There’s something about the season’s change that prompts Black girls everywhere to reach for ginger and auburn-toned tresses. For those on the non-committal end, like myself, you may reach for color through your protective styles such as braids, faux locs, or wigs. In which case, we have a slew of style ideas calling your name. To the bold types that want to dive right in by dyeing their hair a warmer color, we’ve got you covered on healthy ways to keep those colored coils in tact.
Annie Blay, associate beauty editor at Allure, wasted no time in booking a salon appointment to embrace her new seasonal color. Sporting a deep auburn shade, she tells NaturallyCurly, “Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons mainly for the color scheme alone. I usually do red braids around the fall or winter season to match the autumnal vibe but last year I actually took the plunge of dying my own hair after seeing Black girls on Pinterest and Instagram wearing the look.” She opts to style her copper hair in a silk press right out of the salon before enjoying how the color sits on her natural curls.
Blay’s practice in maintaining hair health includes reducing the amount of treatments and investing in quality products: “I only get my hair color treated once a year so I don’t have a whole color-safe routine but I do try to stick to sulfate-free formulas that are nourishing. I use the Madison Reed Pro Boost Treatments, depending on what I feel my hair needs (hydration, strength, shine, etc.). I love knowing that the treatments are also boosting the hair color.”
For those contemplating coloring their own hair for this fall-weather trend, but are unsure where to start, professional stylist and curly hair specialist Sheryl Hambrick of The Curl Suite lists her go-to advice for keeping the integrity of your curls after dying them. First, and most importantly, the health journey starts before you pick up the hair dye.
“I strongly suggest researching a color specialist that will be able to perform the desired color service. Social media is a good way to start to find someone in your area. Look at their pictures, read their client reviews. Schedule a consultation with the colorist to discuss your hair goals,” she explains. She also emphasizes the importance of an experienced color specialist who will be able to determine whether or not the client’s hair is healthy enough to receive color in the first place.
For maintenance post-salon treatment, she recommends, “investing in good quality hair care products. You cannot color your hair and use cheap or low quality products. You will want to use products that will provide the proper moisture-protein balance that your hair will need.
Consulting with your colorist or hair stylist on which products are best for your hair is very important. I love the Innersense Organic Beauty products. I tend to recommend their Hydrating Cream Hair Bath and Color Radiance Daily Conditioner to my clients who have colored hair. Depending on the state of their hair, the colorist may recommend regular at-home use of a bonding treatment (like the K-18 Leave In Molecular Hair Mask or the Olaplex Hair Repair System), a deep conditioning treatment, or a combination of both.
To maintain healthy curls, you want to make sure you are keeping up with your regular maintenance haircuts. I recommend getting your ends cut every 10-12 weeks once it has been colored.”
Above all, she emphasizes that no matter how tempting, “please refrain from coloring your own hair, if possible. Color is not as basic as it may seem and in order to get the healthiest and best color results, working with a professional is always best. If you absolutely cannot see a color specialist, do not use box dyes, as they may contain harsh chemicals that can dry out the hair. Opt for professional color lines like Wella, Joico or Schwarzkopf.”
Whether you get your fall hair fix through protective styles or color-treated curls, we’ve rounded up our favorite ways to wear these warm-toned styles. See below for some pumpkin spice-esque hair inspo to take you into the season.
Classic Ginger Box Braids
Auburn Blow Out
Ginger Coils and Matching Brows
Copper Twists
Ginger Faux Locs
Deep Orange French Curl Braids
Deep Orange Wand Curls
