The Cannes Film Festival is officially underway and with it, the plethora of headline-making red carpet moments and in-cinema standing ovations that it is famed for. A-listers gather on the French Riviera year after year, glam squads and choice photographers in tow. The beach clubs book up and crowds flock to flank the red carpet and wait outside hotels, eager to snap the latest star arrival. Those who drew up to the Hôtel Martinez on Monday won big with the arrival of Bella Hadid. Last year Hadid caused a frenzy when she took to the red carpet in a sheer nude Saint Laurent dress and again in a black sequinned Atelier Versace gown. She manages to turn heads off-duty, too, few can forget the iconic 2024 moment that saw her stroll down the Croisette in a vintage red and white Keffiyeh dress by Michael and Hushi with a matching strawberry ice cream in hand.
This year, it wasn't Hadid's sartorial choices sending the press into a spin, but her hair.
Arriving at the Hôtel Martinez on Monday, the beauty brand founder appeared to have swapped her signature brunette lengths for a rich honey blonde, which she debuted styled in a polished updo.
This isn't the first time that Hadid has had a brush with blonde. She rang in 2023 with an intentionally brassy look that flipped the script in the hair colour sphere - all of a sudden ashy platinums were out, statement yellow tones were in. Leave it to Hadid to set a hair colour trend on a whim.
How to ask for Bella Hadid's new blonde hair colour in the salon
Hadid's new look is a beautifully pitched hair move. Soft and on the bronde side of caramel, Hadid's new hair colour is in keeping with the shades that the pros believe are set to dominate this summer. Grazia Beauty Panellist, hairstylist and trend forecaster Tom Smith cites 'mocha bronde' as the colour of the season.
Smith explains, 'it's a monochromatic and muted neutral bronde – very different to the intense caramel brondes we saw last year'. The likes of Karol G, Rita Ora, and more recently Kate Middleton have all made the switch and its popularity makes sense. 'Mocha Mousse, Pantone's colour of the year, has clearly influenced this one. Neutral cool-coffee tones blend beautifully through hair.'
Achieving the look requires skill. Smith notes it can be harder to achieve on very dark natural bases, though it is not impossible and would require some pre-bleaching and toning, which should always be carried out by a professional. During the process, 'the hair releases these neutral mushroom tones quite quickly so a purple or blue shampoo will help keep the result neutral and clean looking if you want to stay away from that traditional caramel bronde.'
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).
