Should I merely say ‘Israeli’ or should I say ‘Israeli woman’?

To avoid repetition of the word ‘woman’ in the second sentence, should I merely say ‘Israeli’ or should I say ‘Israeli woman’? But I’ve already mentioned the word ‘woman’ in the first sentence. Have I correctly used word ‘brunette’ as description for hair in the second sentence?

The woman introduced herself to me as Helga. She was (an Israeli, an Israeli woman) with a long brunette hair.