Beurre Brunette: The Buttery Smooth Shade For Your Next Hair Appointment
Looking to switch up your brunette locks without going overboard? Then going "beurre brunette" is right up your alley. A hair coloring trend that has "buttery golden ribbons" weaving through your hair, it adds a soft warmth to even dark brown tresses, as described by its creator, hairstylist and trend forecaster Tom Smith. "This is a great option for those with naturally darker hair who are tempted to try a lighter shade without a dramatic change," he further told Glamour.
Similar to the bronde trend, which, according to L'Oreal Paris, mixes brunette and blond shades into a natural-looking color, beurre brunette looks great during any season. Its lush brown base is perfect for winter's moody vibes, while its golden highlights catch the sun during summer. Because of its transitional function, beurre brunette is also lauded as a smart, low-maintenance way of disguising graying strands among dark brown locks. Smith explained to Glamour that the soft combination of lightness and darkness allows gray tresses to blend in with the natural-looking dimension. "This can be a great way for those who have been mostly dark-haired previously but are starting to see natural gray hairs making their way in."
Another great thing about going beurre brunette is that it works on any hair length and texture. It's subtle enough for soft-launching a new, lighter hair color, and it has a lovely warmth that will have people taking a second look.
Have your bob frame your face with golden brown strands
If you're looking to give yourself a totally new look, opting for a short French bob with beurre brunette is a great way to go. Smith advised Glamour to ask your colorist for fine, buttery golden ribbons that are lightest around the face and then softly blend into your natural brown roots. This creates a face-framing effect that's flattering no matter how long you wear your hair. It also works well if your locks are naturally mid- to dark brown so the warm, rich tint complements them.
To keep the color from turning brassy, BangStyle recommended using hair care products specifically meant to care for colored hair and going to the salon regularly for touch-ups.
Add some buttery goodness to your Neptune waves
With Neptune waves making, well, waves with their effortlessly tousled volume, a natural looking color trend like beurre brunette is in good company. You can give your beachy brunette tresses a sun-kissed look with ribbons of light throughout. By adding some golden warmth to your hair, the light picks out your curls better and emphasizes their coils, which adds to the sensuous and carefree appeal of this trendy hairstyle. It's a natural-looking way of elevating your crowning glory that won't require you to include extra steps in your daily hair-styling routine.
Contrast your braids against your natural brown hair
Subtlety is beurre brunette's biggest selling point for people who aren't ready for dramatic hair changes, but that doesn't mean you can't play with it. Putting naturally textured hair in braids protects the strands and allows the buttery golden sections to stand out further. On darker locks, the ribbons of color plaited together allows the multi-tonal quality of your hair to stand out. For best results and for the health of your scalp and locks, celebrity hairstylist Kim Kimble advised in Glamour to have a professional do your braids.
Look like a rom-com star with buttery gold tendrils
On days when you can't do more than put your hair up in a ponytail or messy bun, having some beurre-brunette tendrils grazing your cheeks can add charm to your look. Given the many bang trends that we've seen this year, such as the face-framing curve bangs, you can lean into the time-saving low-bun hairstyle you've picked up from TikTok and still look chic. Let your bangs hug your cheeks and jawline; their warm, buttery tone will create a soft and flattering frame.
Create dimension with your pixie cut
Sporting short hair? Beurre brunette also looks great with this length. Despite not having the body and movement of longer hair, a pixie cut can look incredibly dynamic with a blend of dark and light tones. This can especially be the case for those with naturally dark brown hair who want their short hair to stand out, without being as intense as a bleach blond or jet black. "[Beurre brunette] is a great choice for softening any potential for harshness when wearing darker bases," Smith told Glamour.