Rich brunette is this season's version of “Old Money Blonde” and it’s giving total luxury, depth, and richness.
Scroll through Instagram, and it feels like every feed is oversaturated with blondes and going lighter. We love a blonde as much as the next stylist but what about our brunettes? The rich brunette trend is a refreshing reset we need. If you’re a natural brunette looking to enhance your color without instantly defaulting to bleach to make that statement, this trend is for you. With a focus on embracing the beautiful, rich tones it strikes the perfect balance of high impact and low maintenance.
You could say this movement started in the '80s with Cindy Crawford, who famously refused to give up her signature long brunette locks. More recently, we’ve seen it take over on starlets like Daisy Edgar-Jones, Dakota Johnson, and Kaia Gerber (like mother like daughter), all sticking true to their brunette roots and refusing to chase blonde hair trends.
When it comes to the services being requested in our salon chair, we’re seeing this trend show up in two distinct ways: Rich Brunette and Slate Brunette.
1. Rich Brunette
Rich Brunette is your classic Kaia Gerber look. The emphasis here is on accentuating the warm tones in the hair, bringing out a very subtle golden hue that shimmers under light. Paired with a delicate face-framing highlight, it brightens your features while creating soft, natural dimension throughout the hair.
2. Slate Brunette
Slate Brunette is perfect for anyone who wants high-impact depth without the warmth. Think of this as your classic, cool-toned espresso. These shades have a chic, moody feel to them rather than a golden reflect that creates lightness. Slate Brunette is the ultimate choice for anyone who hates seeing brassiness or red undertones in their hair.
Low Maintenance, Maximum Impact
We all love a trend, but where this look really shines is its low-maintenance lifestyle.
Creating a subtle shift in the hair to align with your perfect warm or cool undertone allows for a seamless grow-out and minimal upkeep—meaning you can officially say goodbye to three-week root appointments.
The secret to keeping this effort-free is making sure you’re adjusting the tonal shift of your natural brunette base rather than trying to lift or darken it by multiple shades. This prevents any harsh line of demarcation as your natural hair grows in.
How to Maintain the Look at Home
Pair this look with a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner, or a brown color-depositing hair mask, and you can easily push your in-salon services to every three (or even four) months depending on your natural hair growth and fade-out.
Ready for your custom brunette shift? Whether you’re leaning toward dimensional warmth or a cool espresso slate, book a consultation with your stylist to start your custom hair plan, or treat yourself to a quick tonal gloss to instantly elevate your shade.