“Suede Brunette” Is the Vintage Jacket of Hair Color

When it comes to our current culture of naming hair colors, the biggest necessity is that you can picture the shade by its moniker. Take “black cherry,” for example, with its dark base and reddish tint. Or butter blonde! A light, yellow-tinted shade reminiscent of a stick of butter. I say the name, you know what I mean.

There are some really good names out there, though. These are the kind that give you a read on color and texture. “Suede brunette” is an amazing example. The color? Warm brown. The texture? So soft. And the finish? Luxe, obviously.

About Suede Brunette

When we chatted with him about winter 2026 hair color trends, celebrity colorist Jacob Schwartz said that as the weather cools, brunette clients look for richer shades that won’t lose a lived-in glow. This year, suede brunette is a big winner.

The artist says to visualize a “70s-inspired brunette that feels natural, but still luxe and modern.” There’s soft depth at the root and creamy, sun-kissed highlights run through the lengths like ribbons. He points to a color he did for Chloe Fineman last fall as the best example.

“It’s flattering on almost every skin tone and wears beautifully through the fall and winter months,” Schwartz adds of the warm and movement-infused shade. “It looks effortless, never heavy or flat.”

The Trend

As a brunette myself, I admit the summer always makes me want to go blonde. But in the winter we’re a little more attuned to the darker side of our shade range.

Nevertheless, the sunshine is missing! It makes so much sense that a warm shade like this would be the rage.

Also, think of a nice suede jacket and how warm it looks when you rock it on a nice sunny day. You want the same for your hair, don’t you?

How to Get the Look

If you want to go Suede Brunette this winter, Schwartz says to ask your stylist for a lived-in brunette with “soft, dimensional color that brightens through the mids and ends.”

“Think delicate highlights that melt seamlessly into your natural base. I use Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Vario Blond Super Plus to lift because it gives that clean, creamy brightness without compromising the hair’s health, which is key for maintaining shine and softness,” Schwartz explains. “Then I finish with a gloss using Igora Vibrance to tone, blend, and create that effortless transition from root to tip.”