10 Winter Hair Color Trends Fashionable Women Love This Season

Although you're bound to see 50 shades of brunette during the colder months, some of winter's best hair color trends for 2024 are incredibly refreshing. Think vibrant reds—thanks in large part to Chappell Roan—frosted blondes, and even faded peachy pinks, all of which add a much needed pop of color to the sea of rich, dark hues that are synonymous with the season. But don't worry—there are still plenty of stunning brown tones to choose from if you're looking to revamp your hair color.

It is worth noting that with each dye job comes the responsibility to actually maintain your hair health. "No matter the trendy hair color, it is so important to prevent breakage caused by hair dye and help repair and hydrate your strands post-coloring," says celebrity hairstylist, Lacy Redway.

With hair health top of mind and an itch to change up your look with the new season, we've tapped a few beauty industry experts to take us through the trending winter hair colors you can expect to see in the coming months. Scroll for all the details from not only Redway but notable hairstylists like Kelly Novobielski, Temur Hamilton, and Gonn Kinoshita, and get ready to book your hair appointment ASAP.

Chestnut Brown

Hamilton predicts that the classic chestnut brown with caramel and honey highlights will be trending this winter. “It works well for people with medium skin tones and warm undertones, and caramel tones can add warmth to the face, complementing those with brown or hazel eyes.” With any hair color, maintenance is a big part of the commitment but Hamilton notes that this color is easy to maintain with just some hair gloss treatments in between touch ups.

Peachy Pink

While pink was definitely the color of summer 2023 for obvious Barbie-related reasons, it’s actually a fun color to explore during the winter. “Peachy pink is a beautiful accent for the winter season when people are wearing heavy jackets and layers,” says Kinoshita, Balmain hair ambassador and editorial hair stylist. “This hair color brings lightness and playfulness to an outfit, and the shade balances between cool and warm tones, making it a perfect fit for the season.” He also mentions that peachy pink really pops on haircuts with lots of layers.

Cool-Toned Blonde

Novobielski, a blonde expert, can’t get enough of the lived-in “bronde” look for winter. He characterizes this as a “hair color often featuring a platinum or white-blonde base with silvery or ashy tones, creating a frosty, wintry look.” Think of this as winter’s answer to summer’s classic beach blonde look. Just be sure to use a color-safe cleanser to keep your highlights bright and brilliant.

Expensive Brunette

This list wouldn't be complete without a lush, expensive-looking brunette. “This dark chocolate shade exudes the richness and dark dimension that we lean towards in the colder months, creating an overall timeless look,” says Redway. “This shade also reflects light really well, making your hair look thicker and shinier,” she adds. However, she does note that no matter what color you choose this season healthy hair is the key to nailing any trend. She loves Dove Bond Strength 10-in-1 Serum Mask which helps to reverse signs of damage by boosting shine, reducing split ends and restoring bounce for more movement.

Dirty Ash Blonde

“Dirty blonde tones are making a comeback, and adding an ashy undertone makes this shade even more versatile,” says Kinoshita. What makes this blend of colors a winter favorite among clients is that it’s a fresh take on the classic blonde tone but is actually quite low-maintenance. Incorporate an easy-to-use mist into your hair routine for a seamless gloss.

Wine Red Supernova

With the success of Chappell Roan and her noteworthy vibrant red curls, it’s only natural that people are gravitating toward a red wine supernova hair color for winter. “Red hues have been trending for some time now and complements so many skin tones well,” says Redway. “In line with deep and rich tones, wine red hair is a playful way to stand out while fitting in with the season.” She adds that a deep red tone like wine red elevates the warmth of your complexion, and helps enhance the glow that is often lacking during the winter months.

Chocolate Brown Highlights

Highlights aren’t just for the summer—they're just receiving an update for the colder seasons. Blending in some streaks of chocolate brown for winter is a great way to both avoid damage from over-coloring while still staying on trend. A few chocolate brown highlights beautifully accent darker hair colors. “It’s a lower-damage option compared to high-lift blondes, offering lighter tones with less maintenance,” says Kinoshita. “Since hair tends to dry out in winter, this is a more manageable choice. It works well for everyone, regardless of hair type, and adds softness, dimension, and movement.” Incorporate lots of hydrating hair products to maintain moisture despite the frigid temperatures.

Icy Blonde

There’s something so natural about channeling your inner Disney ice princess during the winter, and that’s where icy blonde comes into play, especially if you have cool undertones. “It’s edgy, and fits the frosty vibe perfectly,” says Hamilton. However, he cautions that this color is definitely high maintenance, and “requires root touch up every four to six weeks and purple shampoo to maintain its cool icy tones.”

Hazelnut

For those who like to err on the natural side with their color, hazelnut is a color worth exploring this winter. Sitting between dark blonde and a light brunette, “It’s very natural and holds a lot of warmth, which makes it easy to achieve with just highlights or lowlights, rather than a full dye job,” explains Redway. Warmth and radiance are the two biggest takeaways with this tone, and it’s “especially great for dark blonde or light brunette roots,” she notes.

Warm Hot Chocolate

For anyone who loves the look of the chocolate brown highlights that Kinoshita sees trending for winter, it might be worth taking the plunge to a full on hot chocolate brown. Novobielski explains that this shade has a deep brown base with warm caramel, mocha, or chestnut undertones. “The richness and warmth of this shade give it a natural glossy appearance, making it versatile and flattering for a variety of skin tones,” he says. “It’s the perfect choice for adding depth and dimension to hair, often paired with subtle highlights or balayage to mimic creamy swirls of chocolate.”

Why Trust Marie Claire?

Jaime Wilson is a freelance writer with years of experience covering the beauty industry. In her prior role, Wilson was beauty editor at Harper’s Bazaar, writing both print and digital features, and trend stories. She spoke with four of the industry's leading hairstylists to uncover their expert insights into the season's best winter hair color trends.

When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes recommended by a MC writer or editor, or by an expert we've spoken to. Learn more about how we review products.

Meet the Experts

Lacy Redway

Lacy is a New York-based celebrity hairstylist. Throughout her career, she has worked with an esteemed roster of clients including Anne Hathaway, Simone Biles, Alicia Keys, Tracee Ellis Ross and many others. Her work has appeared in Marie Claire, Allure, Elle, and Vogue among others.   

Gonn Kinoshita

Gonn is a New York-based hairstylist and got his start in the industry as first assistant to hair legend Luigi Murena. He has worked at memorable shows for brands such as Givenchy, Gucci, Emilio Pucci, Ferragamo, Rick Owens, N21, and more. He has since gone on to forge a reputation for creative styling showcasing everything from bold silhouettes to unique textures and updos, to the sleek and sophisticated. His talent can be seen in iconic editorials for publications such as Vogue (Italia, Mexico, China), Interview, V, i-D, Harper’s Bazaar, and major campaigns for brands such as Nike, Shiseido, Amazon, and Michael Kors.

Kelly Novobielski

Kelly is a New York-based hairstylist who has been working in the industry for almost 20 years. A blonde specialist and stylist, he is also experienced in color, cutting, and extensions.

Temur Hamilton

With a passion for hairstyling, Temur, owner of TEMUR Salon, carved out a space in the highly competitive world of beauty, devoting the last 14 years to perfecting his craft. He's worked closely with legendary stylist Sally Hershberger, refining his skills under her expert guidance and has collaborated with some of New York’s leading hair colorists to expand his expertise and artistry.