Dark velvet hair is the moody winter colour you need to try

While food and drinks have headlined the major beauty trends recently (latte makeup, strawberry girl, mocha nails), textures are taking us into winter. And dark velvet hair is here to pick up where latte left off. We already saw cashmere blonde pick up a fan base last year, but for 2023 velvet is most definitely ruling the beauty trends.

Velvet makeup has picked up a fan base that includes Selena Gomez, Tina Kunakey and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. And velvet nails is limbering up to topple glazed donut nails from the top spot after a year plus in first place. The mani trades a chrome sheen for a soft sparkle, plus it offers extra nuzzly dimension that feels sumptuous, luxurious and perfect for the colder seasons.

The same goes for our hair colours. With the sun setting earlier and less daylight to enjoy, we are embracing the natural shift to moodier hues, like mocha, cherry cola and red velvet. In fact, we're loving black velvet and navy velvet for that matter, too. For autumn-winter, we're seeing lots of hair shades come through that are classic velvet shades. And you can play them up with the finish of your hair, too. Semi-matte strands pair perfectly in contrast to the ultra glossy, liquid shine we've been seeing lots of, so mattifying hairsprays and texturisers can add extra semi-soft dimension.

Here's how to wear the dark velvet hair trend…

Dark velvet red

We didn't think red hair could get any hotter but for winter, dark red velvet hair is showing us otherwise. Like most hair colours, there is a seasonal shift for ginger strands: “The natural progression goes from soft coppers into stronger coppers [for the autumn]; then into punchier reds [for winter] — and we are already seeing this clear direction,” says trend forecaster and top London hair stylist, Tom Smith. So, we’re seeing richer velvet reds, instead of the ambery coppers of earlier seasons.

If you aren’t a natural redhead and are thinking ahead to the grow-out phase, worry not. LA hair stylist, Dhairius Thomas, says that this colour will look even more eye-catching with time, especially if you have dark brown roots as it’ll create an edgy black to red ombré look.