Debuting a new hair color on her wedding anniversary, Kate Middleton, otherwise known as the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Cambridge, has entered her bronde era. This royal-approved shade is a twist on a classic spring shade that perfectly captures sunlight. A step outside of her usual warm brunette, Middleton’s royal bronde is officially a trendsetter.
Featured Experts
- Steven Picciano is a hairstylist, owner of Glass Beauty Bar and a national Goldwell artist
- Larisa Love is a hairstylist and Joico global brand ambassador and artistic director
What is bronde?
“Bronde is that perfect marriage between brown and blond,” says hairstylist, global brand ambassador and artistic director for Joico, Larisa Love. “It gives you the richness of brunette with the sun-kissed glow of blond, while retaining a soft dimensional look that is effortlessly elevated.”
And according to hairstylist and Goldwell national artist, Steven Picciano, that sun-kissed look makes it a super accessible shade for any skin tone.
“Bronde is a special color story where rich brunette is complemented by honey blond highlights, usually melted seamlessly together, which gives more natural softness than striped with blond,” Picciano says. “Bronde hair is intended to appear as if the sun has naturally lightened your hair on your last vacation. It is versatile enough to suit any skin tone.”
The Key to Kate Middleton’s Royal Bronde
The eagle-eyed among us have noted that Middleton’s new royal bronde tone is intentionally understated.
“The secret to Kate Middleton’s new bronde tone is that the highlights put in were toned down almost to meet the base color,” Picciano says. “This brings harmony and a casualness to her look that exudes confidence and simplicity, all while remaining fresh and trend forward.”
Additionally, the highlight application needs to be as natural as possible.
“It’s all about controlled warmth and seamless blending,” Love adds.
Royal Bronde Is the Perfect Shade for Late Spring
“Royal bronde is great for spring and summer because it’s the perfect way to add some brightness to your look without having to feel washed out or too light,” Picciano says. “It’s very complementary to all skin types.”
“Bronde gives you that lived in luxury, sunlit without the damage,” Love says. “It’s dimensional without the maintenance. It’s fresh, it’s natural and it transitions beautifully from spring into summer.” To minimize any damage from lightening, Love suggests the Joico Blonde Life Lightener collection with a breakage-preventing signature oil blend.
Just make sure your stylist knows you don’t want to take your highlights too light.
“The most important thing is that your stylist does not lift your hair too high with lightener (this will keep it shinier and stronger than traditional blonding services),” Picciano explains. “The natural warmth of the hair is what makes bronde sparkle, and your toner will last longer.”
