I Tried Espresso Martini Hair Colour: See Photos
My "Espresso Martini" Hair Colour Gets Me Tons of Compliments
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
I know, I thought I was over food-based beauty trends, too. Unfortunately, when I heard about the "espresso martini" hair colour, I had to change my stance. Not only do I freaking love espresso martinis (sub tequila for vodka), but when I started seeing the different espresso martini hair inspiration photos on social media, I immediately knew I needed to try it.
I'm a natural brunette, and I find switching my hair colour up to be a bit of a hassle. I like the idea of highlights, but keeping them a good, rich tone that doesn't turn brassy can often be a challenge. Since all of the examples of this trend featured the most subtle lightness, however, I figured it might end up being the perfect colour for me. To try it, I visited hairstylist Sierra Kener at Nine Zero One Salon in Beverly Hills.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the espresso martini hair-colour trend, and to read about my experience getting the colour.
What Is the Espresso Martini Hair Colour?
"Espresso martini hair is a rich chocolate colour with a skinny piece of lightened hair around the front," Kener tells PS. Rather than just a solid brunette base like with black hair colour , this version can involve smaller highlights throughout, or it can just feature two "money pieces" to frame the face. The latter are meant to signify the creamy froth often seen at the top of espresso martinis.
"[The trend] will look best with clients who have darker natural hair who want something low maintenance while still having a little dimension," Kener says. However, it can be completely customised to suit your needs.
How to Get Espresso Martini Hair
To get the look, you want to start out with a rich brunette base: think espresso or chocolate. I'm a natural dark brunette, but I had a lot of warmth in my hair from a previous highlight job I had done over the summer, so Kener added lowlights throughout to get me closer to my darker base.
"We low-lighted with 7NB in the MyDentity warm series because I wanted to add dimension, shine, and richness," she says. If your hair doesn't have any existing highlights as mine did, your colourist can either add in a few lighter pieces or stick with a solid base.
I'm also the lucky owner of quite a few grey hairs, which Kener calls "sparkles," so we went over those with a demi-permanent cream colour.
From there, it was time to add the "froth," which Kener did using four highlight foils around my face to lighten things up. After shampooing, she applied a toner all over my hair to balance out brassy tones. "This allows the right amount of warmth to shine through without going dull," she says.
Once she finished conditioning my hair, Kener gave me a gorgeous bouncy blowout so I could survey the final look, which was stunning. She removed the brassiness from my hair, and instead gave my hair life and dimension. Plus, the "frothy" money pieces at the front of my face made the entire look pop.
I got to show off my new hair colour over the weekend, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I received more compliments than I have with any other hair colour.
How to Maintain Espresso Martini Hair Colour at Home
This trend is low-maintenance, and only requires salon visits every six months or so. However, to maintain the longevity of your new look, it's important to use colour-safe products whenever washing or styling your hair. Additionally, Kener recommends a heat protectant like the MyHero Collagen Shield Spray ($28). "This will prolong the colour and protect it from heat damage as well as keep it shiny," she says. "Even if you aren't using heat tools, this will protect your hair from the sun's heat. Think of it like a sunscreen for your hair."
Kener also says if you need to cut out any warm tones in your hair (since brunettes tend to get brassy), she recommends using a colour depositing conditioner like the MyRefresh Colour Depositing Conditioner in Purple Raven ($24). "I recommend doing this every fourth shampoo," she adds. "It will mute just the right amount of warmth.
And last, "I always recommend using a good mask," she says. "When working out, slick your hair back and add just a little to the ends." Kener suggests her clients use the Avvrani Intensive Repair Mask ($39) at least once a week.
Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for POPSUGAR. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for POPSUGAR's TikTok and Instagram accounts.
