Which hair colors work best for winter? Ante Pažanin shares his top picks

When I am short on inspiration but craving change, I often end up on Pinterest or browsing beauty looks from the Vogue Runway galleries. As the season shifts, wardrobes become richer in texture, darker in tone, and more refined in silhouette, so why not change my hair color too. Winter, sometimes lulling and gray, is ideal for a transformation that breaks up that monotony. The most creative ideas for winter hair color, however, I tend to find somewhere else.

What do people whose fingers are in other people’s hair every day think about trends? This time, I sought inspiration from a hairstylist I often meet on Vogue Adria shoots. Ante Pažanin is one of the most recognizable names on the local hairstyling scene and, as a frequent collaborator on Vogue Adria shoots, he is known for his expert advice. In addition, Ante, the owner of the renowned Zagreb salon TE Studio, often surprises and inspires me with his creative ideas that are exceptionally wearable. I came to him with the idea of adding bronde highlights to my dark brown hair, but he had far better ideas for winter hair color.

Hair colors ideal for winter

Pažanin singles out three shades that define winter elegance this season, colors that allow every woman to achieve a sophisticated and wearable look even in the coldest months. To break up the grayness, he suggests champagne blonde, espresso chocolate, and copper blonde.

1/ Champagne blonde for a brighter winter

Photo: Getty Images

“One of my favorite hair colors is a beige champagne blonde. It is gentle, ultra luxurious, and suits every skin tone. This shade achieves the perfect balance of warm and cool tones,” says Pažanin. The beige blonde shade comes into its own during winter because it reflects light in a subtle way, giving the hair softness and freshness at a time when the complexion can often look tired. This particular blonde does not feel overpowering, making it ideal for those who prefer an understated yet exceptionally chic aesthetic.

2/ Espresso chocolate for a luxurious look

Photo: Getty Images

“Colors like dark chocolate and espresso brown are often associated with colder weather. I like to describe them as slightly muted warm brown shades with added depth,” Pažanin explains. Dark, rich brown tones give the hair fullness and visual opulence, while remaining extremely practical, as they retain their intensity and shine even during the colder months.

3/ Copper blonde to cut through the gray

Photo: @lindsaylohan

“Copper blonde is often combined with techniques such as balayage and babylights, while depth at the roots creates an effect of naturalness, playfulness, and ease. The combination of copper and blonde tones adds extra dimension and fits perfectly into the colder period,” Pažanin points out. This shade brings warmth and dynamism to the winter color palette, creating a sophisticated contrast with the cooler surroundings

Whether you choose the subtle glow of beige blonde, the depth of espresso brown, or the warm playfulness of copper blonde, the common denominator of these shades is a sense of luxury that is ideal for a winter change.