Dark brown hair is a deep brunette shade that always gives off a glossy, shining appearance. Though it works for most complexions, it definitely brings out the warmth in darker skin tones.
Here are some pointers from Seattle-based hairstylist Caily Bjorn if you want to know more about dark brown hair colors.
💡 Key Things to Know First
- When you have the opposite color, consult with a professional to get a proper color correction.
- Ask your hair colorist’s honest opinion.
- Make sure you’re comfortable with its maintenance.
- Use color-safe, sulfate, and parables-free shampoo and conditioner.
- Apply heat protectant when heat-styling, and Milk by GM Reverie to finish it off.
- Get regular gloss treatments and touch-ups every six weeks.
Before your next salon visit, look through these pictures of stunning dark brown hair color choices!
#1: Mocha Coffee Brunette Hair
This shade of brown is lustrous and the shine is unreal. Mocha coffee brunette hair will give off some serious fall vibes! Keep in mind, some color-safe products keep your hair looking rich. When in doubt, you’re stylist is there to help.
#2: Very Rich Dark Chocolate Brown Hair
Here’s a very rich dark chocolate brown hair color. Dyeing your hair dark brown can be dimensional and gorgeous. If you want to add light-catching tones, try a medium caramel brown around the face. It will help to compliment your shape. Use Oway Color Protection Hair Bath and Mask to maintain richness.
#3: Deep Brown Blunt Bob
This gorgeous deep brown blunt bob is a classy-looking style that you will be obsessed with. No matter the time of year, this look will never go out of style. When you’re at the salon, ensure you ask your stylist how to keep your color on point!
#4: Soft Brunette Brown Balayage
A soft brunette balayage is perfect if you want a gorgeous natural look. This dark brown shade in the picture looks classic with warmer skin tones. You will be in love!
#5: Dark Roast Coffee Brown Hair
Warm up with a dark roast coffee brown hair color. Go from drab to fab and leave the salon a brand new you! All the women around you will be jealous of your locks.
#6: Short Cool-Toned Brown Hair
Go for the minimalist look with short cool-toned brown hair. Using cool brown tones will ensure your hair does not have any red tones or warmth. Using too much cool ashy tones can make your color look muddy and darker. Make sure you are using just the right amount of tone to keep your hair looking shiny and give your locks a beautiful glow.
#7: Dark Beige Brown Hair Color
Have your locks look beautiful with dark beige brown hair color. When you dye your hair with just the right amount of cool and warm tones, you get the most lovely natural brown color. Adding a touch more of a warm tone for dark brown hair will give your locks an amazing shine and will sparkle in the sunlight.
#8: Dark Brown Shade on a Voluminous Bob
A dark brown shade looks stunning on a voluminous bob. The dark color appears shinier because reflects light better. If you want dimension, however, get some brown and light brown subtle balayage pieces.
#9: Very Dark Cinnamon Brown
A very dark cinnamon brown color is a great change if you’re looking to spice up your brunette hair. The copper brown undertones are so pretty. This all-over brunette is gorgeous and you will not be disappointed!
#10: Blackish Brown on Long Layered Hair
A blackish brown color looks magnificent on long layered hair. It’s a rich and glossy color that suits most skin complexions. Look for acidic shampoos and treatments to help you maintain the shininess of your hair, for instance, the Redken Acidic Bonding Range.
#11: Rich Black Brown Tones on Long Hair
Rich black brown tones on long hair are a multidimensional look created when mixing a darker hue with a lighter tone. For a stunning look, apply your balayage over your dark hair then glaze with rich tones. The result is an overall lighter look. This is a great option for going lighter gradually or just playing with different tones.
#12: Face-Framing Dark Brown Hair with Caramel Highlights
Face-framing dark brown hair with caramel highlights is a yummy dimensional color. It’s absolutely fantastic if you want to brighten your face, but you want the predominant color to be a dark shade. Do take your hairdresser’s suggestion and pick a caramel hue that looks flattering against your skin complexion.
#13: Deep Brunette Hair with Chestnut Undertones
Deep brunette hair with chestnut undertones is a gorgeous rich color that’s perfect if you like your brown mixed with warm tones. In the color shade palette of dyes, there are many different warm hues. Some with gold or copper and some with red notes, so make sure you pick the one that will suit your complexion the most.
