Shades Of Brown Hair Color – Which One Is Perfect For You?

Vibe to the brunette aesthetic with this comprehensive hair color guide with images.

Reviewed by Nick Arrojo, Hair Stylist
Written by Anjali Sayee, BTech
Edited by Shatabdi Bhattacharya, BSc
Fact-checked by Swathi E, MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach  • 

Brown hair signifies intelligence. Picture any favorite intellectual character, and most of them are brunettes. But there are so many shades of brown hair color that it is hard to box this versatile hue to one personality. If you thought that brown shades were only differentiated into three colors – light, medium, and dark, you are in for a lovely surprise. There are shades of brown hair color for every personality, be it quirky, sophisticated, or fierce.

“I love brunettes! Brown hair always seems to look thick and glossy, healthy and happy,” says Nick Arrojo. “In my experience, brunettes get their best results by going a shade or two lighter than their natural color. It adds an extra dab of warmth, richness, and luster. Caramels, chestnuts, and light coffee browns are excellent options.” Scroll down and have a gander at the 30 best brown hair shades taking the internet by storm, flood, and landslide.

protip_icon Quick Hair Color Guide: Brown

How To Choose A Shade: Choose colors that match your skin’s undertone. Cool undertones should pick cool-toned shades and warm undertones should pick warm-toned shades of brown.

Level Of Maintenance: Low to medium

Suitable For: All skin tones and hair types

Looks Best With: Red or pink eyeshadow and lip colors

33 Best Shades of Brown Hair Color

1. Golden Brown Hair Color

Golden brown hair color
Image: Instagram @kelsforbeauty

Brown never looked better! If you have a warm skin tone, then this color will look fabulous on you. If you have gray or blue eyes, flaunt them with this golden brown hair color.


protip_icon Quick Tip
The best thing about this dark hair color is the dimension it adds to your tresses. It is light near the ears but gets darker at the back. This makes your hair look thicker.

2. Golden Honey Brown Hair Color

Golden honey brown hair color
Image: Instagram @hairbylouisfedele

Loose waves of golden brown hair not only look good but also give the illusion of volume to the hair. This hair dye shade also accentuates gray and hazel eyes.

3. Caramel Brown Hair Color

Caramel brown hair color
Image: Instagram

This warm brown hair color gives you the perfect look for all occasions. Caramel brunette hair is the best look to sport in summer!

4. Toffee Brown Hair Color

Toffee brown hair color
Image: Instagram @candiceambrose

This hot color adds a lot of spice to your look. A toffee brown bob hairdo is sure to turn heads and bring out that subtle hint of hazel in your eyes.

5. Neutral Brown Hair Color

Neutral brown hair color
Image: Instagram

This color adds softness to your look. Curls in this color will make the hair look even more voluminous. This is the go-to option for anyone who wants to get global highlights and then maybe add a few vibrant warm or cool highlights.

6. Bronze Brown Hair Color

Bronze brown hair color
Image: Instagram @trusthaircosalon

This lovely shade is #hairgoals! Whether you have straight or curly hair, you can never go wrong with bronze brown hair.

7. Deep Chestnut Brown Hair Color

Deep chestnut brown hair color
Image: Instagram @shana_echavarria

Deep chestnut brown hair looks terrific on people with green or gray eyes. It also adds more volume to your look. Deep chestnut brunette highlights look beautiful if you’re looking to add a little pizzazz to your mane.

8.Chestnut Brown Hair Color

Chestnut brown hair color
Image: Instagram @brunettediva101

Chestnut brown hair looks gorgeous, especially if you have long flowy hair. If you have warm toned skin, then go for bright streaks. It brings out the gray and green in your eyes.

9. Dark Chocolate Hair Color

Dark chocolate hair color
Image: Instagram

This dark brown hair color is the perfect shade of brunette as it looks incredible on any skin tone. Pair it with a teal scarf, and you’ve hit gold!

10. Ash Brown Hair Color

Ash brown hair color
Image: Instagram

If you have pale or olive skin, ash brown hair is the color for you. This medium brown hair color adds a contemporary artsy twist to your everyday look.


protip_icon Quick Tip
Ash brown hair suits all eye colors, from brown to green and blue. If you have hazel eyes, then ash brown hair can bring out the gold or green flecks in them.

