I’m not sure if I buy into this or any seasonal beauty rules, but sometimes it’s nice to make your hair a little spookier for Halloween or to match the color of the leaves as they fall from the trees.
With that in mind, here are some ideas for autumn hair colors:
Copper-haired “Mad Men” star Christina Hendricks. Photo: Getty
copper
There’s something inherently witchy about copper hair, and I mean that in the best way. It feels magical and otherworldly, and has a certain power due to its permanent pigmentation and striking appearance.
According to author and occultist Montague Summers, red hair was associated with witches, werewolves, and vampires in the Middle Ages—how cool! Therefore, this is the ideal hair color for the season when everyone is embracing the spirit of the spooky. Red hair is beautiful in any shade, but I love the most vibrant (or, dare I say, supernatural) variety, even going toward an almost fluorescent orange.
Dua Lipa performing at Glastonbury. Photo: PA
Black Cherry
If copper is too intense for you and you have dark hair, you can still add a touch of burgundy, magenta or purple to evoke the energy of dark evenings. “Black cherry” is the name people use for hair, and while goth detractors may worry that it lacks sophistication (I’d argue that goths are the height of sophistication with their daring personalities and confident style), when done well, it can be stunning.
Think of Dua Lipa, Zendaya or Vanessa, the beautiful alter ego of Ursula, the sea witch from The Little MermaidThis looks particularly beautiful on very light or dark skin tones – your hairdresser will be happy to advise you on which tones suit you best.
Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon. Photo: HBO
White blonde
If you can’t say goodbye to blonde hair, and who could blame you, the whitest blondes never go out of style. They suit most skin tones and, again, look like they come from a realm of magical powers, as proven by the dragon-riding Targaryens in the TV series. House of the Dragon.
The challenge with white blonde is the difficult combination of maintenance and upkeep. Roots form quickly (unless your hair is very light, and actually it can work very well with grey hair) and there’s no denying that this level of lightening affects the quality of your hair follicles. Still, it can be worth it.
Olaplex, from €29.50, millies.ie
Invest in strengthening products such as (1) Olaplex (from 29,50 €, millies.ie), (2) Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Treatments (27,50 €, petermark.com) and good purple products (shampoo/conditioner/treatment) to keep it white.
Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Treatment, €27.50, petermark.com
(3) Baby Blonde Shade Variation Mask by Christophe Robin (38 €, www.cultbeauty.com) is great for toning hair while keeping it as soft as possible. Washing your hair less often will not only help keep your hair healthy, but will also reduce the cost of care products.
Lost in translation
Although charcoal may not sound like something you’d want to put on your face, it’s a relatively common ingredient in skincare products thanks to its carbon composition. Charcoal is useful for clearing pores and reducing excess oil as it clings to dirt and grease, making it easier to wash off. Look for it in masks and cleansers for oily skin.
Something old…
Chanel Les Beiges Bronzing Cream, €55, arnotts.ie
Chanel is not necessarily at the forefront of beauty trends when it comes to their range, but they are very good at classics and often produce products that people buy again and again. The brand Les Beiges Tanning Cream may have been given a new name and a slight revamp of the formula a few years ago, but the product itself has been a staple in cosmetic bags for many years. The lightweight and easy-to-blend cream/gel bronzer gives a natural, sun-kissed look thanks to its skin-like finish. It is not glowy, but not matte either, making it an ideal product for day or evening make-up.
Other than that, this product is a pleasure to use. The pot itself is beautiful. There’s just nothing to say about the classic Chanel logo and font. Other than that, each fresh pot presents you with a beautifully swirled product.
The only downsides in my opinion are the price and the limited color palette. For 55 € (via arnotts.ie) for 30 grams, it is not exactly cheap, but it also lasts quite a long time. However, the palette of three shades is simply useless for very light or heavily pigmented skin.
… Something new
Dreamy Creamy Bronzer, €21, bellamianta.com
Bellamianta is an Irish brand that, like so many Irish beauty brands, originally made tanning products. Since then, it has expanded and one of its latest products is the Ibiza collection which includes: Fantastically creamy bronzers (21 €, bellamianta.com).
To be honest, I didn’t expect this product to work for me. I have fair skin and many tanning products are just too orange for me. But shade 01: Light Bronze was so good that I haven’t taken it out of my makeup bag for weeks. This product is everything I want from a cream bronzer – it blends easily, stays on well and looks natural. Its lightweight formula is easy to build up so you can easily apply it until you get the effect you want.
The price is also reasonable. While the amount of product in a jar (23g) is a little smaller than Chanel’s offering, it costs less than half. With four shades available, this range is also more comprehensive, although it definitely has room for improvement and isn’t for everyone.
