‘Toffee nut latte highlights’ are the summery update for expensive brunettes

During winter, “expensive brunette” with its multiple deep tones fits the cosy mood but as the Mercury rises, expect to see toffee nut latte highlights all over your IG feed.

Opting to go lighter is nothing new in summer. It’s more about acing the Goldilocks sweet spot between looking sun kissed and not losing the base brunette colour with strands that read orange when the sun’s rays hit.

You will also want to keep that rich, glossy vibe going rather than bleach out your strands. Ultimately, the idea behind toffee nut latte highlights is that brunettes look sunlit rather than sun-washed with finely-spun lighter streaks.

“Toffee nut highlights is the perfect palette to highlight any brunette colour,” says hair stylist Dimitris Giannetos, who recently transformed Amal Clooney’s hair by deftly weaving the light, caffeinated shade through her brown hair for added movement.

@dimitrishair / Instagram

“It’s the right combination of warm tones but at the same time it’s very natural,” he adds. “Toffee nut highlights create dimension without having old-school highlights.”

There has been no shortage of stunning looks for brunettes recently but toffee nut latte highlights hit differently. While balayage often leans more towards golden and honey-toned, toffee nut latte highlights can be a little more on the ashy side, while still retaining warmth.

Crucially, they are also the polar opposite of money piece highlights when it comes to size and a more beachy spin on candlelit brunette, making them perfect for summer.

For Dimitris, it’s all about strategic placement. “I used a few foils around her face and a few foils on the crown,” he notes. In other words, he kept the highlights away from the roots to avoid obvious ‘zebra’ stripes and used only the lightest touch so that Amal’s strands looks drizzled in toffee.