Jenna Ortega didn't bleach, chop or go platinum. She just warmed up. At the London photocall for her new film Klara and the Sun on October 14, 2026, the actor debuted a rich auburn shade that Allure placed squarely in the trending "maple cinnamon" family, and it may be the most wearable hair change of the season.

The new colour came with a sleek low ponytail and a sunny Calvin Klein look, which made a nice contrast with the darker style she is known for.

The colour: maple cinnamon, explained

Allure's Marci Robin described the shade as "a rich, warm, still-dark brown with coppery-red highlights." That's the key to maple cinnamon. It isn't a full red or a true copper. It's a brunette base with warm, spicy tones woven through it, so it reads as auburn in sunlight and deep brown indoors.

Allure noted that Ortega has cycled through espresso brown, near-black and actual black, and cherry cola shades over the last couple of years. This is a smaller change than it looks, and that's the point. In Allure's words, her run of colours shows "that deep brunette has considerably more range than Big Bleach would have you believe."

Allure also observed that the warmer tone seems to bring out her freckles, a side effect worth noting if you're thinking about the shade.

Ortega isn't the only star going warmer this season. Earlier this month, Billie Eilish went lighter, which we covered in "Billie Eilish Goes Strawberry Blonde: Her Lightest and Shortest Hair in Years, Revealed in a Photo Dump." The difference here is subtlety. Maple cinnamon keeps the depth of a brunette and adds only enough copper to feel new. It suits anyone who wants an autumn change without a big bleach job.

How to ask for it at the salon

If you're a natural brunette, maple cinnamon is a relatively low-commitment change. Based on how Allure describes the shade, here's what to ask your colourist for:

Keep the base dark. You're aiming for a warm, deep brown, not a lighter one.

Add coppery-red highlights or a warm gloss rather than all-over red, so the colour moves when the light hits it.

Avoid cool or ashy tones. The whole look depends on warmth.

Plan for upkeep. Red and copper tones fade fastest, so a colour-safe shampoo and a toning gloss between appointments will help keep it rich.

The ponytail: 'restrained oomph'

The styling was just as considered. Ortega's go-to hairstylist, Cesar Deleon Ramirez, created the look, according to Allure, though it's not clear whether he also did the colour. Her hair was parted down the centre, with face-framing tendrils left loose and a lift of volume at the crown. The rest was pulled into a low ponytail with smooth, straight lengths falling well past the middle of her back.

Allure summed it up as "the exemplification of restrained oomph." To recreate it, blow-dry with a round brush for lift at the roots, smooth the lengths with a flat brush, then secure a low ponytail and pull out a few front pieces.

The outfit: Calvin Klein, and a red carpet debut for Twigs

Ortega wore Calvin Klein from the spring 2027 runway: a yellow-and-white jersey tee, a fitted black column skirt and a matching satin scarf around her neck, W Magazine reported. Allure called the colour-blocked look "equal parts mod and modern."

She also brought a co-star. W reported that her black whippet, Twigs, posed with her at the photocall in a silky dark coat. Ortega adopted Twigs from an animal sanctuary in Ireland while filming Wednesday season 2. Twigs has been to the Wednesday set, W said, but this was her first press tour.

About Klara and the Sun

Directed by Taika Waititi and based on Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, Klara and the Sun is a dystopian science-fiction drama starring Ortega as Klara, a companion android. Amy Adams co-stars, along with Mia Tharia, Aran Murphy, Steve Buscemi and Natasha Lyonne. The film is set to premiere at the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 15, 2026, and to open in US cinemas on October 23 through Sony Pictures Releasing.

The festival has already given us several strong beauty and fashion moments. Our recent favourite was "Scarlett Johansson's Red Hermès at the Ray Gunn Premiere Is the London Film Festival's Monochrome Masterclass."

FAQ

What is Jenna Ortega's new hair colour?

A warm auburn that Allure describes as a rich, still-dark brown with coppery-red highlights, in the "maple cinnamon" family.

Where did Jenna Ortega debut the new colour?

At the London photocall for Klara and the Sun on October 14, 2026.

Who styled Jenna Ortega's hair?

Her longtime hairstylist Cesar Deleon Ramirez, according to Allure.

When does Klara and the Sun release?

It premieres at the BFI London Film Festival on October 15, 2026, and opens in the US on October 23.

Cover photo: Colleen Sturtevant / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0