#14: Dark Sun-Kissed Hair Color
Say goodbye to your dull locks with dark sun-kissed color. Multi-dimensional highlights that shimmer and sparkle look incredibly natural and bring luster to your mane. Balayage highlights are the perfect technique to get long-lasting and low-maintenance colors.
#15: Deep Mushroom Brown Shade
Cool down your locks with a deep mushroom brown shade. Earthy, neutral, and cool tones are great for brunettes and when placed correctly, blend seamlessly for the perfect multi-dimensional color. Opt for a rooted look to keep your maintenance low and have a softer grow-out.
#16: Glossy Milk Chocolate Hair
Have your hair look luxurious with glossy milk chocolate hair. Milk chocolate tones are one of the best dark brown hair ideas if you want super shiny warm-tone locks. Highlights in the sun will shine through your brown hair for that barely-there hint of warm sparkling goodness for a super natural look.
#17: Deep Brunette on Layered Curly Hair
What’s not to love in the deep brown brunette color on layered curly hair? The deep brown is a beautiful rich color that will suit anything from pale complexion to olive, brown, or darker skin. A fantastic choice if your eye color is green or blue and you want to make it really pop. Consult your colorist to add a touch of lightness throughout the ends if you want more dimension.
#18: Darker Caramel Brown on Medium-Length Hair
A darker caramel brown is a gorgeous accent to add to your medium-length hair. Your dark brown hair will look fuller and dimensional with these lived-in caramel tones. Discuss with your colorist what the best coloring option for your hair type is, and don’t forget to ask about what products you need to take home to maintain your color.
#19: Deep Cocoa Brown on Short Bobbed Hair
The deep cocoa brown on short bobbed hair is a shade that will complement your skin tone if it’s on the warmer side. This is because this color has a slight red hue in it. If you suit cool browns then you have to choose an ashy shade-frosty or even iridescent brown.
#20: Dark Chocolate Hair with Soft Waves
Dark chocolate hair paired with soft waves is rich and classy looking. Ask your stylist for advice on which dark chocolate brown color would suit you. Your friends will have hair envy with this gorgeous color and length!
#21: Wavy Brunette Balayage on Dark Brown Hair
Get a wavy brunette balayage on your dark brown hair to complement your skin color. Ask your hairdresser to balayage some pieces out and bring them down with a toner. When it comes to lightening dark brown hair, you might end up with copper or even a red undercoat. And those can become difficult to cancel out. Be prepared to invest a bit more money in suitable hair cosmetics, like Brown Lights by Redken.
#22: Gorgeous Brown Balayage with Waves
You’ll be a knockout with this gorgeous brown balayage highlighting your waves. Adding warm or even cool tones to dark brown hair will turn your tresses glossy and luxurious, while the balayage adds much-needed dimension. For bigger, bouncier waves, use a curling iron. Be prepared to refresh your cut and color every couple of months – it will keep your style looking on point.
#23: Gorgeous Extra Long Dark Brown Hair
Look so gorgeous with extra long dark brown hair. Adding warm tones to your dark brown hair is one of the best ways to make your hair look luxurious and shiny. If you wear your hair straight or curly make sure you have long layers to give your locks more lift and body. Without layers, your style will fall flat.
#24: Dark Hair with Light Auburn Brown Highlights
If you have dark hair, perfectly pair it with light auburn brown highlights. Talk to your stylist about adding auburn to your dark locks. The tone works wonders with the natural undertones of your dark hair. This color looks great on short or long hair and adds even more richness to the true brunette beauty.
#25: Rich Brown Waves
Rich brown waves will give your hair depth and dimension. It will help if you have naturally dark hair, but you can also color your hair darker if not. Just make sure you are prepared for the upkeep it takes if you do have lighter hair once your roots grow in. One of the best techniques to use to create a dimensional hair color is a balayage, a free-hand painting technique, where you can decide what strands of hair come up higher or lower when applying the bottom color. This hair color will more than likely require lightening prior to applying this rich warm brown color on the ends to give it that enhanced richness.
