Rise and SHINE with Aluram
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Creating a Brass-Free, Warm "Hollywood Caramel" with Marco Pelusi
A master colorist, Hollywood-based Marco Pelusi has a signature highlighting technique that he is making available to professionals, everywhere.
May 24, 2017
Hair: Marco Pelusi
Makeup: Helena Tamargo
Styling: Flo Coffman styling
Jennifer O'Dell
1/4
2 min to read
Salon owner, celebrity colorist and platform artist Marco Pelusi has been sharing his coloring techniques and tips at education events around the country for years. Living and working in the heart of Hollywood, where blonder is often perceived as better, Pelusi knows that going lighter can also go very wrong, especially when lifting brunette shades.
To share his signature highlighting techniques, Pelusi put together a video that demonstrates how he creates a "Hollywood Caramel," which is the perfect sun-kissed, warm caramel finish without the dreaded brassy tones. MODERN asked him to talk more about achieving this glowing finish.
MS: How would you describe the perfect ‘Hollywood Caramel’?
MP: I think the perfect caramel highlighting is a medium to deep brunette base, with golden beige highlights. The highlighting really cannot contain much red nor orange; yet, the highlights certainly can be a warm golden beige. The perfect caramel has a base of level five to level six, with highlights of level seven to level eight. Beyoncé, JLo and Zooey Deschanel — these are examples of the perfect Hollywood caramel!
MS: What missteps sometimes happen when a colorist is working on highlighting their brunette client?
MP: Probably the worst mistake that can happen is to end up pulling red! You are not going for a red brown here. The key with highlighting a brunette is to avoid undesirable reddish, orange-yellow tones, when lifting to caramel, while adding dimension to dark hair. Many times the lightener is applied unevenly, or is not left on long enough, therefore creating unwanted brassy tones.
MS: What will colorists take away from your video?
MP: Colorists will learn an easy off-the-scalp highlighting technique they can utilize on all of their brunette clients. The technique can be seen in the video, and immediately performed on a client. Another takeaway will be tips on how to avoid reds oranges and unwanted brassy tones - both application techniques and formulation techniques as well. Additionally, specific formulas will be given for lightener and for toners specific to caramel.
Learn more at: https://marcopelusi.com/product/marcos-the-hollywood-caramel/
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Galleries
Shampoo, Rinse, Repeat: Salon Clients Face a Water Cycle Crisis of Mineral Buildup on Hair
Neutralizing the damaging effects of water benefits the hair from texture to shine to color longevity, and it’s the science behind Malibu C products.
Sponsored by Malibu Wellness
Meet Wella's New BlondorPlex 9 with Built-In Metal Purifier
Meet the next generation of lightening with cleaner lift, less breakage, and built-in Metal Purifier Technology.
Sponsored by Wella
milk_shake Presents “LAMINAR” Collection by Shelley Lane, milk_shake Global Artistic Ambassador
milk_shake proudly celebrates Global Artistic Ambassador Shelley Lane and her latest editorial collection, LAMINAR.
Meet Wella's New SmoothFiller Service
Less frizz. No restrictions. Up to 3 months of smooth. Wella Professionals' SmoothFiller is the smoothing service your clients (and your revenue) have been waiting for.
Sponsored by Wella
Perfect Celebrity: Ulta Beauty Artists on Treating Every Client Like a Star
Justin Toves-Vincilione and Mat Wulff, creative directors and the hair, makeup leads on this Ulta Beauty shoot, say the goal of each service is to provide the client with star treatment, while also remembering that the beauty professional is a star in their own light.
by Anne Moratto
EDGE Academy Unveils “GlassCandy,” a Six-Look Collection That Blends Precision With Ease
Building on last year’s Neon Arcade, GlassCandy shifts from neon to daylight with softer movement, confident shape, and wearable polish, created by Creative Director Anthony Edge and the EDGE Artistic Team.
by Anne Moratto
Golden Threads: Oribe’s Gilded Gift Sets
Each year, Oribe turns its holiday gift sets into works of art and 2025’s “Golden Threads” collaboration with Finnish artist Kustaa Saksi is no exception. Inspired by mythology and master craftsmanship, the limited-edition collection blends luxury with meaning, transforming salon retail into an elevated client experience. See how Flaunt Hair Salon brings the collection to life with immersive displays, team engagement, and record-breaking holiday sales.
Sponsored by Oribe
Celebrating an Icon: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Fifteen years after its debut, Oribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray remains a true styling icon. From backstage at fashion week to behind the chair, this cult favorite continues to define volume, texture, and effortless glam for a new generation.
Sponsored by Oribe
A-Temporal 01: A Collection by Sebastián Forner and Víctor Fernández
Sebastián Forner and Víctor Fernández present A-temporal 01, a hairdressing collection born from the pulse of the street and the wealth of experience gained through years of observing, listening, and adapting to real clients.
Lloyd Court’s “Raw” Inspires Colorists with Creative Placement and Storytelling
An award-winning British colorist, Court says this collection was created to help colorists "utilize natural lift to create beautiful images."
by Anne Moratto
Olivia Garden Unveils Dream Hair Lookbook: A Vision of Timeless, Effortless Beauty
Classic meets current in a lookbook designed to inspire — and achieve — the hair of everyone’s dreams.
Peter Gray Elevates Men’s Grooming in New Editorial for OWAY
In one of his most recent project, Gray directed the hair for an OWAY Men’s Editorial, a striking visual story captured by photographer Stockton Johnson.
by Anne Moratto
No Glam Wasted: Mentorship Meets Sustainability in a Forest-Set Photo Collection
Beauty, fashion, and environmental consciousness converge in a cross-discipline collaboration at Bankhead National Forest.
Gaining Momentum: NAHA Finalist Collection for Styling and Finishing
Breanne Gershon, a Canadian hairstylist, makeup artist, and educator, is a finalist for Styling and Finishing.
by Anne Moratto
Spirited: A Colorful Collection by Carol Ritchie
Bold and bright, this is UK stylist Carol Ritchie's Spirited collection.
The 2025 CHI Harmony Collection by Mego Ayvazian
Farouk Systems' Mego Ayvazian, Vice President of Education and Shows, is proud to introduce the 2025 CHI Harmony Collection.