayage educator. She specializes in hair trends, styling techniques and color services, specifically French balayage.
• Jewell Hingorani is a hairstylist and founder of Jewell Clip, a luxury hair extension and topper brand based in Michigan. Her career began at Garren Salon in New York, where she worked on editorials for Italian Vogue, Vanity Fair and Citizen K, and styled during Fashion Week with Anna Sui. Her previous clients include Victoria Beckham and Miss New York 2008.
• Ashley Ruiz is a celebrity hairstylist at Flore Los Angeles. She specializes in color and extensions in the salon working with influencers and celebrities like Jaclyn Hill, Annie Gonzalez, Francia Riasa. Aside from being in the salon also styles celebrities for red carpets and events. Recently her styling clients include Selena Gomez, Nina Dobrev and Ashley Park.