One of the hottest hair color trends of Fall 2025, this sparkle brunette balayage delivers reflective dimension through strategic hand painting. At the 2025 BTC Show, TRUSS Professional U.S. Ambassador Sarayah Hernandez (@hairbysarayah) created a luminous, light-catching finish that elevates brunette color with radiant shine. Get her formulas and step-by-step below.
Trend Alert: What Is a Sparkle Brunette?
Many clients mistake the gleam of a sparkle brunette for just a gloss. But, the nano-highlights with a brunette overlay are a huge salon conversation, as they're a perfect way to subtly transform brunette clients. For this sparkle brunette, Sarayah hand-paints sections before toning with a root melt and mids-to-ends gloss.
Understanding Section Size is Key for a Sparkle Brunette Balayage
“When doing any type of hand painting, it’s essential to understand the surface painting and your sectioning," Sarayah shares.
Reminder: Section Size = End Result. “The larger the sections you take, the more dimension you will maintain. The smaller the sections, the less dimension—and the more overall lighter tone you will achieve.”
- Larger sections → More contrast and visible dimension.
- Smaller sections → Softer blend and lighter with less dimension.
Slide through to see the before & after:
The Formulas
- Formula A (balayage):
- TRUSS Professional Air.Libre Bleaching Powder + 8X Powder Bond Builder + 20-volume developer
- Formula B (melt):
- TRUSS Professional TRUSS COLOR 6.0 + developer
- Formula C (gloss):
- TRUSS COLOR 9.03 + 7.7 + developer
Steps
1. Before:
2. Using Formula A, hand-paint sections of the hair to achieve a balayage effect. See Sarayah’s finished application below:
3. Wash and begin toning. Apply Formula B as a root melt and Formula C as a gloss.
4. Rinse and style. For this luxe finish, Sarayah reached for the following:
- To prep, use TRUSS Professional Miracle Amino Heat Protection Spray. It detangles, protects and enhances shine.
- To finish, use TRUSS Professional Deluxe Prime Reconstructive Oil to reduce frizz, add shine and seal in the style.
5. Finished look:
