Attention brunettes! If you’re looking for the perfect shade of brown hair, then look no further. Just scroll down to see this year’s most popular brunette shades of brown hair color ideas that are sure to make you crave a dark chocolate brown hair color that’s right for you. Go brown all over or throw some contrast into your blonde for a cool multi-dimensional effect using balayage, highlights, ombre’s, and more!
Before your next hair color appointment, check out these photos of popular brown hair color ideas.
#1: Dark Golden Brown with Weaves of Balayage
This dark golden brown haircut has a soft, natural look. The color is an easy-to-maintain warm brown, as my client’s natural hair color is light brown. This added warmth and depth, then I did some very fine weaves of balayage in a few places to add a slightly lighter tone and to give texture.
#2: Black-Brown Hair Tones with Soft Beach Waves
The richness of black brown hair with waves will have your locks feeling healthy again. Not all complexions are suitable for a warm, dark hair tone. But if you have fair skin, this hair color will work perfectly for you. Take this color as reflective as you can and give it some sparkle by adding the verb ghost oil at the ends.
#3: Very Dark Brunette Hair with Soft Curls
Richen up your mane with very dark brunette hair with soft curls. Do a total transformation and turn your dull locks into shiny and healthy-looking stands. One of the most important things you can do before styling is to use a heat protectant. It will prevent damage to healthy-looking hair.
#4: Darker Brunette with a Medium-Length Cut
Freshen up for fall and go for a darker brunette color with a medium-length cut. Brown hair color with subtle warm chocolate hues will make your hair glow. Adding warm tones to dark hair is always a good idea to make your locks look healthy and shiny.
#5: Deep Brunette with Long Layers
Go for a darker vibe with a deep brunette with long layers. A rich brunette color will make your locks look fresh and vibrant. The dark brown hues give so much dimension and shine. Deep warm tones will add to the richness of your locks for an outstanding color combination.
#6: Soft Voluminous Waves on Rich Brown Hair
Get soft voluminous waves on your rich brown hair for any occasion. If your hair has a very straight texture and the color is natural, it probably won’t hold a wave well. When I do a wavy blowout on long hair I pin the curls, first. Then, I leave the hair to cool down in the curl, spray it with hairspray and then loosen it out. Generally, this method gives better results and hold.
#7: Mid-Length Brunette Hair with Subtle Burgundy Tones
The perfect shade for the fall season is upon us! When the seasons change you often find yourself opting for a warmer mane. This is because it gives your skin tone more warmth when you lose that summer glow. For products, make sure you’re using a sulfate-free color-safe shampoo and conditioner. These products will help to prolong the fade out.
#8: Dark Brunette with Thin Brown Sugar Highlights
The seasons are changing and it’s time for your new look with this warm and rich color. It looks subtle adding highlights to hair as long as you tone them down. The general rule of thumb is only two shades of difference for a softer look. Styling will look good both sleek and curled. But, my personal preference is curled as it shows dimension more.
#9: Warm Blonde and Brown Thin Highlights
Try the newest fall trend with warm blonde and brown thin highlights. Bring out the warmth in your eyes and skin tone with glistening golden tones. Brown and blonde thin highlights blend seamlessly for low-maintenance color. Curl your long brown locks with a big barrel iron to show off your voluminous-looking mane.
#10: Blended Auburn Brown
For those women who want to go darker brown, try a blended auburn. It isn’t necessary to know what color you want exactly. Ask your hair colorist which rich color combination will be best for your skin tone.
#11: Rich Coffee Brunette Hair
Go to the darker side with rich coffee brunette hair. Warm tones of glistening brown golden flecks will make your locks look hot and spicy. Balayage for brunette hair is so versatile. Plus, it can be very low-maintenance when done correctly. Warming up your color will make your hair look more dimensional and light reflective.
#12: Cappuccino Balayage Highlights on Brunette Hair
Try a radiant color for brunette hair with cappuccino balayage highlights. A flattering and low-maintenance balayage is all you need to spice up your dull locks. Warm tones of cappuccino and cinnamon reflect light making your hair sparkle in the sun. A warm balayage looks so natural with brown hair and will add a luxurious shine.
#13: Brunette Balayage with Warm Brown Tones
If you’re looking for a natural look, a brunette balayage with warm brown tones is the way to go. Look at your hair in the sunlight and you will see it glisten and glow. Warm rich tones of amber and chestnut will make the brown hair pop for a multi-dimensional color. If you want your hair to look shiny and healthy you should always add warm tones for a reflective shine.
