35 Brunette Hair Colors That Radiate Sophistication and Access to a Private Jet

I love to joke that I’ve tried all the brunette hair colors in existence. From nearly black espresso to dimensional caramel, I’ve been bleaching and dyeing (and re-bleaching and re-dyeing) my brown strands since seventh grade. That said, there’s nothing like finding the best, most flattering brunette hair color for you—and there's always something new and trending to try out.

Though LA is full of blondes, celebrity hairstylist Nicolas Flores also knows how to make a brunette head shine. He's the co-owner of the elegant Flore Salon on Melrose, and his client list includes iconic brunettes like Simi and Haze Khadra, Summer Fridays' Marianna Hewitt, and Jen Atkin (when you find the celebrity hairstylist's hairstylist, you know you're in for something special).

"California Brunettes deserve more credit, Its not just a plain 'brown,'" Flores tells Marie Claire. "Being a brunette can offer richness and dimension. It can also enhance your facial features such as eye color, skin tone, eyebrows."

"But what about fun?" you say. Let's get into it.

Some say blondes have more fun, but celebrity hairstylist Temur Hamilton begs to differ. “Brunette hair is effortlessly timeless, elegant, and natural. It has a classic and sophisticated appeal that never goes out of style,” he says, adding that brunettes have the incredible perk of being lower maintenance than lighter colors while still looking “rich and luxurious.” Hairstylist Rogerio Cavalcante agrees, noting that, "brunette hair has a beautiful dimension that shifts in different lighting and throughout the day."

Countless celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Khloé Kardashian, and Gigi Hadid have recently joined the dark side, ditching their honey-blonde hair for more chocolatey tones. Whether you're looking for a major hair transformation or just itching to add some subtle highlights as summer approaches, there are so many beautiful brunette shades to pick from.

The never-ending brunette hair color options can feel overwhelming, but that’s what I'm here for! Not only have I tried out an array of brown shades myself; I’ve also compiled a list of 35 luxurious brunette hair colors that you can use as inspo for your next salon appointment. Flores says he's been seeing a lot of teddy bear browns, mushroom browns, and chocolate browns at the salon. Those are all here, and then some.

Ahead, celebrity hairstylists share their favorite shades, maintenance tips (you'll want a good toning shampoo and hair gloss), and how to know what shades will complement your skin tone best. Keep reading for a full breakdown on all things brunette hair colors.

Old Money Brunette

Another color icon to brunettes far and wide is Jacob Schwartz. Though Schwarzkopf Professional’s U.S. Hair Color Trend Ambassador has been big with the blondes lately (he's the one that made Bella Hadid's locks the color of miel), you can't discount his contributions to the brown color cannon.

“Brunette hair is always exciting because of the depth and subtlety each shade can offer. Whether it’s a rich, classic monotone or a multi-tonal color with soft dimension, there’s endless room for creativity," he explains.

Recently, he's been inspired by the "sophisticated Old Money Brunette" he previously created for the supermodel. It doesn't get more luxe than that.

The key to nailing an old money brunette color is neutral tones and ultra-subtle highlights (maybe even baby lights?) that create an impressively natural look. While you may be in a salon chair for hours, the seamless blend of a deep, cool base with a mix of neutral and warm highlights comes across as absolutely effortless.

Dark Suede

Another Schwartz-crafted shade of note? Lily Collins’ velvety Dark Suede Brunette.

"At first glance, these hues might appear similar—but the variation in warmth, depth, and tonality makes each one uniquely its own," Schwartz tells Marie Claire. "To achieve this kind of richness and shine, I love using Schwarzkopf Professional’s IGORA Vibrance. It’s a demi-permanent formula that delivers beautiful color deposit and an incredible glossy finish.”

Deep Golden Brown

Let's be real: Zendaya could never look bad. However, Cavalcante points to her deep brunette bob with subtle pops of warm highlights as his all-time favorite hairstyle of hers. "This color is rich and chic," he says. "The golden undertones are gorgeous and work on most skin tones." He also shares that this shade is "great for those who can't decide if they want to go darker or lighter," since the level will vary depending on lighting.

Muted Mushroom

"We’re seeing a lot of celebrities, influencers, and tastemakers embracing their natural hair color these days," Flores says. For some, that means sticking with muted tones. Enter: mushroom brown. It's cool, soft, earthy, and entirely wearable.

As for styling...

"I absolutely love Milbon's Weightless Replenishing Mist," Flores adds. "It's an amino acid mist that boosts shine, adds heat protection, and also adds softness, creating a sleek blowout with tons of shine."

Espresso Martini

This luxurious shade of dark brown is what Hamilton calls espresso. "This extremely deep brunette shade creates a rich, dramatic color similar to the dark tone of coffee," he says. "It’s definitely more intense than other shades of brunette and gives hair a bold and sophisticated edge."

