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The color of the Autumn leaves is changing, and so can your short hair! With the cold season comes pumpkin spice lattes, cozy sweaters, cranberry lipstick choices, and – of course – new hair color options for fall 2024.
If you have been contemplating switching up your hair shade, this fall season is the perfect time to try a new look. And we’re not talking about crazy colors like blue hair, either – transform your hair to a beautiful color that captures all of the hues of fall foliage. Think vibrant colors like strawberry blonde, dark red hair, and darker tones that include shades like chocolate brown hair.
If you are finally ready to make a drastic color change, you have come to the right place; we have all of the short hair color ideas that will elevate your autumn style. Scroll on to find the best fall hair colors that will get you excited to book your next hair appointment or to try out an at-home hair coloring kit.
1. Golden blonde
Who said blonde hair is only for the summer? Though many may opt for dark colors during cooler temperatures, you can defy the typical fall hair color trends. Switch up your light brown natural color to blonder shades for an effortless look. The golden hue will look amazing on fair skin tones and can complement your light eye color perfectly.
Note: According to color experts, a great way to achieve golden blonde hair is to have a base color that is light brown or blonde. However, if you have dark chocolate hair, it will take more work for you to get the best results. With that being said, it might be a good idea to go to a professional since it is likely to require bleaching.
The best way to style short blonde locks is by channeling old Hollywood glam waves. As for the makeup? Follow Naomi Watts’ lead by finishing off your fancy look with a classy red lip.
Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Creme – 93 Light Golden Blonde
This Garnier Nutrisse dye has more than 25,000 stellar reviews on Amazon. Reviewers love this coveted dye for leaving their hair shiny and soft. Best of all, it works well for older women who want good gray hair coverage.
What women are saying: “I absolutely love this! Garnier Light Golden Blonde is perfect for me!
Fantastic color…it really is the perfect color for me! I love it! Plus it makes my hair soft and shiny…..I will only use Garnier on my hair! Oh, did I mention that I love this? Thanks, Garnier! You make my hair shine and my heart smile! Gives me confidence!” – Target Review
2. Strawberry blonde
If you can’t decide between choosing red hair or blonde for this new season, we have good news for you! This ridiculously pretty strawberry blonde has your name written all over it. While it is a popular shade during a sun-kissed summer, these different shades of red and blonde will also bring the right amount of warmth during fall and winter.
It’s the perfect middle ground between strawberry and blonde shades. If you are looking for a low-maintenance color, this is a great option to consider; professional colorist, Toyomi Ishikura, suggests touch-ups every six to eight weeks. If you have gray hair, prepare for touch-ups more often as you might want to keep up with your roots.
Another great thing about this hue? It looks beautiful with shorter hair and will flatter light to neutral skin tones the most.
L’Oreal Paris Excellence Triple Protection Permanent Hair Color – 8RB Reddish blonde
This color kit is perfect for anyone who wants to get in on the fun of having strawberry-blond hair. Beyond the gorgeous hue, this box dye is infused with keratin to protect your hair during the coloring process.
What women are saying: “Love it! The color turned out exactly how the box had advertised. I used the reddish-brown (8RB) and it did a very good job at lightening my naturally brownish-blondish hair. I’m very pleased with the results!” – Target Review
3. Auburn
For those who find red hair too bold and intimidating, a classic auburn color is a great choice for you! It is a more sophisticated and natural take on red hair, and can also be considered a more fun approach to brown.
This dreamy shade of red-brown will instantly add depth and warmth to your face. Just add some soft waves to your short hair and get ready for the incoming compliments!
Note: If your natural hair color is darker than the color of auburn, you may need to go to a professional to lighten your hair with bleach before you can achieve your desired auburn color. If, however, you were naturally blessed with light brown hair, then you can easily do an at-home dye job without having to worry about this step. Also, it’s worth keeping in mind that auburn hair is not easy to maintain as the color tends to fade fast. To prevent the color from fading too quickly, the key is to use sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and conditioners, as well as to avoid using excessive heat on your hair.
Related post: 7 of the Best Hair Dryers for Damaged Hair
Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Foam, Light Intense Auburn
This eye-catching color will help you achieve the best hair transformation for fall. And because it is infused with olive, avocado, and sea — your short hair will look shiny and healthy.
What women are saying: “This was my first time using Garnier Nutrisse, it was very easy to apply with good all-over coverage. I loved the rich Auburn color, it left my hair super nourished, soft, and shiny. I will definitely use Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing again.“
4. Brunette hair with caramel highlights
If you are not ready to make a big change to your natural brunette hair, adding subtle changes like caramel highlights is a great way to make your short hair look stunning & spice up your look without committing to a full new color.
Caramel hair is one of the most flattering highlight shades for dark hair colors. It’s also worth noting that this easy-to-maintain warm blonde highlight looks particularly amazing against dark skin tones!
Note: You can achieve caramel highlights on dark brown hair by evenly distributing the warm blonde colors in the right places, bringing dimension to your hair. However, if you’re nervous about doing this by yourself, you can always go to a colorist to help you perfectly blend your highlights.
Frost & Design – Caramel
Ready to add subtle highlights to your hair? This easy highlighting cap will help you get perfectly placed highlights on your short hair.
What women are saying: “I love Frost and Design. I have been using it for years. Caramel gives my medium brown hair the perfect highlights.“
5. Ash Brown
While some people may consider ash brown “boring,” it is actually a cool color to try for fall! Just picture how this autumn-inspired hue will look cute with a gray flannel shirt and suede ankle booties.
It features a color combination of brunette and gray shades that look fantastic on all skin tones.
Whether you are a blonde or a brunette, your ash-brown dreams can become a reality, as your natural hair color allows you to experiment with gray hues. If you’re starting with black hair, on the other hand, the best thing to do is to lighten your strands with hair bleach before you can attempt to achieve an effortless ash-brown color.
Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Permanent Hair Color – Light Ash Brown
This highly rated ash brown box dye delivers 100% gray coverage that lasts. And the best part? It is made with Keratin and silk amino acids to protect your hair from color damage.
What women are saying: “I am someone who has refused her entire life to dye her hair at home. I spend $1200 a year dying my hair at the salon. This one box of color was under $3 and I’m in love. I am never going back to the salon and I will continue to buy this hair color. This color will cost me $34 per year. The results speak for themselves!“
6. Medium brown ombré hair
Suddenly we have a serious craving for cinnamon rolls… and we can thank this gorgeous ombré for the hankering.
This is the perfect color to rock if you’re looking for a multi-tonal hue that will make your curly hair pop! We not only love it because of all of the carefree energy it radiates, but also because this low-maintenance shade goes well with any fall makeup look.
L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference Ombre Touch Hair Color, OT5 Light to Medium Brown Hair
Say hello to glamorous ombre highlights! This hair dye features a touch applicator that will help you get expert-like results.
What women are saying: “I will definitely buy again! The best hair color I have ever used!
Easy to use For sun-kissed highlights.“
Choosing the Perfect Fall Hair Color for You
All of the dreamy fall hair colors don’t have to be reserved for long hair. These autumn-inspired hues work beautifully when it comes to switching up your short hair in style!
Picking the right hair color for fall is not the only way to get dreamy hair, either. Make sure to test out and invest in a good spray moisturizer to avoid breakage and dryness.
Up next: 7 Recommended Spray Moisturizers for Beautiful Hair
