Dark hair colors don’t mean just going for darker shades because this season beckons for deep tones and rich shading! Simply look at your existing lighter hair shade and go a level or two darker. Remember, going darker doesn’t mean you need to color your hair black to enjoy the benefits of a new hue.
The depth of your dark mane depends on how strong or high the level of eumelanin pigment is in your hair follicles. So, before you go on and make a big change, look at your natural tones and even your complexion.
Start with a subtle change by enhancing your existing undertones to take it to the next level. With all these choice selections, your hair will be merry and bright all season! Adding lowlights, dramatic color blocking, or deepening your base are all effective ways of enhancing your current look.
Darker hair is seductive and charming. Look at these amazing dark hair color ideas for your next inspiration!
#1: Stunning Dark Purple
This dark hair color with a mix and contrast of purple and magenta hues makes a great match with a fun, soft mid-length hair. The medium-length cut gives movement to your hair and color. It’s great for someone looking to play with fashion shades but isn’t ready to commit to something bolder. I like to refer to fashion colors as weekend colors because of how fast they lose their vibrancy, so I don’t recommend these colors for low-maintenance ladies.
To maintain purple dark-colored hair, I recommend washing with products for color-treated hair such as Oribe Beautiful Color or R+Co Gemstone. Both are super gentle on the color and help preserve the vibrancy. Washing your hair less often and with cooler water will also help. When styling strands of hair with such cute brown hair color ideas, heat protectant products and not using hot tools over 325 degrees are suggested.
#2: Layered Shaggy Bob for Dark Short Hair
A layered shaggy bob for dark short hair is a perfect choice for you if you want to add volume and texture to your look. If you can at your next appointment ask for layers that will create depth. While the shaggy pieces frame your face and create a modern, stylish look. This style also works great if you already have short hair and want to enhance your natural hair texture. When it comes to color, dark hair is best suited to darker tones such as black, grey, brown, and burgundy. This look is great way to have a low-maintenance style and color while still being trendy.
#3: Deep Dark Chocolate Copper
Deep dark chocolate copper hair color on mid-length straight hair can be a truly unique look. This color combination is great for those looking to make a subtle yet stylish change to their hair. To achieve this color, ask for a blend of dark brown and reddish, copper shades. They should create a multi-dimensional color that adds a hint of warm tones. To aim for vibrant and healthy-looking hair use a deep-conditioning treatment. Also, use a leave-in conditioner weekly.
#4: Glamorous Matte Black
Embrace your black tresses as your natural hair color to boost your beauty and glam. Choose this matte black tone to pair with your long mermaid hair. When styling, use a wand to form effortless waves on your thick mane.
#5: Sultry Dark Grey
Dark hair ideas make a stunning statement, too! Featuring a neutral dark grey shade that works on any chop, whether it’s short or a long layered one like this! This neutral-toned black hue with silver is one of the best dark fall hair colors for pale skin complexion. Give it a touch of glam by styling your hair ends with curls and mist a medium-hold hairspray for a softer finish.
#6: Dimensional Very Dark Brunette Hair
Consider very dark brunette hair if you’ve been tempted to bring your hair over to the dark side. Because of the way dark hair reflects different skin tones, it’s helpful to work with your stylist. They can help to select a level of darkness that works for you!
#7: Dark Burgundy and Brown Balayage
Dark cherry is in this season! This combination of burgundy and brown is sure to turn heads. To help the longevity of this color, try shampooing with cooler water. This will ensure that your hair cuticle will stay closed, keeping your red vibrant for longer.
#8: Black Ink Shade
A color that’s sure to boost the full shape of your chin-length chop! Aside from its refined outcome, this black ink shade on straight hair makes it look fine and healthy. Light doesn’t reflect on darker shades like this one, so the oil will offer your locks a nice, shiny effect.
The best skin tone for this look would be women with soft pale or very fair skin and not too much warmth. The style is suitable for people with thin to thick hair, and for those who have a bob cut. Bob hairstyles are perfect for women with straight, wavy, or curly hair. A bob is easiest to style with smoothing cream and after it’s been towel-dried. Finish this look with a gloss serum and you’ll be good to go!
#9: Sweet Dark Mocha Brown
This dark mocha brown hair that sits above the shoulders is definitely an effortlessly sassy style. A shorter-length bob is perfect for anyone wanting easy wash-and-go hair while still having the option of styling. This warm chocolate brown color is a great option for lighter skin tones wanting to take a trip to the darker side!
