What Is Bronde Hair? Experts Explain

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For those who can't decide whether to go blonde or brunette, we've got good news: You don't have to make up your mind! One of the hottest hair colors of summer also happens to be a golden compromise. We're, of course, talking about bronde hair.

"Bronde is a beautiful combination of light-to-medium blonde mixed with brunette/brown hair colors," says Richy Kandasamy, colorist and R+Co Collective Member. "The result is a sun-kissed appearance with a natural blend of lighter and darker shades, creating vibrant yet subtle movement within the hair." Thus, it's the ultimate shade for warmth and radiance.

"[It's] the perfect balance of dark and light, dimensional with some highlights and balayage," says Chase Kusero, celebrity colorist and co-founder of IGK Hair Care. "It’s a little bit more maintenance than a 'mocha brown,' but not as much as a bright blonde."

The coloring process is generally simple, but it all depends on the individual. Kusero says that most appointments will start out with a color consultation to discuss your desired bronde shade, taking into account your natural hair color, skin tone, and personal preferences. The colorist will also assess your hair health and explain the process to you.

Once you decide on what tone of bronde works best, your colorist will start by sectioning hair to ensure even application. He adds that they may use foils, balayage, or other coloring techniques to create a dimensional bronde effect. Darker shades are typically applied to the roots and mid-lengths, while lighter shades are applied to the ends to mimic that sun-kissed look. "As long as your colorist gives you a suitable tone and level of lightness, it can work for every skin tone and hair texture," he says. "It’s the perfect way for brunettes to dabble with the idea of going lighter without committing to anything they can’t handle."

So, with all that in mind, we rounded up 30 bronde hair ideas for you to take with you to your next appointment. Bookmark this and thank us later.

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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Huntington-Whiteley's cool brunette base is lightened with soft gold highlights throughout for a subtle bronde. She styles it in a classic half-up half-down updo for a touch of elegance.

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Sofia Vergara

For extra pop, Vergara wears her bronde hair with bright yellow highlights and warm undertones. Her beachy waves accentuate the blonde for a perfect vibrant glow.

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Jennifer Lopez

Lopez's blonde highlights are soft and diffused to blend seamlessly with her cool brunette base. Paired with her long layers, it frames her face and adds depth and volume to her overall look.

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Laverne Cox

According to Kandasamy, if you already have brunette or darker hair as your base, your colorist will use either highlights or balayage to lighten sections. Cox's bronde effect utilizes honey highlights to warm up her darker base.

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Halle Berry

Berry's brunette base is lightened with caramel-blonde highlights layered throughout. She, too, styles her hair in a half-up, half-down updo with her curtain bangs framing her face.

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Blake Lively

If you're naturally blonde and want to go bronde, Kandamasy says your coloring process starts with getting a brunette base. Once achieved, your colorist will then add balayage or highlights to the mid-lengths of the hair to create the desired blend of brown and blonde tones, as seen here on Blake Lively. Her dark roots gradually get lighter as you make it to the ends for a stunning bronde ombré.

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Beyoncé

There's not a hair color that Queen Bey can't pull off, but we are forever loving her bronde moments. Her dark base is instantly warmed with deep honey highlights.

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Ashley Benson

If you're looking to maintain your bronde hue, Kandasamy recommends using sulfate-free products to keep your color from fading. Color-enhancing products like R+Co GEMSTONE Color Shampoo and Conditioner will help lock in that rich bronde shade, whether warmer or cooler leaning like Benson's.

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Olivia Palermo

Kusero recommends taking a break from heat tools once you've gone bronde as wearing your natural texture allows your hair to heal from any damage caused by the coloring process. He recommends using an oil like the IGK Cash In Instant Repair Serum to help keep hair soft and shiny while giving it moisture.

Here, Palermo wears golden highlights for a vibrant bronde that gives her subtle layers even more dimension.

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Jamie Chung

Chung keeps her bright blonde balayage concentrated at the front to frame her face. The stark contrast against her dark brunette base makes her medium cut more dynamic. Kusero says that while bronde can be low-maintenance, you still need touch-ups to maintain it. How often you go in for maintenance will depend on how fast your hair grows and the specific coloring technique used, so be sure to ask your colorist for the best tips.

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Jennifer Aniston

Bronde doesn't have to be sunny and warm. For a cooler tone, opt for an ash brown base like Aniston and lighten it up using icy blonde highlights throughout.

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Ciara

One of the reasons bronde is so popular is its versatility. Here, Ciara wears her bronde with a mix of bright and warm honey-blonde highlights that pop against her dark base.

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Jennifer Lawrence

Lawrence's two-toned hair is soft and starts dark at the roots and gradually gets icier and lighter as it moves through the ends. She styles it in a sleek slicked-back ponytail.

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Gigi Hadid

Hadid's warm honey highlights give her dark base that I-just-laid-out-in-Saint-Tropez vibe that makes bronde hair irresistible. She styles it in a top knot with her bangs swept to the side for a super chic effect.

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Khloé Kardashian

Kardashian's bronde hair has caramel tones that not only warm up the deep brunette base underneath but also complement her skin tone. She wears it in a very high pony for some added drama.

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Cara Delevigne

Bronde is the perfect shade to add depth to a blunt bob. Delevigne's brunette hue is lightened with soft light blonde highlights that give her classic cut some edge.

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Margot Robbie

Before she was Barbie blonde, Robbie rocked a bronde look — and she wore it beautifully. Here, she has a gradient effect that goes from dark on her roots to bright blonde as you reach the ends. We especially love it styled in this bouffant-esque 'do.

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Elizabeth Olsen

In contrast to Delevigne's icy blonde highlights, Olsen went for golden tones to brighten up her brunette. The added layers give the entire look more volume and depth.

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Hailey Bieber

If glazed bronde is a thing, leave it to Bieber to claim that territory. Her bronde ombré starts dark at the root and gets brighter in a gradual gradient effect that reveals honey blonde at the ends.

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Gisele Bündchen

If you're looking for something less warm and bright, follow Bündchen's lead. Here, pale blonde highlights and lowlights are woven throughout her ashy brunette base for something more cool-toned.

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Jessica Alba

Alba's two-tone bronde completely brightens up her lob for the perfect summer look. Her dark brunette base switches to blonde right at the top for something more dynamic.

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Lily James

James' gradient bronde adds movement to her hair. Her sparkling cool and bright highlights are a nice contrast to her warm brunette base.

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Cameron Diaz

You don't have to have a dark brunette base to go bronde either. Diaz's dirty blonde is lightened with brighter shades of blonde placed throughout her layered hair for something bright and airy.

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Nicole Richie

Bronde is also great shade if you're looking to add definition to curls, as seen on Richie here. Her bronde ombré brings depth and texture to her already voluminous hair.

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Yvonne Orji

A cool-toned bronde pops beautifully against deeper skin tones. Oriji's icy blonde highlights are the perfect complement to a darker base and give her layers so much dimension.

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Ashley Tisdale

If you're looking for a subtle brightness without going the full blonde highlight route, opt for warm and dark honey tones like Tisdale. Her dark base gradually lights up with deep honey blonde towards the ends.

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Mariah Carey

Kandasamy adds that bronde can help create a nice face-framing effect, especially if you're wearing luminous blonde highlights to enhance your complexion. Here, Carey's face-framing ribbons of gold exemplify just that.

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