Colour trends to know now, from butter blonde to mocha mousse
If you feel like switching up the shade of your strands, now’s the perfect time.
Why? Because we’re heading toward the transitional phase when summer makes way for autumn, and that means the spotlight is on the new season fashion and beauty trends.
What’s trending now? “If we’re talking about blondes, people are shifting into warm, rich, dimensional tones,” says creative director Joe Savine.
For both blondes and brunettes, he says the news season looks fall into one of two camps. “People want really natural and blended – that lived-in look – or they want to create depth and dimension so it makes the colour pop.”
Creative director Julie Harper says that many of her clients want to go a bit darker with their hair as we edge towards autumn, particularly this year. “Hair usually lightens over the summer, especially because we've had such a great summer. Colour trends tend to go darker in the winter because the colour holds better on the hair when you haven't got chlorine or the sun lifting it out of the hair.”
Here, Joe and Julie talk through the hottest hair colour looks and techniques of the moment, explain how we tailor trends in salon, and offer their advice for keeping your colour looking vibrant.
TOP TRENDS FOR 2025
Continuing last year’s trend for naturalised colour, ‘butter blonde’ is the golden hue that every It girl is requesting right now.
“Butter blonde is a warm, flattering shade that adds a touch of luxury,” says Joe. “It’s creamy, but it's not roaring towards the peach and apricot tones.” The look emulates surfer girl hair, Julie says: “It’s what you get when your hair’s been lifted in the sun naturally and it goes a bit more of that creamy.”
Pantone’s Colour of the Year, mocha mousse, has been embraced by colourists, although they might use different terminology to help clients understand what they mean. Julie says it helps to have celebrities to use as a visual reference. “Like Hayley Bieber, you could say her hair is mocha mousse. It's a soft, subtle chocolate brown.”
At the darker end of the spectrum, ‘expensive brunette’ means, Joe says, “shiny, glossy, rich, dimensional brown. It can be cool or warm, as long as it’s got that depth to it. it’s not a block brunette.”
He also loves the way Nicole Kidman has been evolving her auburn hair recently. “She flips between being a pumpkin strawberry blonde and a copper, but it’s always warm enough to suit her skin tone.”
TRENDY TECHNIQUES
Block colour takes a back seat for autumn/winter – it’s all about multi-tonal application techniques that create a natural finish.
“Balayage is still really popular,” says Joe, meaning colour that is painted on freehand. “We do still work with foils, but then we're elevating the look by adding in a root.” The root tap, smudge and melt methods are used, depending on the desired length of the root.
The condition of a client’s hair is also an important factor when deciding on the colour technique. “We assess that in the consultation,” Julie says. “It's about porosity, how long the colour will last if it's very porous, and, for blondes, if the hair is strong enough to be lightened.”
THE PAUL EMONDS APPROACH TO COLOUR
Rather than copying trends literally, at Paul Edmonds London, our colourists always take a customised approach, considering skin tone, eye colour and colour placement to create a flattering finish every time.
“It’s about what suits the client,” says Julie. “For example, with butter blonde, you might not want to have the gold tone right up to the hairline. It's about personalising the hair and the face frame to suit the skin tone.”
How the client styles their hair is a big factor too, Joe explains: “I had a client who showed me pictures of balayage on wavy hair. I had to explain that because she wears her hair straight it wouldn’t look like that.” There’s always a way to adapt a trend, often with the colour placement, to the texture of the hair.
MAINTAINING YOUR COLOUR
To keep your trendy new hue looking rich and vibrant, our colourists recommend a pigmented gloss application around four to six weeks after your initial colour appointment.
“A gloss is brilliant for tints or highlights,” Julie says. “It’s great for blondes if they go brassy over the summer, it takes the yellow out if they're usually more creamy.” She also recommends the Kérastase Fusio Dose or a Davines Naturaltech shot treatments for a quick dose of hydration alongside a blow-dry.
Joe stresses the importance of using high quality products at home. “If you were paying for a luxury gym membership, you wouldn’t go home and eat ultra-processed food – it's exactly the same with your hair. My go-to range for coloured hair is the Oribe Beautiful Color.”
His top treatment product pick for maintaining coloured hair is Shu Uemura Izumi Tonic. “It's a strengthening leave-in product that you have to use for at least 28 days consecutively. You spray it in just before you blow dry. I've seen phenomenal results, especially on my blondes.”
Julie recommends the Shu Uemura Ultimate Reset for blondes and the Shu Uemura Color Lustre range for brunettes, plus Oribe Supershine Mirror Rinse Glass Treatment: “It’s great for hydration and keeping the shine in those dark depths, and for rich vibrant reds too.”
Blending trends
Taking inspiration from the catwalks and red carpet, our colourists are always up to date on the latest colour trends, and they’ve got the skills and experience to adapt any look to suit their clients.
From golden blonde to rich brunette, this season’s chicest shades are multi-tonal and made to last, so all it takes is a top-up gloss treatment and some TLC at home to make sure your new hue goes the distance.
Tempted by butter blonde or mocha mousse? Book a consultation at Paul Edmonds London.
