I Asked Kaia Gerber's Colorist to Make Me "Cashmere Bronde," and My Hair Has Never Looked More Expensive
Our take
The pursuit of elevated aesthetics is perpetually reshaping the landscape of beauty trends, and the recent buzz around "cashmere bronde" exemplifies this shift. It's not merely about a new hair color; it’s about embodying a feeling—one of understated luxury and effortless chic. The fact that Jenna Perry, the colorist behind Kaia Gerber’s signature look, is driving this trend speaks volumes. It underscores a move away from overtly flashy, attention-seeking styles toward a more subtle, sophisticated approach. This resonates deeply with the current cultural moment, where quiet luxury is reigning supreme. The article’s focus on achieving an “expensive” look through color is a natural extension of that broader aesthetic, and it aligns with our audience's desire for refined, intentional choices. We've previously explored the power of seemingly simple pieces to elevate a wardrobe, as seen in From Malibu to Laurel Canyon, Prepare to See Kendall Jenner's Favorite $65 Top on L.A.'s Coolest Dressers, demonstrating a shared appreciation for understated elegance. Similarly, the search for enduring style often leads us to timeless accessories, as highlighted in I've Finally Found the Autumn's Most Elegant Bag—And Every Fashion Person Already Owns It.
What's particularly compelling about "cashmere bronde" is its grounding in a sense of realism. It’s not a stark transformation, but rather a nuanced enhancement of existing coloring. The term itself—"cashmere"—evokes softness, warmth, and a certain tactile richness, suggesting a color that feels as luxurious as it looks. This contrasts with bolder, more experimental color trends that often prioritize visual impact over wearability. The focus on a colorist’s expertise, rather than a DIY approach (a stark difference from the viral TikTok hair dye experiment detailed in I Tried An $8 TikTok-Viral Hair Dye—It Gave Me Sun-Kissed Highlights in 30 Minutes ), further reinforces the idea of investing in quality and craftsmanship. It’s a deliberate choice, not a fleeting impulse, and that intentionality is key to the overall aesthetic. This aligns with our brand’s ethos of promoting thoughtful consumption and prioritizing enduring style over transient trends.
The rise of "cashmere bronde" also speaks to a broader shift in how we perceive beauty. It’s less about conforming to rigid ideals and more about enhancing one’s natural features with a sense of subtle sophistication. This resonates with the contemporary understanding of femininity as strength and self-assuredness, rather than a performance. The color itself is not inherently bold or provocative; its power lies in its ability to elevate and refine the wearer’s existing beauty. This approach mirrors our brand’s commitment to empowering individuals to embrace their authentic selves, offering them tools and inspiration to express their unique style with confidence and grace. It’s about feeling good in your own skin, and letting your style reflect that inner radiance, not masking it.
Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how "cashmere bronde" evolves and whether it spawns further iterations of this "soft luxury" color palette. Will we see variations incorporating warmer or cooler tones? Will other beauty professionals develop their own interpretations of this trend? The enduring appeal of quiet luxury suggests that this movement is more than just a fleeting moment; it’s a reflection of a deeper cultural desire for authenticity, refinement, and a sense of timeless elegance. Perhaps the next evolution will be a move towards personalized color formulations, further blurring the lines between aspirational beauty and effortless self-expression.
Jenna Perry could have a PhD in predicting hair trends. The celebrity colorist (responsible for the transforming the tresses of Kaia Gerber, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kendall Jenner) has coined more than a few buzzy hair looks over the years—"NYC blonde" and "cherry cola," to name a couple all-stars—so whenever I have the honor of sitting in her chair, I give her total creative freedom. That said, I couldn't help but mention how much I loved the sun-kissed highlights she recently did for Gerber (inspired by '90s Cindy Crawford). "Maybe something in that realm?" I posed. Perry paused for a beat, pensively fluffed my hair, then declared we would go in a slightly different direction: cashmere bronde.
What Is Cashmere Bronde Hair?
Let's dissect the term, shall we? Bronde, as you likely know, is a cross between blonde and brunette—just a smidge too dark to be dirty blonde yet not quite as rich as a true dimensional brunette. My natural hair color falls squarely in the middle, so Perry wanted to maintain the base and add some soft, sun-streaked highlights, which is actually somewhat similar to what she did for Gerber. "I put the [color] a little bit brighter around your face for the high-contrast, '90s supermodel thing we were going for with [Gerber's] hair," she explains. "I just did it for your natural base—a really nice medium blonde—and kept it slightly on the neutral-cool side."
Aside from those contrasting face-framing pieces, the rest of the color appears super soft and blended. "There isn’t a harsh transition from the deeper root into the lighter ends," Perry adds. "It reminds me of cashmere because it feels warm, understated, and luxurious… It’s the kind of color that looks even better when it moves and catches the light." The "cashmere" bit does nod to the creamy, tow-blonde shade she used for my highlights, but it's more about the subtlety of tones to create a seamless, "Does she even have highlights?" effect. (Quiet luxury, dare I say.)
What to Ask For
To replicate the color, "I would ask for a brighter, painted hairline, and then just focus on highlights throughout the ends," Perry shares. "It's not necessarily a money piece, but it's a little modern rendition of it since it's brighter around your face." Product-wise, she used R+Color's Hypermatic 10-Minute Demi-Permanent Liquid Hair Color in Wired (NP7) to create depth at the root, then Palace (NP9) and Athens (GP9) through the ends for that creamy, cashmere finish. "The combination creates a really soft brunette base with expensive-looking blonde woven through it," she adds.
I can attest: My hair has never looked more effortlessly luxurious. Another stylist even complimented my hair two weeks later, asking, "Is that your natural color? It's so good." That's when you know you have good highlights—when they're so gloriously lived-in that people (even pros!) wonder if they came from the actual sun. It's a pretty impressive feat, especially considering the process took only a little over an hour. "A lot of people think that when you go into a salon, you need the full shebang," Perry adds, "but, sometimes, you really need just a little sun kiss on the hairline."
The Best Products to Maintain Cashmere Bronde Hair
Perry tells me she's "obsessed" with this oil-infused heat-protectant spray, which also detangles and brightens color. "The idea of it is to keep the shine and sparkle of the hair," she shares.
Hair oils are top-notch for keeping strands glossy and expensive-looking. This new launch from Christophe Robin is a dry oil (meaning, it won't weigh down your locks or make them look greasy), and it boasts heat protection for up to 446°F.
This serum leaves your hair looking soft, shiny, and vibrant. Oh, and it smells heavenly, too.
A color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo is nonnegotiable for highlighted hair.
Shine treatments are my favorite kind of hair treatments, and this Virtue formula is literally glass hair in a bottle. All it takes is three extra minutes in the shower for the silkiest-looking strands of your life.
I'm also such a fan of Ouai's clear hair gloss, which I swap in for conditioner every couple of weeks.
If you have fine, wavy-curly hair like mine, you need this oil mist in your life. It infuses each strand with moisture and deposits a glossy shine without feeling too heavy.
Those with color-treated hair will want to load up on all the reparative masks and leave-ins. I'm partial to this spray-on situation from Briogeo, which strengthens broken hair bonds after one use and reduces frizz.
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