This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Winter is when hair color can look a little flat. Fewer sunny days and dry indoor heat fade warm tones and dull shine, and brassy blonde or orange brunette looks more obvious in cool light.
The fix is a richer shade and a glossier finish. Beauty editors at Allure, and Byrdie are pointing to black cherry, inky near-black brunette, chestnut red, rich copper and creamy, buttery blondes. Here are 21 winter hair color ideas, from silver and gray blending to deep brunettes, coppers and soft blondes.
How to Choose Your Winter Hair Color
BRUNETTE
Go Deeper and Glossier
Espresso, chocolate and black cherry look richest with a gloss on top; a cool medium brown gloss keeps the shine at home.
RED & COPPER
Pick the Right Warmth
Brown-based coppers and chestnut reds are softer than bright red; refresh them with a golden copper color-depositing conditioner.
BLONDE
Choose Cool or Creamy
Mushroom blondes stay smoky with a blue anti-brass shampoo, while butter blondes stay soft with a violet toning mask.
SILVER & GRAY
Blend, Don’t Hide
Gray blending and silver balayage soften the line as you grow out; a purple shampoo keeps it bright.
Shop the Key Pieces
- A sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner set to slow fading
- A clear shine gloss for clear shine on any shade
- A cool medium brown gloss for cool brunettes
- A golden copper color-depositing conditioner for coppers and strawberry tones
- A red color-cleansing conditioner for reds and burgundy
- A blue anti-brass shampoo to fight brass in brunettes
- A purple shampoo for silver and blonde
- A heat protectant spray before any hot tool
- A shower filter for hard water
- A mulberry silk pillowcase to protect color-treated hair
1. Black Cherry Brunette
PinLook formula: Dark brunette base + red-violet gloss + long layers
Long layers in a deep brunette base with a red-violet glow make this black cherry shade look rich indoors and almost jewel-toned in the light. It is one of the winter shades Allure and other beauty editors keep naming for 2026.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a dark brunette base with a red-violet gloss rather than a bright red, so the tone stays deep and wearable.
Keep it rich: Red tones fade fastest; wash cool and use a red color-cleansing conditioner between appointments.
Shop the look: a red color-cleansing conditioner, a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner set, a mulberry silk pillowcase
2. Bright Natural Silver + Bold Lip
PinBright natural silver at shoulder length looks fresh and confident here, especially with a bold pink lip and a sparkly sweater. Silver hair is a color in its own right, and winter’s cool light makes it glow.
Best for: Anyone who has grown out her gray and wants it to look intentional, not faded.
Keep it bright: A weekly a purple shampoo cancels yellow, and a clear shine gloss adds the mirror shine you see here.
Shop the look: a purple shampoo, a clear shine gloss, a round blowout brush
It is proof that winter hair color ideas for women over 50 include embracing the silver you already have.
3. Glossy Soft Black
PinLook formula: Soft black base + high-shine gloss + loose waves
This glossy soft black is a shade softer than jet black, with loose waves that catch the light. Allure’s winter 2026 report names deep, inky near-black shades that show hidden tones when the light hits them.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a soft or blue-free black, one level lighter than jet, so it flatters the skin instead of draining it.
Shine boost: Use a soft black color-depositing gloss mask once a week to keep the depth and the glassy finish.
Shop the look: a soft black color-depositing gloss mask, an argan hair oil, a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner set
4. Mushroom Brown
Cool, ashy mushroom brown sits between brunette and dark blonde, and the shoulder-length waves show off its smoky, low-shine tone. It is ideal if warm brunette tends to turn brassy on you.
Ask your colorist: Use the words cool, ashy and neutral-to-cool brown, and bring this photo.
Fight brass: Rinse with a blue anti-brass shampoo once or twice a week to keep orange tones away.
Shop the look: a blue anti-brass shampoo, a cool medium brown gloss, a heat protectant spray
5. Bright Copper Curls on Short Hair
Short, springy curls in a bright copper look playful and joyful here, paired with red lipstick and a green sweater. Copper on short curls is a confident winter color for women who want warmth near the face.
Curl care: Use a curl defining cream on wet hair and dry with a diffuser attachment to keep curls defined without frizz.