Michael Rincon, an LA-based colorist, says that the best way to achieve an espresso shade is by glossing with a warm, gold-leaning tone to help bring out all that brilliant richness and depth.

"Full of warmth, it makes olive and warm-toned skin absolutely glow," he says.

Enchanted Espresso

London-based celebrity colorist Nicole Kahlani is known for consistently calling out the next "it shade." Right now, she's all about another shade of espresso. When paired with her classic sun-faded ends, the rich, dark shade has an "effortless, mysterious, magical finish." She calls it "Enchanted Espresso," naturally, and just crafted the shade for Poster Girl co-founder Natasha Somerville.

"I use a technique on my brunettes called sun-faded, where I tone the ends one or two shades lighter than the roots to appear more youthful and natural," Kahlani explains. "I also like taking brunettes this color during the summer. Hair color fades, so this helps the color last longer."

Honey Latté Ombré

I'll never forget when ombré was all the rage circa the 2010s. But, according to Cavalcante, the shading technique is more timeless than you would think, especially with a warm brown ombré. "I love the warmth of this hair color and the very subtle dimension and playfulness that the highlights add," he says. "I personally like brown hair with lighter ends. A homogeneous full color usually looks too harsh and heavy."

Dark Chocolate

While many brunette shades lean warm, a cool or neutral-toned base can sometimes look incredibly natural and chic. Just take it from Hamilton, who says, "This cool-toned brown is incredibly luxurious and sleek. It's a timeless, classic shade that adds warmth to the skin, flattering almost everyone."

Deep Walnut

Cavalcante says this near-copper shade is "definitely one of the most desired browns in my experience behind the chair." He even showed off this exact picture of Sophie Thatcher as inspiration. "I really like the richness and cool undertones. I would recommend this brown to anyone afraid of going dark. "

Caramel Drizzle

This sunkissed brunette color uses a blend of brown with hints of golden undertones, which Hamilton calls "caramel." He says, "This is achieved by applying warm highlights to add dimension to the hair." While beautiful, Hamilton does warn that this color will require more upkeep than most other brunette shades to maintain its vibrancy. Consider adding a hair toner to your shower routine.

Ash Brown

This ultra-dark brown teeters on black due to its lack of dimension and cool undertones. But who said all-over color can't be stunning? Just look at Demi Moore. "This is a more full color, with less dimension and the most natural look—it seems like she just let her hair grow out," Cavalcante says of the star's hair. "This works for people who have a natural high contrast beauty, but I would not recommend it for people with natural blonde hair or very fair skin because it can make them look washed out."

Cowboy Copper

Cowboy Copper was the ultimate hair trend in 2023, and Keke Palmer is bringing it back in full swing. It's the perfect mix of blonde, brunette, and red. Brown locks are toned with a deep red shade, shining bright when the light strikes—and giving the hair a brighter appearance overall.

Cinnamon Spice

The queen of cinnamon-themed nails, makeup, and peptide lip tints even rocks shiny cinnamon hair. Hailey Bieber's hair color combines a beautiful blend of a warm brown base with lighter warm brown highlights all throughout the hair. The dimension is out of this world and is sure to bring light to your face.

Cherry Cola

This spunky shade of brown is super subtle—but don't underestimate its dimension. To achieve it, a dark brown base is toned with a deep red, almost purple-esque shade, which peeks through beautifully. The burgundy hue of the final product is unmatched.

Bronde Balayage

For the ultimate beachy vibes, a bronde balayage is the perfect choice. As opposed to typical highlights, balayage is a highlighting technique that involves hand-painting the hair without any foils. The result is a super natural, soft blend of bright highlights on the ends with a darker root.

Strawberry Brown

We all know and love strawberry blonde, but take the brightness down a few levels, and you've got a gorgeous strawberry brown. The mix of a light brown base with bright pops of orange-toned highlights is unique and chic.

Teddy Bear

This light brown shade utilizes a blend as soft as your favorite stuffed animal. Rincon calls Teddy Bear Brunette "the perfect brunette shade for natural brunettes who want something low maintenance but elevated. It adds softness, warmth, and a touch of golden light."

Extra subtle highlights create impressive dimension and lighter-looking hair overall while the golden tones pop in the sunlight.

To get the look, the artist does both his gloss and highlight with neutral golden tones.

"It’s delicate but makes a big impact," he says.

Mocha Milkshake

Mocha Milkshake is what you get when you combine a deep chocolate shade with streaks of warm highlights. Camila Morrone rocks this color so effortlessly, especially with her thicker, bright brown money pieces.

