25 Stunning Shades Of Brown Hair For All Skin Tones

When it comes to hair colors, brown hair might be simple and classic, but it doesn’t have to be boring. It’s all about finding the best hair dyeing technique for your hair and most importantly, the right brown hair color for your skin tone and. So, we’re sharing 25 stunning shades of brown hair color across cool, warm and neutral tones to suit several different skin tones. 

The Best Cool Brown Hair Colors

If you tend to wear silver jewelry or your veins look bluish in tone, you likely have skin with cool undertones, which is especially stunning when paired with cool hair colors.  If you’re looking for a gorgeous brown hair color to try, opt for one of our favorite cool-toned hues below.

1. Medium Ash Brown 

Perfect for those looking to conceal the appearance of grays, medium ash brown hair is a color with cool, ashy tones. Try it at home with L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Hi-Lift Ash Brown.

2. Ash Chocolate Brown

Like the above hue but with a deeper brown base, this rich brown shade is infused with a bit of smoky gray to give it an ultra-cool undertone. If you have fair, cool-toned skin, this shade will pop beautifully against your complexion. 

3. Cool Dark Brown

Think of this shade as the darkest brown with the faintest of blue undertones—which just so happen to pair perfectly with a cool skin tone. The rich tone provides a striking contrast against pale skin especially. Color your strands with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Cool Darkest Brown to achieve this look. 

4. Espresso

This coffee-inspired hue is just as dark and delicious as your morning cup of joe. This cool shade pairs beautifully with medium to dark skin tones and eye colors. You can use the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Cool Dark Brown to get that rich dark brown shade you desire. 

5. Mushroom Brown

Another stunning—not to mention trendy—brown hue to try is mushroom brown hair. This hair color trend is a semi-ashy brown shade that resembles the much-loved portobello mushroom. You can create your own mushroom-colored mane by using the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme in Dark Ash Brown. 

6. Light Ash Brown

Light ash brown is an ashy hue that’s perfect for those who want to stick to a brunette mane but like the lightness that comes with blonde hair. This hair color will also help conceal gray hair thanks to its ashy undertones. The L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Light Ash Brown will get your desired color and leave your hair silky and shiny without having to go to the salon. 

7. Plum Brown 

This rich, cool color is a hybrid between chocolate brown hair and plum colored strands. With just a hint of plum purple, it’s the perfect shade to try if you’re considering going outside the box with your hair color. 

The Best Warm Brown Hair Colors

You can probably guess what we’re about to tell you next: warm shades look best paired with warm skin tones. Not sure if that’s your skin’s classification? Flip your wrist—if you see greenish veins (or if you find that gold jewelry looks best on you), this section is where you can expect to find your perfect brown hair color.

8. Butterscotch 

Your favorite sweet treat is a coveted brown hair color. This light brown color with blonde swirl dimension looks gorgeous when paired with medium, warm and deep skin tones. Get the look with the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Downtown Brown. 

9. Bronzed Brown

Metallic hair is still having a major moment, and with colors like rose gold and bronzed brown, we totally understand why this trend has stuck around as long as it has. Bronzed brown, with its intense shine, is the ideal hue to prove that brunettes are anything but boring and bring some brightness to your look. Get the look with the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Bronzed Brown. 

10. Light Golden Brown

If you love the look of beachy blondes but can’t find it in yourself to part ways with your brunette mane, simply switch up your hair with this warm brown hair color. While you’ll maintain your brown base, the faintest hints of gold will lend themselves to a sun-kissed look—even if you don’t plan on visiting the beach anytime soon. Try it with the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Light Golden Brown. 

11. Toffee Brown

If you’re all about dimensional color, toffee brown will be the shade for you. The color has a dark ash brown base that’s warmed up with medium and light brown highlights throughout. The result is a hair color that rivals a tasty toffee caramel. Give this look a try using the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Light Brown. 