Keep the copper: Copper fades fast; refresh it at home with a golden copper color-depositing conditioner.
Shop the look: a golden copper color-depositing conditioner, a curl defining cream, a diffuser attachment
It is one of the most cheerful winter hair color ideas for short hair.
6. Double Espresso Waves
PinLong, voluminous waves in a deep espresso brown look polished and expensive. Double espresso is a dark, glossy brunette with no visible highlights, and it suits nearly every skin tone in winter.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a single-process deep brown with a shine gloss on top; no foils needed.
How to style it: Big waves with a 1.5-inch curling iron show off the depth of a one-tone brunette.
Shop the look: a 1.5-inch curling iron, a heat protectant spray, a cool medium brown gloss
7. Cowboy Copper Ribbons
PinLook formula: Brown base + copper ribbons + soft waves
Bright copper ribbons over a brown base give this cowboy copper shade its earthy, lived-in look. Cowboy copper is a softer, brown-based copper, and colorists told Byrdie it isn’t going anywhere in 2026.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a brown base with copper pieces woven through, not an all-over orange.
Keep it warm: Alternate your shampoo with a golden copper color-depositing conditioner to stop copper going dull.
Shop the look: a golden copper color-depositing conditioner, a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner set, a 1.25-inch curling iron
8. Blonde-to-Silver Gray Blending
PinThis before-and-after shows long hair going from faded blonde to bright, blended silver waves. Blending blonde into gray is a gentle way to stop chasing roots and let your natural color come through.
Ask your colorist: Ask for gray blending with fine lowlights and a silver toner, done over a few visits.
Keep it silver: Use a violet toning mask weekly so silver stays cool and bright.
Shop the look: a violet toning mask, a purple shampoo, an argan hair oil
It is one of the most flattering winter hair color ideas for women over 50 who are ready to go gray.
9. Glossy Chocolate Brown
PinVery long waves in a glossy chocolate brown look rich and warm. Chocolate is the cozy middle ground between espresso and caramel, and its shine is what makes it look healthy.
Shine routine: Seal ends with an argan hair oil and sleep on a mulberry silk pillowcase to keep long hair smooth.
How to style it: Curl big sections away from the face with a 1.5-inch curling iron.
Shop the look: an argan hair oil, a 1.5-inch curling iron, a mulberry silk pillowcase
10. Mushroom Blonde
PinA textured, shoulder-length cut in smoky mushroom blonde is soft, cool and a little undone. This shade is good for dark blondes who want to look lighter without going brassy or bright.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a cool beige-to-ash dark blonde with a smoky toner.
Texture tip: Mist a volume and texture spray through dry hair to bring out the piecey layers.
Shop the look: a volume and texture spray, a violet toning mask, a blue anti-brass shampoo
11. Strawberry Copper + Face-Framing Layers
Look formula: Strawberry copper + face-framing layers
Long, strawberry copper hair with face-framing layers looks bright and natural here. The softer, pinker side of copper is easier to wear than a full red and lifts the complexion in gray winter light.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a strawberry or rose-copper, which sits between copper and strawberry blonde.
Face-framing tip: Bend the front layers away from your face with a hot air brush.
Shop the look: a hot air brush, a golden copper color-depositing conditioner, a heat protectant spray
12. Mulled Wine Burgundy
Long layers in a deep burgundy wine shade feel festive and moody, just right for the holidays. Mulled wine and other red-violet shades are a natural fit for winter wardrobes.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a burgundy with more red than purple if you have warm skin, and more violet if you are cool-toned.
Keep it rich: Wash in cool water and refresh with a red color-cleansing conditioner.
Shop the look: a red color-cleansing conditioner, a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner set, a shower filter
13. Mocha Brown Balayage
PinLong waves with a mocha brown balayage blend lighter and darker brown for a soft, grown-out effect. It is a low-maintenance color because there is no harsh line as it grows.
Best for: Brunettes who want dimension with appointments spaced months apart.
Keep it fresh: Use a cool medium brown gloss at home to tone down brass between visits.
Shop the look: a cool medium brown gloss, a 1-inch curling wand, a heat protectant spray
It is a smart winter hair color for brunettes who want low upkeep.