"I’m obsessed with this one. It’s soft, rich, and has a slight blushy tone that gives the hair a romantic feel," Rincon says of the mocha shade family. "I highlight using copper/pink tones and add just a kiss of red. It makes the skin look soft, glowy, and super chic."

Cool Smoke

A cool-toned dark brown is so simplistic and never disappoints. It's a rich, full shade that's so bold it's sure to bring the drama. Plus, the stark color allows lighter features to really stand out—just look at Dove Cameron's bright green eyes!

Hazelnut Highlights

Hazelnut highlights are a three-color trifecta. The sunkissed brunette combines warm brown highlights with burnt hazelnut lowlights and a few blonde pops for a glowing contrast.

Amber Waves

Miley Cyrus and her go-to hairstylist Alexis Yoshico have perfected a brown hair color with an amber wash. The singer boasts stunning warm brown locks that are highlighted with a slightly brighter amber shade to frame her face.

Brownie Batter

This fudgy brown color looks good enough to eat. Anna Hathaway has long worn dark brunette locks, and the all-over rich tone with barely-there ribbons of lighter swirls is timeless.

Creamy Latté

I want my lattés as creamy as Jessica Alba's brunette blend. Her medium brown hair is perfectly highlighted with swirls of neutral blonde pops to brighten up the look.

Chunky Blonde Ribbons

'90s fashion will always be iconic, and so will the decade's favorite hairstyles—chunky highlights included. Winnie Harlow's hair is the perfect example of a modern take on the look. The thick ribbons of blonde are ever-so-slightly blended into the rest of her chocolate brown hair.

Ashy Bronde

I've covered cool bases and warm highlights, but what about cool highlights? The streaks of ashy blonde pops can blend so nicely into a warm brown base. The end result is a true bronde tone that's super flattering on those with cooler skin tones.

Hot Cocoa

Olivia Rodrigo is Miss Swiss Miss with dark brown hair straight from the chocolate powder packet. The cool undertone gives her hot cocoa hair a sophisticated, luxe vibe.

Golden Graham Cracker

Before going platinum, Beyoncé was rocking a mane of golden highlights and warm brown locks. Her money pieces were the perfect gilded shade, while her all-over bronze highlights just melted into her base.

Basic Brunette

Let's bring it back to the basics, because you truly can't go wrong with a classic dark brown. No fancy highlights and complicated toner combinations needed—just a neutral brunette color that's never out of style.

Subtle Warm Dimension

It doesn't take much to add dimension. Take Khloé Kardashian's brown bob, for example, which is ever so slightly highlighted with teeny warm blonde streaks around her face.

Sandy Beige Bronde

Blaire Waldorf may be one of the most iconic brunettes of all time, but Leighton Meester's sandy bronde hair is to-die-for. Her roots to mids boast a stunning neutral beige brown color, while her ends hold a brighter blonde-ish hue.

Barely-There Ombré

Rachel Bilson rocks a super faint ombré that ensures the trendy style stays timeless. Her roots are a super rich espresso—almost full-on black—while her ends are one to two shades lighter with a warmer undertone. This is a great option for a low-maintenance, easy hairstyle.

Deep Chestnut

Selena Gomez's dark brown color is incredibly rich and luscious. Her uniform locks hold an amber undertone that shines in just the right light.

"Undone" Brown

Balayage and babylights are all fun and games, but undone, low-maintenance, natural brown hair is still very much in style. To barely spice up your natural color, you can add subtle streaks of nutmeg underneath and through the ends.

Soft Suede

You can add some life to your dark brown locks by adding a slew of chestnut highlights throughout. With a simple root smudge, the brightening streaks will look natural and blend seamlessly into your roots for months at a time.

Dimensional Mocha

This mocha caramel color is exquisite. The dark brown base is made super dimensional with streaks of warm caramel and pops of middle-toned mocha, creating a kissed-by-the-sun appearance.

"Dimensional brunette gives the illusion of a single process color, but with light catching dimension throughout," Rincon explains. To achieve a similar look, he starts with a deep brunette base, highlights over it subtly, and then glosses with the same base tone to bring everything together.

"It gives that perfect shimmer in the light but still looks seamless," adds the professional.

Vibrant Chestnut

Vibrant chestnut is a bright brunette shade paired with subtle undertones in red or golden hues. Its extra warmth and chocolatey richness add extra oomph to a classic brown color.

Sunkissed Streaks

If your hair naturally lightens after a day in the sun, lucky you! If not, you can easily emulate the sun-kissed look by adding a few warm blonde streaks throughout your head, especially around the front. Just look to Bella Hadid for inspo.

Steamy Cappuccino

Sofia Vergara's bombshell brown hair speaks for itself. The rich espresso tone is packed with neutral highlights for an ultra-dimensional appeal and gorgeous swirl of creamy color.

