Rich brunette color is hot this fall, and Krista Beahm, a colorist at Patrick McIvor Color Studio in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, reports that she’s been fielding tons of requests recently for sexy shades like Jessica Alba’s. Here, Krista reveals her favorite formula to achieve the star’s shiny strands with subtle, face-framing highlights, below.

 Why is brunette suddenly so sought-after? “Brunettes are always nice for fall because the vast hues of brunettes mirror the changing fall colors,” explains Krista.

“People like to get away from the brassy lighter browns of summer, and transition color to shiny, healthy looking, warm browns with golden tones.”

Though Jessica Alba is a great example of the ideal brunette, Krista says other dark-haired beauties like Olivia Wilde, Minka Kelly and Mila Kunis also wear the color well.

“This particular formula will look best on someone with a warmer complexion and warm eye color, such as hazel, or someone who has gold flecks in brown eyes,” she adds.

Krista’s Formula:

1. Part hair down the middle of the head. Take a section from the center part to the back of the ear. Place diagonal back foils (with Matrix V-light with 10 volume) in section starting from ear working up to the part, keeping foils about 1/2 inch apart. Repeat on the other side.

2. Zone 1 (base color) Use Matrix SOCOLOR – 2 parts 5N, 1 part 5G with 10 or 20 volume, depending on level of natural color and amount of gray.

3. Zone 2 and 3 (mid shaft and ends) Use Matrix Color Sync equal parts 5N and 6G.

4. After shampooing, towel dry hair and glaze highlights with Matrix Color Sync 8WN.

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