The Story Behind Jess’s Award Winning Brunette

We have a winner!

Our very own Jess Del Borrello has taken out the Brunette category at the 2026 Digital Hair Awards. We could not be prouder.

Here is the story behind her winning transformation, straight from the chair at Circles.

Back to her roots, literally

This one was extra special. Jess’s client had been blonde for the entire time Jess had been doing her hair. She had been trying to convince Jess to take her darker for a while, and finally they made the switch.

Choosing the right brunette

Going from blonde to brunette is not just a case of putting a darker colour on. Jess started with a proper consultation, matching shades to her client’s skin tone and the depth she wanted, so the result would look natural rather than flat.

The technique

When Jess educates our team, she always brings it back to the fundamentals:

• filling, so lightened hair holds a rich brunette and doesn’t fade to khaki or grey
• understanding the underlying pigment, so the warmth is controlled and the tone is right
• creating natural variation through the hair, so it has depth and movement instead of looking like a box dye

The result

Glossy, rich and dimensional, with the kind of shine that only comes from getting the foundations right. A change like this is a great reminder that hair should be fun.

Brunettes are underestimated

As Jess says, brunettes might look effortless, but there is so much more to them than meets the eye. A great brunette takes just as much skill as a bright blonde, and this win is proof.

Thinking of going darker?

• book a consultation first so we can plan the right shade and process
• bring photos of the brunette you love, and any you don’t
• expect a toner or gloss visit in between to keep it rich and shiny
• ask about colour safe take-home care to stop it fading

The bottom line

Congratulations Jess, this one is so well deserved. If you have been thinking about trading in your blonde for something richer, you are in award winning hands. Your best hair yet is just an appointment away.

Book your colour at Circles