37 Winter Hair Color Trends to Look Out for in 2023

What hair color should I get for winter?

Hair colors like chestnut, auburn, chocolate brown, and caramel blonde are always classic winter hair color choices. For 2023, you can also opt for an on-trend shade like ginger, ash blonde, espresso, or gray. You should always talk with your colorist about what color pairs best with your skin tone and desired maintenance level.

Can I go blonde in the winter?

Light hair colors are often associated with spring and summer, but there are also plenty of on-trend winter hair colors for blondes. You can go cool-toned to match the chilly weather or choose warmer blonde shades like caramel or honey.

The Best Winter Hair Colors to Try

Good hair day by @flatlay.diaries

Blended Blonde Highlights

Do you want to spend more time snuggled up in front of the fire and less time at the salon? Keep your blonde natural-looking and low-maintenance for winter by opting for blended blonde highlights.

Good hair day by @hollybullockhair_

Blonde Mocha

Like the toasty beverage, a fusion of mocha brown and reddish golden blonde has us eager to cozy up to it.

Good hair day by @live_love_dohair

Ginger Brown

Ginger hair is one of the top shades to look out for in winter 2023. If all-over ginger sounds too intense for you, ask your colorist to softly blend a ginger shade with your brunette roots using a balayage technique.

Good hair day by @salon_caroline_le

Caramel Balayage

A caramel balayage is at the top of our wishlist for classic winter hair colors since it flatters every skin tone.

Good hair day by @ericmichaelhair

Ashy Brown Balayage

If you love cool-toned hair color, this ash brown balayage screams winter vibes. Be sure to use a shampoo and conditioner system like Matrix Total Results Brass Off Shampoo + Conditioner Duo to tone and prevent brassiness.

Good hair day by @rochellegolden

Ash Blonde

On the subject of ashy hair, ash blonde hair pairs especially well with a tousled beachy texture, no matter the season. Use a few spritzes of texturizing spray like Pureology Style + Protect Beach Waves Sugar Spray to give your mane that seaside texture.

Good hair day by @____________han

Black To Silver Ombre

A whole mane of gray hair is gorgeous, but if you prefer less maintenance, opt for a black to silver ombre to stretch your time between root touch-ups.

Good hair day by @tanya.hairstylist

Smokey Blue

This smokey blue shade has highlights and lowlights of gray and ash, which makes it a great winter hair color option for anyone with cool undertones in their skin.

Good hair day by @meganniccollshair

Magenta

Searching for colorful winter hair color ideas? We predict that you’ll see magenta hair everywhere in winter 2023.

Good hair day by @georgiadavieshair

Snow

Whether walking in a winter wonderland or living somewhere warm and dreaming of a fresh blanket of snow, this icy, cool-toned shade is a winner for your winter hair color change. To achieve snow hair color, your colorist must bleach your mane to create the lightest, brightest shade possible.

While bleach will always cause some damage, products like Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate can help diminish the look and feel of damage. This four-part system, including an intensive treatment, shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatment, is formulated with citric acid and a concentrated bonding complex to reinforce the weakened bonds in damaged hair and help build strength and resiliency.

You’ll also want to invest in a purple color-toning formula like Redken Color Extend Blonde Purple Toning Foam Mousse to keep your hue brass-free between salon appointments. This purple-pigmented leave-in formula tones brassy hair, leaving it perfectly cool-toned. It’s also formulated with citric acid and sunflower seed oil for pH balancing and softness.

Good hair day by @oliviawoodhousehair

Toasted Blonde

If you prefer a warmer, cozier shade of blonde for the colder months, we recommend adding toasted blonde to your list of winter hair color ideas. This dimensional, warm-toned hue with undertones of brown is ideal for all skin tones.

Love the final look in the hair transformation video above? Ask your colorist whether they’re stocking up on Redken’s new Shades EQ Hair Gloss Natural Chocolates collection.

Good hair day by @haircolorkilla

Mulled Wine

We love nothing more than putting a movie on, curling up under a blanket, and drinking a glass of red wine. If cozy wine nights are your winter vibe, we know you’ll love mulled wine hair color. This vibrant shade of red is reminiscent of your favorite brand of merlot.

To keep your mulled wine hue vibrant and fresh between appointments, we advise adding a shampoo and conditioner system like Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid Shampoo and Conditioner to your routine. These formulas help maintain the vibrancy of fast-fading hair colors.

Good hair day by @joehairartist00

Chocolate Almond

Move over chocolate brown—chocolate almond hair color is the brunette shade of the season. This dessert-inspired brunette shade with notes of caramel and gold throughout is almost as sweet as the real thing.

Good hair day by @lautrice_shenellhair

Subtle Auburn

Sure, vibrant red hair colors are stunning, but we love understated crimson shades just as much. If you’re looking for a subtle yet effective way to try red hair this winter, we adore this soft auburn hue. Ask your colorist to blend subtle streaks of auburn throughout a brunette base for a look that’s low-key and low-maintenance.

Good hair day by @makeupbyfrances

Ultra Violet

Ultra violet is the opposite of subtle, so if you love to make a bold statement, this vivid cool-toned purple should be at the top of your to-try list. Ultra violet looks best with intense shine, so be sure to use a hair oil like Kérastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original Hair Oil to add shine while deeply nourishing your strands.

