Summer braids skew bright and blonde. Autumn pulls the other way — warmer, deeper, more saturated. If you are rebooking for the season change, these are the shades that move.
The four autumn shades
30 — auburn. A red-brown, and the safest way into a warm shade. It reads as a lift rather than a colour change on most people, which makes it the easiest first step away from natural black.
350 — copper ginger. Bright and orange-leaning. This is the statement shade of the season and it photographs vividly, particularly in natural light.
99J — deep wine red. Dark and cool-toned, more berry than fire. It does what a bright red cannot: it stays rich indoors and under artificial light.
Burgundy. Darker and more purple than 99J. The deepest colour we carry and the most understated of the four.
The pairing everyone is asking for
Two shades in one install, blended rather than blocked. The combination we see most in the salon is 350 with 613 platinum running through it — a bright copper base with light pieces breaking it up.
It works because the two shades are far enough apart to read as deliberate. Two adjacent shades, like 4 with 8, give depth instead of contrast. Both are valid, they just say different things.
If the numbers are unfamiliar, all nine are described in Hair Color Numbers Explained.
What you can actually buy
In stock at 18 inches, Deep Wave carries eight shades including 30, 350 and 99J at $120. Body Wave carries six.
Everything else is made to order — all seven textures, all nine shades, 12 to 24 inches, at $90, $120 and $150 through Custom Color Bulk Hair. Wefted bundles go to 26 inches. How that line works is in Custom Color Braiding Hair.
Three things worth knowing before you order a colour
350 and 99J are not the same red. They are opposite ends of the family — one bright orange, one dark wine. Ordering the wrong one will not leave you slightly off.
Dark shades read shorter. A 99J at 24 inches reads shorter than a 613 at the same length, because dark hair absorbs light and the ends disappear against clothing. Worth factoring in if length is what you are paying for.
Order every bundle in one purchase. Batches of coloured natural hair are not identical, and the difference is visible on a bright shade like 350.
If you want to change without committing
Two lower-risk routes.
A single coloured bundle worked through an otherwise natural-black install gives you the colour as an accent rather than a base. One bundle at 18 inches is $120.
Or crochet, which comes out far more easily than braids if you decide the shade is not for you. Deep Wave crochet carries 350, 613, 99J and four others at 18 inches, $125.
Free US shipping starts at $200. For what people wore through summer, see Boho Braid Color Trends for Summer.