There’s something about fall that makes us crave warmth—cozy knits, cinnamon-swirled everything, and that golden-hour glow that hits just right. And just like your makeup and wardrobe shift with the season, your hair deserves its own autumnal update. Enter: Toasted Hair, the effortlessly warm, dimensional hair color trend that’s quietly becoming fall’s coolest (and coziest) beauty statement.
Like its makeup counterpart, toasted hair is all about rich, layered tones—think golden chestnut, burnt caramel, soft cinnamon, and velvety brunette. It’s not about high-maintenance highlights or platinum drama. Instead, it’s subtle, touchable, and totally wearable—perfectly designed to complement the season of falling leaves and rising latte counts.
What Exactly Is Toasted Hair?
Imagine your summer highlights got a fall upgrade. Toasted hair is the natural evolution of sun-kissed strands, but with more depth and cozy vibes. It’s a multi-dimensional color technique that blends warm hues to create a soft, glowy finish that looks like it belongs under a knit beanie or paired with a trench coat.
We’re not talking flat, single-tone color here. Toasted Hair is layered, blended, and soft-focused.
Whether you’re a lifelong brunette or a blonde looking to warm things up, toasted hair can be customized to your base color and skin tone. That’s part of what makes it so wearable—it’s all about personalized warmth.
How to Get the Toasted Hair Look
Ready to warm things up? Here's how to bring the toasted hair look to life:
1. Choose Your Base Tone
Whether you’re starting as a blonde, brunette, or redhead, your colorist can build toasted tones into your natural shade. Warm brunettes like chestnut or soft cocoa make a great base, while darker blondes can start with honey or amber.
2. Layer in the Warmth
Ask for lowlights and highlights in warm tones—think golden caramel, toffee, or cinnamon. The key is blending multiple tones for depth, not contrast. You want a seamless melt of warm hues that shimmer in the light.
3. Embrace Dimension
Toasted hair shines when it’s dimensional. A mix of tones catches the light and gives your strands that glowy, reflective finish. Think of it like bronzer for your hair: sculpting and warming in one step.
4. Keep It Lived-In
This isn’t the time for icy blondes or inky blacks. Toasted hair is all about softness. Skip the stark contrasts and opt for a blended, natural finish. Ask your colorist about balayage or glossing techniques that enhance warmth without harsh lines.
Toasted Hair Care Tips
Once your color is dialed in, keep it cozy and vibrant with a few simple tips:
- Use color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo to protect your warm tones from fading too fast.
- Deep condition weekly to keep strands hydrated and shiny—especially if you’ve lifted color.
- Gloss regularly. A toner or gloss every 6-8 weeks helps refresh warmth and maintain that toasted finish.
COLOR WOW Color Security Shampoo
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
Some of the products featured here may contain affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All recommendations are based on personal use, stylist feedback, or product performance.
