They say that blondes have more fun but do they really? I know a few party-hard brunettes who would refute that statement vehemently. Far from mousy, this season’s hottest brunette hair is a deep, delicious chocolate brown that you won’t be able to sop staring at. As we head into fall and winter, brunette hair takes centre stage as one of the season’s richest, luxurious and
most enviable shades.

But whether you’re a natural or box brunette, daily maintenance, from over-shampooing to applying excessive heat to your hair, can take your tresses from soft, shiny and healthy to brittle, dull and drab. How do you make your brunette hair the envy of blondes the world over? We checked in with Tony Masciangelo, Nexxus celebrity hair stylist and owner of The Alcorn Salon in Toronto to find out how to care for brunette hair.

Celebrity envy

“Celebs who wear brunette well are Sofia Vergara and Penelope Cruz,” says Masciangelo. “Both actors look amazing in it as it’s complementary to their skin tones and clearly, they are accustomed to taking great care of their locks.” Sure, with their bank accounts, it’s easy to pay for the best hair care money can buy. But caring for your brunette hair doesn’t necessarily mean spending a
Hollywood starlet’s salary. In fact, when it comes to your hair, less is often more.

Skip a wash or two

If you’re a daily hair washer, maybe it’s time to reconsider your routine. “To maintain a healthy colour, you should avoid over-washing, as colour will fade a bit each time you shampoo,” says Masciangelo. Instead of shampooing daily, try to stretch two or three days out of one wash…
pony tails and sock buns will help do the trick! You’ll avoid dulling your hair colour with excessive washing. And you’ll save money on shampoo and have more free time to do other things, you know, like that Pilates class you’ve been contemplating taking.

More brunette hair care tips on the next page…

It’s all about the moisture

According to Masciangelo, maintaining a healthy, shiny hair colour is all about the moisture you add to your hair. “You can keep a natural or coloured brunette soft, healthy and shiny by using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner that seals in moisture and repairs split ends, thus reflecting light,” he says. So when you’re scouring the drugstore aisles for shampoo, consider trying something that’s specifically made to add moisture to your hair.

Moisturizing shampoos and conditioners for brunettes to try:

•Nexxus Pro Mend Shampoo and Conditioner

•Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner

•Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Moisturizing Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Leave-In Conditioner

•Morrocanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner

•Pantene Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner

Colour protective shampoos and conditioners

Whatever your
hair dilemma, there’s a product out there designed to address your specific need. In addition to limiting the frequency of washes, Masciangelo recommends using a colour protective shampoo, which will seal in colour and prevent fading for brunettes, blondes and redheads.

Colour protective shampoos and conditioners to try:

•Ojon Color Sustain Color Revealing Shampoo and Conditioner

•Bumble and Bumble Color Minded Shampoo and Conditioner

•Pantene Colour Preserve Shine Shampoo

•Garnier Colour Shield Shampoo

•Kiehl’s Sunflower Colour Preserving Shampoo

Repairing hair treatments

Hair products that condition your hair’s cuticles, so you can avoid breakage resulting in split ends, and products that promote shine, will also help your brown hair look its best. “To keep your brunette locks looking great every day, your routine should begin in the shower with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, followed by a
leave-in treatment and well-chosen styling aids that will help minimize styling stress,” says Masciangelo.

Leave-in conditioners and shine serums to try:

•Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil

•Garnier Fructis Leave In Conditioning Cream

•Dove Nourishing Oil Care Anti-Frizz Serum

•Infusium 23 Repair-Ologie Leave In Treatment

•John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine Shine Shock Perfecting Glosser

Read more:
The top 10 hair serums
Fall 2012 hair colour trends
5 easy hair savers