Bored of your hair? 7 chic new winter hair trends that work for real women

This is the best time of year to update your hair – just ahead of party season. But where do you start? Often so much of the hair inspiration you see on Instagram only works on Instagram – it looks amazing in photos but it’s not exactly very achievable or practical. Certainly not on those mornings when you’ve got three minutes flat to get out of the house. 

So I’ve collated the best new winter hair trends that work for real women with real hair – and that are definitely not AI-generated. Plus I’ve asked hair experts for insight on the best looks for different hair types, plus exactly what you need to ask for in the salon. 

We’re talking ‘cosy’ blonde tones and decadent caramel brunette shades, and the latest take on the bob – fyi, it’s got to be ‘full’.  And layers might be something you thought you’d left in the 1990s but they’re returning – however, they must be discreet. So not ‘Rachel from Friends’.

Trends are good for inspiration but it’s always best to opt for the one that works with your hair, not against it. As hairdresser Adam Reed puts it: “The best winter hair trend is going to be hair that feels like an elevated version of you, not hair that looks like you’re following a trend.”

7 winter hair trends to show your hairdresser

Teddy Bronde

During a recent appearance in Scotland, the Princess of Wales had noticeably lighter, warm honey-brown tones that gave her signature look a fresh and unexpected softer twist. Living Proof stylist ambassador, Hollie Rose Clarke calls it ‘Teddy Bear Bronde’, with “soft roots and beautiful hints of champagne and buttercream”. It’s the ultimate blend of warmth and luxury, wrapping strands in honeyed hues that flatter every skin tone. For finer, midlife hair, that tonal variation can create the impression of fullness.

Image: Instagram @bernardohairco, founder of BCO London Salon

What to ask for: A softened root and subtle warmth through the lengths. Brunettes can try “caramel ribbons”, where tones of caramel are sliced through the hair to look like they’re wrapping around sections. This is a great option for those who favour a low-maintenance colour look, Clarke says, as it grows out beautifully naturally. 

Shapely Bob

The bob has had more rebrands than Katie Price, but this season’s versions have a common denominator: shape. Flipped bobs and collarbone-grazing cuts were spotted at recent London Fashion Week shows. For finer hair, a soft blunt lob (a slightly longer bob) with a blunt base builds weight where you need it most, giving the illusion of fuller, healthier hair.

Image: Instagram @rebekahforecast

What to ask for: You need to choose a length that suits your texture and styling habits and you need the “corners” – the part of your hair that fills the gap between the bottom of your ear and the top of your shoulders – to be full. Celebrity stylist Rebekah Forecast created Naomi Watt’s recent bob (above). The key, she says, was to keep her hair feeling fresh, light, and totally modern: “I wanted the style to have a natural, effortless texture with beautiful movement and separation, rather than feeling overly done.” She used a little 98 Beauty The Gloss Miracle Oil, £30 to define the texture, add movement and bring out the individual pieces without weighing the hair down. “The hair had this beautiful, reflective quality that caught and bounced back the camera flashes on the red carpet.”

Invisible Layers

We’re seeing a return to ’90s-inspired, face-framing layers, but much softer and more modern than the traditional layered look. “Think movement around the cheekbones and jaw rather than lots of choppy layers throughout the hair,” says Reed. They can draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones without removing too much bulk from the rest of the hair. “The trick is being really considered about where you take weight from. You don’t want to layer the hair simply for the sake of it.” The appeal of this invisible layering technique for finer hair is movement without wispy ends.

Image: Instagram @bernardohairco, founder of BCO London Salon

What to ask for: Discreet layers that are almost indeterminable and keep a fullness and blockiness around the bottom, rather than looking to wispy or, shock horror, like a mullet. At home, use Authentic Beauty Concept Airy Texture Spray, £30 for lightweight movement. Think of it as a can of positive encouragement for your natural texture.

Butterfly Bangs

For a new-season update that doesn’t leave six inches on the salon floor, turn your attention to the front of your hair. But forget about Claudia Winkleman’s block fringe, the winter fringe to get is wispy ‘butterfly bangs’. They are softly parted down the middle and just skim the brows in length. “They are a great way to tap into the layering trend without committing to a dramatic haircut. “They instantly change the way the hair frames the face and can be incredibly flattering,” explains Reed. Soft curtain fringes can make a thinning hairline or sparse temples less noticeable.

Image: Hair by OSMO

What to ask for: Butterfly bangs need to be cut in the way your hair naturally falls. Get your stylist to show you how to blow-dry them at home, as depending on your hair type, they may need a quick style refresh in the mornings.

Loose Shine

The other big new season update is the finish on your hair. Excellent news if you’re emotionally attached to your haircut and fancy a minor changes rather than a major overhaul. We usually associate shine with straight, flat surfaces (mainly because it’s easier to reflect light off a flat surface), but the trend right now is getting hair with movement and texture to also look glossy. “It’s a looser, polished finish, as opposed to rigid and ‘done’,” says Clarke. It’s the trend that doesn’t discriminate against hair colour, length or texture, as a reflective finish looks expensive on all. But it does put a lot of emphasis on condition, as that is the key driver to achieving shine, especially when you’re not straightening it.

Image: Hair by OSMO

What to ask for: Ask your colourist if a clear or tonal gloss (applied at the backwash and then rinsed off) would suit, as they can be a great option for hair that’s looking dull. At home, try Living Proof Perfect hair Day High Shine Gloss, £32 to tame flyaways and boost gloss. Be mindful of not over-applying any product on finer hair, as the aim is polish with movement, and too much product can weigh fine hair down and stop it in its tracks. 

Cottagecore Waves

Somewhere between a windswept country walk and a ’90s leading lady from a rom-com lies this gorgeous, tousled texture. The reference? Nicole Kidman’s tumbling lengths in Practical Magic 2. Happily, you don’t need witchcraft to recreate them. “The shape is romantic, but the finish is deliberately imperfect,” says Reed. Think soft volume at the crown, movement through the lengths, and loose pieces around the face. For hair that’s finer than it once was, the appeal is fullness without an overly set finish.

Image: Duck & Dry

What to ask for: If you need extra length or volume, Remi Cachet’s Injection Tape extensions can add subtle dimension to enhance the wave pattern. When styling at home, inconsistency is key. “Don’t try to make every wave identical,” he says. “The irregularity is what gives this look its softness and romance.” The trick is to alternate the direction you wrap hair around the tong or curling wand, switching between wrapping towards your face and then away. 

Midway Blonde

Not ready to go brunette, but finding your summer blonde a bit much against a cosy knit? Midway blonde is, as the name suggests, the gentler middle ground. “It offers a softer alternative to bright blonde,” says Christel Barron-Hough, founder of STIL Salon, who’s seeing autumn’s blonde palette become warmer and more buttery. The appeal is its flexibility: “It can be tailored to suit any complexion, from neutral and cool through to warmer tones.” There’s no requirement to go golden if cooler shades are more your thing. For finer, mid-life hair, the contrast between tones can also help create the impression of depth.

Image: Instagram @stil.salon. Hair by @issiechurcher and @genitoh

What to ask for: Get your colourist to work in a combination of highlights and lowlights, rather than an all-over shift to a darker colour. “It’s key to work with high and low tones to create contrast,” says Barron-Hough. Enough brightness to feel blonde, with a little less ‘summer holiday’ on the head.