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This autumn, cherry blonde is pegged to be the next big hair colour to steal the spotlight. How do we know? According to Pinterest’s autumn 2024 trend report, online searches for “cherry blonde” hair colour have increased by a whopping 6,300% ahead of the chilly season. That tells us people are seriously interested in trying the shade for their post-summer hair transformations. And we can’t blame them. The shade looks cool without feeling over the top, and it's still pretty low maintenance.
But what does cherry blonde hair colour actually looks like? “Cherry blonde is a beautiful shade that can vary slightly in depth and saturation, but generally, it’s characterised by a soft red-copper hue with a warmer pink undertone,” says Renée Valerie, a hair colourist, R+Color Collective member and director of R+Color Education. “This colour is more intense and vibrant compared to pastel shades, offering a rich tone with a more unique feel,” she adds.
From vintage blonde to terracopper.
Lauren Mildice, a colourist at Maxine Salon, agrees, defining it as more of a papaya-cherry blend. “Think of when you dilute pure cherry juice with water,” she explains. “It brings out the pink and ginger tones. That means that the pigment won’t be as dark and it will show the underlying colour.”
As for why cherry blonde is trending now? “As summer winds down, many people start leaning toward warmer, autumn-inspired shades for their next colour choice,” says Valerie. “This shift is a wonderful way to add warmth to your complexion as the cooler months approach. With some subtle adjustments, these tones can be tailored to complement any skin tone.”
What’s more, deep reds were everywhere last year, so it’s it only natural that “everyone’s diluting it into a lighter colour” for autumn this time around, according to Lauren. “This colour is on the rise since it has a perfect blend of autumn tones,” Lauren says. “The papaya ginger colour along with the soft blend of pale red, and/or pink, creates a harmonious hair colour,” she explains.
It’s also worth noting that cherry blonde is pretty similar to Pantone’s 2024 colour of the year ‘Peach Fuzz’, so they were clearly very onto something.
One major benefit to cherry pink is how incredibly customisable it is: You can fully lean into the pink (or peach) of it all or opt for more of a ginger-based tint. Or, for a less in-your-face look, blend into your natural shade with balayage, weave just pops of it throughout your hair, or try low-key highlights over a more neutral base like papaya or auburn so that it’s almost natural but not quite.
It also doesn’t hurt that so many celebrities have been rocking cherry blonde-inspired looks as of late: Kate Beckinsale, Georgia May Jagger, Karol G, Lana Condor, Kaia Gerber, Ava Phillippe and Blackpink’s Rosé have all experimented with pink and cherry-inspired hair colours, while Megan Fox and Dua Lipa are known for pioneering cherry tints in particular.
Feeling inspired? I don’t blame you. Here’s how to master your very own cherry blonde hair colour for autumn.
“To achieve the ideal cherry blonde, ask your colourist for a warm, dimensional pinkish-copper hue that’s more intense than something like a soft pastel,” Valerie says. As always, bring photos for inspiration (or feel free to screenshot this story.)
If you prefer an interwoven balayage look or like your cherry leaning a little red or ginger, however, Lauren advises to ask your colourist “for a soft ginger intertwined with a rich rosy colour” and book it as a highlight or balayage service instead.
Alternatively, if you’d rather DIY, you can try a semi-permanent hair colour formula like Bleach London’s The Big Pink Super Cool Colour, which Georgia-Mae Jagger uses, or a semi-permanent colour-depositing mask like Wella’s Color Fresh Mask in Pink.
Either way, when it comes to upkeep, cherry blonde hair colour can be refreshingly low-maintenance when you want it to be. “Highlights are usually touched up every eight to 10 weeks with glosses in between to keep up with the tone, and balayage can be touched up every few months,” says Lauren. “I recommend booking a gloss about every four weeks to maintain the tone.”
However, this depends on your preferred hair colour technique as well as your natural hair colour. If your hair is naturally dark, you should plan to see your colourist every five to seven weeks, says Valerie, adding, “This regular schedule will help maintain the tone and keep your hair looking fresh and polished.”
Don’t let that deter you, though: The beauty of cherry blonde is that it doesn’t have to look perfect. Just look how good Georgia May Jagger’s looks after several months of letting her semipermanent Bleach London x Heaven by Marc Jacobs Pink Dye fade over several months, below.
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To ensure your cherry blonde hair remains low-low maintenance and lasts as long as possible, Renée suggests incorporating R+Co Gemstone Color Shampoo and Conditioner into your routine. “These products are specifically designed to prolong and enhance tones like cherry blonde, helping you maintain the rich colour and shine that make this shade so popular and perfect for fall,” she says.
Shop everything you need to start your cherry blonde journey below.
Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.
This feature originally appeared on GLAMOUR US.