✨ Hair colour trends: autumn winter 2026 2027

Every year, as the days get shorter, hair colour shifts before anything else in the wardrobe does. The colour trends for autumn winter 2026 2027 tell a clear story: fewer flat shades, more depth, warmer reflects and a shine that seems to come from inside the hair itself.

Below you will find the shades we will be seeing most over the coming months, the techniques that actually create them in the salon and, above all, how to work out which direction suits you. A trend is only useful when it meets your complexion, your starting base and the time you are willing to spend on upkeep.

💎 The direction of the season: warmth, dimension and light

If we had to sum up autumn winter 2026 2027 in three words, they would be warmth, dimension and shine. This season’s colour is no longer a uniform tint applied from root to tip, but a construction made of tones that melt into one another, reflects that catch the light as the hair moves, and a carefully considered finish.

This matters just as much for dark hair. Depth does not mean flatness, and a brunette can be full of nuance without ever losing its natural look. The same logic applies to blondes, which this year leave flat, single-tone results behind in favour of structure and contrast. You can see how we approach this on our page for hair colour specialists in Milan.

✨ Copper balayage: the shade of the season

Copper is the defining shade of the season. Not the bright, uniform red of a few years ago, but a copper built by hand using the balayage technique, painted strand by strand, blending warm copper and amber into a natural, sun-touched dimension even in December.

It works best of all on medium to dark brown bases, where copper creates genuine contrast with the natural root and delivers the luminous vibrancy that gets lost on lighter bases. It is also one of the most manageable lightening options over time: the regrowth stays soft, with no harsh line, and touch-ups can be spaced out.

During your consultation we decide together how far to take it: from a barely-there bronze copper, for anyone trying the shade for the first time, through to the more saturated versions for those who want copper to be the first thing people notice.

💎 Dimensional blonde: the blonde that looks expensive

The star among blondes this season is dimensional blonde, described in the international press as the luxury blonde of the year. What sets it apart from a traditional blonde is how it is built: instead of one tone spread across the whole head, the colour is worked in layers, creating depth at the roots and light through the lengths.

The result is a blonde that changes with the light and never flattens the features. To be honest about it: it takes more upkeep than a soft balayage, it needs an experienced hand at the lightening stage and it calls for regular appointments to keep the contrast alive. In exchange, it is probably the most elegant blonde you can wear in winter. You can see our work on our page for blondes and balayage in Milan, and, for a warmer direction, on honey blonde.

If you would rather commit to something lighter to maintain, the answer is air-based lightening: extremely soft transitions and a natural root that grows out gracefully. There is more on our Airtouch page.

✨ Deep brunettes: mocha, chocolate and hazelnut

For anyone with a dark base who does not want to lighten, this season offers one of the most beautiful palettes in years. Brunettes turn rich and saturated: mocha, deep and enveloping, softer than black and richer than an ordinary brown, remains the most elegant choice for compact, brilliant colour.

Alongside mocha sit dark chocolate, chestnut and cooler hazelnut tones, which bring winter luminosity without slipping into copper. These are low-maintenance colours, ideal if you want a visible change without living in the salon. We covered this direction in depth in our piece on the expensive brunette.

• 💎 Mocha: deep and even, flattering on both warm and cool undertones.
• ✨ Chocolate: warm and indulgent, beautiful with dark eyes and golden skin.
• 💎 Cool hazelnut: barely lightens, but brightens the face considerably.
• ✨ Chestnut with copper reflects: the perfect bridge towards copper, for a gradual change.

💎 Glass-like shine: the finish that changes everything

The most interesting development this season is not a shade at all, but a finish. Colour is sealed with a clear or tone-on-tone gloss applied over the base, which evens out the reflects and delivers that liquid mirror effect that instantly makes a colour look more precious. It is the same principle behind glass hair.

It is the step most salons skip, and it explains why two technically identical colours can look completely different. A gloss does not change the structure of the colour: it changes its surface, its light and how long it appears fresh. In the salon we build it with the Gloss Absolu Kérastase treatment: on healthy hair the result is visible before you leave the chair.

One necessary caveat: shine is built on healthy hair. If the fibre is porous after the summer, colour absorbs unevenly and the light goes flat. In those cases we start with reconstruction using Résistance Kérastase, or with a smoothing treatment such as nanoplasty, and only then work on the colour. If you are coming back from a holiday, our guide to hair treatments after the sea is a good place to start.

✨ The techniques behind this season’s colour

Behind every trend there is a technique. These are the methods we use to build the colours of autumn winter 2026 2027.

• 💎 Airtouch: strands are separated with a flow of air rather than backcombing, for an extremely soft lift at the root and regrowth with no visible line.
• ✨ Colour melting: tones are blended into one another until the separation lines disappear, following the natural movement of the hair.
• 💎 Freehand balayage: the right technique for copper and for any lightening that needs to stay natural and personalised.
• ✨ Glossing and glazing: the final step that seals the colour, evens out the reflects and delivers the shine of the season.

💎 How to choose the right shade for you

A trend is not a prescription. Before choosing a colour we always look at three things: the undertone of your skin, your starting base and the lifestyle of the person in front of us.

• ✨ Warm undertone and dark eyes: copper, chestnut, mocha and chocolate flatter the complexion immediately.
• 💎 Cool undertone and fair skin: dimensional blondes with neutral reflects and cool hazelnut tones.
• ✨ Little time for salon visits: lightening with a natural root, Airtouch and low-maintenance brunettes.
• 💎 Ready for a visible change: saturated copper or dimensional blonde, with an upkeep plan agreed in advance.

At Alexim Atelier Duomo every colour begins with a proper hair consultation, one client at a time. Before we touch your hair we assess together what is achievable, how long it will take and how many sessions it needs, because a result that still looks beautiful in six months is worth more than one that looks beautiful for a week.

✨ Indicative prices

We believe in transparency and in the quality of the service.

• 💎 Blow-dry from 40 €
• ✨ Cut and blow-dry from 79 €
• 💎 Root touch-up and blow-dry from 88 €
• ✨ Balayage and Airtouch from 200 €

Prices may vary depending on the consultation and how the service is personalised.

💎 Why choose Alexim Atelier Duomo

• 💎 A real, personalised consultation.
• ✨ One client at a time.
• 💎 A bespoke approach, never an industrial one.
• ✨ Elegant results, never excessive.

Here you are not a number, but a person with a style worth bringing out. We are in the heart of Milan, a short walk from the Duomo, and we work every day with both Italian and international clients, English speakers included.

✨ Frequently asked questions

What is the hair colour trend for autumn winter 2026 2027?
Copper in all its variations, created with the balayage technique, alongside dimensional blondes and deep brunettes such as mocha. What they all share is shine.

Does copper suit dark hair?
Yes, and it is in fact the base it works best on. On medium and dark brown hair, copper creates contrast with the natural root and keeps its depth.

How often does this kind of colour need redoing?
It depends on the technique. Lightening with a natural root, such as Airtouch, is refreshed every three to four months, while a dimensional blonde needs closer appointments. A gloss can be renewed between visits.

Can I colour my hair if it was damaged over the summer?
We assess the condition of the fibre first. If the hair is porous the colour absorbs unevenly, so we start with a reconstructive treatment and work on the colour afterwards.

How long does a colour appointment take?
It varies with the service: a root touch-up takes around an hour and a half, while full lightening with a gloss can take several hours. We give you precise timings during the consultation, before we start.

Do you speak English at the salon?
Yes. We work with international clients every day and the consultation can be carried out entirely in English.

How do I book an appointment?
You can message us on WhatsApp or call the salon. We will confirm the first available slot straight away.