Gourmand Hair Colors Are A Fun Hair Style To Try

Fragrance has trained us to crave rich, sweet notes—and now hair color is following suit. The perfect balance of luscious and luxe, these shades are all about rich texture and a glossy finish. With fun, tempting names like caramel, coconut, chocolate and ice cream, they create their own category. Ahead, we tapped five hair experts to share the fun hair colors they’re seeing everywhere right now.

Experts are not included

What is Gourmand Hair Color?

Aromatic gourmand notes mimic sticky candies like vanilla, caramel and chocolate. With hair color, that same inspiration shows up as rich, shiny, dessert-inspired shades, like chocolate cherry, honey blond, chantilly cream or caramel ribbon highlights.

Celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos says that hairstyles also help to define a vision. “They also help clients to better perceive the warmth, depth and tone they desire,” he adds. For colorists, that extra detail is important to creating a dimensional effect that clients are happy with, but can be difficult to communicate during a consultation.

Why It’s Trending

When celebrity hairstylist and colorist Nicole Leal hears the phrase “blonde hair,” she thinks of “a very rich, mixed color.” These bright colors, she explains, “are like pressing a reset button, adding light and perfect shine to the hair.”

Besides their visual impact, gourmand shades also achieve a sense of luxury. “These tones feel cozy, familiar and reassuring but still look sophisticated,” says hairstylist and Redken artistic ambassador Johnny Ramirez.

The shades are also very versatile, working on a variety of hair types and tones. “There really is a color for everyone,” says celebrity colorist Sierra Kener. “Cold vanilla will make blue eyes pop, while rich espresso is more flattering on someone with warm undertones.”

Celebrity hairstylist Rogério Cavalcante agrees, stressing the importance of matching your hair color to your natural undertone. “The most consistent decision will always be to follow your natural low tone and respect your natural differences,” he explains. “That means that if a person has a cool tone, they will look better with cool colors of hair color and if they have a warm tone, they will look better with warm colors of hair color.”

Gourmand Hair Colors You Must Try

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Coconut milk

Cool colored hair is trending this season. From soft brunette to icy tones, this shade stands out with its washed finish and subtle highlights.

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Maple Syrup Hair

You don’t have to stray far from your natural color to try a gourmand-inspired shade. A mix of highlights and lowlights add dimension to the brunette’s hair while keeping the look soft and natural.

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Chocolate Hazelnut

According to Leal, gourmand hair colors tend to have a warm tone and boast high shine. This chocolate hazelnut hue, for example, combines toasted browns with creamy milk chocolate ribbons.

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Buttery Honey Blond

Think of this shade as the cozy cousin of old money blond. “It costs the same but it doesn’t go over the yellow tones,” said Ramirez.

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Toasted Caramel

If you’re a natural brunette looking to lighten your complexion, toasted caramel is an easy entry point. It combines melted highlights with rich golden brown tones that sweep over “naturally sun-kissed locks,” says Ramirez.

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Caramel Flan

Bright highlights are a great way to brighten up your complexion during the colder months. Properly placed, they frame the face and add depth to the length.

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Almond milk

Lindsay Lohan made headlines when she stepped out in this soft, shiny white. Giannetos, who created the shade, says it has become a popular color because of its sophisticated, modern feel. If you are leaning towards a light foundation, we recommend that you try this milky color.