Four hairstylists share what’s coming next.
Summer hair has had its fun. Fall brings a different mood, and hairstylists are already seeing the requests that will define it. Four industry pros share what clients are asking for, what is gaining momentum, and one sleeper pick we’re betting most people don’t see coming.
Platinum is finally getting a little competition. Nicole Cestaro, hairstylist and author of Superhairo, says many of her blonding clients are asking for golden honey shades with lived-in roots. “Some are going to wait until the summer is over, but a large number of clients have taken on the concept already, with hopes of deepening the palette once the cooler fall weather arrives,” she notices.
Taylor Murphy, hairstylist and beauty expert at Made and Taylored, is seeing the same move toward healthy and dimensional blondes. “Trends like “old money blonde” or “90s blonde” with softer, dimensional color have taken over the high-maintenance, full highlights I’ve seen in the past,” she says, expecting honey tones to replace some of the icy platinum popular in recent years. Her advice? A few lowlights can make blonde feel deeper and cozier for fall, especially if going brunette sounds like too much commitment.
@mikaylap.hair
Red has plenty of plans for fall. Cestaro says all she keeps hearing about once the summer is over is red hair color palettes – deep red, vibrant copper, plum mahogany, and red-based brown shades.
Albert Narcisse, master hair colorist at in New York City, expects a more wearable take on copper. His approach uses copper at roughly half strength over a naturally warm base. “High-porosity ends absorb copper quickly but also fade more rapidly,” he says, and recommends cool water, sulfate-free products, and regular tonal top-ups instead of a fresh application to help keep the color from disappearing before the season does.
@imtorielyse
If espresso is your idea of a good fall color, Murphy expects you to have plenty of company. She predicts deep espresso brunettes with glossy warmth and subtle variation.
Sherry Velarde, hairstylist and owner of Deseo Salon & BlowDry, is seeing a similar request in her salon: “Warm and shiny brown hair is the most popular color choice I am working with these days.” She often adds subtle lightening through layers, creating a shade that goes deeper than dark chocolate without becoming copper.
@iamhairdural
September brings a familiar yearly request: I want my hair richer, but not dramatically darker. Narcisse says adding depth with a gloss and strategically placed lowlights is one of the most common requests he sees at the start of fall.
Murphy has noticed another possibility. Chunkier, higher-contrast lowlights from the late 2000s could return, bringing what she calls a warm “Tuscan mom” look. On fine hair, darker pieces should stay away from the ends so they do not visually flatten the haircut.
@frankiecauchi_
The bob has apparently declined to leave the group chat. Cestaro expects the shape to reign again this fall, especially among clients who have admired it for several seasons but never quite committed.
Can’t decide which option to try first? Murphy recommends the Italian bob: “This is a polished, chin-length bob with soft volume that has been trending on TikTok recently.”
@jessicadraicchio
Want fuller hair by September? Waiting months for it to grow is certainly one option. Velarde has another: she uses Bellami extensions to add length and fullness around the face, especially for clients who want a quicker change. For curly and textured hair, she recommends matching the weft to the hair’s porosity.
Cestaro also uses sewn-in wefts right above the occipital line to give fine bobs extra body. “You will hardly detect it at all, but it complements the shape to look healthy and full,” she says.
@andreahenty
The shag is another classic cut that gets reinvented. Cestaro recommends soft interior layers to “shatter” the interior and remove heaviness at the bottom.
Velarde says clients are asking for curtain bangs and more layering through the crown, creating volume in fine and medium hair without adding unnecessary bulk. Thick or coarse hair can wear the shape too, but it requires more thinning to prevent the dreaded triangle effect.
@xeniaclaudethsalon
And then there is the plot twist. Cestaro says “the heaviness and weight of a one-length haircut” is becoming a major source of inspiration for her clients. After seasons of layers, some hair may simply want to grow up and get blunt.
@ernestomeneses
Fall 2026 has plenty of movement, but it also has richer color, stronger shapes, and a few nostalgic surprises. See our guide to the biggest 2026 hair trends for additional insights.
