Lawyer, human rights activist and major beauty inspo, Amal Clooney has us craving a highlight upgrade. Recently debuting fresh caramel flan highlights by celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos, we can’t help but notice this sweet color-refresh is the absolute perfect shade for her. Discover how to nail caramel flan highlights and how to find your ideal highlight shade.
Featured Experts
- Taya Tkachuk is a pro-colorist and educator
- Rita Hazan is a celebrity colorist and founder of Rita Hazan Salon
What Are Caramel Flan Highlights?
Designed to resemble the baked custard dessert with a caramel sauce layer, this shade borrows from the rich, amber shades of caramel, dipping subtly into brighter and more auburn tones.
Applied to a warm brunette, caramel flan highlights impart a contrast that helps frame the face and creates depth.
“Amal Clooney’s highlights are the perfect blend of warmth and contrast,” explains pro-colorist Taya Tkachuk. “They frame her face beautifully, adding brightness without overpowering her natural color.”
According to celebrity colorist and founder of Rita Hazan Salon, Rita Hazan, caramel flan highlights are a perfect fit for Amal Clooney because of the contrast between their brighter notes and her dark natural color. “Amal Clooney’s hair gives effortless elegance, thanks to her natural, sun-kissed highlights that add warmth and dimension to her rich, dark strands,” she says. “These soft, strategically placed highlights, especially around her face, mimic the gentle glow of sunlight, subtly brightening her complexion.”
Finding Your Perfect Highlight Shade
If you’re already sold on caramel flan highlights, Hazan suggests reaching for a tinted gloss. “To achieve a similar sunlit effect at home, a tinted gloss can help enhance shine, tone down brassiness and infuse your hair with a hint of color,” she says. “Glaze’s Supergloss in Caramel Lights ($18) is a great option. It boosts vibrancy and gives your highlights that healthy, reflective glow.”
Of course, caramel flan highlights aren’t going to be the ideal fit for everyone. When your colorist is determining the perfect shade for you, they have a few things to take into account.
“It starts with understanding your skin’s undertone,” says Tkachuk. “Warm skin tones typically suit honey, caramel and golden highlights, while cooler undertones look great with beige, ash or champagne tones. I always consider the natural base color, eye color and overall style of the client. Then, I create dimension through customized placement and tone for the most natural, flattering effect.”
But stay fairly close to your natural shade for a seamless look. “Once you understand your undertones, choose highlights that complement them,” Hazan explains. “A general guideline is to stay within two shades of your natural hair color.”
