Fact: brown hair isn’t just one shade. You might not think it, but brown hair colours 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 colourist.
Keep scrolling to discover every brown hair colour on the 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 try out the brown hair trend, or brunettes who are looking for a way to lighten up their locks. Laila Pettersen created this colour melt by freehand painting Blondor Freelights lightener with 12% Freelights developer through mid-lengths, then toning using permanent hair colour Koleston Perfect 10/97 with 1,9% Welloxon Perfect.
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 colour – 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: @sonitabeauty
Also known as brunette, dark brown hair is as rich as warm, brown locks get. Just make sure that if you colour hair this shade, you opt for a light-reflective formula. Our go-to is permanent hair colour, Illumina Color, which reveals 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 colour 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 up ultimate precision, so you can create the most flattering scattering of lights.
Red Brown Hair
Image Credit: @late_hair
Add a touch of red to brown locks for a mahogany hair hue. Lauri Koski perfected this blend with Koleston Perfect, combining deep burgundy shades with chocolate colours for a Autumn-ready look. The formula? 5/1 + 5/07 + 4% through the roots, followed by two alternating mixes: 8/41 + 8/74 + 9, and 6/75 + 0/65 + 4%.
Ash Brown Hair
Image Credit: @jamiekeikohair
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 colour. For this look, Wella Passionista Jamie Keiko focused the smokey, ashy tones through the mid-lengths and ends using Color Touch shades 7/89 and 7/71, while the roots were shaded with 6/76 from Illumina Color which is a richer brunette that prevents the colour from looking flat.
Brown Balayage
Image Credit: @paolosilveri
Real talk: many of these hair hues incorporate some level of balayage, but this is one of our favourite 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. 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 fine hair.
Copper Brown Hair
Image Credit: @hair_by_leo
Just look at that metallic shine. For copper 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: @shelbr
Nothing gives brown hair a lift like blonde highlights. A root-to-tip, full head of caramel tones can be achieved using your favourite Blondor pre-lightener and the Blondor Blonde Mèches. Ensure lightened sections look luminous by opting for a Pure Glossing Service in between colour appointments, as this speedy treatment keeps brassy tones at bay and brightens locks – all in the space of a lunchbreak.
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 colour, add a once-weekly dose of Golden Gloss or Caramel Glaze Color Fresh Mask to your routine, as it deposits some colour pigment that will help 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-colour 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 one of the Color Fresh Masks in Golden Gloss, Caramel Glaze or Chocolate Touch.
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 colour 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 permanent hair colour, 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. The perfect complement to this for your client’s homecare is Color Fresh Mask in Rose Blaze shade.
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 brown-red tones looking fresh.
Looking for more hair colour inspiration? Discover our guide to the 22 blonde hair colours you need to know, from brightening beige to icy platinum.