There’s something about this time of year that makes me want to embrace a darker and more brooding palette. It starts with my nails – always painted a glossy shade of merlot from autumn on – before making its way into my wardrobe, where rich chocolate browns and earthy neutrals come to reign supreme. So, really it’s only natural that my hair colour should follow suit. And in good news for anyone who dreads spending hours in the salon chair, colourists are favouring richer and more understated shades that suit everybody but require far less time and upkeep. This winter, especially, it’s all about mocha brown.

What is mocha brown hair?

Also referred to as “mocha chocolate”, the rich, glossy shade was first popularised by celebrity colourist Jenna Perry, whose multidimensional brunette wizardry has fans in the likes of Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber. Since then, the smooth and chocolatey hue, which combines darker espresso tones with lighter, milkier brunette shades, has become popular with a much wider section of the A-list, with Hailey Bieber and Daisy Edgar-Jones among the latest devotees.

“It reminds me of a chocolate mousse or a rich chocolate cake,” Perry tells British , “so that’s where the name came from – I thought mocha chocolate resembled the decadence of this shade of brown.” In line with sweater weather, Perry has churned out individualised takes on the “universally flattering brunette hair colour” for a slew of stars, including longtime client Emily Ratajkowski and Amelia Gray. “A deep rich brunette is chic,” says Perry. “The colour reflects warmly in the sun, so it doesn’t ever look drab.”

How do you achieve the mocha brown hair colour?

According to Stephen Buller and Anita Rice, founders of Buller and Rice salon, these cacao tones feel luxurious for winter, particularly when the colour isn’t completely flat. The key? Differences in tone. “This is important throughout the lengths and ends so it reflects light and feels expensive rather than looking like one solid block of dark colour,” they say. “This also gives clients who have had years of balayage an opportunity to go darker without feeling as though they’re simply covering everything up.”

Who suits mocha brown hair?

Celebrity hairstylist Lorraine Dublin says that these indulgent, chocolatey shades look especially beautiful on textured and curly hair: “Think deep espresso brown with subtle ribbons of mocha, creating a rich, multi-dimensional finish,” she previously told British . “It works beautifully on textured hair because the tonal variations catch the light, highlighting the shape and movement of curls, coils and kinks.” She recommends asking your colourist for a “rich espresso base” with “delicate mocha or cinnamon-brown accents”, which will impart a soft, seamless colour melt.

How do you maintain mocha brown hair colour?

Another important part of mastering the mocha chocolate look is keeping hair strong and shiny. “What makes this hair colour so incredible from the start is having healthy hair,” explains Perry, who adds that preserving pigments with a colour-safe shampoo and conditioner is key. Try Matrix Total Results Brass Off Shampoo, which nixes red tones. You can also look to an at-home gloss or colour conditioner, like Glaze Supergloss Color Conditioning Hair Gloss Chocolate Gleam, or John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Colour Vibrancy Conditioner, to prolong the vibrancy of your hair.

Brilliant Brunette Colour Vibrancy Conditioner

Supergloss Color Conditioning Hair Gloss Chocolate Gleam

Matrix Total Results Brass Off Shampoo

If a rich shade of mocha chocolate sounds like a delectable prospect to you, then discover even more mocha brown hair colour inspiration to take to your salon, below.

The best mocha brown hair colour ideas