Fact: brown hair isn’t just one shade. You might not think it, but brown hair colors are beyond versatile, serving up everything from soft, sun-kissed brondes to deeper, darker, chocolate-y tones. And, guess what? Wella has gathered the most covetable shades of brown hair in one place, so you have all the hairspiration you need, whether you’re trying a new hue or you’re an in-salon colorist.
Keep scrolling to discover every brown hair color on the brunette spectrum…
Light Brown Hair
Image Credit: @wellanordic and @laila.wella
One level darker than bronde, light brown hair is perfect for blondes who want to dip their toe into the brown hair pool, or brunettes who are looking for a way to lighten up their locks. Laila Pettersen created this color melt by freehand painting Blondor Freelights lightener with 12% developer through mid-lengths, then toning with permanent hair color Koleston Perfect 10/97 + 1.9% Welloxon Perfect. Clients working their hue can maintain it at home with a weekly dose of the Color Fresh Mask in Golden Gloss. In just 10 minutes, this ‘hint of a tint’ treatment will refresh their salon color.
Medium Brown Hair
Image Credit: @xobeautybynicole
Halfway between light brown and dark brown, medium brown hair is the truest almost-chocolate hue. When you hear ‘brown hair’, this is likely to be the first shade you envision. If you’re creating the color – or trying it out – try combining with a balayage technique, which will ensure the shade always appears multi-dimensional and fresh. Nobody wants a flat, one-tone mane.
Dark Brown Hair
Image Credit: @salon64london
Also known as brunette, dark brown hair is as rich as warm brown locks can get. Just make sure that if you color hair this shade, you opt for a light-reflective formula. Our go-to is permanent color Illumina Color, which reveals the light reflections in each strand, creating a multi-tonal effect that’s brimming with glossy shine.
Chocolate Brown Hair
Image Credit: @cloeeenicole3
Is there anything more delicious than chocolate brown hair? Whether you go dark chocolate or opt for milk chocolate brown like Chloe Wilson, you’ll end up with a rich, brown hue that melts into lighter, brighter ends. Shine is a must, so achieve the look with Koleston Perfect; our permanent hair color that boasts Pure Balance Technology for an intense shade that’s oh-so glossy.
Bronde Hair
Image Credit: @thecolorconnoisseur
Brown meets blonde in the bronde hair trend. It’s a hybrid hue with a sun-kissed feel, giving brunettes the touch of lightness they crave when summer rolls around. Get a beachy effect by brightening random sections of hair with Blondor Freelights. The freehand lightener offers ultimate precision, so you can create the most flattering scattering of lights. Then, suggest clients keep those blonde highlights balanced with a purple shampoo at home. By lathering up with INVIGO Cool Blonde Color Refreshing Shampoo whenever locks start to look dull, they can counteract brassy tones instantly.
Red Brown Hair
Image Credit: @late_hair
Add a touch of red to brown locks for a hint of a mahogany hair hue. Lauri Koski perfected this blend with Koleston Perfect, combining deep burgundy shades with chocolate colors for a fall-ready look. The formula? 5/1 + 5/07 + 4% through the roots, followed by two alternating mixes for the mid-lengths and ends: 8/41 + 8/74 + 9, and 6/75 + 0/65 + 4%.
Ash Brown Hair
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
Ash blonde-loving brunettes are bound to fall for ash brown hair; a shade so cool in tone, it almost appears to be a silvery-gray color. For this look, Wella Digital Ambassador James Earnshaw focused the smokey, ashy tones through the mid-lengths and ends, while the roots were shaded with a richer brunette to prevent the color from looking flat.
Brown Balayage
Image Credit: @paolosilveri
Real talk: many of these hair hues incorporate some level of brunette balayage, but this is one of our favorite examples of the freehand lightening technique. A high volume of highlights – toned to chocolate-y perfection – breathes new life into dark brown locks, while loose waves allow each one of the brightened ribbons to shimmer under the light.
Brown Ombre
Image Credit: @rain_hairdesign
Get the dark-to-light graduation of dreams with deep, rich roots and subtle brightness through the ends. On this brown ombre, the lift is virtually imperceptible and comes with the added bonus of making hair look fuller. For extra volume, ruffle EIMI Dry Me dry shampoo through just-tonged strands, which will lend a little extra texture. The perfect look for finer hair.
Copper Brown Hair
Image Credit: @transcurlcarolyn
Just look at that metallic shine. For brown hair with a warmer twist, try cool, eye-catching copper brown, combined with gloss-enhancing stylers. Finer hair will enjoy a boost of radiance from the ultra-lightweight EIMI Glam Mist, while coarser hair gets luminosity and condition in one with EIMI Oil Spritz.
Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Image Credit: @dienisouza
Nothing gives brown hair a lift like blonde highlights. A root-to-tip, full head of sandy tones can be achieved using your favorite Blondor pre-lightener, such as BlondorPlex. Ensure lightened sections look luminous by opting for a Pure Glossing Service in between color appointments, as this speedy treatment keeps brassy tones at bay and brightens locks – all in the space of a lunch break.
