Is it just me, or do French girls always have the chicest-looking hair? No, I’m not talking about perfectly styled updos or buns that never move out of place, instead, I’m referring to that effortless, ‘I just woke up like this’ look that all Parisians seems to exude. From flawlessly tousled waves to bouncy curls that wouldn’t look out of place in a shampoo advert, there’s no denying that the French know what they’re doing when it comes to their hair.
Although we are always talking about French girl hairstyles and French haircuts, lately I’ve been noticing more and more that it’s actually the colour of the hair that helps make these girls looks so elevated. After doing some serious digging on social media, it seems that a lot of my favourite Parisians are ditching the bleach in favour of warm, rich hair colours for autumn and beyond.
If you’re thinking of making a hair change for the new season ahead, I highly recommend that you keep on scrolling for some seriously chic, French-girl approved hair colour inspiration. I’ve rounded up the shades that I’ve been seeing all over my Instagram feed, and I’ve even popped in some product recommendations to help get the look. Now all I need is a trip to Paris to show off my new locks…
The first colour I’ve been seeing everywhere? Warm brown. I think this has to be my all-time favourite hair colour for autumn thanks to the deep, chocolatey tones, and it seems that some of my favourite French content creators agree. What I love about this colour is that it looks so effortlessly expensive, and you can easily add a few lighter tones for more dimension throughout the hair.
Want to be even more chic? Pair this chocolate brown colour with a fringe for the ultimate French-girl feel.
To keep your brown looking lovely and warm, opt for a colour and shine treatment like this one from Aveda.
Next up, a classic French colouring technique known as ‘balayage’. The word actually means ‘to sweep’, and that’s exactly what your hairdresser will do. The colour is applied freehand onto certain sections of the hair to give it a more natural, sunkissed look without any harsh lines. It’s great if you want a more low-maintenance hair colour, as you can usually leave it for quite a few months before having to get it redone.
As you can see, the result can be as noticeable or as subtle as you like, but overall it lightens up the hair in a much more chic and elevated way.
Keep your balayage fresh in between appointments with the help of a purple shampoo to minimise those brassy tones.
If you haven’t heard, copper-coloured hair is going to be big this autumn, and it seems that the French are already one step ahead. This year, instead of super bright tones, everyone is opting for more warm, subtle copper colours, and it’s safe to say that I’m obsessed.
If you don’t want to go copper all over, why not mix two French-girl trends and go for copper-coloured balayage instead?
This gloss from Dphue comes in the most beautiful, warm copper shade, and will give your hair a healthy shine.
Finally, if you want to keep things simple and you want your hair to look as healthy as ever, why not go for a deep, glossy brunette shade? I love this colour as it suits all hair types and hair lengths, and is perfect for transitioning into the slightly colder months.
I don’t know about you, but I happen to think that this is one of the most expensive-looking hair colours out there.
Want that salon-worthy glossy finish? Look no further, as Glaze have got you covered.
Next Up: Hair Accessories Are Big News for Autumn—These Are the Best Looks I’m Trying
