This Might Be the Most Googled Hair Color Ever, and Here's Why

written by

Kaitlyn McClintock & Maya Allen

updated Jun 24, 2020

We can always count on Hollywood A-listers and high-fashion models to show us the latest and greatest hair trends. From paparazzi shots to red carpets to runways, there's one hair color that's so pervasive, it might just be one of the most popular of all time. You may have seen it on the likes of Beyoncé at the Met Gala, or perhaps the tousled, wet effect on Hailey Baldwin. And the hair color is…brown with blonde highlights, also known as bronde.

"Bronde is essentially a perfect balance of blonde and brunette creating a great mixture of colors," explains Tiffanie Richards, master colorist at Nunzio Saviano Salon in NYC. MATRIX celebrity colorist George Papanikolas says the color works on just about anyone. "Since bronde falls right in the middle of the hair color spectrum it tends to have a universally flattering end result."

Choosing a Shade: "Typically the most flattering would be adding blonde to your already brunette hair," says Richards.

Maintenance Level: Low to medium

Goes Great With: Naturally brunette hair, most complexions and eye colors. "If you have enough of your natural brunette mixed in with the right shade of blonde its extremely flattering on anyone," says Richards.

Similar Shades: Ombré, medium brown, honey blonde

Price: $350+

Keep scrolling to see 45 stunning looks.

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Hailey Baldwin

Hailey Baldwin is a showstopper with this hair color. Her locks start off a deep chestnut brown color at the roots, flowing out to golden blonde mid-length all the way to the ends.

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Cleo Wade

Cleo Wade's tawny-brown curls are highlighted with a touch of honey blonde around her face and at the ends of her hair. While bronde "can really work for any texture," says Papanikolas, "it usually looks the best with the hair has a bit of a wave so that you can see the textures and swirls of colors."

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Doutzen Kroes

Supermodel Doutzen Kroes is looks absolutely sensational in this bronde shade. Her bouncy ponytail shifts from a brown to golden bronde ombré.

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Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde's brown hair is accented with blonde highlights framing her face. Throw some loose waves into the mix, and this looks feels unfussy yet polished.

Leave bronde to the professionals. "I truly wouldn’t recommend attempting this or any look involving highlights at home," says Richards. "Something like this can go very wrong because brunette hair has a tendency to pull very orange/yellow tones."

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Sofía Vergara

Sofía Vergara's waterfall locks are highlighted throughout with a warm caramel-blonde. Her hair looks thick, healthy, and lustrous.

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Lucy Hale

What starts as a rich, mahogany hue transitions into a toasted bronde balyage. This is a prime example of an ideal fall bronde.

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Kate Beckinsale

Kate Beckinsale's lovely shade of auburn comes courtesy of highlights and lowlights. Reach for Sachajuan Shine Serum ($35) to replicate that shine.

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Leona Lewis

This ombré look goes from dark brown to golden blonde. We love that the ash-blonde highlights are mirrored in her shimmery eye shadow.

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Khloé Kardashian

When she's not platinum blonde, Khloé Kardashian wears an undulating brown-blonde shade with long, loose waves. Try using the Beachwaver Pro ($199) for a similar effect.

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Nikki Reed

Nikki Reed's cool-toned bronde balayage highlights are subtle and gorgeous all at once. We love how they match the exact color of her eyes.

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Jamie Chung

Jamie Chung's bronzed bronde highlights frame her face and flow to the ends of her hair. We love the dramatic contrast of this look.

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Ciara

With dark brown roots and ash-blonde highlights, Ciara's balayage is perfection. Her long, loose waves have a beachy vibe that still feels elegant on the red carpet.

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Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel's warm auburn highlights and breezy waves feel low maintenance in the best way possible. Her long waves and blunt bangs have a California-relaxed energy that's perfect for any season.

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Lily Aldridge

If you have naturally dark brown hair and want to stay true to your brunette roots, do as Lily Aldridge does and opt for a few caramel blonde highlights toward the front of your hair.

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Alessandra Ambrosio

Alessandra Ambrosio wears her brown/blonde hair in glamorous barrel waves on the red carpet.

