Fall might have just begun, but if the sudden surplus of pumpkin everything is any indication, people have already started to embrace the new season. For example, first pumpkin spice highlighter and lip balm stirred up a frenzy on social media, and now, there's #PumpkinSpiceHair. And yes, it's exploded on Instagram faster than the tingly buzz of caffeine hits you after the fall's first sip of a PSL.
But don't let the name of the trend fool you. The color isn't anything like that rusty, pumpkin orange hue you got when you spritzed Sun-In in your hair as a youth. Instead, picture warm brunette shade with red, coppery undertones. Truly, the color the gorgeous.
That said, it's one thing to swoon over an Instagram, it's another to actually consider bringing it to your colorist. So, in case you do want to get down with PSH for fall, we tapped some of the key colorists whose work is floating around the Internet to share their advice. Drink it up!
1. Base Color Is Key
Like all dye jobs, take base color into consideration before you choose your pumpkin spice hair shade. Meredith Connors, professional stylist and head of education at ColorDesign, recommends dark brunettes choose a deep copper tone with dark golden hues. If your hair falls in the middle of the brunette shade spectrum, choose medium coppers and golden tones, and for those with lighter hair, go even lighter with copper and gold tones to keep the look highlighted and dimensional. And since one shade certainly doesn't fit all when it comes to pumpkin spice hair, blonds can even try a color similar to rose gold hair with a touch of orange undertones as well.
2. So Is Your Skin Tone
Just like picking out a new lipstick shade or eye shadow, consider your skin tone before fully committing. "Copper and orange tones are better for fair skin tones, while honey and ambers work best with darker skin tones," explains Matrix Style Link celebrity colorist George Papanikolas. All it takes is subtle changes in the amount of copper or red used, and you'll end up with a customized shade that's complementary to your individual skin tone.
3. Color Melting Will Make It Look More Realistic
To give pumpkin spice hair a more dimensional feel, Vivid & Bold color specialist Alyssa Weiner (@lysseon) suggests adding blond (or a shade a few shades lighter than your base color) to the ends of your hair for a color-melting effect (think something similar to ombré or balayage). Ask your colorist to create highlights from the mid-length to the ends of your hair to lighten up the look and give your hair depth.
4. It's Not a Fuss-Free Color
"This dye job could be a huge commitment," says colorist and creative director of goodDYEyoung, Brian O’Connor. "Reds and coppers are the hardest color to permanently get out of your hair while ironically also being the hardest to keep vibrant." Be ready to head back to the salon in three to six weeks, and memorize these hair color care tips start-to-finish before proceeding.
5. It Works for Winter Too
While PSLs might be restricted to fall, pumpkin spice hair is not as "seasonal" as the name implies. "Undertones of copper, gold, and warm browns are available in all different levels of darkness or lightness, allowing for the inspiration of pumpkin spice hair to appeal to everyone during anytime of year," explains Connors. No matter what mixture of shades you and your colorist decide on, the coloring will help warm up your hair for a look that'll last well into the frigid depths of February.
6. Daily Makeup Choices Matter
While we hate the idea of "rules" when it comes to hair and makeup (you do you!), Connors does bring up this smart point: If you regularly wear really pigmented eyeshadows or dark lipstick, hues that are rich and deep versus more bright and vibrant will play nicer with your signature. For those who wear natural, earthy-toned makeup, consider the opposite as true.
7. The Range of Possible Shades Is HUGE
To create pumpkin spice hair in the first place, colorists use a color combination of red, copper, auburn, honey, and amber tones. With so many different shades that are used to color hair for this look, the possible outcomes are expansive. Even better? Pumpkin spice hair can be tailored to anyone's natural shade, which is why you can get anything from a copper-tinted brunette to a bright red. So be sure to scroll through the Instagram hashtag for ideas before meeting with your colorist. Having a few examples of the shade you want will make it much easier for your colorist to create a hair color you'll ultimately be happy with.
For more fall hair color inspiration, check out:
-10 Gorgeous Hair Colors You’ll Want to Try This Fall
-8 Easy Ways to Take Your Hair Color From Summer to Fall
-10 Hair Color Tips You've Never Heard Before
