The Brunette Edit of 2026: Trending Brunette Hair Shades Your Clients Will Be Asking For
Published date 15 May 2026
Move over blondes, it's time for our brunette clients' hair to shine.
Brunettes are taking off in 2026, and we’re seeing them getting richer and way more dimensional. Forget your flatone tone colours, 2026 brunettes are getting expensive. We’re seeing ribbons of warmth, cool smoky undertones and multi-dimensional finishes that look super luxurious. Let’s explore the brunette hair colours set to be taking over salons in 2026, and how you can recreate them with bespoke colour formulations using Quif Professional.
Espresso Brunette
It’s rich, it’s glossy, and it’s seriously expensive looking… it’s Espresso Brunette. This shade combines deep coffee and mocha-inspired tones with soft ribbons of lightness running throughout the hair. This creates the subtle dimension that is taking your brunette client's hair to the next level, making it look more expensive and luxurious. It creates a dark, glossy look without looking flat, which is the perfect option for your brunette clients who want to add a little edge to their hair. Espresso Brunette has become popular because of how wearable it feels, and it’s bold enough to make a statement while still keeping the hair soft.
How To Create Espresso Brunette
Using Quif’s Magi:colour:
- 4.77 all over the hair with ribbons of 7.03 through the lightened highlights
Using Quif’s Quint:essential:
- 4.71 all over with 7.7 over old highlights.
Using Quif’s Magi:gloss:
- 4.11 with a dash of 066 through the brunette. Tone the blonde ribbons with 6.03 and a dash of 0.03 for that soft desert sand finish
Frosted Brunette
Who would have thought? Cool-toned brunettes are having a huge moment this year, and Frosted Brunette is leading the way. This shade blends smoky brunette tones with soft ash undertones and subtle lighter ribbons throughout the hair for that expensive brunette finish that’s all the craze. Unlike warmer brunette trends, Frosted Brunette keeps things cooler and softer, creating a natural-looking dimension that feels modern and super elevated.
How To Create Frosted Brunette
Using Quint:essential:
- 5.1 + 4.71 equal parts
Using Magi:colour:
- 4.0 + 5.1 with 1ml of 0.88
- Add light, soft ribbons using Magi:light Soft Ash through the mid-lengths and ends
Toffee Brunette
If your clients want warmth without being too golden or coppery, Toffee Brunette is about to become their new obsession. This glossy brunette trend combines a soft chocolatey base with caramel and golden toffee ribbons running throughout the hair. The result creates a rich and warm finish, making it the perfect choice for summer. The soft blend of caramel and gold tones gives the hair dimension, but it still keeps the overall brunette look soft and luxurious. So, if your clients want to lighten things up, Toffee Brunette is the ultimate choice to add some depth and richness to their look.
How To Create Toffee Brunette
Using Quint:essential:
- Pre-lighten using 9+ Magi:light Silver
- Tone with 8.07 Muted Mocha for a soft toffee balayage finish
Using Magi:colour:
- Use 8.73 to tone for a soft toffee tone
- For extra depth, add equal parts of 6.73
Using Magi:gloss:
- Root Tap: 10ml of 3.0 + 20ml 5.13ml with 60ml of Gloss Activator
- Mid-lengths & ends: 25ml 8.03 + 10ml 9.62 with 47ml of Gloss Activator
Pro Tip: Using the darker .73 shades through the root area before melting into lighter toffee tones through the ends creates the softest, most seamless grow-out.
Sultry Brunette
Deep brunette shades are easily one of the biggest trends in the salon, and Sultry Brunette is the shade that clients are looking for. It’s a Kardashian-inspired brunette with an ultra-glossy shine and almost black-like depth, but without the harsh and heavy finish. This trend focuses on multi-tonal richness and reflective shine rather than a flat dark colour, which is what gives the hair a liquid, mirror-like finish. It’s super sultry, and we’re obsessed!
How To Create Sultry Brunette
Using Quint:essential
- 30ml 3N + 30ml 4MA with 1.5% or 3% Developer
Using Magi:colour
- 40ml 3.0 + 10ml 4.77 with 1.5% or 3% Magi:fuel Developer
Using Magi:gloss
- 30ml 3N + 30ml 4SA with 1.5% or 3% Developer
- For a softer finish with subtle warmth, add 20-40ml of 4.62 depending on the desired tone the clients want
Brunettes are having their main character moment in 2026
So, the next time your brunette client books an appointment for a cut and a blowdry, why not entice them to one of these trendy colours? What’s not to love! With Quif Professional, either using Quint:essential, Magi:colour or Magi:gloss, you can truly create a brunette that delivers depth, radiance and a richer shine than ever before, making it possible to achieve your clients' hair desires, so they leave your salon chair feeling their most luxurious selves.
Don’t forget! Follow Quif Professional over on Instagram @quifhair to watch these trends come to life with expert tips, formulations, and how-tos so you can expand your inspiration beyond the salon chair…
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