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The Most Flattering Blonde Trend For Autumn
If there’s one hair colour trend to know for autumn/winter 2026, it’s nude blonde. Soft, understated and designed to work with – rather than against – your natural colouring, it’s a more wearable way to go blonde as we head into the new season.
“The defining trend for autumn/winter is hair colour that mirrors your natural skin tone,” explains our colourist Nicole Kahlani. “It’s become so popular because it creates a really flattering, harmonious result. If the colour works with your complexion, you know it’s going to suit you.”
Rather than relying on lots of contrast or obvious highlights, nude blonde is about keeping dimension minimal and choosing tones that sit naturally alongside the skin. Think less icy platinum, more expensive-looking honey, caramel, beige and muted blonde.
For olive and deeper skin tones, Kahlani recommends looking to the warm honey blondes of the ’90s and early 2000s, as worn by Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Tyra Banks, Ciara and more recently PinkPantheress. Rich fudge, caramel and honey tones bring warmth to the complexion while creating a fresh, youthful finish.
They can also be a gentler option for textured hair than taking the colour ultra-light. “Choosing honey shades rather than going ultra-platinum can help maintain the integrity of textured hair and protect the natural curl pattern,” says Kahlani.
On fairer complexions, the trend becomes softer and more muted. Think creamy beige, biscuit and barely-there blonde tones, as seen on Mia Goth and Mowalola, as well as on the Miu Miu runway. The effect is deliberately stripped back: a neutral wash of colour that enhances what’s already there rather than overpowering it.
The key to getting nude blonde right? Don’t simply take a picture of your favourite shade to the salon and expect an exact replica. Your colourist should tailor the tone to your skin, natural hair colour and texture.
“It’s all about subtlety and keeping the colour placement natural,” says Kahlani. “The idea is to enhance the individual.” In other words, the best nude blonde shouldn’t scream freshly coloured hair – it should simply look like the blonde you were always supposed to have.
