A little extra whip, a lot of dimension! These voluminous curls bring out every rich, spicy note in this Spiced Espresso brunette. (PRAVANA ChromaSilk Creme Hair Color 4N and 6.34)
Get the Look: Fall Hair Trends How-To
Loved the rich brunette inspiration in our recent blog articles The Espresso Edit and The Glossing Era? If you found yourself scrolling through the looks thinking, “Okay, but how do I actually create those looks behind the chair?”—we’ve got you. This month, we’re taking two of our favorite fall brunette looks from inspiration to execution with the full before-and-after, step-by-step formulas and pro tips you can use to bring a little espresso-inspired magic to your own fall hair color menu.
Spiced Espresso Brunette
Think of this as the deeper, moodier side of The Espresso Edit, with a rich brunette foundation warmed up by subtle spice. Spiced Espresso Brunette combines depth with strategically placed warmth, creating a dimensional brown that feels rich and glossy while still allowing the lighter pieces to catch the light. It’s an especially beautiful option for natural brunettes who want a seasonal refresh without straying too far from their signature color.
A brunette makeover worth savoring! Spiced Espresso takes natural brown to a multi-tonal masterpiece. (PRAVANA ChromaSilk Creme Hair Color 4N and 6.34)
The Formula:
1. Pre-Lighten: Starting with a V-shape in the nape and taking diagonal back sections, create teasylights with PRAVANA Pure Light Ultra Lightener + PRAVANA 10 Volume Creme Developer (1:2). Continue taking diagonal back sections on the sides and a V-shape at the front hairline repeating the same technique.
2. Process: Up to 55 minutes at room temperature, shampoo with PRAVANA Clear Cleanse and dry the hair completely.
3. Base: Apply PRAVANA ChromaSilk Creme Hair Color 4N + PRAVANA 10 Volume Creme Developer (1:1.5).
4. Midlengths/Ends: Melt ChromaSilk Creme Hair Color 6.34 + PRAVANA 10 Volume Creme Developer (1:1.5) blending the transition point.
5. Process: 30 minutes at room temperature.
6. Finish: Shampoo and condition with PRAVANA Moisture Marvel regimen, then style as desired.
Colorist’s Corner
There is plenty of room to customize this espresso brunette depending on your client’s needs and maintenance goals. If your guest has gray, bump up the base processing time to 45 minutes to ensure you’re giving the color the time it needs to develop properly. For guests who want a lower-maintenance result, teasylights are a great way to create soft, diffused dimension, but for those who want their bunette to have a little more impact, back-to-back highlights can deliver a more noticeable contrast.
And if you’re looking to create the same overall look with less commitment, there’s an easy formula swap: try PRAVANA ChromaSilk HydraGloss Demi-Permanent Hair Color 4Nt and 6GC in place of ChromaSilk Creme Hair Color 4N and 6.34. The tonal direction stays within the same rich, warm brunette story while giving you another option when deciding which color family and commitment level is right for your guest.
Toasted Hazelnut Hair Color
If Spiced Espresso is the richer, moodier pour, Toasted Hazelnut Hair Color brings a little more light and warmth to the fall brunette story. Inspired by the golden-brown richness of toasted hazelnuts, this look combines a brunette foundation with softly illuminated pieces that give the finished color movement and a warm glow. It’s an easy way to brighten natural brunette without losing the depth that makes fall color feel so luxurious.
A little warmth goes a long way! PRAVANA Creative Artist George Blanco’s Toasted Hazelnut balayage brings golden-brown dimension and a sunlit finish to these naturally brunette cropped curls. (PRAVANA ChromaSilk HydraGloss 40g 8BV + 10g 7Nt + 10g 6BV)
The Formula
1. Pre-Lighten: Working your way from back to front, take 1” partings and 2” subsections in a bricklay pattern and apply PRAVANA Pure Light Ultra Lightener + PRAVANA 20 Volume Creme Developer (1:2) with a balayage (V-shape) technique.
2. Process: Up to 55 minutes at room temperature until you reach a Level 8/9, shampoo with PRAVANA Clear Cleanse Shampoo and towel-dry well.
3. Color: Apply PRAVANA ChromaSilk HydraGloss Demi-Permanent Hair Color 40g 8BV + 10g 7Nt + 10g 6BV + PRAVANA Zero Lift Developer (1:1) all over.
4. Process: 20 minutes at room temperature.
5. Finish: Shampoo and Condition with PRAVANA Volume Vibrance regimen and style as desired.
PRAVANA Creative Artist George Blanco breaks down his simple technique for creating dimension on shorter hair.
Colorist’s Corner
Placement is what gives this Toasted Hazelnut Hair Color its soft, dimensional finish. When applying lightener, PRAVANA Creative Artist George Blanco worked in “V” shapes to create a diffused blend into the natural hair, feathering toward the top while fully saturating the ends. The result is a softer transition between the brunette foundation and lighter pieces, helping the finished color look naturally illuminated rather than heavily highlighted.
Want to turn up the seasonal warmth? Try PRAVANA ChromaSilk HydraGloss 7Cr in place of 8BV for a vibrant copper result that could rival any pumpkin spice-inspired brunette. It’s a simple tonal shift that can completely change the personality of the finished color while keeping the overall look firmly within the warm fall palette.
Build Your Fall Hair Color Menu
The best part about these looks is that they don’t have to live on the inspiration page only, they can become part of your salon’s Fall Hair Color Menu. Offering a couple of easy-to-understand brunette options gives clients something tangible to choose from while making it easier for you to plan your formulas, timing and service recommendations in advance.
Think of it like their favorite coffee shop: they may walk in knowing they want coffee, but having a menu of signature drinks makes choosing the exact order much more fun. From rich Spiced Espresso Brunette to glowing Toasted Hazelnut Hair Color, a seasonal menu gives natural brunettes an easy reason to try something new while giving your salon a simple, repeatable way to turn fall hair trends into bookable color services.
All warmed up and ready to shine! PRAVANA Creative Artist George Blanco’s Toasted Hazelnut formula gives her cropped curls a glossy finish with plenty of personality. (PRAVANA ChromaSilk HydraGloss 40g 8BV + 10g 7Nt + 10g 6BV)
