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30 Fall Hair Trends That'll Give You Main Character Energy

 

Summer’s coming to a close and we know what you’re thinking: How can I go on without knowing the fall 2024 hair trends?! Alright, maybe that’s a little lower on your list than reorganizing your closet for cool weather, but we at Allure start with the beauty trends and make the trip to our storage units later. Priorities.

This fall, we’re thinking low-maintenance. Beachy brunette and all-over ebony look just as good freshly-dyed and glossed as they do worn-in a month later. Cuts like curtain bangs, long layers, and grown-out shags can be tousled by autumn wind and drizzle and still look totally cool and purposeful. And styles like slicked-back buns and messy bedhead are set-it-and-forget it.

But if that sounds snoozy to you, there are still some high-octane, high-maintenance trends to look out for: Vivid red hair is never easy but always sexy. Short French bobs and pixie cuts need regular trims but are totally worth the effort. Big, bouncy volume will require a full-on blowout but will always hit.

To help you get the season started off right, we asked the experts to predict the colors, cuts, and styles they see taking over fall 2024, plus a few tips and tricks to help you get there.

Meet the experts:

Rex Jimieson is a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
Richy Kandasamy is a colorist based in New York City and vice president of color development for R+Co.
Jan-Marie Lozada is a colorist at Salon SCK in New York City.
Chantal Audain is a hairstylist and natural hair care specialist based in Long Island, NY.
Lena Ott is the founder and color director of Suite Caroline in New York City.
Karly Cerrone is a colorist at Suite Caroline in New York City.
Chase Kusero is a hairstylist and co-founder of IGK Hair.
Patricia Nikole is a colorist and Schwarzkopf Professional artistic ambassador based in San Diego.
Mariah Joseph is a colorist at Suite Caroline in New York City.
Franck Izquierdo is a hairstylist based in Miami and co-founder of IGK Hair.
Valery Joseph is a hairstylist and founder of Valery Joseph Salon based in New York City.
Jill Buck is a hairstylist based in West Hollywood.
Ashley Streicher is a hairstylist and R+Co collective member based in Los Angeles.
Jackson Simmonds is a hairstylist at Julien Farel Restore Salon and Spa in New York City.
Raven Hurtado is a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
Paul Labrecque is a hairstylist and owner of Paul Labrecque Salon in New York City.
Bronwen Robinson is a hairstylist at Suite Caroline in New York City.
Brendnetta Ashley is a hairstylist and Schwarzkopf Professional artistic ambassador based in Pleasanton, CA.
Amy Abramite is a hairstylist and creative director of Maxine Salon in Chicago.
Michael Farruggio is a hairstylist at Julien Farel Restore Salon and Spa in New York City.

Fall Hair Colors

Ruby Wine

As soon as the temperature drops below 70 degrees, we retire the spiked seltzer for a cozier glass of red wine. Our hair follows suit with a ruby, tempranillo-hued red that feels like the moodier counterpart to summer’s shimmery coppers. “This shade works best on somewhat darker bases,” says colorist Rex Jimieson. The dark base gives the red dye that deep, wild cherry hue, whereas blondes may walk away with a vibrant red that’s more maraschino, less malbec.

Beachy Brunette

Enough has been written about the beachy blonde. Finally, justice for the beachy brunette: a light, sandy, brown-haired chick who can surf and sun with the best of them. “This blend of colors captures the essence of that end-of-summer feeling by retaining a blonde-kissed appearance despite the seasonal change,” says colorist Richy Kandasamy, who recommends asking your colorist for buttery blonde highlights blended throughout your hair (not just the money pieces in the front).

Ebony

Those of us who bust out the Halloween decorations on September 1 will be drawn to this bewitching black. The color is easy to get right, but it needs to have that moonlit glimmer too. “This trend is all about maximum shine,” says colorist Jan-Marie Lozada, who expects to get a lot of ebony hair requests this fall. After your salon visit, keep up the magic with an at-home gloss, like Drybar Liquid Glass Instant Glossing Rinse or Amika Flash Instant Shine Mask.

