Burgundy and Wine Hair: Rich Fall Colors for 2023
Every year, as the calendar turns toward autumn, hair color trends take a darker, richer turn. In 2023, the shades that captured everyone’s imagination were burgundy and wine, a family of deep, red-infused tones that evoke the warmth of a glass of Cabernet on a cool evening. At Sofia Loren Salon in Boca Raton, we saw these luxurious colors become some of our most requested services as clients traded lighter summer shades for the depth and drama that wine tones deliver.
Understanding the Wine Color Family
Burgundy and wine hair colors exist on a spectrum, and understanding the variations within this family helps you communicate exactly what you want to your colorist.
Burgundy sits at the lighter, warmer end of the wine spectrum. It is a red-brown blend with noticeable warmth, similar in tone to the Burgundy wine region’s signature reds. In natural light, burgundy hair shows flashes of ruby and garnet, creating a multidimensional effect that is vibrant without being neon.
Wine is a step deeper and cooler. Think of a glass of Merlot held up to candlelight. The base is darker, leaning more toward deep brown with cool purple-red undertones. Wine hair has a sophisticated, almost moody quality that feels elevated and intentional.
Mulberry and plum sit at the coolest end of this spectrum, incorporating more purple undertones. These shades feel more editorial and fashion-forward, appealing to clients who want their color to make an unmistakable statement.
Merlot falls between burgundy and wine, offering a medium-depth shade with balanced warm and cool undertones. It is perhaps the most versatile shade in the family because it complements the widest range of skin tones.
Who Wine Colors Complement
Wine and burgundy tones have a remarkable ability to flatter a variety of skin tones, which is part of why they consistently return as a seasonal favorite.
Warm skin tones with golden or olive undertones look stunning with warmer burgundy shades. The red warmth in the hair harmonizes with the warmth in the skin, creating a cohesive, sun-kissed look that works beautifully against tanned South Florida skin.
Cool skin tones with pink or blue undertones are flattered by cooler wine and plum shades. The purple undertones in these colors create a complementary contrast with cool skin, making the complexion appear brighter and more even.
Deep skin tones are magnificent with wine colors. The rich depth of these shades provides contrast without washing out darker complexions. In fact, deep wine and burgundy tones on deep skin create some of the most striking color combinations in the hair world.
Fair skin tones can wear wine colors beautifully, though the shade selection is important. A burgundy or merlot that is not too dark maintains enough contrast to look intentional without overwhelming a lighter complexion. Keeping the color a few shades lighter than you might initially be drawn to often produces the best result on fair skin.
The Color Process for Wine Tones
Achieving burgundy and wine hair varies significantly depending on your starting point. The red and violet pigments that define these shades behave differently from blonde or brunette pigments, and your colorist’s approach must account for this.
For natural brunettes with medium to dark hair, wine tones can often be achieved in a single session. A rich, deposit-only color that layers burgundy or wine pigments over your existing base creates immediate vibrancy. The natural darkness of your base provides the depth while the wine tones add warmth and dimension.
For lighter brunettes and dark blondes, a pre-fill step may be necessary. When you lighten hair and then try to go dark red, the warm undertones needed for wine colors may be missing. Pre-filling with a warm base tone ensures the burgundy or wine color has the foundation it needs to look rich rather than muddy.
For blondes transitioning to wine, the process requires careful planning. Blonde hair lacks the underlying warm pigments that support red tones, so the color can fade quickly or shift unexpectedly without proper preparation. Multiple steps may be needed: first depositing a warm base, then layering the wine tone over it. The result is stunning when done correctly, but it requires patience and expertise.
Maintaining Wine and Burgundy Color
Let us be straightforward about the biggest challenge with wine colors: they fade. Red and violet pigment molecules are among the largest in hair color chemistry, which ironically makes them the hardest for the hair to hold onto. These large molecules are more easily washed out by water, shampoo, and UV exposure.
Cold water washing is one of the most effective preservation strategies. Hot water opens the cuticle and allows color molecules to escape. Cool or lukewarm water keeps the cuticle closed, trapping the pigment inside the hair shaft for longer.
Sulfate-free shampoo is essential, not optional. Sulfates strip color aggressively, and wine tones simply cannot survive regular sulfate exposure. Color-safe, sulfate-free shampoos cleanse without the harsh stripping action that destroys your investment.
Color-depositing conditioners in a red or wine tone are invaluable for extending vibrancy between appointments. These products add a thin layer of color pigment back onto the hair each time you use them, compensating for the natural fading that occurs with every wash. Using one two to three times a week can add weeks to the life of your color.
Washing less frequently makes a significant difference. Every wash removes some color, so extending your wash cycle to every two to three days preserves your wine tone considerably. Dry shampoo on non-wash days keeps hair fresh without water exposure.
Sun protection is particularly important in Boca Raton. UV rays break down color molecules rapidly, and wine tones are especially vulnerable. A UV-protective spray or leave-in product should be part of your daily routine, applied before any sun exposure.
Wine Hair for Fall and Beyond
While wine and burgundy tones are traditionally associated with fall, they are beautiful year-round. In South Florida, where traditional autumn foliage is absent, wearing the warm, rich tones of the season in your hair becomes a way to participate in the seasonal shift. Wine hair against a backdrop of palm trees and blue skies creates a gorgeous contrast that feels both unexpected and perfectly right.
Many of our clients at Sofia Loren Salon who try wine tones for the first time in fall end up maintaining some variation of the shade throughout the year. They might lighten the burgundy into a warm copper for spring or deepen it into a richer wine for winter, but they stay in the red family because they discover how much it enhances their complexion and wardrobe.
Wine Tones with Dimension
A single-process wine color is beautiful, but adding dimension takes it to another level. Burgundy balayage on a darker base creates a sun-kissed effect in warm tones. Wine lowlights through lighter hair add depth and richness. Face-framing burgundy highlights brighten the complexion while keeping the overall look in the wine family.
At Sofia Loren Salon, our colorists love working with wine tones because they offer so much creative possibility. The interplay of warm and cool undertones within the wine family means we can create truly unique color combinations for each client.
Book Your Appointment at Sofia Loren Salon
Ready to embrace the rich, luxurious beauty of burgundy and wine hair? Visit Sofia Loren Salon in Boca Raton for a color consultation that will find your perfect shade within this stunning color family. Call us at (561) 444-0720 or book online at sofialorensalon.com.