I Swore I Wouldn't Color My Hair This Summer—Then I Saw These "Biscoff Bronde" Highlights

Mark my words, I will have strong, healthy hair this summer. I recently chopped it into a lob, stopped getting highlights, ceased the slick-backs to avoid breakage at my hairline, and even started taking hair-growth supplements to encourage fullness and shine. (That's a story for another day.) I'm fully committed to the cause, which means I must attempt to avert my eyes from buzzy hair color trends. Chemical processing of any kind, including hair dye, can wreak havoc on your strands over time. Don't blame the messenger. But attempt is the operative word here. I'm a beauty editor, and I can't help but swoon over a stunning hair trend!

Such was the case when I noticed "Biscoff bronde" highlights on my feed. After gawking at the warm, glossy color, I immediately felt the urge to text my colorist, but first, I decided to reach out to the source—Sydney-based hairstylist Emma Russell of Studio Muse Hair Salon—for every single detail. It turns out Biscoff bronde is arguably the healthiest color trend for existing brunettes, so I don't necessarily have to nix my summer hair goals. Scroll ahead for everything you need to know, including maintenance tips and exactly what to ask for at the salon.

What is Biscoff bronde?

Bronde generally refers to a cross between blonde and brunette, but according to Russell, Biscoff bronde is even richer and more candlelit without heading into redhead territory. "It's warmer than a classic teddy bronde but cooler, softer, and more natural than a cowboy copper," she explains. Made for brunettes, "the color is only a few shades lighter than the natural base, so it feels low contrast and effortless," she adds.

You know how a Biscoff cookie has that yummy, caramelized hue? That's exactly what Russell aimed to capture with this hair trend. In fact, she even came up with the concept while handing out Biscoff cookies to clients in the salon. Art imitates life, as they say. "We were trying to think of a tone people could instantly visualize and relate to, and the biscuit was literally right in front of us. The Biscoff color matched the vibe perfectly," she shares.

The best part about Biscoff bronde is that it doesn't require much maintenance, as the transition is soft and seamless thanks to that low-contrast blend, and there's no heavy bleaching involved. This is great news for someone who is laser-focused on resuscitating their strands this summer. "Clients want color that feels expensive and dimensional without being overly bright or high-maintenance," Russell adds. As hair color trends lean toward warm, natural-looking tones this summer, Biscoff bronde is poised to skyrocket in popularity.

More Biscoff Bronde Inspiration

According to Russell, early 2000s Jessica Alba is the ultimate Biscoff bronde reference. Notice how you can't tell exactly where her highlights begin? That's the hallmark of the low-contrast look.

She also crowns Tate McRae as a modern-day reference, pointing out her "soft, warm bronde feel."

I adore this look on Victoria Monét's long, mermaid-like tresses.

Curls naturally have more dimension, which makes Biscoff bronde highlights appear even richer.

Beyoncé's early 2000s looks also have a permanent place on my beauty mood board.

What to Ask for at the Salon

The hair trend has certainly made the rounds on social media (Russell's original video has 500,000 views and counting!), but let's be honest. It's not like you can saunter over to your colorist and simply ask for Biscoff bronde. Instead, Russell has a few suggestions depending on your natural base hue.

"For darker bases like brunettes, I'd usually recommend a level seven highlight tone, while lighter bases can sit more around a level eight or nine. If someone has naturally very dark brown or black hair, I'd also suggest softly breaking the base color to create more cohesion and reduce contrast between the highlights and natural hair," she shares. She creates balayage highlights with a high-lift tint, which is a specific type of dye that lifts color multiple levels without traditional bleaching agents. However, it only works on hair that's never been colored. If you have highlights already, you may want to wait until those grow out and apply the high-lift tint only on the roots.

How to Maintain Biscoff Bronde

Biscoff bronde is relatively easy to maintain—especially if you go the no-bleach route—but that being said, color-treated hair will always require a bit of TLC. "Summer usually means more sun, swimming, and heat exposure, so depending on lifestyle, the tone may need refreshing a little more often than usual," says Russell. "I generally recommend a gloss refresh every eight to 12 weeks to keep the color looking rich, glossy, and fresh while maintaining that soft warmth."

At-home upkeep is also crucial, be it an in-shower gloss, pigment-depositing hair mask, or color-safe shampoo. Find every essential just ahead, along with editor-loved styling products to keep your Biscoff bronde hair looking deliciously vibrant.