Warm, easier to manage colors like Brunette are perfect for the Winter and your clients know it. No matter how central Brunette is to your day-to-day services, education mentor Melody Larissa (@ml_methods) has a practical perspective and more in this to-the-point Brunette forward feature.
Question: Tips for attracting brunette clients?
Showcase Diversity: Highlight a variety of brunette looks, from deep dark brunettes to more bronzed or dimensional brunettes. This way, clients can see there’s not just one type of brunette, but many shades and techniques.
Demonstrate Techniques: Emphasize that you can offer different techniques like dimensional coloring, color melting, or even a single, rich tone. This helps clients know they have options beyond just highlights.
Use Before and After Photos: Share before-and-after pictures to show your expertise with brunette transformations, making it clear you specialize in that area.
Set Aftercare Expectations: Be upfront about the aftercare and maintenance so clients know what to expect to keep their color looking its best.
Question: How to achieve trendy brunette tones like espresso, coffee, chocolate, and cinnamon?
Espresso Brunette: This tone is super on-trend in 2026. It’s all about a rich, deep brunette at a level 3, 4, or maybe 5. Think of it like a shot of espresso: it’s got depth, but you can choose to add a subtle reflective tone. You can keep it neutral or add a smoky finish for cooler vibes, or a slight warmth for a bit of dimension.
Chocolate Brunette: Chocolate tones are versatile and can range from level 4 to 6. You can go for a neutral-cool chocolate using a formula that has a bit of reflectiveness without too much warmth. It’s a balanced tone that still catches the light nicely and feels very modern.
Cinnamon Brunette: This is a warmer, spicier tone that’s really popular right now. You can incorporate a hint of copper-red to create that cinnamon warmth, but keep it subtle—more of a copper-red than a full red-copper, so you just get that hint of spice. This adds a lot of warmth and dimension and gives a nice vibrant twist to a classic brunette.
Tips for Bleachless Brunettes:
As a stylist working behind the chair, I love using PRAVANA products, especially for the bleachless brunette technique.
Instead of using lightener, I use PRAVANA ChromaSilk permanent hair color to create dimension without the damage or commitment of bleach.
Choosing the Right Shades: For example, if a client is around a level 4, I might use an 8.11 (double ash) or a 9.22 (intense beige) with 30 or 40 volume developer. This lifts the hair a few levels and simultaneously tones it with a cooler background, giving those subtle, lighter pops without bleach.
Two-Step Process: Remember, even though it’s not a blonding session, it’s still a two-step process. After lifting with a permanent color, you can add lowlights or any additional shades from the ChromaSilk line to customize depth.
Final Glossing with HydraGloss: Once the lighter pieces and lowlights are in place, finish with a PRAVANA HydraGloss demi-permanent color. This final gloss sets the tone exactly where your client wants it—whether that’s a neutral NT series, a smoky S series for espresso tones, or even a gold-copper brown for a cinnamon brunette.
Question: Pro tip for caring for brunette hair?
Tailor Aftercare to Tone: Depending on whether your client prefers a warmer brunette or a cooler brunette, offer different aftercare routines. For those comfortable with warmth, recommend coming in every 8-10 weeks for a gloss or toner, and suggest a pigmented shampoo or conditioner to maintain richness between visits.
Cool-Toned Care: For clients who want a smokier, more ash or matte brunette, recommend shampoos or conditioners with a green or blue base to neutralize unwanted warmth.
Maintain Shine and Health: Since brunette hair reflects light beautifully, suggest a moisturizing conditioner or hair mask to keep it shiny. Also, remind them to use a heat protectant like PRAVANA Intense Therapy Leave In and possibly a hair oil on the ends if they use hot tools, to prevent dryness and color fade.
PRAVANA Education Mentor Melody Larissa (@ML_Methods) is a dynamic and esteemed professional in the world of hairstyling. Melody specializes in low-maintenance, wearable, lived-in color of all shades – blondes, brunettes, brondes, reds and VIVIDS, all of which showcase her extensive expertise and artistry. She is a devoted, working hairstylist with 18 years of experience in the Columbus, OH market and has been a PRAVANA educator for 13 years.
Melody’s mission is to empower others—whether working with clients behind the chair, or teaching stylists in classrooms, on stage, and in digital spaces. Beyond her love of farm life with her family and three dogs, she’s a creator of digital education and curriculum, helping fellow stylists discover new techniques and become the best versions of themselves. At her core, Melody’s passion lies in lifting others up and helping them reach their goals as stylists, artists, and people.
