How To Transition Hair Colors Between Seasons
Changing your hair color when seasons shift doesn’t mean you need a dramatic makeover! I’ve found that subtle tweaks work best for a natural transition.
Last fall, I went from my summer blonde highlights to a warmer caramel tone using Wella Color Charm (love that stuff), and nobody even noticed until the third compliment!
Your natural hair color actually changes slightly with the seasons anyway, often getting lighter in summer and darker in winter due to sun exposure or lack thereof.
Working with these natural tendencies makes color transitions look more organic.
It’s why my stylist always tells me to go “one shade at a time” rather than jumping straight from pink to green (learned that lesson the hard way after a particularly ambitious Pinterest session).
When transitioning between seasons, consider moving just a few shades on the color wheel instead of making a drastic change.
This gradual approach keeps your look fresh while avoiding that “who is that person in the mirror?” moment we’ve all experienced!
Understanding Seasonal Hair Color Trends
Hair colors shift with the seasons just like fashion does. When the weather changes, many people feel inspired to refresh their look with new tones that complement the seasonal palette.
Incorporating Seasonal Color Analysis Into Your Look
Seasonal color analysis can help you find the perfect hair shade based on your unique features.
This technique looks at your skin tone, eye color, and natural contrast levels to determine your “season” — whether you’re a summer, autumn, winter, or spring person.
I’ve found that as a summer type (my cool-toned skin gives me away!), I look best in soft, ashy colors rather than warm ones. When I tried copper tones last fall because they were trendy, they washed me out completely. Oops!
Spring types tend to glow in warm, golden tones — so rich honey blondes and peachy hues work beautifully as the weather warms up.
Autumns, with their earthy warmth, can embrace deep coppers, chestnuts, and auburns, especially in cooler months.
Winters, who often have high contrast and cool undertones, shine in icy blondes, espresso browns, or even bold blacks — shades that stay vibrant year-round.
By tuning into your seasonal palette, you can make smoother transitions between hair colors and avoid shades that clash with your natural coloring.
Trending Hair Colors for Each Season
Spring typically brings lighter colors. Think strawberry blonde, honey highlights, and pastel tints. I’ve been loving Overtone’s Rose Gold conditioner for a subtle spring vibe that washes out gradually (no commitment!).
Summer hair trends favor sun-kissed looks with balayage and beachy waves. Warm blonde, caramel, and honey tones dominate.
Fall is all about richness — copper tones, auburn, and chocolate browns are huge. My stylist at Aveda recently told me that “spiced cider” is this fall’s most requested color.
Winter brings deeper, more dramatic colors like midnight black, deep burgundy, and icy platinum. These bolder choices pair perfectly with winter’s typically monochromatic wardrobe.
I’ve never been brave enough for platinum, but my friend rocks it with her winter type coloring!
Transition Techniques for Seamless Color Change
Changing your hair color doesn’t have to be shocking. There are gentle methods that help your hair shift colors while looking natural throughout the process.
Balayage and Ombré for Subtle Shifts
Balayage is my absolute favorite technique for transitioning between seasons! This hand-painted approach creates natural-looking highlights that grow out beautifully without harsh lines.
I tried this last fall when moving from bright summer blonde to a richer dirty blonde hair color for autumn.
The beauty of balayage is how it works with your natural color, not against it. Your stylist paints lighter sections where the sun would naturally hit, creating dimension rather than a solid block of color.
Ombré techniques are perfect if you’re nervous about change. Your roots stay closer to your natural shade while ends can be lighter or darker.
I’ve found this works amazingly for transitioning darker hair colors for winter without the shock of an all-over color.
Gradual Highlights and Lowlights
Adding highlights or lowlights a few at a time is like the slow-cooker method of hair transitions.
When I wanted to cool down my brassy summer blonde, my stylist suggested adding ash tones through lowlights first.
The key is working with color wheel logic. If you’re changing from pink to green (I made this mistake once — yikes!), you’ll need intermediate steps. Moving to adjacent colors on the wheel is much easier!
Try scheduling appointments four to six weeks apart for gradual changes. I’ve found adding lowlights first softens the transition to darker hair, while spaced-out highlight appointments can brighten gradually for summer.
Gloss treatments between color sessions keep everything looking fresh and prevent unwanted tones from emerging. I swear by Redken Shades EQ for maintaining my dirty blonde between appointments!
Choosing the Right Hair Color for Your Skin Tone
Finding a hair color that works with your natural skin tone is key to a successful seasonal transition. Your skin’s undertones are the foundation for selecting colors that will make you glow rather than look washed out.
Matching Hair Color With Cool and Warm Undertones
First, you need to figure out if you have cool or warm undertones. I’ve learned this the hard way!
Check your wrists. If your veins look blue or purple, you likely have cool undertones. If they appear green, you’ve got warm undertones.
- For cool undertones, stick with ash browns, platinum blondes, or blue-black shades. These colors complement your skin beautifully! I once tried a golden blonde (big mistake) when my cool skin needed ash tones.
- If you have a warm complexion, go for golden browns, copper reds, or honey blondes. These warmer tones will enhance your natural glow.
Remember that seasons affect how we perceive color too. Winter lighting makes cool tones pop more, while summer sunshine brings out warmth.
Selecting Hair Colors That Complement Your Eye Color
Your eye color creates a secondary harmony with your hair. I’ve found that contrasting your eye color can create stunning results!
- For blue eyes, copper and golden browns create beautiful contrast. My blue-eyed sister tried Wella’s Auburn Spice (gorgeous on her) last fall.
