Summer damaged hair is something I start seeing a lot more of as we get into August. Between the Oklahoma heat, sun, swimming, vacations and more time outside, your hair may not look or feel quite like it did at the beginning of summer.
This is also about the time many of my clients start telling me they are ready for a change.
They may want more dimension. Their blonde feels too blonde. Their brunette has gotten warmer than they like. Their red has faded. Or sometimes they just know their hair does not feel as soft, shiny or manageable as it did a few months ago.
Before we decide what we want to change for fall, I like to look at what summer has actually done to the hair.
Fall Hair Does Not Automatically Mean Darker Hair
One of the things I love about transitioning hair into fall is that we do not have to make a dramatic change.
Going into fall does not automatically mean making your hair darker.
Sometimes it is about bringing dimension back. Sometimes we soften the color, make it feel richer or introduce a little warmth. Other times, we need to balance warmth that summer has brought out.
The goal is to look at your hair, your skin tone, your lifestyle and where we want your color to go next.
That is why the fall transition can look completely different for a blonde, brunette or redhead.
Blondes May Need Some Dimension Back
If you have spent a lot of time outside this summer, your blonde may be much lighter now than it was a few months ago.
Sometimes that is beautiful, but the hair can also start to lose some of the dimension that gave the color depth and movement.
Going into fall, we may keep you very blonde while adding some softness or dimension back into the color. In other cases, a little more warmth can make the blonde feel richer without making it look dark.
The condition of the hair matters too. If the ends have become dry or more fragile through the summer, I want to address that as part of the plan instead of simply putting more color on the hair.
Brunettes Can Become Warmer Through the Summer
Brunette hair can have a completely different summer problem.
Sun exposure, fading and time outside can start bringing out warmer or brassier tones. A brunette that looked rich and dimensional in the spring may look noticeably different by August.
That does not always mean we need to cover everything with a darker color.
We may simply need to balance some of that unwanted warmth and bring the richness back.
A beautiful brunette should still have movement and dimension. I do not want it to look like one heavy, solid color just because fall is coming.
Reds Often Need Their Richness Restored
Red hair is another color that can change considerably during the summer.
The color can start looking lighter or washed out, and some of the depth that made the red beautiful can disappear.
Fall gives us an opportunity to start warming that color back up and adding richness and depth where it makes sense.
Again, that does not necessarily mean a dramatic transformation. Sometimes a relatively small adjustment can make the entire color look refreshed.
Sometimes the First Step Is Conditioning the Hair
Color is only part of what I am looking at.
By August, I also see hair that has been exposed to months of sun, swimming, heat and styling. It may feel dry, rough, frizzy or simply harder to manage.
If the hair needs conditioning, I would rather address that as part of our fall plan.
Healthy looking color starts with the condition of the hair. Shine, softness and movement can completely change how your existing color looks.
It also gives us a better foundation if you are thinking about a larger color change or extensions going into September and fall.
This Is Why I Like Planning Fall Hair in August
You do not have to wait until the weather feels like fall to start thinking about your fall hair.
August is actually one of my favorite times to start the conversation.
We can look at where your hair is after summer, what needs attention now and where you would like to be over the next several appointments.
Sometimes we can make the change immediately. Sometimes I would rather condition the hair first and gradually introduce the dimension, richness or warmth we want.
It should be a plan for your hair, not simply a fall trend we saw online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I go darker with my hair for fall?
Not necessarily. Fall hair can be about adding richness, dimension, softness or warmth without making your overall color significantly darker.
Why does my blonde look so much lighter after summer?
Sun exposure and spending more time outside can change how blonde and color treated hair looks. Your blonde may also have lost some of the contrast and dimension that was originally created in the salon.
Why does brunette hair get brassy in the summer?
As brunette color fades, underlying warmer tones can become more noticeable. Sun, heat, frequent washing and environmental exposure can all influence how the color looks over time.
Should I condition damaged or dry hair before changing my color?
It depends on the condition of your hair and what you want to do next. If I feel the hair needs attention first, I may recommend improving its condition before we make a larger color change.
Your Fall Hair Should Still Feel Like You
I love fall color, but I do not believe every blonde needs to become darker or every brunette needs to become warmer just because the season changes.
Sometimes the best fall change is simply restoring what summer took away.
A little more dimension. More richness. Better balance. Softer, healthier feeling hair.
We start with where your hair is today and then decide where we want to take it next.
