How to Get the Expensive Brunette Hair Color Trend

If you’re in the know with beauty trends, then we’ll bet you’ve heard of the ultra-popular “expensive brunette” hair color being donned by countless celebrities. And while you might have heard of the trend, perhaps you’re not exactly sure what it is or how to get it 一 which would be completely understandable considering its elusive name. 

So, we consulted with Jonathan Colombini, celebrity hairstylist and L’Oréal Paris expert, to learn more about what an expensive brunette hair color is. Plus, he shares his tips on how to rock the coveted look. 

What Exactly Is Expensive Brunette Hair? 

The name of this industry sweeping trend doesn’t refer to the cost it requires to achieve the color 一 it might actually not cost you all that much, but more on that later. Instead, it speaks more to the overall dimension, shine and appearance of the hair rather than to a specific shade of brown. 

“The trend refers to achieving natural and low maintenance, yet expensive-looking brown hair,” says Colombini. “Typically this means going back to [your] natural color 一 it could be that you’re growing out your blonde or bronde color. It’s meant to give dimension 一 expensive brunette hair is all about creating shiny, rich looking color without breaking the bank or leaving your hair with a ton of damage.”  

How to Get Expensive Brunette Hair 

If you like what you hear about expensive brunette hair and you’re looking to achieve it, Colombini recommends heading to the salon to get minimal highlights or lowlights. 

“Your colorist will use a blend of subtle highlights and lowlights with tones that are naturally suited for you,” he says. “This will create a natural, seamless blend with your root color.” 

A full head of highlights, balayage or all-over color can be extremely costly to maintain. So, opting for just a bit of a dimension-adding hair color that won’t require constant maintenance is a great way to achieve the coveted look while not having to empty your pockets. Plus, adding just subtle additions of dimension keep the hair true to the trend 一 natural-looking and understated. Another option is to ask your stylist for a quarter or half head of balayage highlights in a shade that closely resembles your natural hue. 

Editor’s tip: The L’Oréal Paris Hair Color Concierge is also a great resource for all things hair color. You can chat with professional colorists and find tips and tricks for keeping your new hue shiny and healthy.

To finish off your expensive brunette transformation, “a gloss should be used leaving your hair with high shine and softer, healthy looking strands,” according to Colombini. “Expensive brunette is meant to blend with your natural hair as it grows out, and doesn’t require a lot of upkeep between appointments.”

Save some coins and time by using an at-home hair gloss, like the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Rich Brunette. In just 15 minutes it will enhance your hair’s tone and shine while deeping conditioning for a softer, more vibrant mane. 

Next: 10 Gorgeous Strawberry Blonde Hair Colors to Try Right Now

Written by: Alyssa Kaplan, Photo Credit: IG/@emreozmenhairlondon