If you’ve been feeling like hair colour trends have been stuck in the same loop, 2026 is here to fix that. Enter: Amber Glow. It’s warm, dimensional, and looks like your hair just came back from a luxury weekend somewhere sunny, even if you’ve been living on latte and deadlines.
Hair trend roundups for 2026 are already calling out amber-toned shades as a major moment, thanks to the return of rich warmth, soft copper, and that “lit from within” shine that makes hair look expensive even when it’s styled casually. It’s not the loud, fiery copper of years past, and it’s not the deep, moody red-brown cherry cola shade that dominated earlier seasons either, it’s a more wearable middle ground that feels polished, fresh, and very now.
What Amber Glow Hair Actually Looks Like
Amber Glow sits between golden auburn and soft copper, with a warm honeyed tone that catches the light in a way that makes hair look glossy and healthy instead of flat. The best versions of Amber Glow have a slightly richer base so the colour doesn’t read too bright or too orange, and then strategically placed warm highlights that create movement and that subtle “sun-hit” effect.
Why Amber Glow Is a Big Deal in 2026
2026 hair trends are leaning into warmth again, and not in a throwback way. The vibe is more “lived-in,” where the colour looks rich and radiant but for everyday. This year’s trend direction is all about hair that looks healthier, shinier, and more dimensional, and Amber Glow fits perfectly because it delivers warmth without going into extreme territory.
There’s also a very practical reason this shade is going to be everywhere: Amber Glow grows out more softly than vivid copper or cherry-toned shades, because it’s built on blended warmth rather than sharp contrast, which means your roots don’t instantly ruin the vibe and you can keep the look fresh with subtle maintenance.
How to Achieve Amber Glow (Without Going Too Copper)
Getting Amber Glow right is all about creating the right balance of warmth, depth, and light reflection, because the goal isn’t “red hair,” it’s glowing hair. In the salon, this usually starts with choosing a base that complements your natural level, which could be a warm brunette, a soft auburn, or even a deeper blonde that’s been toned into a richer amber direction. From there, dimension is added using techniques like balayage or fine foils, which allow the warm tones to appear in the right places, around the face, through the mid-lengths, and in areas where light naturally hits, so the end result looks seamless instead of stripy or overly copper.
The finishing step is what makes it truly Amber Glow, and that’s a gloss. A warm-toned gloss is what gives the colour that reflective shine and helps refine the tone so it looks rich and luminous instead of brassy, and it’s also the secret to making the colour feel “new” again even weeks after your appointment.
Colour Maintenance That Actually Fits Real Life
Amber Glow is one of those rare trending shades that can look incredible without demanding that you reorganize your entire schedule around your hair. Using a colour-safe shampoo and conditioner makes a huge difference, but the real game-changer is keeping hair hydrated, because dry hair makes warm tones look dull and can pull the colour in an unwanted direction.
Heat protection is also non-negotiable if you’re blow-drying or styling regularly, because the better your hair’s condition is, the more that amber reflection shows up and the more expensive the colour looks.
To customize Amber Glow to your skin tone and natural base, talk to your colourist during the consultation. That’s what that important conversation is all about when you come in to the salon. You’ll want warmth and dimension, and a beautiful gloss. That’s where the glow really lives.