The Experts Have Spoken—Winter's Top Hair Trends Will Be Drenched in Nostalgia

Maybe it's the temperature dropping or Mariah Carey's iconic voice making it back onto the radio waves and our seasonal playlists, but so far, this year's most notable winter styles, colors, and cuts feel effortless, fresh, and heavily nostalgic in a way we haven't seen in a while. Old Hollywood waves are being pulled into a romantic updo that somehow gives both Marilyn Monroe and Hailey Bieber while cropped pixies are finally embracing texture and modernity without completely giving up the polish. Plus, the bright hair hues are seemingly shifting into colors that are moody, glossy, and warm.

Clearly, winter 2025 is shaping up to be a winner for '90s-era beauty lovers and silver screen siren enthusiasts alike, so it's about time we take a closer look at what this season has in store. To do this, we asked two celebrity hairstylists, Naeemah Lafond and Chaz Dean, to clue us in on what we can expect as we reach the end of this year and kick off a new one and are sharing all the details (plus juicy tips and tricks on how to get each look) below.

Which Colors Will Dominate This Season?

According to our experts, winter 2025 will be all about leaning into the luxe, warm shades the season is so heavily associated with: think moody elegance with a high-shine, polished finish that takes your strands to the next level. "This winter is all about rich, cozy tones. Chocolate browns and those deep, moody reds are going to be everywhere," says Lafond. "Jet black and deep brown pixie cuts are also going to be huge again. Nia Long and Halle Berry photos from the '90s are still being referenced to this day."

Dean agrees, also identifying softer, coppery, buttery blondes as shades to watch for this winter. "I think that just goes with the season because when it’s colder out, you generally want to ‘warm’ things up! We’ve had cooler tones for so many years that there’s been a noticeable shift in the color palette when clients come into the salon," he explains. Dean predicts that the warm color trends we've seen over the last couple of years will continue to hold strong and embrace a low maintenance, natural appearance. "I think it’s great because you don’t need to spend a lot of time and money to make a significant impact," he continues.

Chocolate Brown

What better way to lean into the coziness of the season than by wearing an elegant, deep shade like chocolate brown? We first caught a glance of the transitional hair hue on Hailey Bieber at this year's Academy Museum Gala (a departure from the lightly highlighted look we've seen her in on and off throughout 2025). Not only does her new dark chocolate brown hair exude elegance, but it signals an official shift from its milky counterpart bordering on blonde.

Toasted Blonde

Cozy hues will be on the rise for winter, and while the rich browns, ink blacks, and bright coppers we enjoyed all fall are certainly here to stay, warm blonde will also be on the rise. This season's sunniest shade has been dubbed "toasted blonde": a warm, soft color that adds brightness to your winter tresses. To pull off the color, request a glowing, warm-neutral blonde with a glossy finish from your hairstylist. No wonder actress Margot Robbie wore the hair color at the Chanel Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show.

Natural Highlights

Natural highlights can be achieved by all hair colors play perfectly into the '90s-inspired, full-bodied blowouts and "glass hair" that will be everywhere this winter. Mia Goth attended the Frankenstein red carpet at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival with soft pops of lived-in, light brown at the ends of chocolate brown strands. The addition of romantic bangs and tousled waves helps bring the timeless look together.

Ink Black

Lafond predicts we'll be seeing inky black hair made a reappearance for pixie cuts this winter, but it's also being spotted on long and mid-length strands. Kendall Jenner walked the red carpet of the fifth Annual Academy Museum Gala waring the timeless shade in a butterfly cut to add fluttery layers and softness. The eye-catching shade is perfect for anyone with a soft spot for a little drama.

Butter Blonde

Another color that will be on-demand this season was recently worn by model Elsa Hosk while posing for cameras at the 2025 Baby2Baby Gala. This year, people are gravitating towards a warm, soft blonde (popularly with a honeyed balayage finish) that gives the complexion a candlelit glow durning the darker months. The color also grows out seamlessly between touchups, and looks just as stunning as winter shifts to spring.

Which Styles Will Be Trending?

When it comes to the styles you can expect to see on all the most stylish people (including your favorite fashion-forward celebrities), this winter will be defined by softness and movement. "Style-wise, we’re easing back into glamour, but in a way that feels more lived-in and relatable," explains Lafond. "Think soft roller sets, bouncy blowouts, smooth silk presses, and that effortless 'I put in effort… but I’m not stressing' kind of glam." For example, she anticipates this season's pixie cuts will be all about looking done and slightly disheveled in a chic way. "It's polished, but not precious," she adds.