14. Gray Grow-Out Journey
These side-by-side photos show hair growing out from brown dye to natural gray, with ends blended so the change looks gradual. A grow-out like this takes patience, and smart blending makes the in-between stage easier.
Ask your colorist: Ask for highlights or lowlights that soften the line between your gray roots and old color.
In-between help: A a root cover-up powder hides the line on days you want it soft.
Shop the look: a root cover-up powder, a purple shampoo, a clear shine gloss
It is an honest look at going gray for women over 50.
15. Dirty Blonde Long Bob
PinLook formula: Dirty blonde + long bob + flat-iron waves
A dirty blonde long bob with soft waves looks easy and polished paired with a gray turtleneck. Dirty blonde is a darker, softer blonde, so roots grow in gently.
How to style it: Wave the mid-lengths with a 1-inch flat iron and leave the ends straight for a modern finish.
Keep it soft: Use a violet toning mask every week or two to stop yellow from creeping in.
Shop the look: a 1-inch flat iron, a violet toning mask, a volume and texture spray
16. Lived-In Copper
PinShoulder-length waves in a lived-in copper start deeper at the roots and get brighter toward the ends. The darker root means less upkeep, and the copper still looks bright.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a shadow root with copper balayage, so regrowth blends naturally.
Copper care: Use a shower filter if you have hard water, which can dull copper fast.
Shop the look: a shower filter, a golden copper color-depositing conditioner, a 1.25-inch curling iron
17. Caramel Ribbons on Dark Brunette
PinWarm caramel ribbons over dark brunette waves add brightness without lifting the whole head. The fine ribbons catch the light when the hair moves.
Ask your colorist: Ask for fine caramel ribbons or babylights, not chunky stripes.
Fight brass: Caramel can turn orange; a weekly a blue anti-brass shampoo keeps it golden.
Shop the look: a blue anti-brass shampoo, a 1-inch curling wand, an argan hair oil
18. Soft Bronde Balayage
PinLook formula: Root melt + bronde balayage + loose waves
A darker root melts into soft bronde balayage on long hair, so this color looks lighter than brunette without going fully blonde. Bronde is a natural step if you are moving from dark hair toward blonde.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a root melt with soft bronde balayage and a neutral toner.
How to style it: Loose waves with a 1.25-inch curling iron show off the blend best.
Shop the look: a 1.25-inch curling iron, a heat protectant spray, a violet toning mask
19. Chestnut Red
PinLong chestnut red hair looks rich and warm against autumn trees. Chestnut red is a brown-red that reads natural, so it is one of the easiest red shades to start with.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a medium brown base with a red-copper gloss; it is softer than a bright red.
Keep it rich: Wash two or three times a week with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner set and refresh with a red color-cleansing conditioner.
Shop the look: a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner set, a red color-cleansing conditioner, a wide-tooth comb
20. Silver Balayage
PinLong waves in a smoky silver balayage over a darker root look cool and very modern. Painted silver also helps blend natural gray as it comes in.
Ask your colorist: Ask for silver or icy balayage with a smoky root; expect it to take more than one session.
Keep it icy: Use a violet toning mask weekly and protect lightened hair with a heat protectant spray.
Shop the look: a violet toning mask, a heat protectant spray, a detangling leave-in spray
It is a beautiful winter hair color idea for anyone embracing gray.
21. Butter Blonde
PinLong, voluminous butter blonde hair looks soft and warm outdoors. Butter and vanilla blondes are creamy, golden blondes, and they are a warmer alternative to icy platinum in winter.
Ask your colorist: Ask for a warm, creamy golden blonde, with a little root shadow so it grows out softly.
Volume tip: Blow dry with a round blowout brush and set with jumbo hot rollers for this much body.
Shop the look: a round blowout brush, jumbo hot rollers, an argan hair oil
It is a soft winter blonde that suits warm and neutral skin tones.
A quick note on safety: permanent color and lightener are chemical treatments, so do a patch test before any new dye and leave big changes like going from dark to silver to a professional colorist. Bring two or three of these photos to your appointment, talk about upkeep, and choose the shade that makes you feel like yourself this winter.
