Espresso brunette: i segreti del look

Discover why espresso brunette is just the shot of caffeinated color your hair needs now. From exploring the complexity of this hair color family to understanding how to achieve and maintain the look, our guide to going espresso brunette has everything you need to know and more. Get started right here.

article-duration
3 min read
L'Oréal Professionnel Team
05/02/2026
Focus on a woman at the hair salon having her hair professionally dyed with the trendy Espresso Brunette hair color.

What is espresso brunette hair color?

In a time where espresso martinis are everywhere and espresso even features in pop songs, is it a surprise that espresso brunette is a trending hair color? Not at all. But let’s get into it, what hair color is espresso brunette? Is espresso hair color black or brown? Is it both? Is it just one color?

Espresso brunette includes a range of elegant, sophisticated dark shade for hair. It’s rich, smoky and cool, tone-wise. Inspired by strong coffee, it has a range of dark tones from brown to black including hazelnut, chestnut, chocolate and a hint of licorice, and it has cooler undertones than other mocha-inspired shades.

How to get espresso brunette hair color?

To achieve espresso brunette hair, you’ll want to first consult an experienced professional stylist to help you pick the precise hair color that will suit your skin tone. The decisions will depend on the current color of your hair, i.e. are you going lighter or darker, as well as the length of your hair. In addition to the base hair color of your desired espresso brunette look, highlights bring a little extra. Subtle highlights, usually applied in a salon with a balayage technique – applied from mid-length to ends – give the espresso brunette look depth and shine.

Focus on a woman at the salon having her hair dyed by a professional, illustrating how to achieve the trendy Espresso Brunette color.

Espresso brunette-boosting care and products

To achieve and maintain an espresso brunette look, you’ll want to start with salon-quality hair color products. Work with a professional and ensure that you get the very best to support your desired color and hair health. This applies to base hair color and any products used for espresso brunette balayage highlights as well. Using color safe products (like shampoos) is key more maintaining your color.

Brassiness is a no-no for espresso brunettes – the goal is to remain cool-toned – so when it comes to maintaining your espresso brunette color, something like the iNOA Cool Boosters is an excellent choice. It amplifies hair color neutralizing unwanted tones to achieve multidimensional results and desired hair color. In particular, the booster strengthens the cool palette behind the most alluring espresso brunette shades, controlling brassiness for up to 8 weeks. Powered by an Oil Delivery System (ODS), the product acts as strong color engine and delivers intense care.

Shades of espresso brunette

There are almost as many shades of espresso brunette as there are flavor profiles of actual espresso. They range from medium to dark and can have a whole array of highlights that make them shimmer and shine, but remember, they are cool-toned. Here are some of our favorite shades.

Chocolate espresso brunette

Like a bar of your favorite medium dark chocolate, this shade packs a punch with bright highlights.

Hazelnut espresso brunette

A slightly brighter look with light nutty highlights subduing the dark shade.

Iced espresso brunette

Add a frosty edge to your espresso brunette for an ultra-cool version of the hair color trend.

Get inspired for your future hair color experience.​

Freedom of “Espression”

The most desired shade of brown – espresso brunette – can be yours. All you have to do is decide which among the rich, cool, sophisticated browns will suit you. Getting to know your skin tone and working with a professional is a great way to go to achieve the look.

And be sure to support your espresso brunette hair color with products that support and maintain your color, including boosters that neutralize any unwanted brassiness, so your hair can keep its cool.

Your questions & our answers about espresso brunette hair color.

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