Deep, glossy, and endlessly flattering, these shades make winter hair feel like a treat.
Winter has a color, and it smells like cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel. Mulled wine hair color brings that cozy, spiced-red glow to your strands, and it flatters more faces than you’d expect. The trouble? Every colorist’s feed shows a dozen different “wine” shades, and choosing one feels like ordering from a menu with no descriptions. We sorted them for you. Each look below comes with who it suits and how to ask for it, so you can walk into the salon ready.
Classic Mulled Wine Hair Color
This is the original: a warm blend of red and brunette with a deeper root and lighter ends, as Matrix describes it. It reads as rich rather than loud. Chances are, it suits your skin tone, too, since stylists at Regis say the range of tones brings life to pale and tan complexions alike.
Subtle Mulled Wine on Dark Brown
Not ready for a big red moment? This shade reflects red in the light but still reads as dark brown, according to Hair.com. It’s a gentle first step for anyone who loves their brunette.
Tip: Ask your colorist for “red reflects” on your natural base.
Deep Burgundy Mulled Wine
Burgundy is a reddish-brown base with purple depth, and it never goes out of style. Wella’s burgundy guide shows how many tones fit under that one name. Pick this if you want a jewel-like shine that turns heads in the grocery store.
Cherry Mulled Wine
Add a splash of brightness and you get cherry. It’s the same cozy base with a livelier red on top, and it’s one of the most cheerful ways to wear the trend. This one is for the woman who wants her color to say hello first.
Plum Mulled Wine
Lean the shade toward violet and plum appears. It’s moody, glossy, and a little mysterious. Wella lists plum wine among its signature red wine shades.
Mulled Wine Shadow Root
A darker root melts into wine-red lengths for a color that grows out gracefully. Simply put, your regrowth looks planned, not neglected. It’s a smart pick if you’d rather visit the salon less often.
Mulled Wine Balayage
Hand-painted wine tones glide through brown hair with no harsh lines. The result is soft, dimensional, and low-maintenance. Wella pairs balayage with burgundy for exactly that sleek, blended finish.
Mulled Wine Hair Color Ombré
Here the color deepens from dark brown at the top to bright berry at the ends. It’s the look Hair.com calls the ultimate aim of the trend. Prefer less commitment? L’Oréal Paris suggests adding the wine hue to your ends only.
Mulled Wine Highlights on Brunette
Red highlights over a mulled wine base add the kind of dimension that makes hair look expensive. Ask for fine, face-framing pieces. This one is perfect for brunettes who want a lift without a full overhaul.
Mulled Wine Money Piece
Two bright strands at the front can change your whole face. A wine-red money piece frames your features and brightens your skin right where you want it. Hint: It’s also the easiest way to test the trend before going all in.
Dark Chocolate Mulled Wine
Stir a little dark chocolate into the wine. L’Oréal Paris describes wine red as a warm, deep hue that sits between chocolate brown and bright burgundy, and this version leans cocoa. It’s warm, soft, and ideal if your natural color is a medium brown.
Espresso Mulled Wine
Start with a near-black espresso base and add a whisper of wine. The red only flashes in sunlight, which makes it sophisticated and quiet. Ask for it if you love dark hair but want a hint of something more.
Muted, Soft Mulled Wine
Think watercolor, not jewel tone. A dusty, muted wine is the pick for anyone who prefers a gentle finish, as Hair.com notes for fans of pastel and watercolor shades. It’s lovely on fine hair that looks overwhelmed by heavy pigment.
Mulled Wine Hair Color with Grey Blending
Greys softly weave through a wine base instead of fighting it. Ask your colorist for fine lowlights and a shadow root so the silver looks intentional. For more ideas, browse our short hairstyles for grey hair.
Mulled Wine Gloss
A clear or tinted gloss refreshes the shine and revives fading red tones. Matrix points to regular salon glosses for keeping red hair vibrant. It’s the quick trick that makes your color look like you just left the salon.
Mulled Wine Pixie
Short and bold, this look pairs a cropped cut with a rich wine shade. The color makes every textured layer stand out. Pair it with one of our edgy choppy pixie cuts for maximum impact.
Mulled Wine Bob
A chin-length bob in wine red feels polished and effortless. Soft layers add movement, and the color does the rest. Latest-Hairstyles calls red wine shades flattering on mature skin tones. See more shapes in our layered bob hairstyles.
Mulled Wine Lob
The long bob gives the color room to shine. For the best result, Hair.com recommends choosing the darkest shade you can. It’s a great fit for medium-length hair, so take a look at our medium length hairstyles for cut ideas.
Long Layered Mulled Wine
Long layers catch the light and show off every shade of wine in your color. The movement keeps the depth from looking flat. This one is for the woman who loves her length and wants a fresh winter update.
Mulled Wine Waves
Loose waves make this color glow. The curls and bends reflect light across the reds and purples, so even a single-process shade looks multidimensional. Use a large barrel iron for easy, tousled texture.
Mulled Wine Curls
Wine hair and curls are a match made in heaven. Every ringlet shows off a different tone, from berry to burgundy. Tip: Keep curls hydrated with a deep conditioner so the color stays glossy.
Mulled Wine Shag with Bangs
A shaggy cut with soft bangs gives wine hair a little attitude. The choppy layers show off the dimension, and the fringe frames your eyes. Looking for more options? Our wolf cut with bangs ideas are a perfect match.
Sleek, Straight Mulled Wine
Blow it smooth and watch the color shine like satin. Straight hair puts the glossy finish front and center, so flat-iron lightly and finish with a shine serum. Skip heat when you can, since super-hot temperatures strip color and dull your strands, as L’Oréal Paris advises.
Spiced Copper-Mahogany Mulled Wine
Add a hint of copper and mahogany and the wine warms up like a fresh pot of spice. L’Oréal Paris notes that mahogany wine shades carry the subtlest red cast. Choose this if you have a warm complexion and want your color to feel golden.
What is mulled wine hair color?
It’s a deep, warm red that blends brunette and burgundy tones, named for the spiced winter drink. It sits somewhere between chocolate brown and bright berry.
Does mulled wine hair need bleach?
That depends on your base. On dark brown hair, Wella says a darker wine shade often goes on without lightening first, while a brighter shade over a lighter base needs lifting.
Does mulled wine color work on grey hair?
Yes. Ask for a shadow root, fine lowlights, or a soft gloss so the silver blends into the wine.
How often should I refresh the color?
Book a gloss every six to eight weeks to keep the red vivid. Darker shades fade more gently into a brown base, so they need less frequent visits.
How do I keep mulled wine hair from fading?
Switch to a color-safe shampoo and conditioner, rinse with cool water, and skip very hot styling tools. L’Oréal Paris also suggests letting your hair air dry when you can.