#14: Fall Brunette Hair with Subtle Highlights
Go for the season’s hottest trend with fall brunette hair with subtle highlights. Warm and rich colors are reflective and shiny and will make your hair look luxurious. Warm tones are always best to use to bring out the warmth in your complexion for a healthy glow. Ask your colorist for warm rich tones to be added to your brunette hair and watch your hair glow.
#15: Deep Honey Brown Hair Color
A great life change for natural hair is adding soft and subtle balayage to your mane. It’s a gorgeous way to add dimension without a high-maintenance schedule. With this honey brown color, you’ll be looking at 8-10 weeks with a quick and easy toning appointment.
#16: Lived-In Chocolate Brown Hair
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance color, this is the one for you. As people living in a busy world, it can sometimes be difficult to make it to the salon. Even more so if you’re choosing a color or highlight that covers your roots. A balayage is a painting technique that creates a soft gradient from the root to the ends. We all naturally have warm undertones in our hair. So choosing a brown chocolate tone would create even less maintenance for yourself.
#17: Very Long Caramel Brown Hair
Caramel balayage is the go-to color this season for those with darker hair. Not only is this style of color low-maintenance, but it’s also extremely customizable. Your balayage can be as dimensional as you need it to be depending on the size of the weave. For a bolder dimension, ask your stylist for a chunky weave. Or, for a softer dimension like this picture, ask for a fine weave. If you are of brunette tones naturally, a caramel brown tone will blend very nicely.
#18: Glossy Brunette Color on Long Layered Hair
Have you been struggling with dull-looking hair? Ask your stylist for an all-over gloss. An all-over gloss can be just clear, adding pure shine. It can also help your hair look shiny and healthy. A colored gloss will add shine and demi-permanent color. Adding this to your beauty hair routine will keep your locks healthy and glamorous.
#19: Wavy Dark Brown Hair with Textured Ends
Rich, deep dark chocolate brown hair that is styled wavy with textured ends is a classic choice. These shades are stunning on women of any age. They complement the natural hues of caramel and also women who have darker features. Ask your stylist to point cut into the ends to give it that wispy touch, leaving the tips out for movement. Finish off with a texture spray such as Dry Texture Spray by Kenra for that beachy, messy look.
#20: Dark Ash Brown Hair with Long Waves
Looking for a stunning hair refresher but don’t want to pay full price for color? Ask your stylist for a toner glaze. A toner will enhance whatever color you’re looking to add to your ash brown hair. In this particular color, an ash toner was added to her brown hair to cancel out any warmth giving her a cool brown. A toner glaze will also help to keep a long-lasting shine in your hair.
#21: Stylish Natural Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
A long and wavy style with natural brown hair with blonde highlights will blend naturally with your roots.
#22: Caramel Balayage on Brown Hair with Curled Ends
Show off your beautiful locks with caramel balayage on brown hair. Swirling tones of caramel and honey will warm up your hair for sparking strands. Warm tones are easy to achieve and will make your locks look super shiny and glossy. Curl with a curling iron to show off all the delicious dimensions.
#23: Classic Brunette Hairstyle with a Deep Side Part
A brunette hairstyle with a deep side part gives depth to almost any hair texture. Having a deep side part adds fullness to one side and looks great on brunette hair.
#24: Long Brunette Hair with a Blonde Money Piece
If you have long brunette hair try a blonde money piece for a high-contrast color. In my experience, money pieces can be an easy way to show contrast without maintenance. Make sure you ask your stylist if the blonde around your face will suit your complexion.
#25: Bold Chocolate Cherry Brown
This is a rich chocolate brunette with very strong red hair undertones. The prettiest thing about it is that it’s a very bold hair color combination. It combines the sultry attitude of a chocolate brown brunette while mixing the boldness of a redhead.
Be okay with coming to the salon every four to five weeks to freshen up the color with toner and adding warmth to your hair. This brunette hair is definitely for the female that likes to turn heads so if you’ve got time and like attention, this is the color for you! My styling recommendation with a balayage on dark hair is to take the time to curl it. Curling your hair showcases more dimension.
#26: Soft Ashy Mushroom Brown for Women Over 50
For women over 50, try an ashy mushroom brown. Soft and natural, a mushroom brown is great for beginning a gray transition or for women who want to enhance their color.
#27: Beautiful Light Ash Brown
Mix in some gray on ash brown hair to achieve a beautiful light ash brunette hue.
