TikTok has a habit of turning the most niche beauty observations into full-fledged cultural phenomenons. One minute we're debating high contrast, low contrast makeup, the next we're all channeling “Tomato Girl Summer” or dabbing broccoli onto our faces in the pursuit of faux freckles (yes, it is I who did this in the name of boots-on-the-ground journalism). The app has become something of a crystal ball for beauty trends—that is, provided you're willing to sacrifice a few hours of your life to the algorithm.
But sometimes, it's worth looking up from your For You Page and remembering that celebrities have been setting beauty agendas long before TikTok got its hands on them. So, in the spirit of good old-fashioned beauty reporting, we took to the red carpet at the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards (read: scrolled through pictures online from the comfort of our office desks) to see what the A-listers are wearing on their faces, and more importantly, doing with their hair this winter. And at the front and center of the cultural zeitgeist?
Hailey Bieber,, who arrived at the awards with a seasonal hair transformation that, of course, caught our eye. Enter: dark romance girl winter. Gone are her familiar bronde lengths, and in their place comes a glossy, richer-toned shade of brown that looks almost lacquered.
London-based hairstylist Marley Xavier previously dubbed this hair color “lacquer brunette,” predicting it would be a huge trend for the autumn/winter season. And, in our books, it's the unofficial hair hue of what we're calling the “dark romance girl” aesthetic. Think: moody autumn evenings, cashmere sweaters, burgundy nails, and vampy red lips.
Now, with Hailey being the face of said dark romance girl trend, it's likely we'll see an influx of blondes take to the at-home hair dye. But (!!) before you take the plunge, it's worth considering your natural contrast level—AKA, the difference in depth between your skin, hair, and eyes. If, like Hailey, you have high-contrast coloring (where your features have a noticeable difference in depth), deeper shades like lacquer espresso and chocolate brunette can really complement your complexion.
Those with softer, lower-contrast features, meanwhile, might find that more tonal shades, like mocha or mushroom brown, offer a more harmonious finish. So, while you may want to make like Mrs. Bieber with a dark romance look for winter, it's worth considering the contrast of your features beforehand.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
