I’m sure many of us are, I’m a huge lover of saving money whenever and wherever I can. I still don’t want to give up those little beauty indulgences, like a flattering seasonal hair colour. But be not afraid. It may not be the cheapest thing in the world to colour your hair, but experts say there are plenty of transitional colours out there that can carry you from summer to fall without delivering a significant blow to your budget.
Maybe it is a bit early to be thinking about this but IMHO it is never too early. Before you know it, Fall will be here and keeping our colour *that girl* is incredibly vital. While picking the perfect transitional shade for you and your skin tone is vital, so is at-home care to keep your colour looking its best even if you haven’t been inside a salon in a few months. That’s confirmed by Kasper Heemskerk, international education director and colourist at Balmain Hair Couture. “We’re going for tones that will mute the brightness of summer, but don’t require a lot of maintenance for the transition into this season,” he explains.
Scroll on for colorist-approved recommendations for the best summer-to-fall hair colours to try and the products to keep your colour fresh. Their great ideas and faves are on the way.
Honey Glazed
Heemskerk enjoys this transitional hue specifically for when you want to easily move your summer blonde into October. It nicely balances softer brunette and blonde hues without a lot of care. “[This colour] brings richness and depth to faded summer blondes. “It’s low-commitment glossing but high shine, low root contrast,” he says.
Caramel, Smoked
Heemskerk says a gentle balayage is a terrific way to transition your summer colour into October. One of his favourite ways to achieve so is to choose a dimensional brunette hue and match it with a delicate golden-caramel balayage to provide some more warmth. “It grows out seamlessly and flatters natural brunettes who want a subtle seasonal lift,” he says.
Golden Blonde
If you’re a natural blonde or just trying to keep your blonde looking a little bit fresher going into fall without breaking the bank, celebrity colorist Naomi Knights says arranging a golden gloss or completing one yourself at home can be a terrific alternative. This will lend a little more dimension and depth to an otherwise solid blonde.
Golden Copper Veil
Copper might not be the easiest colour to maintain for everyone, but if your hair is naturally this colour or similar, golden copper might be a perfect option for your transitional hue. Heemskerk likes this specific colour because it offers a subtle introduction to warmer tones. ““It’s flattering in the autumn light without the commitment of going full red,” he says.
Amber Bronze
For textured hair types, Heemskerk favours hues like amber bronze, a rich, warm brown with golden overtones. “Tone and technique work together to enhance natural patterns and avoid harsh regrowth lines,” he explains.
Rich, Tobacco
Knights also adores rich tobacco for anyone born with naturally dark hair. It may not be the best option for natural blondes but this colour is spot on to add some richness and warmth to your colour and may be achieved with an at home gloss. You may also try out [colour] at home with no commitment with Davines’s Alchemic shampoos and conditioners,” she adds.
Dark chocolate
Here’s another wonderful tint that Knights suggests for folks with darker hair. Heemskerk also likes a similar shade he calls iced espresso, a cool brunette with mushroom coloured undertones. “[It’s] smooth, cool to wear and heat resistant. “It works great on straight hair and textured hair,” he says.
