Pumpkin Spice Hair Is The Season's Spiciest Color Trend
Autumn is officially here, and so is a wave of new fall hair trends. Out of all the different cuts and colors that we've spotted this season, there's one hue that has us completely falling in love: pumpkin spice. No, this shade isn't the same hue as your favorite seasonal Starbucks drink; it's a mix of delicious browns and reds that creates a gorgeous, warm look, and there are more than 12,000 #pumpkinspicehair posts to prove it.
"People tend to get their hair highlighted in the summer and then want to tone it down in the fall," says Will Francis, a colorist at Sally Hershberger salon in New York City. "I've been seeing a lot of rich auburn tones with subtle highlights. I've definitely been seeing people go a little darker and also a little more natural."
Courtesy of Source Salon Flagler Village/Brad Lawhorn
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The best way to spice up your hair and get this rich, high-dimensional fall color is to ask your stylist to use the balayage technique. It involves hand-painting dye on the strands to make the highlights look as natural as possible and avoid the dreaded piece-y look. Plus, when balayage grows out, it looks a little more like natural highlights without the harsh outgrowth line. That means fewer trips to the salon and more money in your pocket.
"For people who have a balayage already, I tone that down more and just make it a little bit more grown out," Francis explains. "I'll maybe turn it into more of an ombré or something softer around the face. Then I'll leave the rest growing out." Frances says he'll do chestnut and espresso tones near the scalp and add in honey shades at the ends.
Courtesy of @hairbycydney
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One reason to love this color: It can be customized to flatter different skin tones and hair textures. "[The color] is a nice switch up for the new season," Francis says. "Your skin tone changes; you lose your tan. So what was working for you in the summer isn't really going to work with you in the winter."
To make pumpkin spice hair really pop, Frances recommends finishing off with a warmer gloss that complements your skin tone. Check out the Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Gloss Mask ($35, Sephora) or the IGK Expensive Hi-Shine Gloss Treatment ($29, Sephora). The treatment is applied on wet hair after it's been shampooed and is left on for 20 minutes. It's an easy extra step that extends the longevity of your color and adds that illustrious just-left-the-salon shine.
