Looking for summer hair inspo? Katie Holmes has got you covered. The actor turned-director, beauty icon, and graphic tee connoisseur has done it again, turning heads with yet another legendary hairstyle and corresponding shade.
Holmes gave a masterclass on how brunettes can shake things up for the summertime, debuting a fresh take on her usually brunette shade with face-framing caramel highlights. Also known as “brownie batter brunette” or soft-frame “espresso highlights,” this look elevates deep natural brown hair with highlights and balayage, weaving dimension throughout the hair with hazelnut, caramel, honey, and bronde tones.
“It’s a soft, rich brown-toned face frame; a mixture of teasylights and balayage creates this simple yet luxurious appearance,” Lauren Mildice, a colorist specialist at Maxine Salon, tells Glamour. “This is an amazing change for brunettes since most feel, they have to add blonde into their hair to create dimensions or a new look.”
Holmes and her go-to colorist, Gina Gilbert of NYC’s Marie Robinson Salon, pulled it off seamlessly, while her waist-length mermaid waves, created by celebrity hairstylist DJ Quintero, showed off the beautiful and bold dimension perfectly.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 10: Katie Holmes is seen outside the Chanel Annual Dinner on June 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)Raymond Hall
Holmes’ summertime shade, which she gave fans another glimpse of before hitting the red-carpet, is right on trend. According to Mildice, hazelnut and caramel highlights are on the rise for brunettes in particular.
“The contrasting colors make a bold dimensional look on such a classic technique,” she says, describing the look as strong hazelnut brown color paneled throughout the hair with burnt hazelnut lowlights along with contrasting light blonde pieces creating a glow of fun. “It’s a paneling technique with strong ribbons to create a whirling pattern with her back-combed hair structure,” she explains.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 10: Katie Holmes, wearing CHANEL, attends the CHANEL Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner at The Odeon on June 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/WireImage)Sean Zanni
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 10: Katie Holmes attends Chanel Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner at The Odeon on June 10, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Ammar Rowaid/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)Ammar Rowaid/Getty Images
Holmes’ new look is also a cool new take on brownie batter brunette, which stars like Mindy Kaling and Camila Cabello have worn lately, too. And you can see the dimension even better when her hair is straight.
