There’s a particular morning every year when you step outside, feel the first real chill, pull on the sweater that’s been waiting in the closet and look in the mirror with new eyes. Suddenly the highlights you loved in July feel a little tired, and the urge to change something, anything, hits hard.
Pinterest just put a name to that feeling. In its first-ever Beauty Trend Report, released Oct. 6, the platform says hair is entering its “autumn playlist era,” with a warmer, moodier palette of mocha, espresso, cherry cola, plum and copper. And the search numbers are anything but subtle. Searches for “mocha balayage hair” are up 949%, “soft copper blonde” is up 845% and “cherry cola brunette hair” is up 788%.
What ties these shades together is contrast without chaos. Pinterest says the look mixes darker bases with lighter ribbons of color, adding dimension without going full fire-engine red. In other words, it’s richer and more lived-in than a one-note dye job, and it’s a lot more forgiving when your roots start to grow out.
That may be exactly why it’s catching on. After a summer of sun, salt water and heat styling, many of us want hair that looks glossy, expensive and a little bit cozy. Here’s what each color looks like, what a colorist has shared about the shift and how to ask for the look without leaving the salon with regrets.
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What Are Mocha, Copper and Cherry Cola Hair Colors?
Mocha is a warm, chocolatey brunette, often painted in with balayage so lighter ribbons melt into a deeper base. Along with “mocha balayage hair,” Pinterest says searches for “chocolate mocha balayage” are up 136% and “espresso mocha balayage” is up 52%, while “lived in brunette hair” is up 121%.
Copper runs from a blonde with a warm, coppery glow to deeper, burnished shades. Alongside “soft copper blonde,” searches for “oxidized copper hair” are up 517%, “rich copper hair dye” is up 454% and “auburn copper hair colour” is up 403%.
Cherry cola is essentially a dark brunette with a red-cherry tint that shows up when the light hits it. Searches for “cherry cola brunette hair” are up 788%, and “plum brunette” is up 51%.
Related: 7 Best Hair Colors After 50 To Brighten and Rejuvenate Your Face, According to a Celebrity Stylist
How to Ask Your Colorist for Copper (and Keep It Looking Fresh)
Copper can feel intimidating if you’ve never gone warm, so a little expert perspective helps. Last fall, celebrity hairstylist and master colorist Michelle Hong, founder of the New York City salon NYC The Team, told Parade that red hair covers a vast range, from light strawberry blonde to deep copper to darker reds. Her advice, shared in Parade‘s story on the red hair trend, still applies to this year’s copper-leaning shades.
Hong said that if you’re starting from blonde, moving to a deeper coppery hue is probably easier than jumping straight to a very deep red. She also offered a reality check on upkeep. Red tones fade faster than most other colors, and she described the commitment as “more of a regimen than a wash-and-go lifestyle.” That’s worth asking about before you book, along with which at-home products your colorist recommends.
When you’re ready to ask, specifics help. Pinterest’s new Beauty Guides feature can take you from inspiration to appointment. Open a hair Pin in Closeup, tap “Get the Guide,” and you’ll get a breakdown of the look, including what to ask for at the salon, similar inspiration and shoppable products. Pinterest says Beauty Guides are currently available to iOS users in the U.S., with broader availability rolling out over the coming weeks.
Or borrow the language people are already searching:
- For mocha: Ask for a chocolate mocha balayage on a brunette base.
- For copper: Ask for a soft copper blonde, or a rich copper if you want more depth.
- For cherry cola: Ask for a cherry cola brunette, a dark base with a red-cherry tint.
Related: Polka Dot Cat-Eye Nails Are Up 1,585% on Pinterest, and They’re the Fall Manicure You Didn’t See Coming
Why Warm, Dimensional Color Feels So Right This Fall
There’s a reason these shades resonate when the days get shorter. They look like the season: coffee shops, orchard fruit, leaves turning at golden hour. They also give you permission to stop chasing perfection. Dimension grows out gracefully, and a gloss can refresh it between visits.
Looking for even more stylish ideas this autumn? This particular color trend pairs perfectly with two other hair trends stylists have been recently raving to Parade about: bob haircuts and “whisper fringe.”
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Sources
- Pinterest Newsroom: Pinterest Beauty Trend Report 2026 (Oct. 6, 2026)
- Michelle Hong, celebrity hairstylist, master colorist and founder of the New York City salon NYC The Team