Dark Winter Hair Color: 9 Shades From Black to Burgundy

Your undertone narrows the field before anything else, and after that the real choice is how much contrast you want between the shade and your skin, from the soft step of ash brown highlights to the hard line of jet black.

The range runs from quiet options like jet black and charcoal with silver highlights to icy platinum highlights over a dark base, which asks for more upkeep than any shade that stays dark.

1. Ash Brown Highlights

Dark roots left alone are what make ash brown highlights work on a Dark Winter. The shadow at the root keeps the cool, smoky strands from looking flat or washed out against high-contrast features.

I would ask for the highlights to stay soft and blended rather than chunky. Ash tones read cooler than golden brown, so they sit well with cool undertones, and the dark root also means grow-out looks intentional.

2. Jet Black

Jet black is the most direct match for a high-contrast, cool-toned face, and it carries a classic, corporate-friendly polish.

Waves break up the flat, solid look that jet black can take on, because every bend catches a little light and shows some dimension.

With cool undertones, go for a blue-black rather than a warm, brownish one, since the blue base keeps skin from looking sallow.

It stays simple to wear with a black wardrobe, which suits anyone building a smaller closet of pieces that last.

3. Deep Burgundy

Burgundy is the red I would choose when you want color without leaving the cool family. A deep, glossy burgundy over a dark brown base gives a wine-like depth rather than a bright, coppery red.

Gloss matters more than the exact shade here. Ask for a cool-toned formula, since warm-leaning reds can fight cool undertones.

4. Mahogany Highlights

Mahogany highlights add richness to dark hair without lightening it much.

Red and burgundy strands through a near-black base show best in curls, where the color catches in every bend and flashes against the dark. If you want it quieter, keep the highlights closer to chocolate than red.

5. Icy Platinum Highlights

Icy platinum over a dark base is the loudest option here, and in my judgment the most dramatic use of high contrast you can wear.

Bright, cool-toned pieces against dark hair echo the sharp contrast Dark Winters already carry in their features.

Waves help, since they scatter the light strands through the dark instead of stacking them in stripes. Expect more upkeep than with any shade that stays dark.

6. Cool Black Cherry

Black cherry reads as near-black until good light hits it, and then a red-violet glow comes through. That subtlety is why I like it: it reads as dark hair first and color second.

It suits anyone who wants a change from jet black but not a visible red. Because the violet leans cool, it fits cool undertones better than a warm cherry would.

7. Deep Purple and Black

Purple woven through black reads as black in shade and purple in sun, which is why shoulder-length waves suit it so well. Each bend catches the light and shows the cool purple against the dark.

A cool violet sits better with Dark Winter undertones than a reddish plum would. Keep the black dominant and the purple in the minority, and the color stays easy to wear with a small, quality-first closet.

Shoulder length also keeps ends looking fresh, which matters when color is involved.

8. Charcoal and Silver Highlights

Silver against charcoal is the quietest high-contrast move in dark winter hair: the gap between the 2 shades is wide, but both stay cool and muted.

Dark gray hair gives a soft base, and thin silver-gray strands add brightness without the stark jump of platinum.

Straight hair shows the highlights as clean, fine lines, so ask for them placed finely rather than in thick panels. Both shades are cool, so they work with cool undertones and pair easily with black clothing.

I would choose this over icy platinum if you want contrast with less drama.

9. Deep Purple Hair

An all-over deep purple works best when it is cool and dark enough to pass for a jewel tone rather than a costume. Straight, sleek hair suits it, since a smooth surface reflects light and makes the shade look richer.

Pick a violet with a blue lean to flatter cool undertones; a red-leaning purple can drift warm.

With no black to soften it, deep purple carries the whole look on its own, so the shade you pick and how evenly it’s applied matter more than they do in a purple-and-black blend.

Choose it only if you want that.

Color Analysis

Dark Winter is one of three Winter seasons, alongside True Winter and Bright Winter.

All three share cool undertones and high contrast, but Dark Winter leans deepest, with intense, dramatic color. True Winter hair looks best in pure, balanced shades with no warmth in them, while Bright Winter can handle clearer, more vivid color.

Knowing which one you are narrows the choice before you sit in the chair. If your coloring is deep and cool, shades that stay dark and cool are the safest place to start.

Treat this as a starting point, not a rule. If a warmer shade makes you feel great, that counts for something, and a colorist can tell you how far to push it.

Darker hair colors will lend your look a more sultry and moody vibe—the perfect complement for gloomy weather.

— Hair.com

Color Maintenance

Sulfates pull color out of the strands, so before anything else I’d buy a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner made for color-treated hair. Pureology, Redken Color Extend and Olaplex all make color-safe formulas.

Add a deep conditioning mask once a week.

Healthy hair holds color better, and Olaplex No. 8, K18 Mask and Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair are options. Use a heat protectant before any blow drying or styling; GHD Heat Protect Spray and Olaplex No. 7 fit the job.

A leave-in such as Living Proof Restore Repair adds daily moisture. Color-safe dry shampoo, like Batiste, stretches the time between washes, which helps most with reds.

Any platinum pieces will turn brassy over time, and a purple shampoo cancels that yellow.

Choosing a Colorist

Warm shades sell more often, so most colorists learned warm-leaning techniques first and cool work can be less familiar to them. Speak up clearly for the cool result you want.

A picture removes the guesswork from words like "chocolate" or "ash."

Before the color goes on, ask your colorist to walk you through the plan: which shade level they’re aiming for, how many sessions it will take, and what upkeep looks like.

If it includes warm copper or gold pigments, say so.

Salon lighting tends to run warm, so look at the finished color in natural daylight.

Frequently Asked Questions