The Best Hair Colours for Autumn 2026

Discover the Season's Most Beautiful Hair Colour Trends at Leah Durrant Hair Salon in Chertsey

As the leaves begin to change and autumn arrives, many of us start thinking about refreshing our hair colour. After a summer of sunshine, holidays and lighter, beach-inspired shades, autumn is the perfect time to embrace richer, warmer and more dimensional tones.

The biggest hair colour trends for Autumn 2026 are all about depth, shine and effortless sophistication. We're seeing a move towards luxurious brunettes, soft copper shades, beautiful red balayage, natural grey blending and multi-tonal blondes that offer plenty of movement and dimension. The focus is on healthy-looking, glossy hair with colours that feel expensive, personalised and easy to maintain.

Autumn is traditionally one of the busiest times of year for hair colour appointments. As clients return from summer holidays and prepare for the festive season, salon diaries can fill up quickly. Booking your appointment early gives you the best choice of appointments and ensures plenty of time for consultation, colour planning and you can even book in any maintenance appointments needed before Christmas!

Book an appointment or consultation at Leah Durrant Salon by calling 01932 563 390 or book online.

Rich Brunettes Are Back

Brunette shades are taking centre stage this autumn, but forget flat, one-dimensional browns. This season's brunettes are rich, glossy and full of depth.

Think espresso, chocolate, chestnut and velvet brunette tones enhanced with subtle highlights and lowlights to create movement and shine. These colours reflect the light beautifully and give hair a luxurious, healthy appearance. The trend is less about going dramatically darker and more about creating richness and dimension.

Rich brunette shades work particularly well after summer when hair may have faded or developed unwanted warmth. A bespoke brunette colour can restore depth while maintaining softness around the face.

Red Balayage for Autumn

Red hair is one of the biggest colour stories of 2026, and autumn is the perfect season to embrace it.

Rather than bold, vivid reds, we're seeing softer, more wearable versions created using balayage techniques. Red balayage blends warm cinnamon, auburn and copper tones through the hair to create a beautifully natural finish. The result is multi-dimensional colour that catches the light and grows out seamlessly.

Red balayage can be customised to suit almost everyone, from subtle cinnamon ribbons through brunette hair to richer auburn tones that create a striking seasonal transformation.

Sophisticated Copper Tones

Copper remains one of the most requested hair colours in salons, but Autumn 2026 is all about softer, more natural-looking coppers.

The latest copper trend features muted terracotta, golden copper and warm apricot tones rather than bright orange or vibrant red shades. These softer copper colours create warmth and radiance while still looking elegant and wearable.

Whether you choose a full copper transformation or subtle copper highlights throughout your existing colour, this trend adds instant warmth and brightness to your complexion.

For clients wanting something seasonal but not too dramatic, copper is often the perfect choice.

Grey Blending

More clients are embracing their natural grey hair, and Autumn 2026 continues the move towards grey blending rather than full grey coverage.

Grey blending uses strategically placed highlights, lowlights and glossing treatments to soften the transition between natural grey and coloured hair. The result is a softer, more natural appearance that requires less maintenance than traditional root coverage.

Many clients love the freedom grey blending offers. Instead of worrying about visible regrowth every few weeks, they can enjoy beautiful, dimensional colour that grows out gracefully.

At Leah Durrant, we tailor every grey blending service to suit your natural colour pattern, helping you achieve a polished yet effortless look.

Multi-Tonal Blondes For Beautiful Dimension

Blonde hair isn't disappearing this autumn – it's simply evolving.

The trend is moving away from ultra-bright, icy blondes and towards softer, more natural-looking shades featuring multiple tones. Beige blondes, honey blondes, caramel blondes and stone blondes are proving especially popular.

Multi-tonal blondes combine several complementary shades to create depth, movement and shine. Root smudging, balayage and face-framing highlights help create a low-maintenance colour that still feels bright and fresh.

These softer blonde shades are perfect for autumn, offering warmth while maintaining a beautiful sun-kissed appearance.