Picture this: the glow on your hair cast by a softly burning candle on a cozy night. The subtle warmth, the golden dimension, the understated luminosity that brightens your whole face. Now, freeze that image, and listen up, because if summer calls for sun-kissed, fall and winter are definitely, definitely vibing candlelit brunette.
What is candlelit brunette?
Candlelit brunette is a subtle color shift (one to two shades lighter) with some nice pops of golden highlights dancing throughout. It looks, as the name suggests, like you’re illuminated by candlelight when the light catches it (think perfect mood lighting, but all the time). It’s a low-maintenance way to add depth, dimension, and body to brunette hair.
Why should we know about it?
Candlelit brunette is nice and rich with lots of warmer undertones, so it’s a great cooler weather trend, as well as an easy way to incorporate some dimension into your hair. (Blondes get a lot of love when it comes to adding dimension, but you can have it without being blonde! This is an easy way to do that.)
I love the look because it is very low-maintenance and versatile. Maintenance is typically every three months, but it’s going to grow out really nice and soft, so if you only like getting your hair done once or twice a year, that’s totally fine. If you want more frequent, smaller appointments, such as Mini Highlights or Partial Head Highlights to brighten things up or a Gloss service to keep it fresh in between, that works great. You can really make the look work for you and your lifestyle.
Who is it great for?
-Brunettes (obviously), especially natural brunettes who want more dimension without necessarily going a lot brighter.
-Low-maintenance lovers (unless your hair is naturally lighter and you are darkening it to achieve the look; totally doable, but it will require more maintenance than if you’re just enhancing your natural color).
-Anyone wanting a natural-looking progression from sun-kissed to warmer tones. I have a lot of clients who want to go brighter in the summer—they’re in the sun, they want that nice, beachy vibe—and then once the leaves change, it’s nice to richen it up a little and get cozy.
How do I ask for it?
There are a few ways to ask for it. Generally speaking, the service is likely going to be a Foilyage or Balayage, but a consultation is always a great place to start. Let your stylist know you’d like golden undertones that complement your skin’s natural undertones, discuss face-framing highlights, and be sure to bring in photos—of what you like and also of what you do not like. That way, we can really get on the same page and make a plan for what’s going to work best for you. The thing that’s great about this look is it’s very customizable to your own personal tastes.
Ready to add a little candlelit glow to your hair? Book your consultation with Syd by calling or texting our Multnomah Village or Foster-Powell location!