Golden Brown Hair
Image Credit: @elsa_haar
You’ve heard of golden blonde, but what about golden brown hair? If gloss is your goal, gleaming pieces of gold will make sure that brunette mane shines, no matter the season. If you want to maintain this color, add a once-weekly dose of INVIGO Warm Brunette Color Refreshing Conditioner to your routine, as it deposits a small amount of pigment that helps gilded tones look positively radiant.
Chestnut Brown Hair
Image Credit: @cassandra_foehr
Chestnut brown hair is as much about shine as it is about shade, which is why it’s essential to maintain this hue with the glossiest post-color care routine. Whether you’re keeping your own chestnut mane in condition or recommending products to a freshly-dyed client, try a combo of INVIGO Color Brilliance Color Protection Shampoo with INVIGO Color Recharge Cool Brunette Conditioner.
Honey Brown Hair
Image Credit: @cassandra_foehr
Brown hair with honey highlights is as indulgent as it sounds. Just take a look at this creation by balayage queen Cassandra Foehr for all the proof you need. To make this color really sparkle, kick off your styling routine with EIMI Perfect Me lotion, which smooths the hair cuticle to create an even, light-reflective surface.
Rose Brown Hair
Image Credit: @wellanordic and @_litvinova_julia
Think of rose brown hair as rose gold for brunettes. If you want to add a dose of pink to dark locks, this Turkish Delight-inspired hue is the dreamiest way to go. Look to our semi-permanent hair color, Color Fresh CREATE, to mix up a rosy ‘do, with intermixable shades like Nu-Dist Pink and High Magenta offering up endless ways to work the trend.
Mahogany Brown Hair
One part red and one part brown, mahogany hair is a high-gloss, high-pigment, high-intensity hue that looks especially dreamy in fall. Anyone working this shade should make sure they add INVIGO Color Recharge Warm Red Conditioner to their weekly pamper, as the pigment-depositing treatment will keep the deep red brown tones looking fresh.
Brown to Blonde Balayage
Image Credit: @hairbyangelaalberici
Looking to add some low-maintenance lightness to a brunette ‘do? Try a brown to blonde balayage, which lends a sun-kissed effect to darker locks, with zero regrowth lines. Here’s a flawless example from Wella Master Color Expert Angela Alberici, who’s packed in plenty of teasylights (soft, teased highlights) for a caramel glow. Then, to maintain this dreamy hue at home, use the color-depositing Color Fresh Mask in Caramel Glaze. In 10 minutes it tops up the tone and veils strands in a thwack of hydrating oils.
Gray Brown Hair
Image Credit: @jeongchen
Silver locks are on the rise, as clients embrace their gray regrowth by adding pewter highlights to their blonde or brunette hair. One of the most effective ways of transitioning to gray is by adding these cool-toned ‘lights from root to tip. And just look how dreamy they are; no wonder gray brown hair is one of this season’s top trends. Just make sure you don’t let any overly-warm tones ruin this ‘do. If you’re trying the hue yourself, add a purple shampoo to your care kit, like INVIGO Cool Blonde Color Refreshing Shampoo.
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Twilighting
Image Credit: @gabbythai
Meet twilighting: a highlighting technique that sees gold hues stroked through dark brunette hair, creating the effect of stars twinkling in the night’s sky. Each strand should be lifted three to four shades brighter than the base to create this kind of contrast. That’s why we recommend lightening with BlondorPlex, which harnesses our bond-strengthening WellaPlex No1 Bond Maker. Just make sure, if you’re creating this look for a client, you rinse developed highlights and then add WellaPlex No2 Bond Stabilizer to complete the conditioning treatment.
Ash Brown Balayage
Image Credit: @bibasouthyarra
Cool, crisp and clean; this ash brown balayage sees dark roots melt into lighter ends, thanks to strategically placed sweeps of Blondor Multi-Blonde Powder + 4%. Then, lifted ribbons were toned using demi-permanent Color Touch 7/97+ 8/81; a cendre combo that will never go out of style. This is one technique that transcends trends.
Frosted Chestnut Hair
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
If a metallic mane is your vibe, you’ll love the frosted chestnut hair trend, which sees warm browns and bronzes take on an almost-icy sheen. Want this hue? Wella Digital Ambassador James Earnshaw toned chunky highlights with alternating ribbons of Illumina Color 7/35 + 6% and 7/81 + 10/81 + 9%.
Cherry Chocolate Hair
Image Credit: @melissasmith_styles
Blending cherry red hair with chocolate brown tones gives you the most delicious melt. Case in point: this delectable ‘do by Melissa Smith, featuring rich shades of Koleston Perfect. First, she touched up the natural root with 66/0 + 5/07 + 6%, then she applied 66/55 + 9/16 + 0/66 + 4%. A masterpiece. To enhance brunette locks – like this creation – complete the look with one or two drops of Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothing Oil , smoothed through the mid-lengths and ends. It keeps all brunettes glossy.