Honey Gold

Colorist Chantal Audain spent the summer making blondes brighter, so she expects to transition them into a deeper, honey blonde for fall. “You can play with how cool or warm you want it to be” based on skin tone, she says. As it fades and grows out, you’ll get a well-worn, rootier blonde, like Tanner Adell has here. To keep brassiness at bay, keep a blonde toner on hand, like Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat and Tone Hair Gloss or R+Co Sunset Blvd Blonde Toning Masque, and repeat weekly.

Neon

Just because we tend to cover up in the fall (it is, technically, a matter of survival), doesn’t mean everything needs to be darker and toned down. Colorist Lena Ott sees vivid neon hair trending into fall: “It rebels against our typical desire for color to feel lived-in.” Any highlighter hue will be a welcome pop in cooler weather, but Ott particularly likes a punchy fuchsia, which, she says, is beginning to be requested more at her salon.

Dark Chocolate

Milk chocolate is nice, but dark chocolate is sexy. It’s milk chocolate’s cooler, more mysterious older sister. She listens to Lana Del Rey on vinyl, speaks perfect French, and completes every Sunday crossword. “This brunette is deeper than your natural shade,” says colorist Karly Cerrone, “but the neutral tone here is key. It needs to walk a fine line between cool and warm.”

Platinum

Platinum hair is like a platinum card: It turns heads in any room and comes with generous travel points (okay, it doesn’t, but it should). “Platinum is a striking blonde that’s bold, edgy, and always in style,” says colorist Chase Kusero, who recommends asking for an ashy toner to keep the hue cool and icy.

Golden Merengue

We love a hair color that looks like a heavenly dessert. This buttery blonde is like a whipped golden merengue—the kind you pile high on a decadent coconut cream pie. “It mimics the natural highlights you might get from being in the sun,” says Kandasamy, who recommends lifting your natural color to a white-blonde before applying a cream-hued toner.

Chestnut

“This soft, nutty brown is a perfect complement for those earthy fall tones,” says colorist Patricia Nikole, and it happens to look sophisticated and flattering on every skin tone and hair texture. Ask for a warm, light brown. “You and your colorist can also decide if you want to paint a few highlights for more lightness and dimension,” adds colorist Mariah Joseph.

Baked Peach

Nikole also likes this romantic copper hue for fall, which she compares to the orangey-pink of a baked peach. But there are levels to how baked your baked peach can get. You can go almost strawberry blonde, like Evan Rachel Wood has here; a deeper, baked-at-350-degrees ginger, like Jessica Chastain; or stick that peach under the broiler for a caramelized peach, like Kate Mara.

Fiery Red

There’s a fine line between natural redhead and “that color can only be man-made in a mixing bowl.” Fiery red stands right on that line (and gives you a perfectly manicured rock-and-roll middle finger). “Book a base break or a single process,” says Joseph. “A base break will make it easier to transition to a different color in the future.” But remember: Red fades quickly, so you’ll need to visit the salon every six weeks to maintain the intensity.

Fall Haircuts

French Bob

There’s a trio of bobs trending this fall. Behind door number one is a classic French bob, a perennially chic short crop that lands somewhere along or above the jawline. Maybe there are some subtle angles at the front, maybe it’s just one length, but always with a little je ne sais quoi. Hairstylist Franck Izquierdo says this works best on fine and medium hair textures, as it will be a struggle to get those Parisian blunt edges for those with curlier textures.

Italian Bob

Just 1,000 miles (ahem, 1,600 kilometers) south of Paris, you’ll find a slightly longer Sicilian bob that falls just past the jawline. If the French bob is all about keeping every hair in place, the Italian bob “emphasizes shape, texture, and volume,” says hairstylist Valery Joseph. It’s also cheeky and low-maintenance. “You can let it dry naturally, add some dimension with a wavy blowout, or add a slight flip with a hot tool,” he adds.