#26: Very Dark Brown with Red Highlights
If you want to go dark brown, give it a pop of crimson. This will add more dimension and make your rich chocolate locks stand-out! This different shade of red tones adds movement to wavy hair.
#27: Simple and Chic Espresso Brown with Caramel Highlights
If you want a simple dark brown hair dye job to give your brunette hair a twist, this espresso-colored hair is for you. These lighter pieces are a great way to showcase your textured medium-length hair.
#28: Warm Dark Brown with Auburn Highlights
Consider a dark brown hair with auburn highlights next time you visit your hair salon. If you have naturally black or very dark brown hair, these auburn highlights will really pop against your natural color. Ask your hairstylist to bring up the auburn highlights closer to your root just around your face for an even bigger pop. If you do have naturally dark hair, and you don’t have to color your roots dark, this will be a seamless grow-out in which your hair would blend beautifully as it grows out instead of creating a line of demarcation.
#29: Long Dark Brown Straight Hair with a Side Part
Long dark brown straight hair is a beautiful display of shine and depth with an u. The side part brings back a healthy look to every head.
#30: Very Dark Chocolate Brown
Try very dark chocolate brown for a bold and beautiful hair color. Dark chocolate can be easy to maintain with regular salon visits and can make facial features pop.
#31: Dark Brown Highlights and Blonde Tips
Dark brown hair with brown highlights is a great color if you’re wanting to go lighter, but not too light. Brown on brown can be achievable by lightening your hair and adding a tone to perfect the look.
#32: Natural-Looking Long Dark Brown
Natural dark brown hair is sexy when styled with luscious waves! This long, dark hair promises minimal maintenance yet gives you a really feminine and beautiful vibe.
#33: Glossy Very Dark Brown Hair
Very dark brown shades suits ladies with all skin tones and complexions. It appears extremely glossy and shiny if you keep it in a good condition because the healthy cuticles reflect the light. I highly recommend you use regular treatments and good shampoo, conditioner, and mask such as Olaplex. Leave-in oils or serums like Paul Mitchel Awapuhi treatment styling oil should be a part of your hair routine.
#34: Brown Locks with Lowlights
Stunning brown locks with black hair lowlights fit skin tones that lean towards the lighter side of olive with hints of yellow. Caramel lowlights look really beautiful if you have a naturally dark base.
#35: Warm Golden Brown
One of the best dark brown hues to get when you’re looking for a warm and natural hair color is this. Ask for cool undertones for this color. The soft golden highlights are sure to give your dark natural brunette hair enough radiance.
#36: Ultra-Rich Dark Ash Brown Hair Color
An ultra-rich dark brown color with an ash brown tone is wonderful for styled waves and layered hair, especially when under the light. Its perfect gloss gives your tresses a two-toned look.
#37: Shoulder-Length Dark Caramel Balayage
These subtle medium brown highlights painted on flattering medium-length hair are one of the most popular ways of getting dark shades. It’s super easy to style – add a wave for body or pull up into a bun, you’ll always end up being a stunner in these medium brown locks with subtle highlights.
#38: Short Hair with Dark Brown Ombre
Need hair color ideas if you’re wanting to switch to the dark side of brown? This dark brown hair color features a smooth transition of bronze and caramel hues that are perfect for shoulder-length lobs. Natural yet sophisticated, this flattering hairdo makes any woman a stunner!
#39: Contrasted Silver Highlights on a Short Bob Cut
Silver and brown tones are the perfect shade to cover gray hair and add dimension. Add some cool pearly accents to your dark brown locks for a more contrasted, voluminous style that creates dramatic changes.
#40: Natural Dark Chocolate to Dark Golden Brown Ombre
Rich mahogany locks with almond dipped-ends on beach waves are certainly a match made in heaven! This faded dark brunette hair and the golden brown tones can soften and take the weight off your hair. A chocolate brown hair color like this works best on a medium-length wavy haircut as it shows its true dimension.
#41: Medium-Length Coffee Brown
Give your naturally dark brown hair life when you try this modern coffee color! Pair your dark brown locks with your favorite flattering shag haircut for a modern look.
