Last updated: October 01, 2024

Bronde Guide: 7 Formulas & Color Correction Tips To Try

Photo Credit: Instagram via @paintedbyashleymarie

Bronde Formulas: How To Lift & Tone This Trending Color

One of the most personalizable colors in the book, bronde hair involves a mix of brunette and dark blonde, often paired with rich dark roots that transition into soft blonde tones. The key to customization? Understanding formulation differences, knowing the Level lift to aim for and so much more…

We reached out to BTC Team Members Ashley Smith (@paintedbyashleymarie) and Gabby Monfils (@urbanhairartistry) to learn their expert approach to creating custom bronde hair color. Below, you will learn key color education including…

Formulation differences to know for cool and warm-toned brondes
Tips to navigate lifting and toning naturally dark levels
Bronde formulas to save for the backbar

Levels of Lift Will Determine The Blonde Versus Bronde Distinction

“‘Bronde’ is not a solid brunette,” Gabby reminds us. “It’s a dimensional color with depth along with some bright facial framing pieces for extra pops,” she adds. That means your lightening process will make or break the glowy bronde result your clients want.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @urbanhairartistry

If you feel like your brondes are looking artificial or can’t understand why your results are dull, this might be your issue: Ashley shares, “A common mistake I see with brondes (and even brunettes) is not lifting high enough. A bronde is more of a toned-down look. So, you want to be at a Level 9 at least to tone down to a Level 7. This is really what gives that iridescent bronde feel in my opinion.”

Photo Credit: Instagram via @paintedbyashleymarie

Cool Versus Warm Brondes: Formulating Different Undertones

Whether you’re looking for a warm or cool-toned end result, a dash of warmth in your formulas is a must: “Especially because this is a toned-down look, a splash of Moroccanoil® Color Calypso Demi-Permanent G will be your best friend,” Ashley shares. Get her formulation must-knows below:

Using the BG Series: “The Color Calypso BG series is actually one of my favorites for brondes,” Ashley shares.
Using the V Series: “A V gives you a more iridescent look when toned down as well.”
Using the N Series: “For the root, I really prefer to keep it rich. N alone can be very matte so adding G will give richness and depth,” she adds.
Ashley’s go-to bronde toning combo: 8V + 7BG.

Pro Tip for Shine: “I always love grabbing Color Calypso glosses! They have long-lasting staying power and the hair always feels amazing after using it on my clients,” Ashley shares.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @paintedbyashleymarie

Navigating Warmth on Dark Bases When Toning Brondes

For clients with dark natural Levels, your lift is especially important: “Lift as high as you can through the warmth. At least one Level lighter than your goal and then tone down to your desired tone—especially if you want a cooler result,” Ashley shares.

Pro Tip: “Use your root as a corrective formula if needed to cancel out [extra] warmth at your transition between Zone 1 and 2,” Ashley adds.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @urbanhairartistry

How To Avoid Brass & Green-Toned End Results:

Gabby agrees, echoing that proper lift is key to avoid muddiness or green undertones: “You want to lift the hair to at least a Level 8. That lifts the hair enough to eliminate any harsh brassy tones but still leaves a gold base as an anchor for the toner to grab onto—which will prevent the deposit of any muddy (green) muted tones.”

What if the hair is compromised? “If the hair is unable to lift to that Level, you want to formulate with Levels at least two shades darker to kick out any brassiness, leaving you with a neutral, slightly warm bronde,” Gabby shares.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @urbanhairartistry

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Bronde Formula Roundup: 7 Formulas To Save for the Backbar

1. Blended Vanilla Bronde

Working with a 12-month grow-out, this creamy vanilla blonde by BTC Team Member Jamie Park (@hairbyjpark) was created with a global gloss application of Color Calypso 10.2 + 8.3 + 8.4.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @hairbyjpark

2. Teddy Graham Bronde

Salon owner and BTC Team Member Kyle Huntsberry (@milk.honey.hair) shares the power of applying a custom glaze to completely transform your clients look:

“It’s not always as simple as applying one formula across the entire head. Hair has different porosity levels throughout, which means it processes the same formula differently,” Kyle explains. “Take your time when formulating and apply with intention, considering both the client’s desires and the hair’s condition.”