#10: Dark Chocolate Colored Hair
A dark chocolate hair color looks modern and classic, especially with lighter tips. A dark hair shade is definitely still an investment, just like blonde hair.
Use a color-protecting shampoo and products that don’t contain anything that will strip your hair, such as sulfates and alcohol. Keep your hair conditioned because dark hair’s best feature is always looking shiny and silky. Brunettes can have just as much fun as blondes. Going to the dark side is definitely something everyone should give a try!
#11: Sexy Naturally Dark Balayage
Go for a naturally dark balayage hair color. Especially if you are very low-maintenance and want something to give your beautiful natural dark color a little bit of pop. The cut is long soft layers, with a bit of framing and a fringe. I love enhancing natural color, and a dark hair balayage is perfect for anyone looking for a low-maintenance look. The color really stands out with the style and cut, and I love it!
This dark yet cool brown color is a great look for someone who doesn’t have a lot of time to be in the salon. Most first-time coloring ladies are worried about the upkeep, and this would be a great way to introduce color. Brunette hair doesn’t need to be flat or boring, as a great cut and a few dimensional pieces go a long way.
#12: Dark with Purple Tones
Nothing goes well in the classic dark and lovely hair colors than long hair styled with soft waves, too! There’s something about these unique hair colors for dark hair that give an elegant edge to match women’s style and flair. Despite it being low-maintenance, make it a habit to apply a hair mask once a week. It keeps your tresses moisturized to look healthy.
#13: Dark Golden Brown
The dark golden brown highlights create a warmer version of a classic brunette color. It offers the benefits of a lighter softer version without being too light. Chocolate and golden undertones are very present and give the reflective quality everyone is looking for this year. The dimension in this photo comes from golden light brown balayage that is balanced throughout the russet hair and also accented by a wonderful long layered cut.
A warmer look of rich brown hair with light brown highlights is perfect for almost everyone. It’s ideal for anyone battling aging. The reflective qualities this color has allows for the light to bounce more off the skin and help hide fine lines. A good rule of thumb when considering hair color – gold reflects and ash absorbs! Dark browns, and dark hair colors with highlights in general, don’t have to be boring.
#14: Dark Ash Hue
Get your hair on fleek with this chestnut medium brown base blended with soft medium ashy blonde highlights! Dark hair with blonde highlights is sexy and offers an unparalleled dimension to your long wavy locks. These soft highlights on chestnut hair are one of the best options if you’re a woman looking for low-maintenance color.
#15: Deep Dark Brown
Opt for a deep chocolate brown. The best thing about this medium brown hair color is the shine and sophistication this look gives off. To achieve a hair dark brown hue, use a conditioning color to add shine and keep your hair as healthy as possible. Color-safe shampoo, conditioner, and styling products are a must to maintain this hue. Use sulfate-free products such as Redken’s Color Extend Magnetics line.
Dark hair dye reflects beautifully on someone with an olive or tan skin tone. Redken’s Shades EQ Cream is a no-lift, no-ammonia hair color, so it’s ideal for someone who does not require gray coverage but wants to add depth and shine to their hair.
#16: A Shade of Black Ink
Look how flattering this natural-looking mane is! The color, which is as dark as a natural shade of black ink, is very versatile for any age, style, or hair type. Got such beautiful mid-length hair with a natural wavy texture? Feel free to add bangs to upgrade your look without compromising your hair length.
#17: Dark Chestnut Brown
Dark colors make the best shiny hair ever with hints of chestnut highlights! Notice how smooth this shade of deep brown is on a longer mid-length chop. It works great on thick and straight tresses, creating a sleeker finish. When washing your locks, use sulfate-free shampoo for a longer-lasting vibrant hue.
#18: Dark Blue Black
Perfect for a gorgeous lady who likes something glam and bold! Not too bright, not too shady—this dark steely blue black hair offers a fine, lustrous look. Gloss your short wavy bob with this shade, and it’ll be your best accessory every day. This hair dye is a marriage between muted or smokey teal and blue-black. I switched up the typical blue-black trend by adding blended highlights of brighter blue hues. Adding the highlights has created dimension causing your hair to look shinier. Combining this color with this soft, textured bob makes blue hair look sophisticated.
