To paraphrase a famous saying, some of the best things in life are hybrids; the emergence of espresso martinis made that crystal clear.
It really, then, should come as no surprise that hybrid hair colours are pretty damn great as well. Combine blonde and brunette (two very different but equally striking hair colours) for instance, and you’re in for a real treat of a result.
Said result? Bronde, of course. What began as a shade pit stop between the two classic colours has now emerged as a chic colour in its own right; we’d go as far as to label it as one of Hollywood’s very favourite hair hues.
What’s so wonderful about it, you may be wondering? The compromise it offers.
While more lived-in (and hence lower maintenance) than a lighter blonde, it’s still extremely flattering on features, and also manages to steer clear of some of the potential pitfalls of traditional brunette colours (e.g. harshness, lack of dimension, the need for more makeup, etc.). Stopping just before bleach zaps away your shine will leave you with more of the gloss factor that brunettes boast, too.
As for what classifies, the bronde net is cast quite wide. Any shade you would deem darker than a classic blonde yet lighter than a classic brunette makes the cut, sure, but the category includes variations of blonde-to-brunette balayage and allows plenty of room for highlighting/lowlighting as well.
Need some further clarification and/or inspiration? We’ve got you covered with these beautiful bronde celeb looks…
Jennifer Lopez
Lopez practically invented bronde, and this snap confirms that she still wears it absolutely flawlessly.
Brooke Shields
Shields’ piecey curls allow pockets of her varying bronde shades (from honey to hazelnut) to peek through.
Gigi Hadid
More toffee than caramel in tone, Hadid keeps her colour consistent from roots to ends.
Samara Weaving
Weaving puts her honey bronde colour on show with the help of a stunning statement fringe.
Ciara
Ciara’s take on bronde is impressively multifaceted, with lighter champagne pieces gorgeously framing her face.
Sofia Richie
Richie’s lived-in wavy bends are the ideal style fit for her chic but bohemian bronde colour.
Josephine Skriver
Skriver’s shade is a striking showcase of warm-toned bronde right from roots to ends.
Gisele Bündchen
Bündchen’s bronde sits toward the cooler side of the spectrum, with buttery highlights scattered throughout.
Jessica Alba
Alba’s bronde shade leans a little warmer and darker, teaching a masterclass in how natural brunettes can master the trend.
Doutzen Kroes
Kroes’ curls and parting flip (ironically) highlight the varying shades of bronde within her balayage blend.
Britt Robertson
Robertson’s lightly highlighted bronde hue complements the rosy tones of her makeup like a dream.
Halston Sage
Sleek texture and flipped-out ends spotlight the smooth flow of Sage’s caramel bronde colour beautifully.
Suki Waterhouse
Take our (or Waterhouse’s) word for it; bronze tones and bronde hair are a shade match made in heaven.
Allison Williams
Williams doesn’t let her limited length stop her from embracing both blonde and brunette within her blonde blend.
Ellen Pompeo
Pompeo’s side-swept style shows off the difference in depth between her caramel ends and coffee roots.
Main image credit: @chadwoodhair
