Are you feeling fall-y? Whether you’re pumpkin-spiced ready or need to play catch up, this year is truly flying by. One moment, it was January, and now we’re up against the last days of summer, signaling fall’s grand entrance and the year’s biggest exit, the infamous buss down.

This new season will spark a facelift in the beauty game, and our manes, from root to tip, will reap all the benefits. Echoed by protective styles to illuminate the essence of our natural hair, fall hair is all about embracing the hottest styles, cueing dreamlike wind-blowing machines.

“People don't want heavy hair anymore that consists of more product on your strands by using heavy oils, too much conditioner, [or] not shampooing or rinsing out your conditioner, that can affect the way that your hair is growing,” explains celebrity hairstylist and creator of The SewNatural Brand, Dionna Owens, whose clients includes Serena Williams and Kelly Rowland.

With “too much product in your hair, you're not going to get the full longevity of that style,” says Owens. “Healthy hair is the biggest thing. So whether it's extensions, your hair, [or] a wig, we want healthy hair.”

Even so, Owens says practicality is at the helm of any style, so “trimming dead ends” is vital “to avoid limp hair.”

“Hair luster is also important. So at the very end of the style, hit it with a mist or an oil sheen because it's going to help the hair look and feel healthy. If you don’t want to use those, you can use a hair gloss. Just make sure your hair has a nice luster to it.”

Bet.com caught up with Owens as she proposed her point of view for the fall hair takeover and why the trendy buss down needs to take a bow.

Bet.com: As we prepare to welcome fall, what hairstyles do you forecast for men and women to be on trend?

Dionna O: My clients are asking me to thin their hair out. They want it wispy and airy when they move. And that's not just involving layers. It involves face framing and is very sleek [to] highlight what they’ve been working on. People are getting Botox now, so they’re like, “Show me my face.”

We're no longer having those razor cut ends, [now] we’re more into clean lines [and] flowy looks. I've been really seeing tape-ins [and] natural density. So we're going for bobs that you can still go from natural texture to straight.

Bet.com: The natural hair community always scores high rankings in the style department. What natural dos can you count on as the main attraction in salons everywhere?

Dionna O: I'm seeing more braided styles that can also look like extensions. You've seen boho, but now we're adding more textured strands, and you're seeing more color with our natural tones and textures.

Bet.com: Fall is the perfect time for a good ole silk press. What products do you recommend to ensure your hair is laid in all the right places?

Dionna O: You need a deep cleansing shampoo to preserve your silk press. It's not a clarifying shampoo, but it's a deep cleansing shampoo, then, you want to use a hydrating shampoo, followed by a moisturizing shampoo. You have to use these three shampoos, no matter what. Then, a light conditioner. All of those things work in tandem. Once you do these steps, your silk press will be shinier [and] will last longer. You [also] want to do proper drying methods. Stop blow drying with combs. You're simply getting your hair strands dry, but you're not getting your scalp dry. That's one of the main things we're missing. So incorporating hooded dryers is key. That's the number one thing missing with preserving silk presses. 

Bet.com: Sometimes, trying a new hairstyle can be daunting. What foolproof styles can be achieved by someone with little to no experience doing their own hair?

Dionna O: You could do an age-old four-braid style, [then] take it out and have a very pretty braid out. If you can't cornrow, then plait. You can easily make those four braids into different protective styles, whether your hair is straight, blown out, or textured. 

Bet.com: A change in hair color can also mark a change in season. What tones are bound to make a statement after summer?

Dionna O: Now that we have more [color wheel] knowledge, we're adventuring into the lighter blondes, not platinum, [but] caramel tones this season. We're seeing lighter browns, neutrals, and staying away from the age-old auburns, [and] reds during the fall.

We're even doing balayage, the way that your hair is hand-painted [by] taking certain strands [and] leaving a bit of your root, which is really good for us because it grows out naturally. At first, the color space was more for different textures [like] the Caucasian space, but now we're being more intentional about our hair care, and we can incorporate color into our space as well, in a healthier way.

Bet.com: This fall will also mark the beginning of award season. What styles do you think our favorite stars will be rocking on the red carpet?

Dionna O: I'm seeing protective styles and units that look like our natural hair, more low-density wigs, half-up, half-down styles, lower ponytails, and sleek, pulled-back styles cascading around your collarbone.

Bet.com: Some styles are classics that stand the test of time, but what styles should we coffin for fall?

Dionna O: I am no longer seeing 24-inch- or 26-inch lengths, especially on the red carpet. We're going for natural. We're not doing [buss downs]. We're leaving that back in 2023. They're being phased out. 

Bet.com: Which Black celebrities should we place on our style boards this fall? 

Dionna O: Marsai Martin. She’s quintessential and setting trends. She is that girl and is also the queen of protective styles and wigs. Megan Thee Stallion is definitely taking things up a notch in terms of what you can do with wigs and your natural hair. Danielle Pinnock is a rising star who is wearing braids and taking them to a different level.