As nature shows us the way and leaves turn from green to red, the Autumnal season in hair colour always includes a red. The vibe for our upcoming AW24 looks are all about ‘burgundy’ say a posse of colourists from around the country. Let’s see if you agree….
The It colour is burgundy
Citing the shades prevalent in the Gucci, Bottega Veneta Summer shows and then reflected in the likes of Prada and Ferragamo parades for Autumn, the media is all eyes on burgundy. Rich reds of Oxblood, Burgundy and Merlot are making a splash in fashion editors worlds. And some of our favourite colour experts are won over. First to answer our call for comment is the current Colour World Creative Colour Genius 2024: Suzie McGill, Artistic Director at Rainbow Room International
“Reds are always a prominent hair trend for the autumn/winter months, and I’m glad this year we will see darker, richer and more luxe looking red hues, as these add a beautiful lustre to the hair.
“When creating this shade in the salon, I love to use a mix of red and blue shades to create the perfect ‘merlot’ like wine shade. For brunettes, this shade also works well without having to pre-lighten the hair, where they can add a subtle tone of the shade on top of their brunette base to add high shine and give their hair a fun update for the season.
“The beauty of these shades as they work well on all hair lengths and textures – I love pairing these tones on short, cropped cuts to create a more statement finish and pairing these tones with curly and textured hair types, as they’re great for enhancing the curl pattern and adding dimension and depth to the hair.
“To avoid colour fade and keep these hues looking healthy and vibrant, I always recommend that my clients use the Schwarzko0pf Professional Chroma ID Ruby Red Color Mask at home between salon colour appointments. This keeps hair colour looking fresh and vibrant whilst also caring for the hair and keeping it strong and healthy. “
Two in agreement
Stephanie Gamble is our Colour World Genius winner of Creative Colour back in 2023 (Men’s Colour, too).. and works with Ashley Gamble at their salon Ashley Gamble Hair. The pair tell us this:
“We absolutely love this rich burgundy shade we’ve created. It has such depth and dimension – in different lights you can see hints of deep red, purple, and even chocolate brown tones coming through. We think it’s going to be a huge trend this autumn.
“Burgundy is the perfect transition colour as we move into the cooler months. It feels cozy and luxurious, but still has that vibrant pop that makes a statement. We’ve been recommending it to clients who want to warm up their look without going too dark.”
What they say!
More of our accomplished colourists have reported in from around the country. In Scotland, Brian Leo McCallum is owner of ROAR Hair & Beauty Salons
“The burgundy red wine/red velvet cake inspired hue is such a stunning shade and one I am so excited to see become super on trend with hair as we approach autumn/winter. This shade works particularly well on those with medium-dark skin tones, allowing them to really pop and adding warmth to their complexion.
“For those with fairer skin tones, I like to adapt the tone slightly, making it a little lighter or adding some lighter sections/panels particularly around the front of the face to brighten this area and compliment their complexion.
“For those looking to dip their toe in the water with this trend, it also looks great when incorporated into a balayage and paired with a darker root. The shade will add movement into the hair but will also give the client more flexibility, being able to go longer between salon appointments with the addition of the natural and or/darker painted root for a lower maintenance take on the trend.”
Seung Ki Baek is Creative Colour Expert at RUSH Hair in London. Hs finds the burgundy hair colour trend enchanting and sexy. Pairing it with a sleek, blunt bob is his favourite.
“As you can see in the two images above, I have paired the shade with a dark section at the base of the bob, which not only creates beautiful contrast but also really shows off the clean lines and precision within the bob cut too.
“Clients who opt for these shades should use a sulphate free shampoo at home where possible or colour focused shampoo such as the Goldwell Dualsenses Color Brilliance Shampoo to keep the colour vibrant and as long-lasting as possible.“
From the Midlands, hear this from Tracey Ann Smith, Current Fellowship Hairdresser of the Year and Midlands Hairdresser of the Year:
“Burgundy is one of my favourite colour trends, it’s one I have incorporated into my collections throughout the years and one that I enjoy creating both in the salon and creatively. Bold and vibrant burgundy is a huge trend at the moment, however for my look below, I wanted to create a new take on this, a much softer yet striking colour that was as much relatable to the client as it is creatively.
“Working in contrast to a high platinum ice blonde, I wanted to create a statement contrast, working with a much softer burgundy mixing with a rose pink to give a multi dimensional feel. I opted for a darker root, blending the colours into one another to give a real seamless transition throughout. This works particularly well for clients are looking for a lower maintenance colour look. By opting for the darker root, this allows a longer root growth, which appears much more natural.”
Burgundy is it!
We’re all in for the It Colour as burgundy. What do you think? Drop us a DM @colourworlduk