Good hair day by @jjulietbeauty

Green

You’ll love a dark green hair color if the holidays are your favorite part of the winter season. Add star embellishments to your Christmas tree-inspired hue for a festive touch. To keep this unique shade in tip-top shape, be sure to moisturize and nourish hair with a multi-tasking leave-in like Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner.

Good hair day by @slaybar.mani

Pumpkin Spice

If you drink pumpkin spice coffee all year long (same), you’ll be happy to know that this fall hair color is equally as stunning for winter.

Good hair day by @aaashleee

Bronde

Bronde hair color offers the best of both worlds for those who struggle to decide between brunette and blonde. Upkeep your bronde hue between appointments with a color-toning shampoo and conditioner like Redken Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo and Conditioner Duo. This system helps eliminate brass and orange undertones in lightened or natural brown hair.

Good hair day by @d_shuford

Red Velvet

We love baking in the winter, so it should be no surprise that red velvet hair color is one of our top shades of the season. This delectable, cool-toned red is made for pale skin tones.

Overwashing bright red hair is a surefire way to fade it more quickly. Whenever possible, reach for a dry shampoo like Biolage Professional All-In-One Intense Dry Shampoo With Rice Starch to refresh roots between shampoos and a revitalizing treatment like Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ashita Supreme Intense Revitalization Hair Serum to nourish the mid-lengths to ends of hair.

Good hair day by @sharnellb.colorist

Dirty Brunette

Dirty brunette hair is the hair color trend we just can’t get enough of year after year. This take on bronde is the perfect way to bring warmth to your brunette locks for the winter months.

Good hair day by @ohlucyy

Copper and Amber Highlights

Edge into red with copper and amber highlights. These on-trend ginger shades come together to create a rich and dimensional hue that will instantly warm up your mane when the winds are whipping.

Good hair day by @bleachhairaddiction

Metallic Pink

There are ways to make pink hair work all year round. When the temperature drops, we favor this metallic variation of the shade. Amp up your hue with a few spritzes of shine spray like Redken Shine Flash Hair Spray.

Good hair day by @lifewithjoeamo

Dark Blue

This dark blue hue is a great choice if you want to try an icy shade for winter without going full-on platinum.

Good hair day by @krazy4hair

Face-Framing Highlights

Heads up, ‘90s babies! If you’re obsessed with nostalgic hair trends, these face-framing highlights are perfect. Opt for high-contrast blonde streaks against a brunette base to recreate this look.

Good hair day by @hairbycasondra

Cinnamon

Cinnamon hair color has been trending since early 2020, and we predict the reddish-brown hue will still be going strong long into 2023.

Good hair day by @____________han

Mushroom Brown

You can’t go wrong with mushroom brown hair if you prefer your brunette shade to look ashy and cool as opposed to warm and chocolatey. This ashy brunette has grayish undertones, so those with cool undertones will find this hue particularly flattering.

Good hair day by @hairbyericmatthew

Chocolate Cherry

Chocolate-covered cherries combine two sweet treats that just go together—and chocolate cherry hair is no different. This masterful blend of rich chocolate brown and deep cherry red will be the center of attention at all of your holiday parties.

Good hair day by @kaitlincolourist

Pop of Color

Love vibrant hair colors but aren’t looking to switch up your whole look? Ask your colorist to give your strands a pop of color. Whether you opt for technicolor highlights or aqua-dipped ends, you’ll have all the fun of a fantasy shade without the tedious upkeep.

Good hair day by @themaneartistry

Dark Hair with Highlights

You don’t need to change your look completely to upgrade your winter style. All it takes is a few strategically placed highlights. Dark hair is a wintertime staple, but adding highlights is the easiest way to liven up your dark locks.

You’ll want to keep a nourishing hair mask on hand to counteract the drying effects of lightening dark hair with bleach. We love L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Color Mask. This luxurious mask for color-treated hair is infused with resveratrol to protect strands against breakage while maintaining their shine.

Good hair day by @slim_color

Gingerbread

If you adore your dark brown hair but are looking for a subtle way to bring warmth to your color this winter, look no further than gingerbread hair. This stunning combination of deep brown and rich auburn looks fantastic on everyone.

Good hair day by @jas_ana

Espresso

Espresso hair color is rich, dark, and bold—just like your morning coffee on a cold winter day. This nearly-black shade of brown is a winter staple year after year, so you won’t regret trying the look for yourself!

Good hair day by @gabrielleroccuzzo

Cold Brew

Cold brew may be our favorite summer drink, but we can’t get enough of cold brew hair for wintertime.

Good hair day by @karllkyl

Gray Blue

Gray and dark blue might seem like a drab combination, but this ashy, toned-down hue has us feeling anything but sad.

Bloody Mary

Whether there’s a dusting of snow on the ground or the sun is shining at full force, we’d argue that every season is brunch season. And why not pull hair inspiration from our favorite year-round hangover cocktail? Bloody mary hair color is a rich red copper with an earthy vibe that’ll have you dialing up your colorist ASAP.

Good hair day by @leysahairandmakeup

Cayenne

Choose a fiery, dimensional shade like cayenne if you hope to spice up your hue for those chilly days. We love the way this shade pairs with medium and dark skin tones.

Good hair day by @uggoff

Glossy Blue-Black

Embrace a moody shade to match the dreary winter weather. Opt for blue-black if you’re considering a color change but not entirely sold on giving up your dark base. Your colorist will add a tint of dark blue throughout your black hair color to create tons of depth.

Interested in trying a winter hair color? Hair.com has the professional products your mane needs to thrive all season long.