Someone start a petition to make "caramel blond" an actual Pantone colour, because Kaia Gerber's recent hair transformation is the summery inspiration every stylist will be seeing very soon. In a new post shared on her story, the model and actress showed off a new caramel-blonde hair colour that is a major departure from her usually deep chocolate-brown strands.

The image shows her posing near a window, with the afternoon sun highlighting her new hair, which features a warm, radiant new blonde shade paired with soft waves. Naturally, her signature full brows were still very much present, and she let her new hair shine by keeping her makeup clean and neutral. She also went for a casual look, opting for a simple ribbed tank top.

The new shade comes from colourist Matt Rez, whose clients include Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Sydney Sweeney, according to Teen Vogue. Rez's specialty is "midlights," which the magazine describes as "a method that bridges your natural hair colour to your highlights using a blend of tones in between," in case other stylists want to take a behind-the-scenes peek at how Kaia's dreamy look was achieved.

This isn't the first time Kaia has wondered if blondes have more fun. In 2020, she shared a reveal on Instagram of a much more platinum colour and a more layered style (which she called "zoom bleach"). Long before that, in 2016, she also tried out a bleached hairstyle.

The midlights technique explained

Matt Rez's midlights technique is one of the most sought-after colour methods in celebrity hairdressing. Unlike traditional highlights — which focus on the top layers of the hair to mimic the brightening effect of sunlight — midlights are placed between the natural hair colour and existing highlights. This creates a more graduated, blended result with less obvious regrowth.

The advantage of midlights is that they grow out more gracefully than traditional highlights. The colourist works with the hair's natural dimension rather than against it, which means the lines of demarcation as the colour grows out are softer and less obvious. For clients who can only visit the salon every 8–12 weeks rather than every 4–6, this is a significant benefit.

The technique also allows for more subtle, dimensional results. Where traditional highlights can sometimes look stripy or overly uniform, midlights create a more natural sun-kissed effect that looks expensive and intentional rather than processed.

Why caramel blonde is having a moment

Caramel blonde — sometimes called "honey blonde" or "bronde" — sits at the intersection of brunette and blonde. It's warm without being brassy, bright without being platinum, and works on a remarkable range of skin tones.

The colour has become the signature shade of the past several seasons for several reasons. First, it's flattering across the spectrum of natural hair colours, from dark blonde through to light brunette. Second, it's relatively low-maintenance compared to platinum or icy blondes, which require regular toning to keep the brassiness at bay. Third, it photographs beautifully, with the warm tones catching light in a way that cooler shades don't.

For those with naturally darker hair, achieving caramel blonde requires bleaching, but the goal is not to lift the hair to the palest possible blonde. Instead, the colourist lifts the hair to a warm, golden base and then tones it with caramel and honey shades. This keeps the hair in better condition than going platinum, and the result is a more natural-looking blonde that doesn't feel jarring against darker features.

Kaia's hair history

Kaia Gerber's hair has been a topic of fascination since she first appeared on fashion shoots as a teenager. The daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford, she inherited her mother's brunette shade and wore it consistently through her early modelling years.

Her 2016 bleached bob was her first major departure. Still in her teens at the time, she was photographed with a platinum pixie cut that surprised industry watchers. By 2018, she had returned to her natural brunette.

In 2020, she tried again with what she called "zoom bleach" — a platinum shade revealed on Instagram during the early pandemic lockdowns. This time, the colour was paired with a more layered cut that suited the brighter shade.

The current caramel blonde represents a third evolution. It's lighter than her natural brunette, but warmer and more dimensional than her previous bleach attempts. It reads as both a tribute to her mother's iconic California blonde and a mature, considered choice in its own right.

The influence of celebrity hair transformations

When a celebrity with Kaia Gerber's profile changes her hair, the effect ripples through salons across the country. Within days of her reveal, "caramel blonde" became one of the most-searched terms on hair-related platforms. Colourists reported an uptick in clients requesting similar shades, often bringing screenshots of Kaia's Instagram post as their reference.

This kind of influence is well documented. Celebrity hair transformations can move the market in measurable ways. When Kim Kardashian went platinum in 2015, the demand for platinum hair colouring spiked dramatically. When Hailey Bieber popularised the "glazed donut" skin look in 2022, the technique became one of the most requested facials in dermatology clinics.

For Matt Rez, Kaia's transformation is the latest in a string of high-profile reveals. His client list includes Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Sydney Sweeney, all of whom have helped popularise his signature midlights method. The exposure drives bookings at his Los Angeles-based salon, but also creates demand for the technique globally as stylists in other markets try to recreate the look.

How to ask for caramel blonde

For those inspired by Kaia's transformation, the key is in how you communicate with your colourist.

Bring visual references. Screenshots from Instagram, magazine spreads, or celebrity photos are far more useful than verbal descriptions. The terms "caramel," "honey," and "bronde" mean different things to different people, so visual references eliminate ambiguity.

Discuss your maintenance expectations. Caramel blonde requires less maintenance than platinum, but more than a simple gloss. Be honest with your colourist about how often you're willing to come in for toning and root touch-ups.

Consider your skin tone. Warm-toned complexions (those with golden or yellow undertones) typically suit warm caramel shades. Cool-toned complexions (those with pink or blue undertones) often do better with slightly cooler honey or champagne shades. Your colourist can help you find the right undertone for your skin.

Be prepared for the time commitment. Going from brunette to caramel blonde usually requires a longer appointment than a simple gloss or root touch-up. Plan for 3–5 hours for the initial colour, and possibly a follow-up appointment to refine the tone.

How to keep caramel blonde looking fresh

Once you've got the colour you want, maintaining it requires a few key products and habits.

Purple shampoo

Purple shampoo helps neutralise the brassy tones that develop in blonde hair over time. Used once or twice a week in place of regular shampoo, it keeps the colour cool and bright. Be careful not to over-use, as too much purple shampoo can give blonde hair a greyish cast.

Colour-depositing conditioners

For warmer shades like caramel, a colour-depositing conditioner in a similar tone can refresh the colour between salon visits. These are particularly useful during the first few weeks after a colour, when the shade can start to fade.

Heat protection

Bleached hair is more vulnerable to heat damage than unbleached hair. Using a heat protectant spray before any hot tool use — blow dryer, curling iron, flat iron — is essential to prevent further damage.

Deep conditioning

Bleached hair benefits from regular deep conditioning treatments. A weekly mask, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends, helps restore moisture and elasticity to hair that has been chemically processed.

Sun protection

Just as the sun can lighten hair naturally, it can also fade professionally coloured hair. Wearing a hat in strong sun, or using a UV-protective hair product, helps preserve the colour for longer.

The future of Kaia's hair

Whether Kaia keeps the caramel blonde or returns to her signature brunette is one of those questions that the celebrity beauty press will track closely. Each of her previous colour changes has had a defined arc — a reveal, a few months of public appearances with the new look, and then a quieter return to her natural shade.

What's notable about the current caramel blonde is how well it bridges her previous looks. It's lighter than her natural brunette but warmer than her bleach attempts. It photographs beautifully, suits her features, and feels mature and considered in a way that her earlier colour changes didn't always.

The most likely outcome is that she wears the caramel blonde through the summer months, then gradually transitions back to a richer brunette for autumn and winter. But the colour will remain influential in the meantime. For the next several months, expect "caramel blonde" to be one of the most-requested shades in salons around the world — and Kaia Gerber to be the face on every colourist's reference board.