TikTok is obsessed with this auburn hair colour, the biggest trend of autumn 2026
What if the next time you settle into your colourist’s chair, you finally took the plunge and went red? The autumn hair colour of 2026 is shaping up to be all about copper and auburn tones, riding a wave that has set TikTok alight and spread well beyond the borders of social media.
Red hair: the defining colour of the season
For years, neutral blonde reigned supreme in salons. But the landscape is shifting dramatically heading into autumn 2026. This autumn hair colour moment spans a remarkably wide spectrum: natural red, luminous red, copper, cinnamon and deep auburn are all staking their claim as the shades of the moment. The trend isn’t limited to the most intense tones either, as a softer hue is also emerging: “baby copper”, which sits somewhere between Venetian blonde and true copper.
On TikTok, professionals are talking about a full-blown red wave hitting salons in the weeks ahead. This movement is no coincidence: it reflects a desire to stand out, particularly among Gen Z. Tommy Buckett, who has been Sadie Sink’s personal hairstylist since she was 15, puts it plainly: this colour means you don’t look exactly like everyone else on TikTok or dating apps. In other words, going red is also a way of asserting a singular visual identity.
The Sadie Sink effect: driving a global trend
Behind this autumn hair colour that is taking over, there is one central figure: actress Sadie Sink, who came to widespread attention through the Netflix series Stranger Things, which has been streaming since 2017. Her blazing red hair has sparked a growing fascination, to the point of generating a phenomenon dubbed the “Sadie Sink effect” across social media.
The numbers speak for themselves. Google Trends reports a 5,000% increase in searches for “Sadie Sink Hair Color” since 2025. On TikTok, a video by Arizona-based colourist Chrissy Rasmussen titled “I want Sadie Sink’s red hair” has surpassed one million views. This is no fleeting buzz: it is a deep-rooted trend pushing more and more people to make the leap.
Lindsay Lohan is another case in point. After spending time as a blonde, she chose to return to her original colour ahead of the release of the series Count My Lies, with the help of her hairstylist Danielle Priano. This celebrity endorsement only adds to the appeal of this autumn hair colour for the general public.
How to choose the right shade of red for your profile
Not every red tone suits every person. Moran Gallagher, expert colourist and educator at Mizu New York, identifies three core families: pure red, red-orange and violet-red. For her, the colour must complement not only your complexion, but also your personality.
- People with fair, rosy skin tones are best flattered by pure red or red-orange.
- Olive or deeper skin tones tend to work better with pure red or violet-red.
- “Baby copper” sits between Venetian blonde and copper, for a softer result.
- The shade should also reflect your personality, not just your complexion.
- Red covers an enormous spectrum, from cinnamon to deep auburn and everything in between.
Cass Kaeding, co-founder of Crane Los Angeles salon, confirms this underlying shift: younger clients are increasingly gravitating toward reds, coppers, cherry reds and warm auburns, at the expense of classic blonde. This change in preference is as much generational as it is aesthetic.
Upkeep that is often more accessible than bleached blonde
Beyond the visual appeal, this autumn hair colour comes with a practical advantage that shouldn’t be overlooked. According to some experts, red is often easier and less expensive to maintain than bleached blonde. For anyone on the fence about making the change, this concrete argument could be the deciding factor when choosing their next colour.
Because the auburn autumn colour trend is not simply a passing fad driven by a handful of influencers. It responds to a genuine demand: for warmer, more personal shades that are simpler to maintain over time. Enough, perhaps, to convince even the most devoted blonde to reconsider their next appointment at the salon.
