Brown Hair Color

Why You Should Color Your Hair Brunette

Brunettes enjoy the sweet spot of hair color. They have myriad shades and tones to choose from without taking the plunge into blonde or black at opposite ends of the spectrum. And there are enough brunette hair color ideas to suit every age, skin tone, and lifestyle. Brunettes also tend to have more hairstyle options because brown hair dye is an excellent base for effects like highlights, lowlights, and balayage. Last but not least, brown hair color usually requires lower maintenance and offers more shade variations. Brunettes have all the fun!

Choosing the Right Brown Hair Shade: What You Need to Know

There are so many brunette hair colors that it can seem hard to choose just the right one. But don’t despair because it’s easy to narrow things down once you learn a few basics about brown hair dye. First, decide if you want to explore dark or light brown hair colors. Then consider your skin tone. Is it in the warm or neutral zones? Opt for a brunette hair color with medium or cool undertones like ash. Is your skin tone in the cool range? Browse the brown hair colors with warm golden tones.

Shop Brown Hair Shades by Tone

All Shades

How to Maintain Brown Hair

Keep your brown hair color vibrant to prevent it from becoming mousy with warm or cool brown Color Reviver.
Like blonde hair, light brunette hair colors can get brassy, so consider treating with Nourishing Anti-Brass Treatment.
Stop premature fading of brunette hair colors by washing less often and using a hydrating conditioner like Fructis Pure Moisture.

Frequently Asked Questions

When it comes to finding the best brown hair color, the variables can be endless. Your ideal inner brunette all depends on the look you are ultimately trying to achieve. Want to be a bit daring and veer off your own beaten path? Go for a brunette hair color that’s much lighter or darker than your current color, and maybe experiment with a different undertone. Need a shade closer to your status quo? Choose one that revives and enhances your color. A good place for some brunette inspo is our article on the 21 Most Popular Brown Hair Shades.

The type of brown hair color you use can also make a difference. For example, the brunette style you have in mind might really pop with extra brilliance, so opt for the triple shine of ammonia-free Olia made from 60% oils. If you’re thinking of a more vibrant brown hair color, you’ll get bolder results from Nutrisse Ultra Color. Or check out the wider range of brunette hair colors in the Nutrisse Ultra Crème collection. It also deeply nourishes your hair with a blend of five fruit oils. Added bonus: they all feature a non-drip formula and 100% gray coverage.
The most natural-looking brown hair color is the one that complements your features the best. You want to find a brunette hair dye with an undertone that works well with your particular complexion. For example, cool skin tones go especially well with browns on the warmer golden-hued end of the brunette spectrum. Conversely, warm skin tones tend to look better in neutral or cool browns with ash undertones. A great way to find your best brown hair color is to use our Shade Selector, and then see how it looks on you in real time with the Virtual Try-On Tool.
The most popular shades of brunette hair color are in the medium brown to dark brown range. In Garnier’s Olia and Nutrisse collections of permanent brown hair color, these basic shades have the same name but slightly different numbers: Medium Neutral Brown (Nutrisse 50, Olia 5.03), Dark Brown (Nutrisse 40, Olia 4.0), and Darkest Brown (Nutrisse 30, Olia 3.0).