“There’s something about September that always inspires a glow-up in me,” says Hannah Connelly, a 23-year-old student living in London. “I think it must be that ‘back to school’ feeling which makes me want a change of appearance.”
Connelly recently had her hair dyed with balayage. She’s naturally a brunette, but the colour goes up to her roots, so she says she’s “essentially blonde now”.
Asking the hairdresser to go a little lighter tends to be something people do ahead of summer for that sun-kissed look, but increasingly we’re bucking the trend and getting a bit of brightness ahead of the darker months.
Take Kate Middleton, for example. We’ve long been a fan of Kate’s beautiful bouncy blow drys, but last Thursday, while accompanying Princess Charlotte and Prince George back to school, she debuted a whole new look: blonder, brighter and just as bouncy. Into it.
We spoke to HuffPost writers and readers who have also decided to go lighter as the days darken in the autumn months.
Hannah Connelly, HuffPost reader and student
“I rarely get my hair coloured. I’ve had it done a couple of times before, but it has always grown out quite fast and I’ve never maintained it. There’s something about September that always inspires a glow-up in me, though. I think it must be that ‘back to school’ feeling which makes me want a change of appearance – that’s definitely why I decided to do it again now,” she says.
“I love autumn and that feeling of crispness underfoot etc, but I also think having a bit of blonde makes me feel a bit more summery for a bit longer too.
“I got balayage done, but quite far up to the roots so I’m essentially blonde now. Naturally, I’m brunette – and its shoulder length. I had a fringe cut in almost a year ago which was my last big hair change.”
Gynelle Leon, HuffPost reader and founder of Prick London
“I wanted to change up my look and add some lighter colour for autumn, but last time I dyed root to tip it ruined the texture and health of my hair. So this time I decided to go for some Chunky Marley twist extensions instead.
“Braids are a great protective style for the autumn and, by using ombré hair, my hair stylist @faff_hair was able to add colour and length. The result? These Afro bohemian braids of dreams.”
Jess Pitocchi, HuffPost staff
“I’d been um-ing and ah-ing for ages about whether to go lighter. Having spent years neglecting my naturally curly hair with relentless straightening and over-dyeing (from black all the way up to blonde), I now embrace it and look after it, so didn’t want to take a step back with harsh bleaching – but at the same time, I fancied a change.
“I recently found a curly-specific salon, which is pricey but worth it knowing I don’t have to stress about being attacked with a brush and blow dry. After finally getting an appointment (clearly us curlies have been hurt in the past), I explained to the stylist what I wanted: a noticeable colour lift from mid-brown that still looked natural(ish) and that, crucially, was easy to maintain. A half-head of highlights and a few random balayage-style bits on the ends later, I am very pleased with the result and the compliments that have been coming with it. Being lighter in autumn feels like I’m still channeling summer (read: in denial) even as it starts to get colder, which is something I can get on board with.”
Zina Alfa, HuffPost reader and video producer
“I’ve always had dark hair and I don’t think that it suits me so I wanted to go lighter for the autumn to match the leaves. I bought some Jerome Russell BB blonde, as it works really well on dark hair. I tried to dip dye ombre with brown roots that get blonder towards the tips.
“I’ve done my colour before but it had been quite a long time since I’d done it myself. Usually I’d go to a salon or a hairdresser would come to my house to do it. I needed to do it before I went on holiday.
“It took me a few hours. I left the bottom in for about an hour and then gradually moved my way to the top - the highest point in my hair was in for about half an hour. It is blonde at the bottom and gradually moves from honey to a light brown.”
Natasha Hinde, HuffPost staff
“I’m one of those people who spends an awful lot of time deliberating things rather than taking action, which means that rather than getting my hair lightened at the start of summer (when I intended to), I did it right at the end instead. While it wasn’t a conscious decision to have streaks of caramel added into my hair for autumn, it’s worked out pretty well – there’s something quite nice about a change for September (back to school vibes and all that), and balayage seemed like a nice way to make that change without doing anything too drastic.
“My advice for anyone making the change is to go for a warmer hue (think caramels and pumpkin spice lattes for true autumn vibes) and to take a picture with you so your stylist knows exactly what kind of colour you’re after. I went on Pinterest, saved a couple of snaps to my library and it saved a lot of time on the day.”
Nancy Groves, HuffPost staff
“Being a brunette has been central to my identify for three and a half decades – and that’s not about to change. Or not entirely. This year, I’ve coloured my hair for the first time ever. And yes, I’ve gone lighter. Before this (literal) betrayal of my roots, I’d spent months admiring my boss’s gorgeously graduated cut and colour; scrolled endless pics of balayage bobs on Pinterest; and – I won’t lie here – fretted as the silver patch in my own hair grew more visible by the day.
S”o, braving the salon, I opted for balayage, too, which allowed me to stay brunette on top but with honey-blonde tone blended down to my shoulders. The results are subtle enough when I wear my hair down and more visible when I scrag it up in top of my head. Sun in a bun – just what I need for autumn.”