Who says brown hair has to be boring? Contrary to what you might think, those with blonde or red hair aren’t the only ones who have a variety of shades to play with when it comes to coloring their tresses. From warm chestnut to a dark chocolate brown and everything in between, there are a ton of hair color ideas for brunettes that you can choose from for gorgeous brown hair that’s anything but blah. Whether you’re thinking of dyeing your hair brown or looking for a way to revamp your already brunette strands, here are the best hair color trends for brunettes for 2019.
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #1: WARM CHESTNUT
If you never want to hear the phrase “Plain Jane” again, warm chestnut is the brown hair color idea for you. This shade of brown has a nice earthy tone that can add warmth to your face. Chestnut brown hair has red and gold undertones and is perfect for those looking to add a golden shimmer to their locks.
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference in Medium Chestnut Brown
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #2: DARK CHOCOLATE
Dark chocolate is delicious, and we have to admit that it looks stunning on hair! If you’re thinking of taking the plunge and going for a deep brown hair color, then why not give this dark hue a try? Dark chocolate hair looks great on those with light eye colors because it creates a stunning contrast between the two.
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Féria in Deeply Brown
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #3: RICH MOCHA
Take a little bit of inspiration from things around you—in this case, your coffee. There’s nothing better than a warm cup of java on a cool rainy day. Let your mocha latte be your guide by choosing a brown hair color that matches your favorite warm beverage. This rich brown shade has reddish undertones that suit all skin tones.
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme in Mocha Ash Brown
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #4: DEEP BURGUNDY
Burgundy hair is one of the best ways to make a striking statement with your hair color. It has a sort of purple tinge to it and is a fun way to make your brown hair pop in the light. If your hair is naturally brown, adding a burgundy tint is an easy way to spice things up.
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Féria in Deep Burgundy
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #5: OMBRÉ
If you're in the mood for highlights, ombré hair is always a good hair color idea for brunettes. It gives your hair a ton of contrast from root to tip and it works with any highlight color. You can go for the traditional look—adding light brown or blonde highlights—or opt for a fun, bright color like teal or pink. Since you’re not dyeing your roots, this look is also super low-maintenance and easy to take care of.
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Colorista Bleach Ombré
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #6: SOMBRÉ
Looking for a softer ombré? Go for sombré highlights! This all-over lightening technique is perfect for those who want to avoid the stark contrast that ombré highlights typically produce. If you want sombré highlights, choose a color that is a few shades lighter than your current hair hue. You can go as light as you want—but keep in mind that you’re going for a natural look, so the transition should be gradual.
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #7: BRONDE
For the best of both blonde and brown hair, opt for bronde highlights. This is another highlighting technique that requires little to no maintenance—and it also adds a lot of texture to your hair. Your natural brown hair color will peek out from beneath soft highlights that are woven throughout your hair. These highlights should be one to two shades lighter than your hair color and are usually placed around your face and other areas that would be naturally lightened by the sun. Hello, sun-kissed strands!
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #8: CHERRY BROWN
A fan of red-brown hues? Consider trying a cherry brown mane, which features deep red and brown tones throughout for a color that demands attention.
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Féria in Rich Mahogany
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #9: ROSE BROWN
Rose brown hair happens to be one of the biggest hair color trends for brunettes right now, making it totally worth giving a try in 2019. This fashionable hue features a brown base with rosy tones mixed throughout. Swoon!
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Colorista 1-Day Spray in RoseGold
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #10: ILLUMINATED BRUNETTE
Want to lighten your mane but still stay true to your brunette roots? Give an illuminated brunette hair color a try! This trend uses the balayage technique to paint subtle highlights that will light up your mane without taking away from your natural brown mane.
Get the look at home: How to Get an Illuminated Brunette Hair Color
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #11: ASHY BROWN
Ashy hues are all the rage for 2019. More and more people are swapping warm-toned hues for something on the cooler end of the spectrum. One color following suit with this trend? Ashy brown hair. This color pairs beautifully on those with warm undertones, as the cool tones of the color will balance out your look. (Speaking of ashy tones and brown hair, you may want to brush up on What to Do if Your Brown Hair Is Brassy.)
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference in Light Ash Brown
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #12: DULCE DE LECHE
This hair color looks good enough to eat! Picture caramel blonde balayage highlights on a warm-toned brown base. This color can also be customized with a variety of lighter or darker highlights; it all depends on the look you’re going for.
Get the look at home: Sweeten Up Your Strands with a Dulce de Leche Hair Color
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #13: CHILI CHOCOLATE HAIR
Did we mention brown pairs beautifully with red tones? Another red-tinted option to try is chili chocolate hair. The color involves natural-looking auburn balayage highlights painted onto a brunette base for stunning dimension.
Get the look at home: Spice up Brown Hair with this Sweet Shade: Chili Chocolate Hair
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #14: MUSHROOM BROWN
Remember when we mentioned ashy hues were in? Mushroom brown hair may be the reason for the trend. This light, ashy brown shade features a combination of highlights and lowlights for a color that resembles a delicious portobello mushroom.
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme in Light Ash Brown
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #15: COLD BREW HAIR
We’re all about food and beverage-inspired colors, and cold brew hair is the perfect way to cool off your look for summer. Think about what happens when you splash creamer or milk into your iced coffee and you’ll know exactly what this hair color looks like. Even better, the color is customizable based on your coffee order (or hair inspiration photo).
Get the look at home: How to Get Cold Brew Hair
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #16: GOLDEN BROWN
Sometimes sticking with the classics is the way to go. While golden brown certainly isn’t new to the hair color world, it’s a color that we’ll never get tired of. It’s the perfect way to add lightness and life to your brunette mane!
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Féria in Hi-Lift Browns Downtown Brown or Light Golden Brown
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #17: ESPRESSO
Prefer to stay on the dark side? Why not try an espresso hair color? Nearly black, this deep, rich brown hue has cool undertones, making it best fit for those who have a warm skin tone.
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference in Cool Darkest Brown
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #18: CARAMEL LATTE
A combination of rich browns and buttery blondes, caramel latte hair is rightly named after one of our favorite beverages. It’s ideal for brunettes who are looking to add some warmth to their mane without switching to a full head of caramel color.
Get the look at home: Crazy for Caramel Latte: How to Get This Season's Natural-Looking Hair Color
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #19: NUDE BROWN
We promise this hair color isn’t as scandalous as its name suggests! In fact, it’s actually quite the opposite. This neutral, sandy brown hue looks good on those with warm or cool undertones—AKA the subdued color is flattering on just about anyone!
BROWN HAIR COLOR IDEA #20: CINNAMON
This red-brown hair color is ideal for those who want to add warmth to their beauty look. You can opt for an all-over wash of color or customize the look with balayage highlights of varying cinnamon shades.
Get the look at home: L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference in Lightest Auburn
Now that you have some brown hair colors in mind, let’s talk maintenance. Here’s The Brunette’s Guide to Maintaining Beautiful Color.