The Bronde Effect: The hair color you’ll see everywhere in 2017

Thanks to stars like Blake Lively, Gigi Hadid, Jessica Alba, Chrissy Teigen, Eva Green and Jennifer Lopez, the bronde color trend has everyone clamoring for the hottest shade of the year. Not quite bombshell blonde and not quite rich brunette, the color sits in between thanks to a mix of smart highlights, light-reflecting color and cleverly blended roots. Here, our experts’ tips for nailing the best bronde for your client.  

Q Why is bronde so popular for 2017?

A Bronde is huge this year as it’s the stepping-stone between all the hottest and most wearable hair colors. Not too dark and not too light, it’s a happy medium between blonde and brunette that works for so many different women. Plus, it gets clients out of their comfort zone as the perfect canvas for customization, which makes it appealing for both the stylist and client.
—Wayne Lewis, O&M Education Manager

Q What advice do you have for colorists performing a bronde service?
A
Keep the highlights more delicate and spaced out at the root area so that the
grow-out can be low maintenance. You want this color to be effortless. You can adjust the tone to warm or cool using a demi-permanent gloss like Matrix Color Sync, depending on the client’s skin tone and eye color. Use Matrix Bond Ultim8 during the highlighting process to preserve the integrity of the hair, and take the highlights to where you want them so the tone doesn’t change too much after the client leaves the salon.
—George Papanikolas, Matrix Celebrity Colorist

Q How can you keep a client’s bronde looking fresh?
A To keep a client’s bronde color fresh, I definitely recommend having them book a gloss and/or toner between color appointments. This will redeposit the desired tone into the hair, get rid of any brassiness and add extra luster. I also highly recommend salon-quality color-preserving products, such as shampoo and conditioner. Remind your clients to look at their color service and product purchase as an investment. They’ve just paid hundreds of dollars for a color job—why not invest the extra bit to extend the life of their color and keeping it looking fresh out of the salon?
—Natalie Elias, Color Director Prema New York and Goldwell Ambassador

Q What is the maintenance like?
A
Maintenance depends on the application. The closer you stay to the client’s natural color, the less maintaining you will have to do. The further you stray, the more they will need to visit the salon.
—Jason Backe, New York City Colorist and L’Oréal Professionnel Ambassador