Winter 2025’s best hair colours are a bit of a dealer’s choice. We’ve got the classic dark shades to match the cosy vibes that the cold weather brings, like smoky brunette or deep chestnut. But then there are the brighter, more uplifting tones – like golden blonde and copper – to counterbalance the gloomy weather.
Whatever your mood, there’s a shade you’re bound to fall in love with. But don’t take our word for it. Here are the 11 winter hair colours that the pros think should be on your radar ahead of the new year. Scroll through to find the one that speaks to you this season.
Teddy bear brown
Teddy bear brown was everywhere this autumn and it’s going nowhere now that we’re hurtling towards 2026. “This is a great choice for anybody who wants to be low-maintenance. It can be achieved by using a gloss and you can play with a few highlights,” celebrity colourist Jenna Perry previously told Vogue.
Take inspo from Daisy Edgar-Jones, who wears this rich shade with ombré tips.
Dark suede blonde
Jacob Schwartz, Schwarzkopf Professional’s US hair colour trend ambassador, loves a dark suede blonde for when it gets colder outside. It’s deep and rounded, with a few golden highlights woven throughout to add subtle hints of brightness.
New England gold
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy is a timeless beauty and style icon, and she’s the perfect poster girl for the NYC golden blonde shade that Perry says will be everywhere for winter. It’s all about a good highlighting technique to create natural high and low points.
Soft copper
Famous blonde Pamela Anderson recently ditched her flaxen hair for something a bit more spunky, and we love it. For maintenance, Schwartz recommends a demi-permanent colour.
Crushed velvet
Kaia Gerber’s hair colour, which Perry calls a smooth “crushed velvet”, is a warm brunette with lots of shine. To achieve this shade, Perry advises asking your colourist to add tone on tone highlights to create a sense of reflectiveness and brighten even the deepest brunettes.
Cool noir
Dark and alluring, this winter is all about embracing deep shades. Megan Thee Stallion’s long dark strands are a great example.
The tone down
According to celebrity hair colourist Travis Ogletree, natural colours are coming back with a bang. “[My clients] are deciding to gloss their hair down by a few shades closer to their natural base tone,” says Ogletree. His advice? Be sure to use a detangler that also acts as a heat protectant when styling hair.
Cali brunette
A warmer – but still fun – spin on the summery, bright and dimensional highlights we enjoyed this summer, Cali brunette adds a little bit of depth to the style. “Think warm, sun-kissed, with brighter light reflection around the face frame and ends of hair,” Ogletree says. “Just one or two shades of tonal difference.”
Grey blending
Expect to see an uptick in the number of people embracing their natural greys. Sarah Jessica Parker blends her into her lighter, brighter lengths with a hand-painted balayage type effect.
Warm chestnut
Winter doesn’t have to be dominated solely by dark and moody shades. To lighten up the richness of a deep brunette, add warm chestnut highlights, à la Jessica Alba, for a cosy lift.
Toasted sand
Toasted sand is a blend of beige and golden hues, and one of the blonde shades set to go stratospheric in 2026. For the winter season, especially, it’s great for blondes who don’t like the harsh contrast of dark highlights.
