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@mirraceara
Just like how Korean women are known for "glass skin," and French women are known for low-key makeup that enhances their natural features, Brazilian women are known for long, shiny, and sun-kissed hair. Just think of the multitude of hair salons that offer Brazilian blowouts or Brazilian keratin treatments. Both are meant to make lackluster hair look bouncy and healthy, à la Brazilian supermodels Gisele Bündchen and Alessandra Ambrosio, and there is a new coloring technique that is making these hair goals even more attainable. It just takes finding the right colorist and properly understanding the technique.
While proper hair care and styling methods are key to achieving long and luscious Brazilian-inspired hair, there's a popular color technique from the South American country that might help. According to Refinery29, "illuminated brunette" is a tropical take on traditional brunette hair. In fact, it mimics the natural highlights that might result from a sunny São Paulo beach vacation. While we wish we could spend endless hours beachside to naturally gain sun-kissed highlights throughout our brunette locks, this technique brings a shimmery effect to your brunette locks, even if traditionally spend your days indoors at a desk.
Illuminated Brunette
Choosing a Shade: Refer to some examples that mirror the length and brunette shade that you desire.
Maintenance Level: Low. Since the highlights are being painted on your natural base color, your hair will grow out into subtle ombré perfection.
Goes Great With: Medium tan complexions, warm undertones, brown or hazel eyes
Similar Shades: brown balayage, tiger's eye, honey brown
Price: Cost will vary depending on salon and how many highlights required to get the look you want
Before you dash off to your colorist, scroll through to learn more about Brazil's buzziest hair color trend.
Illuminated Brunette
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@douglashairoficial
Morenas iluminadas translates to "lightened brunettes" in English, and it's meant to balance between softly brightening up your hair, without escaping your original hair color entirely. The technique involves painting subtle, golden highlights on a naturally dark base in order to achieve a subtle and sun-kissed color transition.
Tons of Highlights
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@mirraceara
Apparently, this golden brunette look has swept the entire nation of Brazil, and it's not difficult to understand why. Bosco said that it's the most highly requested hair color at his São Paulo salon, after traditional blonde. Instagram is any indication (which, when it comes to hair trends, almost always is), the same holds true for other salons.
Balayage Brunette
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@mirraceara
It seems as if another name for this color could simply be "brunette balayage" since it involves highlighting the hair with hand-painted strokes of color that rise from the ends up through the mid-lengths of the hair. Even though balayage is most commonly associated with blonde hair transformations, this trend is proof that it suits brunettes just as well.
Balayage is the perfect technique to master this color trend, as the painting effect makes the brunette highlights more subtle. Rather than noticing the specific highlights themselves, your entire mane looks elevated.
Lived-In Illumiated Brunette
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@mirraceara
The best part about it is that it's probably one of the most—if not the most—low-maintenance hair colors you could possibly spring for. Take it from Bosco, who told Refinery29 that the color typically lasts upwards of six months without any salon upkeep appointments necessary. "I've even had clients who come just once a year," he said. Booking semi-regular color appointments can be timely and costly, so if you're looking for an upgrade that doesn't require constant updates, this may be the ideal style for you.
Short Illuminated Brunette
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@douglasgarciaoficial
While this technique looks absolutely stunning on a long, flowing mane, it looks equally so on a shorter cut. This lob has been expertly painted with soft caramel hues, and livens up her wavy, raven locks.
Because you don't need to visit the salon consistently for touch-ups, this is the perfect color technique if you enjoy getting a dramatic cut, letting it grow out, and repeat.
Curly Illuminated Brunette
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@jothacunha
This technique truly looks jaw-dropping on every hair type, including curly. Colorist Jotha Cunha takes credit for this glowing mane, as he's painted her voluminous corkscrew curls with a shimmering bronzed hue, almost identical to her deep amber eyes. This technique will look just as good as it grows out, and has that irresistible glowing effect.
Beachy Highlights
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@douglasgarciaofficial
For more illuminated brunette hair inspiration, check out #morenailuminada on Instagram, which has over 1.3 million posts. You have been warned: this may result in several hours of scrolling and screenshots, concluding in a spontaneous salon appointment. After all, who doesn't want their hair to look like they just returned from a sun-filled vacation to São Paulo? When you're sporting the morena iluminada, even a dark, dry winter day can't spoil your warm, beachy vibes—that's simply a part of its undeniable magic.
Loads of Shine
Illuminated brunette can help deliver loads of shine to your strands and prevent them from looking flat. Keep your strands at maximum glow-levels with a product like Sachajuan Shine Serum ($35).