It may seem as though blondes have more fun with their locks, but brunette hair girlies are rewriting that story. This dark brown hair color is low-maintenance, luxurious, and edgy. It’s the perfect midpoint for lovers of black who want a little tinge of color to their strands.
Whether it be smoky hues or rich, warm mocha, brunette hair isn’t by any means ho-hum. To reinforce your interest, we’ll show you all you need to know about this hair color, from what defines it to styling techniques, and even color inspirations to keep you rooted in your brunette era.
What is Brunette Hair?
Brunette, otherwise known as dark brown hair, is the second most common hair color after black. It varies from light to dark brown and complements different skin tones, with chocolate or chestnut hues.
If you’re looking to add depth and dimension to your hair, this shade is for you. It’s versatile and flattering, perfect for any occasion or hairstyle for both natural and dyed hair. The best part? It doesn’t need regular touchups, as it blends well with darker natural roots, making it easier to maintain.
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Who Does Brunette Hair Suit?
Brunette hair suits anyone, but some people nail it better. For example, if your hair is naturally dark, this shade will look superb on you. Also, if your eye color and skin tone complement the shade, it works too, even if you’re blonde. However, you may need regular touch-ups every four to six weeks to maintain the color change.
And if you are naturally brunette, this hair color was made for no one else but you. Take the tone some levels darker during winter or lighter during summer to add some versatility to your seasonal looks.
How to Find the Best Dark Brown Shade
It starts with your skin tone. Look at your natural features. If you have a warm skin tone, throwing in gold or copper streaks to your dark brown hair will look great. But if your skin tone is cool, lean toward ashy hues. However, if your skin tone is neutral (warm and cool), try both ashy or gold hues and see what you feel best in.
If this whole skin tone talk sounds like rocket science to you, don’t sweat it. Let’s try another method: What are the wardrobe color palettes you gravitate toward? Draw inspiration from them and add them to your hair. Do you feel great when you think of the color orange or red? If you answered yes, you likely lean toward warm hues. If you cringed, maybe you’re a cool lover.
How to Style & Maintain Brunette Hair
As your brunette begins to fade, you’ll notice reddish or orange undertones due to an underlying pigment peeking out. An excellent way to prevent this is to:
- Apply a color-depositing conditioner to your hair or use a semi-permanent cool shade to keep your hair color balanced.
- Use a color-protecting shampoo to wash your hair.
- Apply heat protectant when straightening or curling your strands.
- Boost your hair’s sheen with a smoothing spray.
- Add dimension with different coloring techniques such as highlights, lowlights, ombre, or balayage, with shades like caramel, hazelnut, or ash.
10 Gorgeous Color Ideas for Brunette Hair
If you’re feeling bored with your brunette locks, resist the urge to change your hair shade completely. With coloring techniques like balayage becoming more popular, you can now have as much fun with color as you like.
The tones below are edgier than your everyday highlights. From rich, dark chocolate to golden brunette, here are stunning ways to elevate your dark tresses:
Light Brunette Hair
Light brown hair is a soft, natural-looking shade that flatters a wide range of complexions. It has a radiant warmth that brightens your face and gives your hair a sunlit glow. If you’re transitioning from blonde or simply looking for a softer brunette look that won’t stress you, this shade is flattering and low-maintenance enough for you.
Espresso Brunette
Espresso brown is an almost black shade with cool undertones. The deep shade reflects light beautifully, giving your hair a glossy, healthy look.
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Chocolate Brunette hair
Need a hair color that strikes a balance between warm and cool tones? Try chocolate brown hair. It blends a deep brunette base with muted cocoa undertones. Also, it has a rich finish that instantly elevates your look. And since it’s a neutral hue, it complements every skin tone and eye color.
Sombre Brunette
If you want to grow out your natural dark brown color while adding accents around the ends, try this soft ombre shade. It fades from a cool, dark brunette to ashy, beige tips, giving your strands a multi-dimensional appearance.
Mocha Brown Hair
This shade offers a dark brown base with warm caramel highlights for a sun-kissed look. Celebrities like Ashley Park, Jessica Alba, and Hailey Bieber have sported this style. It’s your turn to give it a shot.
Auburn Brunette
If your hair is naturally dark but you want to explore red without fully committing to it, you might want to consider auburn brunette. It’s a deep, rich auburn that fades well and adds warmth and radiance to any look.
Golden Brunette
Brunette hair with blonde balayage brings that eye candy sun-kissed look. For maximum glow that shimmers under light, ask your colorist to give you chunky highlights to frame your face and enhance your skin tone altogether.
Beige Brown and Ice Gold
This blend of muted brunette and a cool-toned gold is a striking combo that brings the beauty of golden and chocolatey hues in one spot
Smoky Brunette Tones
Another cooler brunette shade, this smoky mane reflects hints of silver against dark pieces, giving hair a muted metallic finish. If you’re craving a charcoal brunette like this, make sure you add a purple shampoo to your kit. Its violet tint will ensure cool undertones stay cool, eliminating brassiness in under five minutes.
Chestnut Brown Hair
Chestnut brown is a deep, warm hue with subtle reddish undertones that mimic the color of roasted chestnuts. It’s a great shade for adding glow and vibrancy to your look. Rock it during cooler temperatures or when you want a touch of warmth without going full red or orange.
There you have it—stunning brunette ideas to inspire your next shade. Which of them will you wear? Don’t limit yourself. Try as many as you want until you find the hue that becomes your signature. It’s called experimenting and it works in the hair world too!
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