Alexander Avanesov, a top stylist at beauty space Shevelyur, has named the leading hair colouring trends for Russian women ahead of the winter season.
In comments provided to Russian news outlet Lenta.ru, Avanesov said two distinct movements are setting the tone for salon visits this winter. One focuses on saturated, expressive shades with a near mirror-like shine, while the other centres on complex natural tones that stay attractive for weeks after an appointment.
Avanesov added that adventurous clients are also turning to bold colour experiments, including contrasting colour blocks, unusual light reflections and bright accent details.
Trending winter hair shades
The stylist advised clients to consider shades such as deep chocolate, espresso, chestnut, wine brunette, soft copper and creamy blonde over the colder months. He placed particular emphasis on solid black colouring with a glossy, reflective finish.
These deeper palette choices reflect a seasonal shift toward warmth and visual depth. Wine brunette introduces subtle burgundy and dark berry undertones to a classic dark brown base, while rich espresso and chocolate shades deliver intensity under flat winter lighting. Soft copper offers a muted, warm ginger alternative for lighter hair, and creamy blonde provides a softer, buttery contrast to stark platinum tones.
Highlighting techniques and hidden colour
Alongside traditional single-process colour, Avanesov recommended several established application techniques, including classic highlighting, balayage, AirTouch and hair contouring. Contouring uses lighter highlights and darker lowlights around the face to frame facial features, adapting principles originally drawn from makeup artistry. Among these methods, the stylist singled out hidden colouring, a technique that places a contrasting shade underneath the top layer of hair.
Hidden colouring allows the bright or contrasting shade to remain concealed when hair is worn down, showing through only when the hair moves, blows in the wind or is gathered into an updo. Balayage and AirTouch remain popular for their soft regrowth, as AirTouch uses gentle airflow from a hairdryer to separate finer strands before dye is applied, creating seamless colour transitions that require minimal salon maintenance.
Block colouring and runway trends
For clients who want a bolder statement, the stylist suggested block colouring, where the colourist isolates distinct sections that contrast sharply with the primary hair colour. Avanesov explained that this method can feature a platinum fringe on a chocolate pixie cut, a copper front section framing a dark bob, or an asymmetric cut pairing jet black with cool blonde.
Block placement works by using deliberate geometric divisions rather than gradual blending, creating sharp focal points across structured short and mid-length cuts. The rise of graphic colouring follows broader shifts observed across global runway shows, where loose textures and dishevelled hair styling emerged as major trends during recent Fashion Week presentations.
