Brunettes! 2017 will be the year of chocolate

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Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Despite what new year diets might say, when it comes to hair, chocolate is in! Whether you're a natural brunette, or looking to make the change there's a whole multitude of rich and decadent shades you can try to start your 2017 sumptuously. The chocolate hair trend mirrors our favourite sweet treat,  encompassing a whole range of different tones from dark and bitter, to rich and smooth. With so many enviable brunette tones, it's easy to find a shade that is tailored to you.

As lower maintenance and more natural looking hair becomes increasingly popular, it's no wonder that this delectable colour palette has come to the forefront of the hair fashion world. We always advise sticking to shades close to your own, dipping a few shades darker at most, or adding some creamy elements to your shade to take it a couple of tones higher -- for once a trend that isn't too high maintenance! So, with this in mind, here's a little more info on this season's must-have shade, and some top tips on how to style it!

Selecting your shade

IMG_1022 Expert Advice
Image credit: IMG_1022 Expert Advice

The first place to start when deciding which delicious shade to pick is analysing your skin tone. Those with olive and darker skin will suit delectable caramel shades of brown, whereas those with paler skin tones should look to indulge in richer red hued tones. A consultation with your stylist can find the perfect shade for you, with a little inspiration from a celebrity colour and style mood board.

Golden brown or 'bronde' is also big news for this year. The warm toned colour can be adjusted to suit any skin tone and is a great way to grow out a darker brunette colouring. Wear your golden brown hair flipped to one side to create maximum volume and a carefree finish.

Darker, more bitter shades of brown look fantastic on paler skin tones. Wearing such tones in a sharp and slick bob is very in vogue at the moment: worn sleek for a sophisticated classic look or ruffled with texturising spray to encourage more movement. Kylie Jenner's asymmetrical dark bitter chocolate bob is a prime example of such a chic look. When it comes to makeup you can instantly add drama by wearing smokey eye make-up giving a nod to the goth trend on A/W17 catwalks. Wear a peach or pink blush to give skin a much-needed flush of colour and to avoid looking washed out. If sharp and sleek isn't your style, perhaps you could go for a retro inspired rolled bob, as seen on the Jeremy Scott catwalk. Models wore their dark brown bobs with rolled fringes and lengths, against 60's stylings and bright eye makeup.  

Brunette is the perfect base for the ever popular balayage technique, which still remains one of the top services requested at our salon. Brushing freehand blonde shades through your locks will give it a healthy glow, which exudes casual cool. Jenna Coleman and Lily Collins have given their long bobs a boost with carefully placed caramel and honey highlights to lift their brunette base. This adds texture and the illusion of thicker hair. What's more, you can add caramel tones to your brunette shade to follow yet another sub-trend -  'tiger eye'. Tiger eye colour mixes rich browns and gold tones to give an incredibly flattering finished look. This is the perfect way to add a natural looking gloss to your hair and avoid it looking like a sickly solid bar of your favourite delectable treat.

Seamless styling

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
Image credit: Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

A great way to show off your silky chocolate locks is to look toward Kim Kardashian's stylist Chris Appleton, who styles her super long extensions in a retro Cher finish. Inspired by Versace's poker straight catwalk style, use straightening irons to completely smooth the hair to give a 'chocolate fountain' like effect.

Of course, we all love the decadence of a rich plain bar, but sometimes some added flavour can make all the difference. In the same way, adding a few hair accessories is a great way to set off your new colour. For some decorative inspiration take a peek at SS/17's Alexander McQueen and Erdem catwalks who used pretty jewels and metallic bands to set off the natural hair tones of their models. Adorn your hair with multiple embellished clips and grips for an edgy look, or even add a hint of gold glitter at the roots to give your new colour a whole new dimension.

Ready to make a new year colour change? Get in touch with one of our experts for a colour consultation, or take a look around our blog for some more hair-spiration.

Main article image is cropped for purpose - full credit to Standard / Shutterstock.com

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