Kyle’s Additional Formulation Considerations:

To ensure the brightest finish on porous ends: “I dilute my formula with a higher level or clear,” Kyle shares.
For maximum shine and longevity: “I let the glaze sit for a full 20 minutes,” she adds. “Don’t worry about the glaze getting too dark—as long as you’ve formulated with hair porosity zones in mind, you’re in the clear.”

Photo Credit: Instagram via @milk.honey.hair

For this teddy bear bronde: “I used Color Calypso Ash Gold Series. I started with 9.13 where I wanted the most tonal value and applied that first as I worked down, diluting with 10.13 for brighter ends. I applied 10.13 + Clear for more the porous curls that I wanted to keep bright and shiny,” Kyle explains.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @milk.honey.hair

3. From Banded & Brassy To Bronde & Classy

This elegant, blended bronde sparked a ton of discussion on socials, as German colorist Oana Ciofu’s (@hair_by_oana) client came in with multiple bands of previous color and TONS of brass. She tackled this transformation utilizing an Air Touch technique with three different lightener formulas—get them below and press play to see her process!

Formula A (lightener Zone 1 & 2): Moroccanoil® Blonde Voyage Clay Lightener + 15-volume Moroccanoil® Oxidative Cream Developer
Formula B (lightener Zone 3): Blonde Voyage Clay Lightener + 15-volume + 20-volume Oxidative Cream Developer
Formula C (lightener Zone 4): Blonde Voyage Clay Lightener + 5-volume Oxidative Cream Developer
Formula D (root shadow): Color Calypso 6N + Oxidative Cream Developer
Formula E (lowlights): Color Calypso 6N +7N + Oxidative Cream Developer

Photo Credit: Instagram via @hair_by_oana

Pro Tip: When working through intense banding like this, a strong lightener with protective benefits is crucial: That’s why Oana’s go-to is Blonde Voyage Clay Lightener! “The hair integrity is not compromised, I love the consistency and it gives me the perfect lift,” she shares.

LOVE Moroccanoil®? Support hair strength with the power of ProArginine—see their color lines here!

4. Subtle Golden Bronde

This warm bronde and bouncy blowout combo is a must-save: Ashley created this glowy tone with Color Calypso 6.13 + 4.0 as a root melt and Color Calypso 7.13 + 9.2 + Clear as a mids-to-ends gloss.

Blowout Bonus: This voluminous style is powered by Moroccanoil® Volume Mousse and Moroccanoil® Thickening Lotion.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @paintedbyashleymarie

5. Warm Caramel Bronde

For Kyle’s client with heat damage and red undertones, hair health was top priority: To keep the strands shiny and strong, Kyle used Moroccanoil® Blonde Voyage Cream Lightener. “This has been a game changer for me, super gentle on the hair but the lift is amazing. Zero strands were damaged during this process,” she shares.

To soften the red undertones and create a golden finish, Kyle toned with Color Calypso 7.9 + 8.82.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @milk.honey.hair

6. Rich Money Piece Bronde

Gabby’s client came in with a Level 1 black permanent color (gasp!) and she took her to an expensive-looking multi-tonal bronde. The key to this look? Leave out the money piece when applying your mids-to-ends gloss to make it pop.

Pro Tip: During this full-day color session, Gabby transformed her client with the goal of lifting to a Level 8 and toning back down. Get her formulas below!

Formula A (lightener): Blonde Voyage Powder Lightener + 30-volume Oxidative Cream Developer
Formula B (root shadow): Color Calypso 6.0 + 6.2 + 6.1 + Moroccanoil® Gloss Activator
Formula C (mids-to-ends gloss): Color Calypso 7.21 + 7.0 + 8.1 + Gloss Activator
Formula D (extension filler): Color Calypso 6.3 + 7.21 + Gloss Activator

Photo Credit: Instagram via @urbanhairartistry

7. Dimensional Glowy Bronde

Ashley’s rule of thumb for formulating brondes? “My go-to add into my formula is N. Adding N will brown-out a blonde tone in my opinion, creating a more bronde look,” she shares.

For this glowy bronde, she formulated Color Calypso 5N for the root melt, using Color Calypso 8N with a little 9V + 9BG for the mids and ends.