Viral Vivids is the Hair Colour Trend of Autumn / Winter 2025
The internet’s love affair with high impact hair is not slowing down. In the run up to autumn and winter, saturated “Viral Vivids” are everywhere you look, from TikTok transformations to red carpets and the AW25 runways. The mid-year outlook called it early, noting that vibrant reds would not be going anywhere for 2025, whether bold copper or deep cherry, and the prediction has landed in salon chairs across the UK.
Three currents are pulling in the same direction. First, culture has embraced statement colour as a modern classic rather than a phase. TikTok’s own analytics page shows the #redhair hashtag with billions of views in the UK market, a useful proxy for the sheer attention these shades command. Second, celebrity jolts keep the cycle hot. Pamela Anderson’s surprise pivot to a coppery red during Paris fashion week lit up headlines last week, reinforcing red’s star power just as clients head into seasonal refresh appointments. Third, the AW25 shows leaned into considered, colour-story beauty. London’s runways paired clean, tonal make-up with hair that either doubled down on natural depth or punctuated silhouettes with strategic colour moments, giving salons permission to push bolder palettes for autumn.
Palette to watch: Vivid Reds
This is the headline family for AW25. Cherry, copper and classic statement reds are the client-friendly entry point into vivids and continue to dominate editorial and consumer feeds. ‘A classic statement red with a modern twist - bold, bright, and confidence-charged’ shares Bleach London on the newest trend which the team achieves using the No Bleach London Permanent Colour Kits. Auburn, cherry and copper will deepen for the colder months, giving professionals room to steer clients richer while maintaining impact.
Palette to watch: Vivid Berry
A soft-purple, plum-crimson blend is quietly becoming the cool-girl shade of the season. It reads editorial yet wearable, particularly on brunettes, and it fades into softer tones that extend the life of the look. ‘A rich, dimensional blend of plum and crimson that delivers a deep, sultry finish with a high-gloss sheen’ added Bleach London, the shade is designed to flatter darker bases, which aligns with what many salons are reporting for clients seeking drama without lightening.
Vivids work best when they read as a narrative across cut, texture and styling. If a client brings a copper reference, decide whether the mood is clean and glassy or grunge-textured, then back-engineer depth and placement to suit AW layering and knitwear tones. Runway coverage this season backs more tonal, deliberate statements over scattered pastiche, which makes consultation and maintenance planning critical.
Reds and berry-plums on brunette bases can deliver high impact without bleach, especially with modern direct and oxidative formulas. Use porosity equaliser and glossing top coats to avoid chalkiness as shades settle through weeks two to four. Bleach London’s guidance stresses true-to-tone pay-off on dark hair and graceful fading, which is useful when mapping client expectations for the grow-out.
When considering vivid colours - clients also need to plan around the fading colour. Autumn clients want longevity through party season. Build a two-visit plan now: the initial vivid, then a pre-holiday refresh or tonal shift to deeper auburn, cherry cola or plum to ride into winter. Home care is non-negotiable. Recommend sulphate-free cleansers, tepid water, heat protection on every dry, and lower heat tools. Encourage pigment masks in the client’s shade family once weekly to counter autumn dulling and central-heating fade. For retail, pair vivid kits with colour-safe masks and shine oils to lock a reflective finish.
Viral Vivids have crossed from micro trend to modern classic. Reds remain the most bankable story for AW25, with berry-plum emerging as the cool alternative for brunettes. Anchor your approach in narrative, manage the fade with intent and build retail that genuinely supports shine and tone retention. Between social proof, celebrity switches and runway endorsement, the conditions are set. Now is the time to give clients the vivid they have been saving, and the maintenance plan that keeps it salon-fresh through winter.
