Emma Watson Debuts Her ‘Old Money’ Blonde Hair

Chic, flattering and sure to suit everyone

Emma Watson stepped out for an incredibly rare appearance on Saturday, when the actress attended the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in LA. Filmmaker George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson are behind the new museum, so unsurprisingly the grand opening drew in a slew of Hollywood faces, including Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and Leonardo DiCaprio.

For the museum’s unveiling, Watson, 36, wore a beautiful black velvet dress with an off-the-shoulder silhouette, and spectacularly, the Harry Potter star’s gown was adorned with delicate white flowers. Watson teamed her thigh-skimming frock with refined black pumps (also flora-adorned) and opted for a minimal make-up look, consisting of not much more than a flick of eyeliner, blushed lips, and a manicure to match.

Watson’s hair, meanwhile, was noticeably blonder than her last public appearance in June, when she spoke at a climate action forum in London. Over the summer, Watson’s tresses were a darker shade of bronde, with her hair looking decidedly more golden over the weekend. Bronde hair, in its many iterations, has soared in popularity over the years. Most recently, Watson’s new shade has been dubbed ‘old money blonde’ on TikTok, but when it comes to bronde hair, the fundamentals are simple: it’s a little bit blonde and a little bit brown.

Watson’s hair was noticeably darker back in June

Polished, expensive-looking and incredibly flattering, bronde really is everywhere at the moment. Perhaps most importantly, though, bronde hair is much easier to maintain than full-blown blonde, not to mention less damaging, and can work on anyone and any texture. Speaking to George V Magazine last year, Rachel Bodt, owner of Homecoming Salon in New York City, said of the fashion set’s new favourite hair colour: “Bronde is really about the tone and the lift of the base. It’s softer than brown and less maintenance than blonde, but it’s also very versatile.” She also spoke to bronde’s versatility, adding: “You can add more blonde to bronde hair, and you can also tone it down if you want it to feel slightly deeper. It feels elevated but also feels playful.”

Bodt’s one piece of advice? Not to scrimp on at-home care. When it comes to preserving bronde’s richness, Body says to “lower your hot tools,” adding: “I also love a lamination treatment like Oribe Mirror Rinse. Matrix has a lamination spray too. It makes the hair look like glass — super reflective and glossy.” Now to book that salon appointment.