Pantone’s Color of the Year: Mocha Mousse and the Year of the Brunette
Each year, the Pantone Color Institute reveals its Color of the Year. For 2025, Pantone has chosen Mocha Mousse, a warm, neutral brown that embodies comfort, sophistication, and versatility.
Year of the Brunette
Each year, the Pantone Color Institute reveals its Color of the Year, an announcement that ripples across industries from fashion to interior design, beauty, and beyond. For 2025, Pantone has chosen Mocha Mousse, a warm, neutral brown that embodies comfort, sophistication, and versatility. This year is the year of the brunette. We connected with the pros Renee Valerie Radoiu, VP of R+COLOR Education, and Richy Kandasamy, VP of R+COLOR development to get their take on how this color speaks to the industry.
A Color That Speaks to the Industry
It’s time for brunettes to have their moment. What excites colorists about Mocha Mousse is its wearability and versatility. Kandasamy states, “This means it can work on almost any complexion, skin tone, and eye depth.”
Mocha Mousse has different dimensions. It’s not about being so literal; it’s about taking inspiration and being harmonious with your skin tone and complexion. This approach ensures that the trend is personalized, complementing each individual’s unique features. Customization is key, as Valerie emphasizes: “At the end of the day, making sure you customize it for that person [is essential].”
Taking Inspiration from Mocha Mousse
Valerie offers practical advice for those looking to incorporate Mocha Mousse into their hair color: “When you’re going to see your stylist and you want to take inspiration from Mocha Mousse, take pictures of people whose hair color you like. The color of Mocha Mousse has different dimensions. It’s not about being so literal; it’s about taking inspiration and being harmonious with your skin tone and complexion.”
Elevated Neutrals
Mocha Mousse also ties into broader fashion trends. “Fashion right now has a lot of monochrome looks with neutral browns,” Valerie observes. “Espresso works with the color palette, so you can be monochrome head-to-toe, with your lip being consistent with your look.” This unified approach to styling extends from clothing to beauty, offering endless opportunities to experiment with Mocha Mousse-inspired aesthetics.
From the runway to the salon, Mocha Mousse is ushering in a year of elevated neutrals. As Valerie concludes, “This is the year of the brunette.” Whether through hair color, fashion, or home décor, Mocha Mousse’s versatile and comforting qualities make it a standout choice for 2025. Get ready to embrace the richness of this “comfort chocolate coffee” hue and make it your own.
Mocha Brown
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Formula
Roots & Drizzle: STELLAR Demi-permanent liquid 40g 6.0/N (moon shadow) 5g 8.1/A (poetry) + 5g 6.1/A (twin peaks) + 50g 5 Volume MOMENTUM Developer
Ends: STELLAR Demi-permanent liquid 60g 7.0/N (haystack) + 60g 5 Volume MOMENTUM Developer
Billionaire Brunette
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Formula
Base color: Hypermatic + NP 6 Birthday Cake Highlights: Snowfall 10vol Toner: V8 Billionaire 30 gr + NP 7 Landscape + 5 vol
Brown Bunny Brunette
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Formula
Highlighted: SNOWFALL ammonia-free powder lighter 20g +30g 20 volume MOMENTUM developer
Shadow Rooted: STAR SIGN demi-permanent crème hair color 30g 4.0 BROWN BUNNY + 60g 5 volume MOMENTUM developer
Glossed: STAR SIGN demi-permanent crème hair color 30g 8.3 (HONEYSUCKLE) + 10g 6.3 (BEEHIVE) +80g 5 volume MOMENTUM developer
For Color that LASTS
Maintain your color with GEMSTONE
Keep your color deliciously vibrant with R+Co’s GEMSTONE collection. Start with GEMSTONE Shampoo and Conditioner, packed with a color protection complex that keeps your shade as luscious and dimensional as your favorite latte. For next-level indulgence, treat your hair to the GEMSTONE Pre-Shampoo Color Protect Masque. Infused with ChromoHance technology, this mousse-like foam transforms into a creamy dream, sealing the cuticle, repairing damage, and locking in shine. It’s the perfect recipe for mocha-hued magic.