Can’t decide whether to go blonde or brunette this summer? Why choose when you can have the best of both worlds! Just follow Rihanna‘s lead. The “Love on the Brain” singer, 36, recently made waves at the Mercer Hotel in SoHo, New York, flaunting a stunning ‘bronde’ hair color—an enticing blend of ashy cinnamon brown with notes of buttery blonde.
Intrigued by her chic new look, we turned to professional hairstylists and color experts to get the lowdown on her latest style, which she showcased in sleek, elegant, extra-long braids. We caught up with Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, Greg Decker, pro hair stylist and colorist, Kristina Maccaro, founder and CEO of Love Lane Salon and Lauren Udoh, pro hair stylist and Hair Creative Director at WigReports.
Rihanna Sports A Trendy New Cinnamon Bronde Hair Color In An Elegant Braided Style
On July 20th, Rihanna and her beau A$AP Rocky turned heads in NYC, both decked out in chic, all-black ensembles. The "We Found Love" hitmaker flaunted her fresh hairstyle, pairing it with a breezy long-sleeved button-down shirt and roomy, ripped jeans.
She added a touch of glamor with dark, studded sunglasses and an array of sparkling diamond jewelry. The warm cinnamon shade of her tresses, as seen in new paparazzi shots, is a departure from her more honey blonde and pitch-black shades she sported earlier this year.
Ready to steal her style? We've got all the tips you need to pull off this sophisticated, summer-ready color.
If you’ve taken a scroll on Pinterest or BeautyTok lately, you might have seen hair inspo pics of ‘bronde’ tresses, (or a stunning mix of brunette and blonde tones) and the trendy, ashy ‘mushroom’ color.
This summer, as stylists tell us, a combination of these popular looks is emerging as the latest to-die-for color at salons all over: ‘mushroom bronde.’
The "Umbrella" artist recently rocked this, but with a touch of more warm, cinnamon-y notes. "Bronde hair with cinnamon highlights is trending," Abdullah notes.
Decker explains that this TikTok-trendy 'bronde' look "mimics the many ashy tones of mushrooms as well as the deeper hues on their undersides to create that subtle and cool color." He adds that it is ultimately a "blonde hair color but a bit on the darker side with gray and purple undertones."
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When combining these two elements—mushroom and bronde— Udoh says that this creates the "perfect balance between dark and light tones, and is the ideal choice for those wanting to lighten their complexion subtly without going too bright."
This week, Rihanna also shared a video of herself (above) with a trendy 'shullet' haircut (shag-meets-mullet) with a more honey blonde hue. If you prefer a lighter blonde look this summer, Maccaro assures that a warmer and blonder color is also trendy now.
Regarding the color, Maccaro says that it is popular since it is “flattering” for many skin tones, and that it is “multi-dimensional.” With the Fenty Beauty mogul, it works so well because it “highlights her best features.” “Honey blonde isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ shade, meaning it can be adjusted to complement any skin tone and haircut shape,” she says.
Overall, if you're dreaming of a rich, mushroom-bronde kissed with a hint of cinnamon or leaning towards a luscious honey blonde, look no further than Rihanna. She has flawlessly rocked both styles, making her the ultimate muse for your next hair transformation!