#42: Deep Brown Hair with Red and Blonde Highlights
A harmony of brown, earthly colors definitely flatters brunettes. Make sure you try out this versatile combination of reds and blondes if your hair color is dark brown because it’s suited for any hair type and texture!
#43: Red-Infused Dark Auburn Brown
A dark auburn hair color is gorgeous on any hair length! Special tip – hazelnut eyes are best enhanced by this red-infused shade of dark brown.
#44: Stunning Purple Highlights
Pair dark brown hair with purple highlights to create a fun, stunning dimension. Try the darkest brown hair color as the base to make your purple strands pop even brighter. When styling, jazz your tresses up with curls and waves to give them more movement and body.
#45: Dark Fudge with Blonde Highlights
Sweet balayaged waves, made with blonde highlights will add depth to your long dark locks. Going with high-contrast dye jobs never fails in giving a totally eye-catching style.
#46: Deep Mahogany Brown with Highlights
Try a rich red-infused brown wavy hair cut to the shoulders. Perfect for any season, the warmth of the dark brown tresses creates a powerful color that is both easy and manageable for you to style.
#47: Mocha-Inspired Dark Brown
An almost black dark brown hair color resembles a mocha! It’s rich and shiny! The haircut is a simple one-length with longer layers to take away some weight. If you do want to go dark, make sure it’s what you truly want to do because it’s difficult to come back from. If you’re planning on going dark for fall and then back to blonde hair color in the summer, use a semi-permanent color instead. It’ll cause less damage when you start lightening again and help save the integrity of your dark hair colors.
#48: Brunette with Ash Blonde Highlights
A dark brown-rooted blonde, lived-in hair color allows a brunette to pull off platinum blonde hair while still looking natural. By keeping a darker root shade, the color tends to be more flattering on a girl with naturally darker hair. You get the best of both worlds with a color like this. It’s also extremely low-maintenance because of the way the blonde is blended.
#49: Flattering Dark Red-Brown Hair
Dark red-brown hair is luxurious and looks flattering on a fair skin tone. It makes your thick tresses look vivid with its rich tones. To protect your reddish-brown color and not let it fade, use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. The red-depositing shampoo and conditioner will help preserve the dark copper highlights.
#50: Chestnut Brown with Light Brown Highlights
A dark chestnut shade with light brown highlights and babylights is a warm-toned dimensional balayage. It looks so natural, especially if you have a darker base! Focus on more brightness around your face and around the ends. Ask your colorist to create a root melt to make the natural brown roots blend perfectly together. This brown hair color is for you if you’re looking for a change in hair color but are not ready to make that huge leap to go blonde just yet! Use a blue shampoo once a week to keep brass away from your darker locks and keep your hair looking fresh in between retouch appointments. Lower the temperature on your heating tools and always use heat protection!
#51: Deep Dark Brown Shag Cut
If you want a modern hairstyle with your deep dark brown hair, try the shag cut. It’s bringing back the 70s vibe and I’m loving it. Shag haircuts are great for any hair type. It will create a lot of movement in your hair while maintaining volume at the crown of your head. Style options are a good round brush blow-dry or if you want more of a natural look, do a little hand styling with some blow-out cream.
Readers Also Ask
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Dark brown hair is called black hair most of the time because it is a level lighter than black hair, and depending on the pigments in it, it can either have a cool or warm natural reflection to it. It appears darker when has a cool tone to it.
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Yes, dark brown hair is considered brunette as well as all-natural bases that are below blonde, which includes even dark blonde and light brown hair.
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Dark brown hair is not the same as black, it’s close, but especially in daylight, you can clearly see the difference. If the dark brown hair has a cooler reflection it will seem darker and if has a warmer reflection then it will look slightly lighter.
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In some cases, it can make you look older especially if it’s just flat color without any lighter pieces. Also if the skin complexion is really pale the artificial dark hair color is a bit unnatural and can make you look older than your age.
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The darkest brown color for hair has a depth on a level 2 and has a cool, almost blue reflection to it. One level below is black hair, the darkest. All professional coloring brands around the world have the same numbering system starting from 1 black to 10 lightest blonde.