Dark Autumn vs True Autumn
Dark Autumn and True Autumn sit next to each other on the flow wheel, which is why they are so easy to confuse: they share a dimension. The table below shows exactly where they part company, and the test underneath it is the fastest way to settle which one you are.
Last updated August 2026 ยท Michael Machatschek
| Dark Autumn | True Autumn | |
|---|---|---|
| Palette | ||
| Undertone | neutral warm | warm |
| Depth | deep | medium deep |
| Clarity | medium | medium soft |
| Defined by | dark | warm |
| Best metal | gold | gold |
| Signature color | Deep Rust | Rust |
Where each one sits
Dark Autumn
True Autumn
How to tell which you are
What the Dark Autumn guide says
Both are warm and rich; the split is depth. True Autumn peaks in the medium range with rust and chestnut. Dark Autumn goes deeper and carries near black browns and deep burgundies comfortably. If your natural hair is chestnut rather than dark brown, you are probably True Autumn.
What the True Autumn guide says
Both are warm and rich; the split is depth. Dark Autumn adds a Winter influence: deeper, more contrasted, and able to carry a near black brown or a deep burgundy that would weigh you down. If your natural hair is genuinely dark rather than chestnut, look at Dark Autumn.
Colors that are right either way
Both palettes contain these. If you are genuinely stuck between the two, this is what to buy first: you cannot get it wrong, whichever way the answer eventually falls.
Still not sure?
The test measures all three dimensions and tells you which one decides your season, with the confidence behind it. When two seasons are close it says so and names both.
Take the 60 second testQuestions people ask
- What is the difference between Dark Autumn and True Autumn?
- Dark Autumn is neutral warm, deep and medium. True Autumn is warm, medium deep and medium soft. In practice that means Dark Autumn wears deep rust where True Autumn wears rust.
- How do I tell if I am Dark Autumn or True Autumn?
- Both are warm and rich; the split is depth. True Autumn peaks in the medium range with rust and chestnut. Dark Autumn goes deeper and carries near black browns and deep burgundies comfortably. If your natural hair is chestnut rather than dark brown, you are probably True Autumn.
- Can I be both Dark Autumn and True Autumn?
- Not officially, but you can sit on the border, and if these two are your candidates you probably do. The practical answer is to shop the colors both palettes contain, which are listed on this page, and to be careful only with the shades where they diverge.