Spicy Copper Hair Is Turning Up the Heat This Fall

Spicy copper hair is fall’s hottest shade—literally. We’ve already been seeing hints of red throughout 2026—think shades like baby copper and teddy bear brown—but autumn is your chance to go all in. If you’ve been looking for a new way to go red this season, spicy copper might just be the upgrade you need.Some version of copper hair tends to be a favorite every fall: As we transition to cozier, cooler months, people lean into warmer, richer shades—and this year is no different. Beauty and wellness booking platform Fresha even reports that searches for spicy copper hair color are up 300 percent over the last three months. Simply put, as autumn rolls in, “people want a refresh with warm and golden tones,” says hairstylist Ashley Ruiz, and that’s exactly what spicy copper is delivering. Ahead, everything to know about the trending fall hair color, plus plenty of inspo pics to take to your next salon appointment.Spicy copper hair “has warm copper, cinnamon and amber tones,” says hairstylist Sierra Adam. Think of it as a deeper and slightly bolder take on traditional copper that equally balances brunette and red. “It has just enough warmth to make the hair look rich, shiny and dimensional,” Adam explains. Consider it the hair color equivalent of a PSL—with an edge.Feeling nervous about going red? Don’t be: “Copper is the new brunette,” says Ruiz. “It can have subtle or dramatic hues,” she adds, meaning you can ease into the shade if it’s your first time or get really fiery. Spicy copper specifically is a great gateway into the redhead world because it doesn’t require going full-on crimson. The mix of warm copper, golden, and reddish tones creates plenty of impact while still feeling super dimensional and wearable. The color can create a noticeable change without making it feel like you’ve totally abandoned your comfort zone.How to get and maintain spicy copper hairHere’s the good news: Spicy copper is a great option for someone who doesn’t have a ton of time to spend in the chair. “It’s faster than a highlight appointment,” says Ruiz. Wanna try spicy copper hair but not exactly sure what to ask for? Gotcha covered.For naturally lighter hair (think blondes, strawberry blondes, brondes), getting the right copper-meets-brunette tone means asking your colorist for light golden copper or apricot shades, says colorist Ashley Rose. This means you’ll get soft copper, caramel, and golden tones for a toasted, autumnal feel. “Blonde hair is a great canvas for softer, more translucent reds rather than saturated, vivid shades,” Rose says. Translation: The blonde-to-spicy-copper pipeline is super doable. “For blondes, it’s a really fun way to make a bigger change for fall without feeling like a totally different person,” adds Adam. Remember Ruiz pointing out that how quick this appointment can be? That’s partially because “some clients could even get away with just a [copper] gloss if they don’t want to change their natural base color.” Rose recommends asking your colorist for options like Danger Jones Gloss Toners 9-4 and 8-34, which deliver “a soft, natural copper that complements blonde without feeling too bold,” she says.If you’re starting with brunette strands, you can ask for shades of auburn, mahogany, cherry cola, and cowboy copper, recommends Rose. “These emphasize the richness red brings to darker hair, and I think we’ll see a lot of deep, rich reds this fall,” she says. Spicy copper is a perfect choice “for brunettes who want a change but don’t necessarily want to go darker,” notes Adam.Red hair is notoriously high maintenance, but spicy copper? Not so much. “I would consider the color low-maintenance,” says Ruiz, adding that all you need is a base and a gloss to maintain. She recommends coming in every six to eight weeks to touch up new growth, based on how fast your hair grows out.Spicy copper hair inspirationThe key to getting the perfect spicy copper hair color (or any hair color) is to share some inspo pics with your colorist. It’s a little more reliable than trying to describe it, especially since there are lots of ways to interpret this particular type of red. Here, some photos to screenshot before your next color appointment.@tommy_buckett@kelceyjordynn@rosieslocksTheStewartofNY//Getty Images@mararoszakBLANCA CRUZ//Getty Images@balayagegod​Meet the expertsAshley Rose is a Danger Jones Certified Expert and a red and copper hair color specialist at Hera the Salon in San Diego.Ashley Ruiz is a celebrity hairstylist at Flore Los Angeles. She’s worked with clients like Selena Gomez, Renee Rapp, and Ashley Park.Sierra Adam is a Danger Jones Lead Education Ambassador, hairstylist, and the owner of Salon 650 in San Diego.Why trust Cosmopolitan?Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmo. She’s written about all things hair, from cool hair color trends to the best haircuts worth trying.Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan and was previously the beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention.