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Getting excited for the new year? However you’re feeling, we’re firm believers that beauty has the potential to add to the narrative. In addition to manicures and makeup looks, winter hair colors can offer a renewed sense of self or, at the very least, a boost of confidence.
With that in mind, we spoke with top colorists to discover the biggest hair colors for winter 2025, from cherry cola to golden copper. Read on to discover the must-have shades of the season
Meet the expert
- Lauren Paglionico is a master colorist and the founder of lrn beauty in New York City. Alexis Yoshico is Miley Cyrus’s hair colorist at Jerome Lordet Salon. Gina Rivera is a hair artist, the creator of Colours by Gina, and founder of Phenix Salon Suites. Renée Valerie is a R+COLOR Collective member and director of R+COLOR Education.
Golden Copper
By now, we’ve all seen Lindsay Lohan’s stunning glow-up. While she’s always been gorgeous, her newest hair color has many running to their colorists. “Cowboy copper is out, and golden copper is in,” exclaims master colorist Lauren Paglionico, founder of lrn beauty in New York City. “Lindsay's shade is like an apricot—it's a combination of medium golden blonde and copper— with the ends slightly lighter and sun-kissed.” According to Paglionico, golden copper works best on those with fair skin and pink undertones. “Ask your colorist for a golden copper gloss or single process (all depending on your natural/existing color) and a subtle balayage on the ends,” Paglionico instructs.
Cherry Cola
Another wildly popular hair color and color trend in general, across both fashion and beauty? Cherry cola. “It is a dark red with purple undertones,” says Alexis Yoshico, Miley Cyrus’s hair colorist who works at Jerome Lordet Salon. “It is an elegant and flattering color that is popular no matter what season of the year, yet in the winter, people are going for darker, cooler-toned burgundy.”
The beauty of cherry cola hair? It pairs beautifully with every skin tone. “This red tone looks great if you want to warm up your complexion, and for darker skin tones, it's a great tone for adding contrast,” says hair artist Gina Rivera, creator of Colours by Gina and founder of Phenix Salon Suites. “I personally call it the universal red.”
Warm Bronde
Bronde hair colors remain a popular pick for winter 2025. Specifically, with warm undertones to soften the appearance of strands for the season.
“Rosie Hungtington-Whiteley is one of my most requested colors,” Paglionico reveals. “It’s a warm bronde that's super low-maintenance—you'll only need to come in for touch-ups twice a year. The color blends so softly from the roots through the mid-lengths to the ends, with no harsh lines or noticeable transitions.”
Fortunately for us, warm bronde hair colors work with just about any skin tone, Paglionico says. “If you’re looking for something similar, just ask your colorist for a lived-in, low-maintenance balayage,” she recommends.
Candlelit Brunette
Hoping to go full brunette this winter? Instead of your typical cool dark brown tone, R+COLOR Collective member Renée Valerie, Director of R+COLOR Education, suggests going a smidge warmer. “Rich, candlelit brunettes are great for winter, as more people recognize the beauty of embracing warmth in their hair rather than trying to eliminate it,” she explains. To get the look, tell your colorist you want a dark brunette color with warm, almost auburn undertones. The result will be deep, glistening strands that contrast beautifully with the crisp weather.
Champagne Blonde
Ariana Grande has been dominating our feeds for her remarkable portrayal of Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked. We’re not merely enamored with her acting chops, though—we’re feeling inspired by her hair, too. “For this winter, I’ve noticed more transitions from icy platinum tones to warmer golden colors,” Yoshico says. “Champagne blonde, like Ariana’s from Wicked, is slightly golden but natural—still bright but soft with a very small touch of peach pink. Your hair will shine and sparkle as the name implies.”
Honey Bronde
Beyoncé is forever hair goals, regardless of the season. This winter, though, Rivera says that honey-bronde hair colors—like Bey’s, above—are especially popular. “It’s beautiful for brunettes that want to add a little warmth to their color without a whole lot of maintenance,” she says, noting that honey bronde works especially well for dark and olive skin tones. “When visiting your stylist, ask for cool-leaning caramel highlights.”
Deep Espresso
Looking for a rich, dark brunette hair color without loads of warmth? Yoshico suggests an espresso shade. “Espresso is a deep and rich sophisticated color with an incredible shine that does not look flat and makes the hair look healthy,” she explains. “It is similar to dark chocolate—it's a hue somewhere between dark and medium brunette; espresso is a cool-toned color while dark chocolate is a warm-toned color. Long or short, your hair won’t look too black but more natural and polished.”
Sultry French Vanilla
In a shock to absolutely no one, Sabrina Carpenter’s sultry vanilla blonde hair color is a top ask at salons near and far. “Sabrina’s blonde is a bright, light golden blonde that’s great for someone with warm or neutral skin tones,” Paglionico says, pointing out that it looks gorgeous on long hair with lots of layers. “Ask your colorist for a high-impact blonde that is slightly on the warmer side.”
Dark Chocolate Brown
If you liked the sound of dark chocolate hair, you’re not alone. According to Paglionico, the decadent brunette hair color is trending for winter 2025. “The color may look like it’s a single tone but it’s a mix of milk chocolate and dark chocolate tones,” she says.
Rivera is also a proponent of the pretty shade. “Rich dark chocolate browns are beautiful if you want to go darker yet still have a subtle contrast and some dimension,” she says. “When consulting with your stylist, you may want to bring pictures of what you are envisioning, and your stylist will determine which undertones (warm or cool) will work best with your complexion.”
Smudge Shadow Roots
Looking for a lower-maintenance hair color for winter 2025? With a shadow root, you can avoid frequent touch-ups in the new year. “The smudged shadow root is a technique to create a softer transition between natural and lighter hair colors,” Yoshico says. “Your hair won’t look too done, just more natural, and it is so easy to grow out. For those who don’t have the flexibility for monthly (or bi-monthly) touch-ups, this will make your life easier, yet your hair will look well taken care of.”