It’s fall, y’all! According to Starbucks and the cool weather, autumn has begun. That means reaching for those warm neutrals, breaking out the pumpkin-inspired makeup and nail looks and giving our hair a much-needed refresh.
Featured Experts
- Lorena M. Valdes is a colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago
- Marie Nino is an expert colorist based in NYC
- Nick Stenson is a celebrity stylist and the Matrix Artistic Director
What Is Latte Brunette?
This summer saw the rise of smoky brunette, a cool-toned brown that takes all the warm colors and turns the dial way down. As you might be guessing, latte brunette is just the opposite.
“Latte brunette emphasizes the warmth in brunettes instead of trying to completely eliminate it,” explains Maxine Salon expert colorist Lorena M. Valdes. “It’s toned to a light brown.” Alongside using warmer tones, Valdes notes that latte brunette is about catching the sunlight. “It tends to carry delicate balayage and highlight pieces that make the blend super soft but with greater impact on the ends,” she explains.
According to expert colorist Marie Nino, this look can take a lot of color layering. “This is a rich, multidimensional brown with warm creamy tones of a latte, blending lighter shades through the mid-lengths and ends for a soft, natural contrast,” Nino explains. “Unlike a typical brunette, which can be more uniform in tone, you’ll want to think tone on tone. You want to give the hair more dimension and movement, a soft, more blended look.”
Trending Fall Looks
Consider a chop if you’re in the mood for a big change this season! After all, this is the year of the bob, and everyone we know is going for refreshed shorter looks. And latte brunette is the perfect color to introduce a new cut, as the subtle warm tones bring renewed, sun-catching light to the face.
From the old money bob to the iconic French girl flip, many short hair looks are going around. But if you’re concerned about pulling the trigger, check out our expert guide to bobs and lobs. If you’re still stuck, consider the wispy lob, the cut Megan Fox’s stylist says is the most universally appealing.
How to Achieve Latte Brunette
“You achieve this look by toning to a warm light brown,” Valdes explains. “But it needs to be built up over time with highlights to create the impact on the ends and soft roots.”
That means requesting a bayalage or other highlighting technique to add dimension to your color. You should also do your best to avoid bleach. Bleached highlights will provide a harsh impact that takes away from the more subtle, milky tones of latte brunette.
Ideally, your highlights should provide a subtle glow, explains celebrity stylist and Matrix artistic director, Nick Stenson. “The best bayalage looks have a lit-from-within feeling and are more luxurious colors that enhance your natural features.”