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Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez's blunt lob is so vibrant with ample ash-blonde highlights. To get smooth, sleek locks like J.Lo, try Moroccanoil Smoothing Lotion ($34)

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Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum's balyaged blonde highlights and long, soft layers give her hair so much dimension.

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Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore's relaxed, wavy texture and golden bronde highlights make her the original trendsetter for a boho, beachy vibe.

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Giselle Bündchen

Giselle Bündchen's wavy, un-polished look is the gold standard for casual (yet chic) ponytails everywhere.

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Vanessa Hudgens

Vanessa Hudgens's raven hair is dip-dyed a dark bronde that complements her skin tone and deep brown eyes.

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Rose Byrne

We love this half-up look on Rose Byrne, expertly showcasing her caramel bronde highlights, which you can spot ever-so-subtly painted throughout the top-half of her locks.

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Jessica Alba

Chestnut hair with honey blonde highlights is Jessica Alba's signature look, and it's not hard to see why.

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Beyoncè

Beyoncé has almost always worn blonde and brown hair, which looks so good against her caramel complexion.

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Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen looks dreamy with her golden-blonde and brown highlights.

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Jourdan Dunn

Jourdan Dunn is one of our favorite hair chameleons. The supermodel has experimented with several hair colors, but the gentle ombré on her chin-length bob has our hearts.

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Halle Berry

Halle Berry's honey-blonde highlights, topknot, and bangs are a chic twist on the classic casual bun.

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Nicole Richie

Nicole Richie's natural curls feature a golden blonde ombré that adds a warm, glowing effect around her face.

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Rosie Huntington Whiteley

Rosie Huntington Whiteley is flawless with this sleek style that shows the symmetry of her blonde highlights.

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Serena Williams

Serena Williams' long, spiraled locks are giving us goddess vibes. The gradience from her deep raven hue to a bronzey blonde complements her glowing skin.

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Alexa Chung

It's no secret that we're obsessed with Alexa Chung's hair. We love the highlighted blonde wisps around her face and ends, proving that even a small amount of highlights can have a big impact.

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Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus' tight, sleek high-ponytail shows the dimension of her blonde highlights.

Your natural shade will impact how often you need touch-ups. "If you are naturally light brown then getting the bronde touched up about every three months with highlights should be sufficient," says Papanikolas.

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Leighton Meester

Leighton Meester's half-up hairstyle with dip-dyed blonde highlights is a more subtle example of this trend.

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Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson's straight, sleek bob is peppered with caramel highlights, adding a warmth to her beautiful raven locks.

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Elizabeth Olsen

Elizabeth Olsen's light brown hair with subtle blonde highlights, paired with her green eyes, are the perfect balance of Earth tones.

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Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore's golden ombré gives her the highly-coveted beachy look. If you're looking for the same weightless waves, add a spritz of Ouai Wave Spray ($26).

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Emilia Clarke

We love Emilia Clarke as both a down-to-earth brunette (her natural hair hue) and a platinum-haired queen. Here, she's added some warm, bronde highlights throughout her locks.

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Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman's warm bronde highlights are beautifully incorporated in this wavy bob.

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Olivia Palermo

Olivia Palermo's balayage adds a golden glow to her brunette locks, complementing her glowing skin and brown cat-eye.

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Zendaya

If anyone can pull off a bowl-cut with caramel balyage, it's Zendaya. This tousled, layered look feels chic and a bit edgy, and we absolutely love it.

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Ashley Tisdale

Ashley Tisdale's cool-toned ombré looks like when you add a splash of milk to black coffee and color transitions from hickory to almond.

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Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff's brown roots incorporate both warm and cool tones with a toasted-caramel and ash-blonde balyage, and her burnt orange ensemble adds a fun zest.

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Rashida Jones

Rashida Jones is often rocking a deep brunette or chestnut hue, so these shiny balayage highlights are a delightful surprise.

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Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks is the queen of caramel highlights. Her long, golden ringlets are gorgeously contrasted with her smoky eyes.

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Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner is a vision with subtle golden highlights and long face-framing layers. We love how her volume creates relaxed yet sculpted waves.

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Behati Prinsloo

Behati Prinsloo's ombré transitions from her brunette roots, to honey bronde, and ends in a light ash-blonde. The look feels totally cohesive.

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