Each year, as autumn approaches, there’s a collective shift in our energy. It’s that back-to-school feeling that (even if we haven’t been in a classroom for years) urges us to embrace change, refresh our wardrobes and rethink our hair colour.

And with the end of summer on the horizon, now is the perfect time to start thinking about what your next hair update might look like. While we’re used to seeing the annual return of pumpkin spice-inspired tones, this year a new hair colour looks set to be the shade of the season: terracopper.

Championed by hairstylist and trends expert Tom Smith, terracopper is a vibrant, earthy copper shade that’s poised to be everywhere this autumn. “Autumn hair combines cosiness and warmth with regal, ethereal and vibrant energy,” Smith explains. “Terracopper is a rich and intense terracotta-copper shade that is just a bit bolder than a naturally occurring redhead.”

“This can be achieved all over as a ‘global’ colour or can be done with a semi-permanent gloss on top of highlights or balayage.” 

As with any bold hair colour, a bit of maintenance is required to keep it looking its best. “These brighter shades tend to fade faster,” Smith advises, “so using a copper-pigmented conditioner when washing your hair will keep the tones topped up for longer.”

With everyone from Chappell Roan to SZA embracing the trend, it certainly has the celebrity seal of approval. So, whether you’re looking for inspiration or haircare heroes to keep your terracopper fresh, we’ve got you covered…

Keep your colour topped up between appointments with one of these copper hued toning glosses…

Images: Getty; Instagram; courtesy of brands