Yahoo Lifestyle 2025 is set to be the year of bronde hair
Love it or hate it, TikTok has spawned some genuinely entertaining names for hair colours over the years (cherry-cola hair, for example). One I’ve been seeing pop up more recently, though, is something called “dishwater blonde,” which is Gen Z’s way of reframing what the rest of us simply called dirty-blonde hair. Personally, I think these are both overly negative names for what is a beautiful shade of golden blonde with dimension and deeper roots. But I’ve also seen this shade called “old-money blonde,” “teddy-bear blonde,” and “golden-toffee hair,” which are equally ridiculous. Let’s just cut to the chase and call this shade what it is: bronde — that is, hair that’s a little brown and a little blonde.
Bronde hair is everywhere right now, thanks to celebrities like Taylor Swift, Lily-Rose Depp and Ariana Grande, who have ditched icier and brighter shades of blonde. “Bronde is really about the tone and the lift of the base,” explains Rachel Bodt, Grande’s hair colourist, who owns Homecoming Salon in New York City. “It’s softer than brown and less maintenance than blonde, but it’s also very versatile.”
Differentiating bronde hair from other shades of brunette or blonde is all about clocking the level of warmth. “Bronde has more warmth and gold tones to it,” says Bodt. “Most natural-colour hair is more on the cool side, so lifting the base exposes the warmth.” To me, the mark of a great bronde hair job is if it sparks debate about what colour it actually is, like this TikTok from last year that wondered whether or not Swift can technically be referred to as a blonde:
Bronde hair is easier to maintain than a full-out blonde, which is likely why it’s so popular right now, and it can also be less damaging to hair’s health. But the versatility also means you can change your hair on a whim without spending hours under the foils. “You can add more blonde to bronde hair, and you can also tone it down if you want it to feel slightly deeper. It feels elevated but also feels playful,” the colourist explains.
Bodt says bronde hair can work on anyone and any texture. “You can add a lot of highs and lows to create more dimension, especially with curly or textured hair. Depending on your skin undertones, you can lean more toward a cooler bronde or choose a warmer shade,” she says.
If you’re ready to go bronde, Bodt says the first step is to bring a reference photo to the salon with you. “Bring in pictures of hair colours you love and pictures of things you don’t love,” she advises. “Be specific about what you like and don’t like in each photo.” The final step is to preserve the colour at home — so make sure your hair routine is on point. Try switching your shampoo to a co-wash or one specifically designed to lock colour in your hair. “Lower your hot tools,” the expert adds. “I also love a lamination treatment like Oribe Mirror Rinse. Matrix has a lamination spray too. It makes the hair look like glass — super reflective and glossy.”
Oribe Mirror Rinse glass hair treatment
Matrix Keep Me Vivid Color Lamination spray
To borrow words from Swift, call it what you want — dishwater, dirty blonde, or simply bronde — but this is one hair colour trend that isn’t going away anytime soon.
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