Velvet Espresso Leads Fall Color Charts as Pros Bench Flat Matte and High Contrast

Rich espresso brunette tops the fall request list, and colorists say the shift from bright blond to deep, warm, low-contrast color is the season's defining move. Chris McMillan, whose clients have driven the swing from bleach blond to bronde to deep brunette, puts it plainly: "Right now everyone wants that rich espresso brunette."

The trend line runs from blond toward depth across the board. Rubi Talavera, hairstylist and Matrix brand ambassador, says her clients are asking for reds and coppers — but deeper shades within those families rather than lighter ones. "Neutrals and ash tones are also on the rise, but one thing I will say is that flat, matte permanent tones are out," Talavera says.

McMillan shelves two more categories for the season: severe, high-contrast color and bright blonds. "Softer, richer color is on the rise: bronde (a blonde-brunette hybrid) instead of blonde, less contrast between the roots and the ends, much softer, lived-in transitions," he says. "I always say the trend is hair that's a pretty color, not hair that looks colored."

What are the safest fall transitions?

For blond clients wanting a seasonal change with minimal damage, Talavera recommends strawberry blond, noting its variations lift back out more easily in spring. On the darker side, warmer caramels and darker golden tones are the easiest to step away from. "Always remember that the use of demi-permanent [dye] gives us more leeway to lift back to bright in the summer months," Talavera says.

Going darker carries a technical advantage, too. "What's nice about going darker is that you don't have to use peroxide typically. You can use extremely low-volume peroxide and glosses, which makes going darker a much healthier way to color your hair," McMillan says.

Talavera also anticipates a resurgence of early-2000s hair trends, though no request spikes have materialized yet.

Which shades are dominating the charts?

Cinnamon copper. Chase Kusero, colorist and co-founder of IGK Hair Care, describes the shade as copper mixed with cinnamon, amber and golden maple syrup. "Warm reds continue gaining popularity because they instantly brighten the complexion while still feeling seasonal," Kusero says, adding the shade best complements fair, medium and olive skin tones.

Toasted honey blond. A softer, golden blond that Kusero says to visualize as warm oat milk blended with toasted honey and soft beige ribbons. Renée Valerie, director of R+Co's R+COLOR Education and an R+COLOR Collective member, frames it as a health play: "After years of ultra-cool blondes, people are craving hair that feels healthier and more wearable. It reflects light beautifully, looks less high maintenance as it grows out, and complements the richer textures and colors we naturally gravitate to in fall."

Bronde butter. Leslie Shores, color specialist at Eric Marshall Salon in Nashville, Tennessee, calls it a rich bronde with soft gold and honey, shimmered with beige creamy blond ribbons or balayage (freehand painted lightening). "Butter bronde is a dimensional hair color that blends rich brunette depth with creamy, golden blonde highlights for a soft, low-contrast finish," says Eric Marshall. "It works best on warmer skin tones to enhance their natural glow."

Velvet espresso. The season's leader, and the least-damaging route to a major change, per McMillan's low-volume developer and gloss approach.

Vintage rust. Shores calls it "an artistic, sophisticated red-brown shade that feels incredibly rich and classic" — a multidimensional blend of deep brunette, warm copper and earthy auburn undertones. For formulation, Shores specifies a heavy brunette base between levels five and seven (the professional depth scale, one to ten), balancing grounded brown and reddish brunette with terracotta or amber undertones throughout. "You can add golden copper or soft auburn red highlights to reflect the light," she says, noting the shade suits warm and olive skin tones by enhancing the gold in the skin.

Dark honey brunette. Sitting between auburn, espresso and honey bronde, this gold-flecked dark brown leans deep and moody, and suits warm and neutral skin tones. "Ask your colorist for a deep base color all over demi-permanent or permanent hair color depending on the amount of grey you have. Be sure to incorporate Balayage tones of caramel and amber through just the top or throughout," Shores says.

Almond milk blond. A creamy blond set apart by beige undertones. The almond milk tones underneath hold it neutral — neither warm and golden nor cool with ashier, platinum cast.

With demi-permanent options and low-volume chemistry backing the darker palette, this fall's color business looks built for clients who want the change without the damage — and an easier lift come spring.