Hair trends are changing faster than ever these days. One minute we’re clamoring for ‘cowboy copper‘, the next we’re seeking an update for ‘expensive brunette.’
Now, meet ‘Beurre brunette’.
The term has been coined by leading UK hairstylist, Tom Smith. The expert, creative director for Evo Hair and key artist for Olaplex, is often at the forefront of hair forecasting, also responsible for mega-popular hair terms and trends like ‘bottleneck bangs’.
Now, the stylist is introducing us to the perfect new way to update brunette locks.
‘Beurre brunette’, translates to ‘brown butter’, a clear clue as to the look we should be going for. That is, warm, rich and luxurious, with blended ribbons of a honey hue, but steering well clear of anything too brassy.
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“Buttery tones of blonde are nothing new, with warmer golden tones taking the lead from the previously favoured icy blondes,” Smith told Glamour.
“But in the case of brunettes this “Beurre Brunette” shade is a great choice for softening any potential for harshness when wearing darker bases and for those with naturally darker hair who are tempted to try a lighter shade without a dramatic change.”
He says with luxurious, multi-tonal dimension this shade is a great way of upgrading your brown hair. With summer on the way its a perfect option for those with darker hair.
In his new season hair predictions roundup Smith also tipped a focus on what he called the ‘old money piece’. A ‘money piece’ refers to the look that sees highlighted pieces placed around the face, but Smith says the evolution (a play on quiet luxury and old money) is a more blended look into the sides of hair rather than just slim strands placed around the face.
“If you like this vibe, ask your colourist to cluster brightness closer to the edges of your hairline, hiding underneath the body of your hair rather than right at your parting,” Smith says. “Place the brightness at your temple area for a nice cheekbone lift too.”
If ‘Beurre brunette’ sounds very similar to the previous favour for ‘Bronde’, you’d be right.
Bronde – that perfectly blended mix of blonde and brunette – returned to popularity over the past 12 months, years after it left our lexicon, and our strands.
Particularly influential was the appearance of Suki Waterhouse, alongside boyfriend Robert Pattinson, at Dior’s fall 2023 menswear fashion show in Giza, Egypt.
Waterhouse’s softly tousled locks and sweeping bottleneck bangs shined a caramel mid-point between brunette and blonde with deeper roots.
According to L’Oreal Professionnel, Bronde is a colour technique that “fuses brown and blonde, to create a flattering, sun-kissed colour result.”
The haircare brand suggests bronde is ideally suited to warmer skin tones “to enhance natural colouring and it can be very complimentary as you get older”.
“With Bronde, blondes can enjoy an elegant colour result with added depth and dimension, whilst brunettes have their look lifted and illuminated. It’s a perfect way for brunettes to get a bit of blonde in their hair without going platinum.”
The hair brand suggests visiting a professional colourist where a transformation is likely to involve a number of steps to achieve the perfect colour. Hair may be coloured with a permanent or semi-permanent colour, before fine sections are lightened. These lightened pieces are expertly woven throughout your hair, often slightly concentrated around your face for a face-framing effect.
Or, highlights may be applied and roots deepened with a toner for a beautiful graduation of colour down your lengths.