- Brown eyes are super versatile! You can rock almost any shade, but rich chocolates and caramels really make brown eyes pop. I personally love how my chestnut highlights bring out the gold flecks in my eyes.
- Green or hazel eyes? Lucky you! Red tones like auburn or strawberry blonde will intensify your eye color dramatically.
Consider these combinations:
- Blue eyes + copper hair = striking contrast
- Brown eyes + caramel highlights = depth and dimension
- Green eyes + auburn hair = fiery complement
Maintaining Hair Health During Color Transitions
Changing hair colors can be rough on your strands! I’ve learned that protecting your hair’s health is just as important as picking the right shade when transitioning between seasonal looks.
Using the Right Hair Care Products
When I switched from summer blonde to fall auburn last year, my hair felt like straw until I figured out the right product routine.
Color-safe shampoos are absolutely essential! I love the Pureology Hydrate line (saved my hair during that copper phase disaster of 2023).
Cold water rinses help lock in color. I know it’s tough when it’s already chilly outside, but your hair will thank you. Trust me on this one!
Leave-in conditioners are non-negotiable during color transitions. They add that extra moisture barrier your hair desperately needs. I apply mine to damp hair right after showering.
Deep conditioning masks twice weekly made a HUGE difference for me. Look for ones with protein if your hair feels weak after coloring.
Professional Treatments To Preserve Hair Integrity
Bond-building treatments like Olaplex have been game changers for my color transition journey. They literally reconnect broken bonds in your hair structure (which happens during chemical processing).
I schedule a professional gloss treatment between major color changes. It adds shine and helps create a more gradual transition between shades.
My stylist recommended scaling back heat styling during color transitions, which I ignored at first (big mistake!). Now I let my hair air-dry whenever possible and use heat protectant when I absolutely must style.
Professional deep conditioning treatments every four to six weeks help maintain moisture balance. My salon offers an amazing keratin-infused mask that works wonders during winter color changes!
DIY vs. Professional Color Changes
Changing your hair color between seasons can be done at home or at a salon. Both options have their pros and cons depending on how dramatic a change you want and your skill level with hair coloring products.
When To See a Professional Colorist
I always recommend seeing a professional when you’re making a dramatic color change (like going from dark brown to blonde).
Trust me, I tried this at home once and ended up with orange streaks that took months to fix!
Professionals have the training to handle tricky transitions, especially when you need any of these services:
- Going more than two shades lighter than your current color
- Adding highlights or balayage effects (they blend so much better!)
- Changing from warm to cool tones or vice versa
- Covering gray hair evenly
The cost is higher (depending on where you live), but the results usually last longer and look more natural. My colorist in Chicago particularly charges extra during fall when everyone wants those gorgeous auburn tones.
Tips for At-Home Hair Coloring
For subtle seasonal changes, DIY can work great! I’ve had good luck with semi-permanent colors that gradually fade without harsh root lines.
First, always do a strand test! I skipped this once and wound up with hair way darker than I wanted. Yikes.
When shopping for at-home color, consider these tips:
- Look for ammonia-free formulas for less damage (L’Oreal Casting Crème Gloss is my go-to).
- Buy two boxes if your hair is longer than shoulder-length.
- Pick a shade that’s only one to two levels different from your current color for natural results
Wear an old t-shirt and use Vaseline around your hairline to prevent staining. I keep disposable gloves in my bathroom drawer just for coloring days!
Popular Hair Color Inspirations and Ideas
Finding the right hair color can transform your look without a complete makeover. Let’s explore some trendy options that are making waves.
Remember, utilize coloring techniques (i.e., balayage, ombré, highlights, lowlights, using color wheel theory, etc.) to softly transition from one color to the other as seasons change.
Celebrity Hair Color Inspirations
I’ve been obsessing over “Hitchcock blonde” lately — it’s this cool, icy platinum shade that’s predicted to be huge in 2025 (saw it in Allure!).
Taylor Swift’s signature golden blonde always works if you want something warmer and more natural-looking.
Hailey Bieber’s “expensive” brunette with subtle highlights is perfect if you’re transitioning from summer to fall. I tried something similar last year with Wella Color Touch (worth every penny).
For darker hair, Zendaya’s smoky bronze tones are gorgeous and low-maintenance. My stylist used Redken Shades EQ gloss to give me a similar look that didn’t damage my fine hair.
Remember, celebs have professional help daily! I learned the hard way that maintaining platinum requires WAY more commitment than those Instagram posts suggest.
Pop Culture Hair Trends
Not all hair color trends come from celebrities; some shades blow up thanks to social media, fashion cycles, or even TV shows and video games.
Cowgirl copper: This warm, reddish-brown hue surged in popularity thanks to the rustic Western aesthetic taking over fashion lately (think Yellowstone vibes meets Pinterest boards).
It’s earthy, wearable, and looks amazing in sunlight.
Pastel revival: Soft pinks, lavenders, and blues make comebacks every spring/summer, especially during festival season.
Blame it on Coachella and anime-core aesthetics. It’s playful and perfect for semi-permanent experimentation.
“Milk tea” blonde: A creamy, beige-blonde shade that’s been huge in East Asian pop culture and gaining traction worldwide. It’s less yellow than classic blonde and super flattering for neutral to warm skin tones.
Oil slick hair: For brunettes who want to play with bold colors without bleaching their whole head, this trend involves deep blues, purples, and greens that shimmer like an oil spill.
It popped off in alternative fashion circles and has serious staying power.
Mushroom brown: This cool-toned, ashy brunette became popular through hair TikTok and Reddit threads about “neutral tones that go with everything.” It’s low-maintenance and ideal if you want something chic but not too flashy.
