From the change in light to the cold in the air—everything from your wardrobe choices to your makeup preferences changes during the winter season because suddenly the sunny balayage that felt perfect in July looks a little too bright in January. But when it comes to making a change, the answer isn’t always a dramatic overhaul. Sometimes it’s a quiet shift in tone, shine, and placement that can bring your look together for the season ahead.
Why color feels different when the temperature drops
In summer, there’s natural light everywhere. In that environment, hair color looks lighter, shinier, and often a little softer. In winter, everything changes. Indoor lighting and grey skies can exaggerate warmth, make cool tones look flat, and drain dimension from even the best balayage.
Hair is usually drier too—from central heating, hot showers, scarves, and coats. So the change in texture scatters light instead of reflecting it, which is why glossing and care are must-haves for winter.
This is where Redken Shades EQ gloss steps in. It’s the unsung hero of winter color with the ability to refine tone and adds that reflective, high-shine look that feels incredibly luxe when the weather is anything but.
At home, pair your gloss with Acidic Bonding Concentrate for strength and Acidic Color Gloss for shine and vibrancy gives hair the kind of polish that reads beautifully even under the harshest overhead lighting.
If you’re blonde…
Winter is the season to decide what kind of blonde you really want to be.
Some lean into cooler, pearlier tones. Others soften their blonde into creamier, neutral shades that are endlessly flattering on winter skin. A few go slightly deeper at the root—think a gentle shadow or smudge—so regrowth feels intentional, not accidental.
In the chair, ask for:
- Brightness where it counts: around the face, through the mid-lengths.
- A softened root for contrast and ease of maintenance.
- A custom Shades EQ gloss to pull everything together and take the edge off any leftover summer brass.
At home, blondes benefit hugely from a consistent shine routine. Acidic Color Gloss keeps hair looking illuminated rather than chalky, while regular use of Acidic Bonding Concentrate supports hair that has been lightened, lifted, and styled all year long.
If you’re brunette…
Brunettes are the season’s secret weapon. Rich espresso, glossy chocolate, barely-there caramel—this is the palette that pairs perfectly with oversized coats and red lipstick.
However, the biggest winter complaint from brunettes is brass. Those previously subtle warm tones can suddenly feel loud and out of place when the sun disappears. Instead of fighting warmth completely, think in terms of refinement. Do you want your brunette to lean neutral-cool and expensive? Or do you want to lean into mocha and coffee tones that feel cozy and dimensional?
In the chair, ask for:
Regardless of your choice, a gloss is your BFF here. A Shades EQ service can quietly neutralize the warmth you don’t want while preserving the depth and richness that makes brunette hair so striking. If you also need gray coverage, a permanent color line like Color Gels Oils can be used for coverage and longevity at the root, and paired with a Shades EQ gloss through the mids and ends for a high shine finish from root to tip.
At home between appointments, brunettes benefit from the same combination: bond care for strength, shine care for light reflection. A healthy brunette moves; it doesn’t sit there like a block of color.
If you’re red, copper, or somewhere in between
Winter belongs to the redheads. From burnished coppers to deep auburns, these tones come alive against knitwear and wool coats.
The challenge with red is that it loves to fade. In winter, when hair is drier and there’s less natural light, that fade can feel more obvious. The solution isn’t necessarily “more color,” but smarter maintenance.
Quick, regular salon appointments for Shades EQ glosses help refine tone—ie. Enhance it to be more copper, more cinnamon, or more mulled-wine as the season evolves. This keeps the color multidimensional and flattering throughout the entire season. At home, combining Acidic Bonding Concentrate with Acidic Color Gloss shine-focused care helps the hair itself feel smooth and supported, which makes the tone look richer.
If you’re gray, silver, or blending
There’s something incredibly modern about winter silver. But like all lighter tones, gray hair can tend to be dry and lose its luster if it’s not properly cared for. This is where a mix of strategy and softness comes in.
Some choose full coverage with permanent color. Others prefer blending—softening the contrast between gray and natural base with highlights, lowlights, and Shades EQ to tie it all together. And many now choose to enhance their natural silver with glossing services designed to refine tone and boost shine without hiding the gray at all.
In every case, what makes gray hair look chic rather than tired is condition. A strengthening routine like Acidic Bonding Concentrate, combined with regular glossing, keeps silver hair fluid, touchable, and reflective.
Winter Color Rituals—The Takeaways
- No matter your shade, certain winter habits change everything:
- Lower the temperature slightly in the shower.
- Wrap hair in a towel instead of rubbing.
- Treat heat protection as non-negotiable.
- Aim to improve not just your color but the overall health of your hair
