PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 30: Gigi Hadid poses backstage ahead of the Coperni Womenswear Spring/Summer 2022 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 30, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)

It may be little more than a coincidence, but after Gen Z unceremoniously proclaimed blonde hair to be ‘cheugy‘ last year, a slew of celebrities swiftly made the switch to brunette. In a TikTok video, GirlBossTown host Robyn DelMonte noted, “Every celebrity and cool girl is going dark,” a trend that has continued into the new year.

While face-framing creamy blonde balayage and fine highlights have seen lighter colours the most requested hue at salons for several seasons, it seems richer, deeper brunette tones are set to dominate in 2022.

Allow us to present the celeb-laden evidence.

Gigi Hadid is among the most recent dark side converts, after debuting a darker chocolate colour at Paris Fashion Week back in September. While at the time it was tricky to tell whether it was a permanent change from her previously copper-coloured locks, shots of the supermodel in subsequent months have confirmed that she has indeed adopted the mocha hue.

PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 30: Gigi Hadid poses backstage ahead of the Coperni Womenswear Spring/Summer 2022 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 30, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Francois G. Durand/Getty Images)

Katy Perry is another star who went dark during the latter part of 2021, subbing out the platinum blonde colour she’d been wearing for several years to reintroduce the iconic liquorice locks she was known for in her earlier years.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 10: Katy Perry attends the 55th annual Country Music Association awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA)

Hailey Bieber phased out her infamous blonde hair over the course of the year, transitioning to a rich nutmeg hue before going even darker in October. Her colour proves that brunette hues can possess depth, thanks to finely-placed honey highlights spliced throughout for an expensive, glossy look.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 19: Hailey Bieber attends the 27th Annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Celebration at Dolby Terrace at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

A lot of celebrities opt for a brunette colour to restore the health of their hair, after years of damaging bleach and heat styling begin to take their toll. Perhaps that was the reason behind Billie Eilish‘s recent hair revamp, which saw the singer ditch her Marilyn-esque bottle blonde for a warm chocolate shade.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 04: Billie Eilish attends Variety 2021 Music Hitmakers Brunch presented by Peacock and GIRLS5EVA at City Market Social House on December 04, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic)

Brunette doesn’t have to get boring either, as Dakota Johnson recently demonstrated in her recent switch-up of her signature dark hair. The star added some soft, sun-kissed highlights to her long locks, strategically added to create movement without overhauling Johnson’s entire look.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 04: Actor Dakota Johnson from Netflix’s “The Lost Daughter” attends Deadline Contenders Film: New York on December 04, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Deadline)

Of course, brunette hair isn’t new but trends dial up and down over the decades. With the onset of the ‘indie sleaze‘ aesthetic – which was dominated by brunettes like Zooey Deschanel and Alexa Chung – it seems as if decadent brunette hues are a palate cleanser for the bleach-soaked Y2K trend, led by an early Noughties Paris Hilton.

It’s also far more low-maintenance, requiring less time and money spent at the salon. Need further proof? Style savant (and indie sleaze original) Chloë Sevigny also turfed her trademark dishwater blonde for a moody brunette hue late last year.

Expect currently-blonde locks to become further casualties of brunette hair dye in the coming months.