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NYFW Street Style Defines Cool-Girl Hair Color for 2020

By: Sarah Federico, Beauty and Lifestyle Writer

Calling our colorist ASAP.

From head-to-toe leather to 90’s inspired floral frocks, there are no rules –and little conformity– when it comes to New York City Fashion Week’s street style. It’s all about being adventurous: dressing according to your tastes and getting playful with your choices. While the street style was certainly diverse, it was the ubiquitous amber brunette tresses that left us wishing we had our colorist on speed dial.

Best described as warm-toned brunette, this versatile hue can liven up almost any complexion. The color works perfectly for those looking to lighten up for spring and summer, while staying true to their brunette ambition.

Here we’ve rounded up our favorite versions of this 2020 hair hue. Scroll through for non-stop inspiration that is sure to brighten up your style this winter and beyond.

Image | Harpers Bazaar

Caramel Sprinkle

Image | Instagram, Riawna Capri

Despite its sweet-treat inspired name, this color has nothing to do with dessert, and everything to do with Selena Gomez’s all-new amber hue. “Selena stopped in to freshen up her ‘70’s shag and color,” says Riawna Capri, L.A. based colorist. “We did a sprinkle of caramel, bronze and sun-kissed highlights.”

And if you’re looking to snag the look, Stephanie Brown, Master Colorist at IGK Salon SoHo shares her tips for achieving Gomez’s hue. “It’s a mix of babylights and ombre highlights,” she explains. The highlights should be very subtle yet dimensional. “Think a brunette with golden undertones that grow out very nicely.”

Ombre Honey Tones

Image | Bustle.com

Though Kendall Jenner is most commonly known for her deep, cool brown locks, she was spotted wearing an updated honey-colored ombre for New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2020.

Jenner’s colorist, Cassondra Kaeding, took to Instagram to share her formula for achieving this transitional hue. Kaeding starts by hand painting balayage highlights through the mid-lengths, and ends with Redken’s Blonde Idol High Lift. She follows that up with a gloss to achieve a high-shine finish.

Smoky Gold Balayage  

Image | Refinery29

Winter 2020’s most luxe take on the hand-painted hair trend: smoky gold. “Smoky gold is going to blow up,” says Kaeding.

“Most people gravitate to cool colors this time year,” adds Kaeding, “but this take on dark blonde is within the comfort zone because it picks up on ash and espresso tones, just with a subtle gold lift at the face frame and ends.”

The result is soft and blended – and a gloss finish gives it that gorgeous shine.

Image | Harpers Bazaar

While the NYFW Fall/Winter runways delivered tantalizing beauty moments, for us it was all about the street style and the amber-brunette hair hues. They can “add vibrancy to your look, especially after winter weather,” says Katie Hale, head of color at Charles Worthington Salon in the UK, “which can strip us of our natural glow and can leave our hair looking flat and dull.”

So, add some vibrancy to your look by warming up your brunette, and get ready to revel in an elevated version of your single process hue.