Pumpkin Spice Hair Is Trending—This Is What It Looks Like

It’s only fitting that pumpkin spice is most prominent during the Halloween season, especially since it lurks around and pops up everywhere like a villain in a horror film. Pumpkin spice can be found virtually anywhere come fall: candles, hand soaps, candy, and, of course, the OG Starbucks drink. If it's possible to pumpkin spice it, chances are the fall-ready version already exists.

But while we’d be lying if we said that this obsession didn’t feel a little tired, there’s a PSL-inspired hair trend sweeping Instagram that we can actually get behind. The warm, spicy tones of this color (and its sister seasonal color, gingersnap) create a classic look that feels particularly fresh—no matter the weather outside.

Pumpkin Spice Hair Color

Choosing A Shade: Meredith Connors, stylist and head of education at ColorDesign, notes that despite the very seasonal moniker, this color has a timeless feel. “Undertones of copper, gold, and warm browns are available in all different levels of darkness or lightness, allowing pumpkin spice hair to appeal to everyone any time of year,” she says.

Maintenance Level: High. These tones fade fastest, so it’s important to show yours some TLC with a color-saving shampoo. (Davines’s Alchemic Red ($27) is top-notch.)

Goes Great With: “It’s the perfect transitional color for a brunette," Connors says. "A little bit of warmth can create the appearance of natural highlights.”

Similar Shades: Gingersnap, cinnamon, auburn, copper

Price: $10-$30 for store-bought dye, $50-$200 at the salon

Even if the words pumpkin spice are cause for hesitation, give this look a gander with 14 of our favorite examples of pumpkin spice hair, below. (Psst: It’s even model-approved.)

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True Pumpkin

Julianne Hough poses with a pumpkin spice-toned red hair color — @juleshough

This burnt coppery shade is true pumpkin spice, and we can feel the joy this color refresh brought to the usually blonde Julianne Hough.

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Sleek Burnt Orange

Woman with short pumpkin spice hair and an orange French manicure — @greg_gilmore

This deeper burnt orange shade of pumpkin is great for darker complexions. To keep a bold shade going strong, use a preserving conditioner like Overtone's Orange for Brown Hair Daily Conditioner ($18). It contains hydrating ingredients like coconut oil and comes in several shades to suit your variation of pumpkin.

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Highlighted Bob

Side view of brunette bob with pumpkin spice burnt orange highlights — @ohlucyy

The lighter streaks and wavy texture of this choppy bob call to mind the foam on top of your daily PSL fix.

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Brunette Spice

Woman with brunette natural curls and subtle pumpkin spice-toned highlights — @schwartzkopfusa

A less in-your-face take on pumpkin spice, this gorgeous 'do is mostly brunette with just a hint of orange and even a bit of purple to add dimension. Who thought purple and red hair could be so subtle?

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Burnt Orange

Emma Stone with a copper colored bob hairstyle and red lipstick — Getty Images

Emma Stone has been every shade of red under the sun, but this take on pumpkin spice from the 2015 Golden Globes has to be one of our favorites. Face-framing highlights lighten up the burnt orange base color and complement her peaches-and-cream complexion and raspberry lipstick.

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Peachy Pumpkin

Side view of pumpkin spice-toned naturally curly hair — @curlycolormagic

For a beachy, summery take on pumpkin, consider adding some almost-blonde highlights to your look. It gives the hair a fresh-off-the-sand vibe, and the contrast really enhances the shape of curls.

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Dark Roots

Woman with voluminous natural curls with pumpkin spice color — @wellanordic

Rich red roots fade into sun-washed pumpkin for a unique, dimensional take on burnt orange. The differing tones add a whole lot of depth and create the appearance of even more length.

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Autumnal Barrel Curls

This rich shade of auburn pairs perfectly with glossy lips, thick lashes, and sculpted brows.

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Angular Cut

Woman with angled pumpkin spice colored long bob haircut with bangs — @wellahair.gr

We love how the sharp lines of this asymmetrical cut look paired with a rich brownish-red color and heavy eyeliner. This is artful dishevelment at its finest.

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Pumpkin Spirals

Back view of natural shoulder-length curls with pumpkin spice highlights — @boxbeautyco

These pumpkin-tinged ends prove that naturally curly hair can rock this bold shade. Keep color-treated spirals in great shape by using a moisturizing hair mask once or twice a week. Rahua's Color Full Hair Mask ($62) is a nice option.

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Ombré

Woman with long, wavy brunette hair with pumpkin spice balayage — @matrix

A touch of pumpkin spice balayage ombré adds interest to otherwise fairly natural reddish brunette.

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Scrunched Bob

Irene Kim wears a pumpkin spice-toned strawberry blonde bob hairstyle — Getty Images

A pinkier take on the trend gives life to a structured shoulder-length bob with scrunched waves. This color is a mix between pumpkin and orange creamsicle that can transcend the seasons.

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Balayage

The balayage highlighting technique is a great fit for pumpkin spice hair. Have your stylist give you a darker base shade and brighter highlights for the perfect blend.

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