Last year's ultra-polished styles captured our attention, but experts are predicting a departure as we head into the conclusion of 2025. "Last year’s hair was very 'done' every curl defined, every strand in formation. This year, the energy is softer. More ease, more movement, more personality," Lafond tells us. "It’s still beautiful and elevated, but it feels real. Like you can go to work then dinner and your hair still makes sense. Plus, the nostalgic styles we've spotted all over the runways and red carpets are also here to stay, but with a fresh twist. "Whether it’s soft highlights, Old Hollywood waves, or a modern wolf cut, these looks come and go, but they always return in a new way," she continues.

Dean echoes a similar sentiment, touching on the influence of the film, TV, and music industry and trending public figures. "The cuts and styles trickle in to the mainstream consumer and client psyche. I think everything will continue to cycle in and out within a year or two of its popularity," he says. According to Dean, we can expect to see hair trends typically shift, "to the opposite end," of what was once popular. Keep scrolling to see which styles will be on the rise of this winter (and how to pull them off with some celeb inspiration).

Ghost Waves

Low-maintenance looks have been on our radar since they spiked in popularity last summer, but "ghost waves" (coined by hairstylist Tom Smith), have continued to haunt our FYPs. The trend's name references a styling technique characterized by undetectable bends and a clean middle part to enhance natural texture. Ideal for every hair type, this breezy style has been spotted on celebrities like Laura Harrier and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

Baby Bangs

Full of personality, blunt baby bangs are experiencing another renaissance just in time for you to try in winter 2025. Frequently paired with micro bobs, bixies, and textured pixies, this cut adds dimension to styles while framing the face. The trend was recently worn by The Bear's Ayo Edebiri on the red carpet of the fifth annual Academy Museum Gala. Coupled with a '60s-inspired bun, her bangs took center stage.

Whisper Pixie

Our jaws dropped when we saw model Taylor Hill pose for the cameras for the first time with this cropped cut last year, and we've continued to see the whisper pixie on the rise. Created for Hill by hairstylist Danielle Priano, this short look enhances natural textures while bringing a modern and classic feel. A romantic take on the classic pixie, we're expecting to see more of the whisper pixie come late winter and early spring.

Glass Hair

"Glass Hair "(A.K.A. one of the most popular hair moments of 2025), will be back on top this season. As the name implies, the trend refers to achieving a high-shine, super-sleek effect. The elegant look can be created with the help of a product like the Oribe Mirror Rinse Glass Treatment ($64) that softens, detangles, and delivers a mirror-like finish in one step. We like to think of "Glass Hair" as the sister trend to the "Liquid Hair" championed by actress Dakota Johnson.

Soft Roller Set

The majority of this season's trendiest cuts and styles are nods to nostalgia, so it's no surprise that soft roller sets are also having a moment. For natural textures (2a-4c) this style offers an opportunity to smooth away frizz, boost volume, and play with straight styles without sacrificing the health of your curls and coils. This soft roller set look actress Ryan Destiny wore to attend Miu Miu's Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 show has lived rent-free in our minds.

Textured Wolf Cut

Along with the sleek, effortless styles this winter, you can also expect high-texture wolf cuts to make on appearance as temperatures take a dip. Not only can this cut work for all hair textures, but it's extremely versatile and easy to achieve with lots of layers, amped up volume, and curls galore. For inspiration this winter, we will be looking to everyone from singer Renée Rap to actor and model Indya Moore.

Relaxed Pixie

Jourdan Dunn is the queen of relaxed pixie cuts in our book, and continues to stun with the cut for red carpet appearances like the one above. While it resembles the traditional pixie cut à la Audrey Hepburn Old Hollywood was so enamored with, the modern day interpretation of the style introduces a laid-back edge that can be brought to life by adding ample texture. Dunn's ink black take on the look also leans into the wet hair trend we've seen all year.

Hollywood Updo

The golden era of Hollywood is filled with nonstop inspiration for the most stylish people to draw from today, and we're loving the slightly messy, '60s-inspired updo Olivia Rodrigo just sported while walking the red carpet of the 2025 GQ Men of the Year party at Chateau Marmont. This style has also been spotted on the likes of Hosk and Dakota Fanning, both with long, wispy bangs and a textured finish.

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Meet The Experts

• Naeemah Lafond is a celebrity and editorial hairstylist, Founder and Creative Director of Texture on Set, and Global ambassador for Olaplex and Shark
• Chaz Dean is a celebrity hairstylist and colorist, content creator, and founder of WEN Hair and Body Care
• Maya Thomas is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear

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