#28: Brown Hair with Hints of Auburn for Older Women
Opt for dark brown hair with hints of auburn for older women to give a subtle lift that will make your hair look fuller. The dimension of the soft auburn against your brunette hair looks almost like the sun has kissed your hair, warming up the skin tone and giving depth to your hair. This hue instantly makes your hair look fuller and brighter.
#29: Dimensional Bronze Balayage for Brown Hair
A dimensional bronze balayage for brown hair is a classy choice. The balayage highlights make the perfect transitional color choice for women wanting to take baby steps into going lighter. Plus, it’s one of the best brown hair color ideas for brunettes trending right now.
#30: Easy Dark Cocoa Brown to Caramel Blonde Ombre
Dark cocoa brown hair blended to a caramel blonde ombré is easy maintenance, and grows out beautifully as it a lightly feathered and weaves into the roots. Caramel coloring looks best on a warm complexion and can be worn on long or short hair.
#31: Bright Copper Brown Highlights
Colored copper brown highlights are beautiful next to a brunette base. You can start off naturally brown and balayage your hair to tone with a copper brown, or do a root melt to darken the base with the copper. Maintenance will run about 6-8 weeks if you’re a lighter base and 8-12 weeks for brown bases.
#32: Silky Platinum Brown Balayage
What a glamorous way to change your hair! Match up your long silky hair with this light brunette color melt and add some highlights to reach perfection.
#33: Warm Dark Chocolate Beach Waves
Bring out the warmth that your long locks offer with a dark chocolate hair color. Still wanna upgrade your dark hair? Try sporting some beach waves.
#34: Divine Mahogany Brown
Mean business with this blunt straight and sleek shoulder-length hair that’s mega divine.
#35: Brown Hair With Highlights and Brighter Tips
This brown hair also was given lighter, more natural brown highlights. The roots were blended down with baby lights and brighter tips.
#36: Dimensional Dark and Milk Chocolate Brown
I call this look dimensional chocolate – an all-over brown color with ribbons of dark and milkier tones. This color is tailored for a brunette looking for low-maintenance, rich color. I recommend you use products like Moroccan oil root boost in the crown and Moroccan oil smoothing lotion to tame all of the disbursed crazy, little frizzies throughout your hair.
#37: Radiant Reddish Brown
This is the perfect red-brown hair color for that brunette who what’s to see something different without the full commitment and maintenance of being a full-blown redhead. If you’re considering brown hair colors to add a little pizzazz to your brown hair, I recommend taking home sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to maintain the color and keep it from fading. Unite has many to choose from that serve multiple purposes like creating volume, adding moisture, or smoothing, all while protecting your hair color.
#38: Hand-Painted Milk Chocolate Brown with Caramel Swirls
I would call this look milk chocolate caramel swirl. There is so much dimension in this look, but it’s really showcased in this inward bob haircut. This inverted bob has a slight undercut in the back to remove weight from her thick hair.
Women looking to achieve this brown hair should ask for color pieces that are hand-painted. Adjustments will only need to be made according to what shade of brown hair would match best with your skin tones and eye color depth. I recommend a purple shampoo to maintain the perfect color and prevent it from being too orange or brassy.
#39: Subtle Warm Dimensional Chestnut Brown
This brunette hair color has warm dimensional browns with hints of chestnut brown. My favorite thing about it is the soft blend of all the different tones and the shine that it creates.
The Kevin Murphy color line (Color ME) is a multi-dimensional color loaded with amazing ingredients such as shea butter, honey, and rosehip oil. It delivers amazing shine and leaves the chestnut brown hair feeling like silk. Instead of your hair being a matte solid color, you achieve a subtle multi-dimensional color without the maintenance or boldness of highlights. This is a great look for women who are already brunette or want to become one by adding warmth and shine with subtly changing tones.
#40: Beautiful Bronde (Blonde+Brown)
This is the ideal combo of brown and blonde hair. The dimension here creates a beautifully rich and interesting twist to classic brunette hair. This color combo can best be described as “bronde“. Not all brunettes and blondes want to go lighter, so this is perfect for you if you’re craving beautiful, natural tones with that extra wow factor!
Wearing this color smooth and straight looks divine, but know that it will look more blended when worn straight. Two different looks with one color combo – who doesn’t want that? Pair hair brown shades like this with dark red lipstick and you’ll look instantly pulled together and are pretty much guaranteed to be a compliment magnet. Regular trims, glosses, and touch-ups are very important to maintain the color, shape, and overall health of your hair.
#41: Healthy & Dimensional Cinnamon Brown
This look shows exactly what cinnamon brown hair should be: shiny, healthy, and with dimension. We balayaged babylights into her hair to create depth and richness because brunettes can often look matte or drab.
