This Cafe-Inspired Hair Color is Taking Over TikTok

What is caramel macchiato hair?

By all accounts, the caramel macchiato color is a version of brunette. Hairstylist Rogerio Cavalcante describes it best, as a dimensional brunette shade with warm caramel highlights. He explains that the shade begins with a rich espresso-like base and uses golden or honey-toned highlights to give it a soft, sunlit effect. Master colorist Tiffani Richards adds that a macchiato shade alone includes a soft brunette or espresso color with pale blonde highlights, but adding caramel to the mix gives the highlights a boost of warmth.

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Like the cafe favorite it’s named after, the colors meld together to create a signature look. “Caramel macchiato is the perfect marriage between warmth and cool and offers a variety of tones in one look,” says hairstylist Adrienne Dara. She continues by saying those tones can range from a neutral dark blonde to a deep chocolate, making it an adaptable shade for almost anyone.

How to get caramel macchiato hair

Given its versatile tones, achieving the color isn’t as difficult as you may think. When heading to the salon, Cavalcante suggests asking your colorist for a brunette base and caramel highlights that are noticeable but blend naturally into the shade. “The caramel elements should enhance the overall look and color and give it a warm feel,” he says. Dara notes that placement is also key to nailing a caramel macchiato hair color. “Highlights can be added in several places throughout the hair, but for this look you want the color to go from light dimension and meld into a deeper base,” she says. To ensure you get the ratios right, the pros recommend bringing a variety of photos for inspiration to the salon and talking over what you can realistically achieve with your colorist.