11. Nude Brown Hair Color

Nude brown hair color
Image: Instagram @reka.stelly

This look adds a playful vibe to your ensemble and looks stunning with any eye color. Try an ombre with light brown tones to add some magic to your mane.

12. Reddish Brown Hair Color

Reddish brown hair color
Image: Instagram @thepolishedsalon

Reddish brunette hair blends well with darker and medium skin tones. If you’re looking to add an edge to your look while not going for something too bold, then this is the right color for you.

13. Chocolate Cherry Brown Hair Color

Chocolate cherry brown hair color
Image: Instagram

Calling out to all Cheryl Blossom fans! Subtle highlights or a balayage of chocolate cherry brown hair look amazing on the fair skinned. This brown hair dye adds the perfect amount of spice to your essence.

14. Sweet Cola Brown Hair Color

Sweet cola brown hair color
Image: Instagram

A sweet cola brown balayage brings out your fiery side. This dark brown hair dye just adds so much more flavor to everyday life.

15. Dark Platinum Brown Hair Color

Dark platinum brown hair color
Image: Shutterstock

This cool brown hair color is the perfect match for cool-toned or olive-skinned people. Nothing can go wrong with dark platinum brown highlights. Pair it with a royal blue necklace, and you are ready to conquer anything!

16. Dark Brown Hair Color

Dark brown hair color
Image: Instagram @kseniaerdely

Wavy, straight or curly, long or short, summer or winter, dark brown hair always looks good. Blue eyes work well with this shade of brown.

17. Rich Dark Brown Hair Color

Rich dark brown hair color
Image: Instagram

If you have a warm medium skin tone, this is the color for you. Whether you highlight your hair or just go completely rich dark brown, it is guaranteed to be an eye-catcher.

18. Mahogany Brown Hair Color

Mahogany brown hair color
Image: Instagram

This color is the perfect shade of brown to bring out your playful side in the summer. Wavy soft curls add volume to this look. This shade of brown works magic when paired with gray.

19. Light Brown Hair Color

Light brown hair color
Image: Instagram @youralibi.co

Light brunette hair sends a playful but here-for-the-business vibe. Add highlights depending on your skin tone to give it an edge.

20. Medium Brown Hair Color

Medium brown hair color
Image: Instagram @sarahgossetthair

This short wavy medium brown bob adds flavor and style to your look. It accentuates hair volume as well. It also pops gray and green eyes.

21. Medium Ash Brown Hair Color

Medium ash brown hair color
Image: Instagram @sohea_hyun

This color, also called medium violet brown, spells out rebel with a capital R. This light brown hair dye with ash streaks works well with olive skin and brings out the blue and gray in your eyes.

22. Cinnamon Brown Hair Color

Cinnamon brown hair color
Image: Instagram @pierremichelsalon

Cinnamon brown hair is the best choice if you want a new look, but work at a conservative workplace that frowns at colored hair. This shade of brunette makes the green in your eyes pop!

protip_icon Quick Tip
This hair color is ideal for those with a warm skin tone. It suits fair, wheatish, and olive skin tones.

23. Medium Golden Brown Hair Color

Medium golden brown hair color
Image: Instagram @pmdvmjhrtlv

Medium golden brown is all about comfort. If you want an edgier look, try a nude brown ombre. This medium brunette hair color shade looks fantastic on warm and medium skin toned people. If you have hazel, green or brown eyes, consider these different shades of brown hair color to add a touch of sass to your look.

Hajara, a blogger, was confused about what color to dye her hair and finally decided on the medium golden brown shade. She believed that this was the best color for summer. This color is both classic and stunning at the same time. She wrote, “ I also think that the brown hair color would take front seat with a laid back outfit (i).”

24. Light Beige Brown Hair Color

Light beige brown hair color
Image: Instagram @tapersandtaps

Light beige brown hair pairs well with red, dark gray, and teal colored clothes. This color works well with warm and cool skin tones and adds drama to dull brown hair. Try it with an ombre or a balayage to get the best of this shade of brunette hair.

25. Auburn Brown Hair Color

Auburn brown hair color
Image: Instagram @shankay_hairdesigns

Auburn brown hair looks terrific on lighter and medium skin toned people. If you have a little bit of gold in your eyes, this is the hair color for you. It also works well with black eyes. Auburn brown streaks add texture and spark to your usual hair look.

