Brown hair colors: 15 shades from mushroom to espresso
15 brown hair colors from light mushroom brown to espresso and cherry cola, which suit warm or cool skin, how to add dimension and keep brunette rich.
The short answer
Brown hair ranges from light mushroom brown to espresso and cherry cola. Warm undertones suit caramel, honey and chestnut; cool undertones suit ash, mushroom and espresso. Add dimension with balayage, babylights, a face-framing money piece, lowlights or a gloss. Blue shampoo once a week counters orange brassiness in brown hair.
- Stay within one or two levels of your natural color for the least upkeep.
Brown hair has as much range as blonde, from light mushroom brown to espresso, and the easiest way to make brunette look expensive is shine and dimension, not a dramatic change. Below are 15 brown hair colors from light to dark, who each suits, how to add dimension without bleach, and how to keep brown from turning brassy or flat.
Brown hair colors from light to dark
| Shade | Looks like | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Light brown | Soft medium-light brown | Most skin tones |
| Mushroom brown | Light ashy brown with grey undertone | Cool and neutral skin |
| Bronde | Brown blended with blonde | Warm and neutral skin |
| Caramel brown | Brown with warm golden lights | Warm and olive skin |
| Honey brown | Medium brown with amber warmth | Warm and deep skin |
| Chestnut | Medium brown with red warmth | Warm and fair skin |
| Milk chocolate | Soft medium brown | Most skin tones |
| Cinnamon brown | Brown with copper | Warm skin, green or hazel eyes |
| Ash brown | Cool, smoky medium brown | Cool skin |
| Chocolate brown | Rich dark brown | Most skin tones |
| Mocha | Dark brown with soft warmth | Olive and deep skin |
| Auburn brown | Dark brown with deep red | Warm and fair skin |
| Espresso | Near-black brown | Cool and deep skin |
| Cherry cola | Dark brown with burgundy | Cool and olive skin |
| Brunette with face-framing highlights | Lighter pieces around the face only | Anyone wanting brightness without upkeep |
Ask for a shade one or two levels from your natural color for the lowest upkeep and least damage.
How do you add dimension to brown hair?
- Balayage: hand-painted lighter pieces, softest grow-out.
- Babylights: very fine highlights for subtle brightness.
- Face-framing "money piece": lighter strands at the front only.
- Lowlights: darker strands to add depth to flat brown.
- Gloss: no lightening at all, just shine and a tone refresh.
- Peekaboo color: a hidden layer of a different shade underneath.
Keeping brown hair rich
Brown hair turns brassy (orange or red) as color fades and the warm pigments underneath show through. A blue shampoo once a week counters orange in brown hair, the way purple shampoo counters yellow in blonde. A gloss every 6 to 8 weeks restores shine, and washing in cooler water helps color last. For warm brown shades, avoid toning shampoos altogether.
Going lighter? See blonde hair colors. Want a temporary change first? Semi-permanent dye washes out over several weeks.
Do a patch test 48 hours before any dye, even one you have used before: the FDA notes that hair dyes can cause allergic reactions, and the risk can appear after years of use.
Which brown suits your color season?
Brown hair runs from golden to ash, and your season tells you which end to choose. A True Autumn suits warm chestnut, golden brown and caramel; a Deep Autumn suits dark chocolate, espresso and mahogany; a Bright Spring suits rich golden brown and warm chestnut. Cool seasons need ash: a Soft Summer wears ash and mushroom brown, a True Summer ash and cool light brown, and a Deep Winter espresso and cool dark brown. The free color analysis quiz finds your season in about two minutes.
Related guides
Questions people ask about this
What brown hair color suits me?
Warm undertones suit caramel, honey, chestnut and cinnamon brown. Cool undertones suit ash, mushroom, espresso and cherry cola. Milk chocolate and chocolate brown suit most people.
What is mushroom brown hair?
A light-to-medium ashy brown with a soft grey undertone. It suits cool and neutral skin and needs a toner or gloss to stay cool.
How do I make brown hair less brassy?
Use a blue shampoo about once a week, get a gloss every 6 to 8 weeks and wash in cooler water. Brassy orange tones appear as color fades.
How can I brighten brown hair without bleach?
A gloss adds shine and refreshes tone without lightening. For lighter pieces, babylights or a face-framing money piece use only small amounts of lightener.