How to Find The Best Brunette Shade for Your Skin Tone

Finding a shade of brown that perfectly complements your skin tone can be tricky. Fortunately, Hamilton broke it down.

Those with warm undertones will want "warm shades like caramel brown, which enhance the golden undertones," he says. Meanwhile, those with cooler skin tones,"look best with deeper shades like espresso brown or ash-toned brunettes."

And if you have a neutral skin tone? Almost any brunette color will do the trick.

How to Maintain Brunette Hair

While brown hair is much lower maintenance than blonde, there's certainly still upkeep. The amount of upkeep, however, depends on your natural hair color. "If your brunette shade is significantly different from your natural color or if you have a lot of grays, a root touch-up every three to five weeks helps keep it fresh," says Cavalcante. "But if your natural color is close to your chosen shade, you can go a few months without touching up—just adding a gloss in between for extra shine."

For color-treated brunettes, Hamilton recommends using color-safe shampoos and conditioners to prevent fading and help preserve vibrancy. He also suggests using color-enhancing hair masks like the Christopher Robin Shade Variation Mask to extend the color and enhance the shade vibrancy. "I really like that it nourishes and hydrates the hair while correcting unwanted tones," he says.

How to Style Brunette Hair

Anything blondes (or redheads, gray haired beauties, etc.) can do, brunettes can do, too. But Rincon does have some brown hair-specific styling tips to share. He loves Moroccanoil Treatment Light for brunette clients, because it "adds shine and glossiness that makes the hair look super luxe without feeling heavy."

"A big blowout always takes brunette hair to the next level. I use wide ceramic rollers (like the Dom Dom ones) to lock in bounce and volume makes the color pop even more, he adds.

Lastly, pick up a stainless steel bristle brush. Rincon is "obsessed" with his from Vuja De Beauty and Dom Dom: "They’re gentle, get through knots easily, and help keep the hair smooth and shiny."

Why Trust Marie Claire

Emma Aerin Becker is an experienced beauty writer, focusing on shopping roundups, digital features, and trend stories. She's a regular contributor to Marie Claire, and has words in Byrdie, Page Six Style, People, and more. She spoke with two celebrity hairstylists to compile this list of brunette hair colors, while contributing writer Sophia Vilensky—another experienced beauty writer—spoke to four more.

Marie Claire is also an expert in hair color, having covered shades of brown, blonde, red, and more.

Meet The Experts

Nicolas Flores

Flore Salon is a dedication to the art of hair, adorning one's personality with hair that enables their clients to tap into their inner magic.

With a collective of top talent, Flore Salon offers treatments, styling, and cuts in a beautiful space designed to relax and make your time with feel like a self care getaway.

Jacob Schwartz

Having roots in Nashville (pun intended), Jacob knew early on that he was destined for a bright future in the hair industry. Since he was young, he always had a keen sense for the diverse color spectrum and an affinity for all things hair. Jacob obtained an early start and moved to Los Angeles where his talent was quickly recognized. He got his start at Mèche where he worked as Tracey Cunningham’s apprentice. Jacob obtained invaluable knowledge and learned creative techniques for creating flawless color. He loves to work collaboratively with every client to ensure they are getting a look that compliments their personality and style. He becomes inspired through various artistic outlets, but essentially his primary goal is to create a look that is natural and effortless and ensures unparalleled confidence for each and every client.

Nicole Kahlani

No one does scalp bleaching quite like Nicole, a born and bred Londoner with over 15 years experience transforming hair. Name checking Pamela Anderson’s ’90s blonde, Kate Moss with her “2010 indie sleaze dirty blonde highlights”, Devon Aoki and Mia Goth in Maxxxine as hair goals, she’s the cool girl to see for boundary-pushing color—best believe she’s creating the trends, not following them. How she describes her work? “It has a softness and lived-in feel—I combine intentional imperfections with high-end execution.”

Temur Hamilton

With a passion for hairstyling, Temur, owner of TEMUR Salon, carved out a space in the highly competitive world of beauty, devoting the last 14 years to perfecting his craft. He's worked closely with legendary stylist Sally Hershberger, refining his skills under her expert guidance and has collaborated with some of New York’s leading hair colorists to expand his expertise and artistry.

Rogerio Cavalcante

Originally from Brazil, Rogerio moved to NYC over 15 years ago and quickly made a name for himself as a master colorist and dry-cut expert. Specializing in natural highlights and balayage, he has also perfected the art of the blunt cut—his personal favorite.

Three years ago, Rogerio founded The Second Floor Salon with a vision: to create a chic, private, and relaxing escape from the hustle of the city, where clients could truly unwind while getting their hair done. Now, he’s taking his expertise even further by launching his own haircare line—coming soon!