26. Platinum Brown Hair Color

Platinum brown hair color
Image: Instagram @_annapham_

Platinum brown looks stunning on olive skin. It pairs even better with blue and gray eyes. Whether you get streaks on straight hair or an ombre on soft waves, your hair will look fabulous in this color.

27. Blonde Brown (Bronde) Hair Color

Blonde brown hair color
Image: Instagram @ni_kpi

Blonde brown hair, also known as Bronde hair, is perfect for fair and medium skin tones. If you have green or blue eyes, this is the color for you.

28. Ginger Brown Hair Color

Ginger brown hair color
Image: Instagram @teri_val

Ginger brown hair is the perfect winter hair color. If your skin tone is medium, then consider streaking it ginger brown rather than going completely ginger brown. This hair color looks fantastic with gray and black eyes.

29. Espresso Brown Hair Color

This espresso brown hair color adds freshness to your hair. If your hair color is dark, consider coloring your mane with espresso brown highlights. This color looks good on all skin tones.

30. Burgundy Brown Hair Color

Burgundy brown hair color
Image: Instagram @brunettebeautyblogger

Burgundy brown hair looks fantastic in the sunlight. This color blends well with ginger hair, in case you were looking to get streaks done. Burgundy brown hair works wonders for gray eyes.

31. Expensive Brunette

expensive brunette
Image: IStock

Expensive brunette hair color radiates opulence, depth, and elegance and is considered a Hollywood elite color. It involves the skillful combination of brown highlights and lowlights, resulting in a sumptuous, glossy finish that elevates your overall appearance with a touch of allure and sophistication.

32. Plum Brown

plum brown hair color
Image: Shutterstock

A rich and luscious shade that blends deep brown with a rich deep plum shade. This hue provides a sense of warmth and uniqueness, adding a touch of vibrancy and depth to one’s hair. It’s a stylish and eye-catching choice that complements various skin tones.

33. Strawberry Brown

strawberry brown hair color
Image: IStock

It is a captivating fusion of brown with warm, reddish undertones that reminds you of ripe strawberries. This shade exudes a natural and inviting allure, complementing most skin tones. If you love strawberry blonde and rosy shades, then this one will definitely make it to your list!

Infographic: Top 10 Unique Brown Hair Shades

Brunette hair shades are a classic, and nothing can go wrong with them. Moreover, there are multiple shades and hair color trends out there for you to experiment with. We have compiled a list of unique brown hair color trends in the infographic below. Check them out now!

top 10 unique brown hair shades (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Contrary to the notion that there can only be three shades of brown hair color— dark, medium, and light, there are plenty. Whether you go for coffee brown, chocolate brown, toffee brown, bronze brown, golden brown, deep chestnut brown, or any other shade of brown, it’s going to look fantastic in natural light. Although most brown shades complement warm skin tones, taupe, amber, nutmeg, sienna, fawn, and tawny are a few shades that will complement cool skin tone very well. When it comes to coloring your hair, care is essential for keeping your color looking attractive. So, take care of your hair, use reputable color brands, and don’t be afraid to go brown!

Shades Of Brown Hair Color

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ash brown color shade warm or cool?

It is a cool-toned shade. Ash brown hair is a mixture of warm brown and silvery gray. It looks great on warm skin tones.

How do you keep your brown hair shade from turning brassy?

Avoid sun exposure and heat styling tools to keep your brown hair from turning brassy. Choose a neutral hair dye with a gloss treatment and use a purple toning shampoo.

Is chocolate brown shade a warm hair color?

Yes. The chocolate brown color is suitable for most skin tones but suits warm skin tones best as it flatters the undertones of bronze and gold.

Key Takeaways

  • Brown hair typically requires low to medium maintenance.
  • Brown hair suits all skin tones and hair types, offering a universally appealing option for those seeking a change in hair color.
  • If you want a warm undertone, choose earthy browns like golden, golden honey, and caramel. Opt for deeper shades like chestnut, dark brown, reddish brown, and dark platinum if you have a cool undertone.
  • Different shades of brown can accentuate eye colors like green, blue, or gray, adding depth and dimension to your overall appearance.


Discover stunning shades of brown to give depth to your hairstyle. Check out this video for a variety of hues, from light to dark, and their names, so you can get what you want!

Personal Experience: Source

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