Bronde is the epitome of a perfect summer hair colour. Not quite brown, but a touch darker than blonde, it's warm, dimensional and boasts a coveted sunkissed gild. The best part, of course, is that it doesn't require an incredibly light bleach lift either, meaning you can retain your strands' integrity without compromising on that all important golden hue. Plus, the shade has been co-signed by celebrities such as Bella Hadid and Lily-Rose Depp.
Another benefit of sporting a bronde hair colour for summer is that it provides a seamless grow-out period for naturally darker tones. Whether you're planning a far-flung trip for the warmer months ahead, simply like to stagger your hair appointments, bronde is the ultimate maintenance colour - as well an utterly chic 'between' shade.
'Bronde is largely about creating dimension with your natural colour,' says hairdresser Andreas Wild, creative ambassador for John Frieda. 'It’s important not to heavily saturate or overly bleach the hair, like you would with a balayage, but to create dimension between the darker and lighter pieces in the hair through subtle highlights.'
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Here, blonde expert Zebulen Howell of Charlotte Cave Salons breaks down his top three bronde hair colour trends for summer 2025, including what to ask your stylist for.
3 Of The Best Bronde Hair Colour Trends For Summer 2025
Honey Bronde Balayage
If you're looking for a bronde colour that has depth and longevity, consider opting for a glossy, modern balayage.
'The honey bronde balayage is that perfect mix of summer warmth with a seamless blend,' explains Howell. 'I don't go too dimensional, keeping the colour rich and on the brighter side. Then, I lift the hair lighter around the face to compliment that sunkissed hairline.'
Old Money Bronde
Have you heard of the 'old money bob' or 'expensive brunette'? Consider this the luxe version of the classic bronde hair colour.
'For this technique, I use a blend of baby lights and ‘teasy lights’ (highlights created with a teasing technique) where the hair is predominantly brunette, mixing in some lighter tones to brighten up for summer,' he explains. 'This is the ultimate expensive, sunkissed vibe; you can see the warmth and dimension coming through as it catches the sun.'
Teddy Bear Bronde
Trying to capture the essence of Bella Hadid's latest shade? Ask your hairdresser for teddy bear bronde, the neutral gloss with an 'au naturel' allure.
'Teddy bear bronde is the perfect blende of cool tones and warm tones,' says Howell. 'I love a seamless blend with this, keeping the hair lived-in and bright around the face, but glossing it back with an expensive looking ‘biscuit’ tone to add a fresh summer shine.'
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Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Writer, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.