Pairing deep or muted vivids with a dark base is a tasteful way to play with color. To achieve this color, hair must be lightened to the orange stage or lighter. If you have naturally or previously colored dark hair, you will have to sit longer, or you may have to work your way up to your desired color in multiple appointments.
#19: Inky Black Shade
This look is a shoulder-length, straight across (non-angled) textured bob with inky black hair color. My favorite thing about this look is its versatility because it can be worn in many different ways. When women are considering doing a similar look to this or going shorter to a shoulder-length cut, My advice is always to ask about your lifestyle.
The color that I used was Redken Color Gels 3n. The woman’s natural color is level 6/7 neutral/warm brown, and she likes to keep it very cool, dark, and rich. She has naturally very thick hair, so there was thinning involved in the cut as well on top of the actual cut and shaping. She has a hidden undercut underneath as well. The cut is still long enough to put in a small ponytail.
#20: Warm Dark Brunette Balayage
A dark brunette balayage is sure to catch everyone’s eyes. The warm tones that balance out the dark roots are something to love about this. Think about your starting level in regard to how dark your natural hair is.
If you have a darker base, these brunette highlights are great for a low-maintenance look. The warm tones work really well with medium to darker skin tones, as well as any skin color that doesn’t have a lot of pink or red. If you have red in your skin tone, this might make the skin look more red. This dark hair with caramel highlights is a wonderful look for a lady that’s more low-maintenance because you’re adding color without an every four to six-week commitment. All products used are by Redken.
#21: Dark Ash on Wavy Hair
Get everyone’s attention with a ravishing and low-upkeep dark hair color that’s all women need! When you have such a black and lengthy mane, choose a hairstyle that gives extra movement. Copy this voluminous look using a curling wand to match this dark, rich color. Also, use a shine spray to achieve a more polished version of this dark color hair for beachy wavy hair like yours.
#22: Beautiful Dark Jet Black
Don’t let the phase of growing out a short haircut be so boring. This look features a dark jet black hair color with a neck-length angled bob cut. The result is sure to stun people, seeing how foxy and bold it appears. For an extra gloss, spritz a shine spray on your locks. This matching fashionable short hair is versatile and easy to maintain. It’s a clean-cut asymmetrical angle that gives it a modern edgy look.
Taking hair color into consideration, it’s the kind of haircut that pairs well with any hair color. This particular haircut suits women who preferably have straight hair, as it would be easier to wear and maintain.
#23: Mahogany Balayage on Dark Hair
A rich mahogany tone can create luscious darker hair colors with subtle brightness. This rich mahogany tone on a shoulder-grazing lob appears very natural and seductive. You can imagine how this shade suits most skin tones, from fair to olive complexion. Opt for this rich mahogany tone if you want a trend that requires minimal care routine. Or, if mahogany isn’t quite your shade, opt for a shade of burgundy, red highlights, auburn highlights, or even medium brown highlights instead!
#24: Dark Ash Black
Sure, there are various shades of black hair and this one is the dark ash black hair color. My favorite thing about this is how deep, rich and cool-toned it came out, while still having that slight natural-looking highlight to it.
I used JOICO to achieve this color. A combination of sulfate-free, color-care shampoo and conditioner is recommended to keep it looking nice and deep. This darkened hair color is best for the low-maintenance woman with naturally darker hair. It’s ideal for someone that pushes their appointments out closer to ten to 12 weeks rather than six to eight. I believe this would look great with any skin tone.
#25: Dark French Roast
Your long hair will look stylish in this dark french roast color. It’ll look even more natural with dark brown roots. If needed, give your long brown hair subtle layers for added movement. You can run a flat iron through your ends when styling to avoid a lifeless result, too!
#26: Dark Charcoal Tone
Here’s a dark charcoal tone that can make your black-brown hair come out more stunning. Its glossy finish works best on thick, fuller-looking locks. When styling, opt for volumized waves to give your long-length mane the soft movement it needs.
#27: Sweet Espresso Hair Color
If you’re into something minimalist, pretty hair colors such as this shade of dark hair can be your fave! This has a rich espresso-brown hue that sheds a glow under the sunlight. Chop your hair where it sits on the shoulders to maintain its fullness. For an easy go-to style, beach waves look pretty on dark brown hair colors with an O-shaped barrette clip as an accessory.