Lob

If you see Europe as more of a summertime destination, hairstylist Jill Buck recommends letting your warm-weather bob grow into a lob for fall, noting that it looks especially great on thicker hair with some natural volume. The shoulder-grazing length may look a little limp on thin hair, but that’s nothing a good volumizer can’t fix. Start with a volumizing shampoo like Sachajuan Thickening Shampoo, followed by a styler, like Living Proof Full Dry Volume and Texture Spray, to add a bit of lift and beachy grit.

Baby Bangs

Hairstylist Ashley Streicher expects to see a baby-bangs boom this season, after the look showed up on fall runways for Proenza Schouler and Marni. “You don’t even need a traditionally thick bang section for these,” Streicher says, “you can just take a small section across your forehead,” like Zoe Kravitz has here. Ask for bangs about one or two inches above the brow line, and finish with a styling paste, like R+Co Dry Shampoo Paste, Ouai Matte Pomade, or Bumble and Bumble Sumoclay.

Pixie

“There are so many ways to do a pixie cut,” says hairstylist Jackson Simmonds. A super tight pixie looks great on textured or curly hair, à la Andy Allo. You could also leave some tousled length, like Sophia Woodward has here, or cut for a deep side part and leave some length on one side, like Janelle Monae. “It does require more upkeep,” Simmonds adds, so expect some light scissor maintenance every four weeks or so.

Curtain Bangs

The wind will be picking up, so a low-maintenance style that looks great no matter how your hair lands will be key. Curtain bangs are a low-maintenance fringe that’s “long enough to push aside,” says hairstylist Raven Hurtado. “The hair in the middle should be cut shorter—maybe slightly below the eyebrow—then gradually get longer on the sides.” When in doubt? Hurtado recommends just pulling up a picture of curtain-bang queen Sabrina Carpenter.

Shag

Some switch to cable-knit sweaters and peacoats when the weather turns, and some prefer moto boots and a leather jacket. For the latter, Izquierdo recommends a punky shag cut, which he says looks great on everyone, but especially those with some natural texture for that tousled “just tumbled off a rock-and-roll tour bus” look. Ask for choppy layers with lots of texture and movement, says Izquierdo, and then all you have to do is add Ray Bans and a graphic tee.

Cowgirl Cut

A cowgirl cut is a shag with spurs—which is to say, it’s grown-out in a “I’ve been corralling cattle and don’t have time for a fussy cut” way (though it is a little chicer and smells better than if you had spent a week on the range). It’s perfect for those transitioning out of a shag cut into a longer style. Hairstylist Paul Labrecque recommends asking for feathery layers cut with a razor for that undone look.

The Rachel

Friends may come and go but “The Rachel”—the iconic haircut named for Jennifer Aniston’s Friends character—was always here to stay. “It’s making a comeback [this fall],” says Valery Joseph. It’s a universally flattering cut with “long layers and lots of bounce.” Just be sure to ask for those face-framing pieces at the front, the telltale trait of The Rachel.

Long Layers

Long (and we mean long), flowy hair is about as close to Disney princess as a human can get. Picture long layers softly dancing along a cascading waterfall of hair (or just look at any picture of Jennifer Lopez). Hairstylist Bronwen Robinson sees this fairytale cut making a big comeback this fall, but keeping hair healthy and shiny is key (if you shake your hair out and bluebirds don’t sing, you’re only halfway there). Add a nourishing hair mask to your routine to keep things princess-y, like Davines The Spotlight Circle for extra shine or Kérastase Chronologiste Hair Mask for softness.

Fall Hairstyles

Sky-High Top Knot

The higher the knot, the closer to heaven (that’s how that goes, right?). “[Topknots] make everyone look like a runway model—tall and glamorous,” says Labrecque. And there’s no wrong way to do it. Twist or braid it before fastening it in place, like Issa Rae, or pile it up top and tease it out, like Emily Blunt. If you have short hair, you can fake it with a clip-in ponytail. (Labrecque recommends the Halo Couture Pony.)