In my opinion, brunettes need richness. Talk to your stylist about highlights/balayage and glosses to bring out tones that work best with your skin tone and placement that goes with your lifestyle. Make sure to also use hydrating shampoos and conditioners because a good look starts in the shower!
#42: Sun-Kissed Natural Light Brown
This lady has always covered her grey hair with a dark shade of brown color, but wanted a change to something more natural that would bring her confidence. I choose to balayage to lighten her dark brown shade to light brown hair color so that it would keep the original color, but not so boring. The great thing about this sun-kissed brown is that you don’t need to color it often.
This look is great for all face shapes and women can easily style it at home. This look can be worn with a normal blow-dry or with some curl as shown in the photo. If you need to bleach your hair to get this color, I recommend you use a blue shampoo and come in once a month for toner and trimming.
#43: Multi-Technique Brunette Shade
Most looks nowadays are not just highlights, they involve a few coloring techniques. For this brunette hair color, I did babylights, teasey lights, and balayage. I love this look because it gives a brown dimension and creates movement to enhance any haircut, all while staying low-maintenance.
With a color like this, you have to be patient because you might need a few sessions. This was her second session with having dark brown hair with highlights, and we nailed it. She did her part at home by using a lot of Olaplex to prep her for her future session, performing deep conditioning treatments once a week, and using the right shampoo. You never want to leave a salon without proper at-home care. Results cannot be guaranteed when drugstore products are used because they will strip the color.
#44: Perfect Summer Sombre
The perfect summer sombre is so fun and edgy. I love how this color is so blended and seamless. The best thing about this sombre is that it’s a great color if you want to be dark and light.
This hair color and cut are perfect for the low-maintenance woman who wants a bit of texture and likes wearing her hair wavy. The color adds a different dimension and can be suited to all types of hair, but hair that is medium in density and naturally straight is perfect for a summer sombre like this one.
#45: Low-Maintenance Dark to Medium Golden Brown Ombre
A dark to medium brown ombre is all about simplicity. I love how the color blends. The transition from root to highlight creates an effortless effect.
This medium brown hair color is for you if you’re a low-maintenance woman who wants to enhance your natural color while having the brightness of a lived-in highlight. What’s great about this look is that it works for any face shape and any lifestyle. I recommend a good color-protecting shampoo and conditioner like Pureology Hydrate or Redken Color Magnetics.
#46: Natural Hickory Brown with Subtle Dimension
Go for a natural hickory brown with a subtle dimension. If you’re a woman considering this look, I would say to take into consideration your natural color. For a base that is lighter, it would require a refresh every six to eight weeks to maintain. I recommend always using a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to prevent fading.
#47: Prettiest Dark Brunette with Light Brown Highlights
This dark brunette hair color with light brown highlights is gorgeous. To style this dark hair, all you need is a great leave-in conditioner, a curling iron, and dry shampoo. If you’re looking for a more wash and wear-friendly style, I suggest using a sea salt beach spray. Apply it to wet hair and let the air dry or diffuse to create a tousled effect.
#48: Effortless Milk Chocolate Babylights
These milk chocolate babylights with effortless waves are an easy transition if you’re new to coloring your hair. It eases the lady into color without feeling overwhelmed. I recommend J Beverly Hills Fragile shampoo and conditioner to maintain color and shine. No matter the age, skin tone, or lifestyle, this look can make anyone feel great and beautiful.
#49: Natural-Looking Medium Brown & Honey Blonde Balayage
This is a multi-dimensional balayage with caramel and honey tones. This client has thick, curly hair and came in with a short, boxy bob and red/burgundy box hair dye. The best thing about this look is that by adding dimension, we were able to create the illusion of natural-looking hues while keeping the integrity of your hair intact.
To create this short brown hair, use a blue powdered lightener, Olaplex #1, Additive #2, and prescribed #3 as a take-home treatment. I used Goldwell Topchic and Colorance with a balayage technique, isolating the in-between pieces in foil for deeper concentration. I recommend this brown shade to women that want to change their hair color from a dark base and/or are growing out thei hair. It’s also ideal for women that have greys creeping up because it’s low-maintenance, and the dimensional color will camouflage the grey re-growth, stretching your next visit an extra two to three weeks.
#50: Rich Fall Brown with Caramel Highlights
I would consider this a rich and texturized fall brown hair with some caramel highlights throughout. This look is fabulous if you’re a woman who wants the versatility of straight or curled hair and loves the soft lived-in look. I think the color is really great on most skin tones and hair types.