Windswept Waves

Imagine you stepped right out of The Birth of Venus and wandered around the Uffizi Galleries before—oh my!—stumbling onto the red carpet at Cannes. This would be the hairstyle, and it happens to be ideal for cooler, windier weather (Venus was born seaside, after all). Hurtado recommends using a 1.25 inch curling iron, like Trademark Beauty Mood Curling Iron, or a multi-barrel tool, like Drybar’s BeachBender Triple Barrel Waver, to loosely curl the hair, and then combing it out with your fingers to get tousled, natural waves.

Super-Sleek Bun

Fall is ballet season, and even if you can’t do a fouetté or a grand jete, you can still join the dance with a sleek, tight ballerina bun. “It’s a polished look that shows off your facial features,” says hairstylist Brendnetta Ashley, who recommends blow-drying the hair back into the direction you want it to lay, making it easier to control as you slick it down. Before you twist the hair into a neat bun and pin it in place, hit it with a strong-hold spray, like Kenra Shaping Spray, or comb it down with a gel, like Pattern Beauty Strong Hold Gel.

Coquette Bows

Both Ashley and Streicher expect the coquette-core trend to continue into the fall, which means lots of pearls, lace, and, of course, bows. There’s no one way to tie a bow, be it a ribbon perched on top of your head, a silky bow tied around a low bun, or a smattering of tiny barrettes.

Headbands

Think of a headband like a tiara—it announces to everyone in the room that you are royalty. (It doesn’t, however, announce that you maybe skipped a washday, but hiding dirty roots is a major perk, says Hurtado.) To style this cheeky accessory, you can section out layers around your face, like Maisie Williams; wear it just sitting perfectly atop your style, like Michelle Williams; or use it to slick your hair out of your face, like Alix Earle.

Slicked Roots

We may be done with pool season, but wet, slicked-down roots are still very much in season, says hairstylist Amy Abramite, who helped create the look for Thakoon’s fall runway. “Begin with wet hair, detangle with a wide-tooth comb, and apply a leave-in conditioner,” she says. We like Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother or Redken All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-In Treatment for this. “Then generously apply hairspray on the roots, and using tension, press the hair flat to the head and mold into the desired part and details with a fine-tooth comb.” The rest of the hair is dealer’s choice: Curl or tease out the bottom for a dual-texture effect or comb a gel through the ends to get a fully wet look.

Sleek Single Braid

Fall’s femme fatales are all steely glances and a single three-strand braid—the better to whip and tie, and well, whatever a femme fatale gets up to. This look also happens to keep hair straight, in control, and requires very little heat-styling (if any at all), says Abramite. The drama is in the length, so long, thick hair is required—but it doesn’t have to be natural. If you have shorter hair, try a pony extension, like the 20-inch Luxy Hair or Bellami extensions.

Big and Bouncy

Hairstylist Michael Farruggio predicts that big, va-va-voom volume will be—er—big this fall, perhaps to offset the sleek and slicked-back updos. Getting this look is all about having the right tools: You’ll need a good volumizing mousse for your blowout, like Shu Uemura Awa Volume Volumizing Mousse or Nexxus Mousse+ Volumizing Foam; and, most importantly, you’ll need a large-barrel round brush, like Oribe Italian Resin Large Round Brush, or a blow-dryer brush, like the Dyson Airwrap Multistyler.

Bedhead

Bedhead is the hair equivalent of cool girl “no-makeup makeup.” Streicher recommends starting the look in the shower (so not the bed, actually) with a texturizing shampoo. We like Pacifica Salty Waves Texturizing Shampoo or Bed Head Gimme Grip Texturizing Shampoo. “Let it air-dry and add some loose waves in just a few places with a curling iron,” she says.