12. Chestnut Brown

This toasty hue always reminds us of warming up by the fireplace. Think of a rich, medium brown color with golden undertones. It’s the ideal brown color to switch up your hairstyle in the winter. Use the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Chestnut Brown to get the look. 

13. Chili Chocolate

This brown hair color is the ultimate shade for those who want to make a subtler change to their brown hair. It boasts a brown base with natural-looking hues of red balayage highlights. Because balayage is an intricate technique, it’s best left to a professional.  

14. Mahogany Brown

If you can’t decide between red hair and brown hair, mahogany brown hair might be the perfect fit for you. This brown hue has the right amount of red undertones to satisfy your desires without going full-blown red. Create your perfect rich, reddish-brown hair color using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Dark Mahogany Brown. 

15. Golden Brown

Golden-brown hair will give you the gilded hues you crave without sacrificing your brown base. It’s also a great first step for those who want to start going lighter. Try attempting your own Goldilocks inspired look with the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Light Golden Brown. 

16. Cinnamon Brown

This warm auburn shade is the perfect hue to spice up your look—just as the name suggests. Think brown with hints of red and orange. Try out this hair color using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Light Auburn.

17. Sandy Brown

Sand colored hair made its way onto the big trends list seasons back and going into 2022 we still can’t get enough of the look. This color suits both warm and cool skin tones, and has a light brown base with ashy blonde balayage highlights. Just note, you may need to seek out a pro to help you achieve this trendy color, as it's slightly different from the brown hues you usually see in box dyes. 

18. Honey Brown

A warm shade that walks the line between dark blonde and light brown hair, this sunny hue is perfect for adding brightness and warmth to your look. Give it a go with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color High-Lift Gold Brown. 

19. Rose Brown

If you’ve been contemplating dyeing your hair a fun shade but are afraid of going too bold, rose brown hair is for you. It features a medium brown hue with subtle hints of pink that give it the perfect colorful flair. 

The Best Neutral Brown Hair Colors

Where cool shades mostly complement cool skin tones and warm shades usually make warm skin tones stand out, people with neutral skin tones can rock any hue well—talk about serious hair color envy. While you can totally take your pick from the colors mentioned above, we’re also sharing a few more hues that are flattering on a wide range of skin tones. 

20. Bronde

Bronde hair can easily be manipulated to suit warm or cool skin tones, making it the ultimate neutral shade. It’s a blend of brown and blonde hair color which gives off natural looking highlights. This hair color is also ideal for those who can’t quite make up their minds between the two colors. Because this color is highly customizable, visit a professional colorist rather than attempt this on your own, especially if you’re an at-home hair color newbie.

21. Light Brown

Think of a milk chocolate candy bar. That’s what this silky-smooth shade looks like. As a result, it pairs perfectly with any skin tone. Get the look using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Light Brown.

22. Chocolate Brown

This rich, hot cocoa-inspired brown looks beautiful on all skin tones. Wear it long or short—no matter the length or your skin tone, this brown hair color is guaranteed to flatter. Indulge in its decadence using the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Medium Brown. 

23. Black Brown

Dark, blackish brown is great if you love the idea of black hair but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into a midnight hue. Dark brown hair usually has neutral undertones, making it ideal for all skin tones. Try it out with the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color in Dark Brown. 

24. Toasted Caramel

To add some dimension to your brown hair, try a toasted caramel hair color. As its name implies, toasted caramel hair involves incorporating caramel highlights throughout a neutral brown base for a blended brunette dimension suitable for all skin tones. To get natural-looking highlights that blend seamlessly with your base color, we recommend heading to the salon.  

25. Cherry Brown

This vivid hue can be customized to incorporate warm or cool tones throughout—making it a great option no matter your skin tone. Create your chocolate cherry hair color at home using the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Rich Mahogany. 

Editor’s Tip:To keep your color looking vibrant after you apply your new brown hue, try the L’Oreal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss. It deeply conditions, enhances hair tone and color and boosts shine all in one hassle-free and mess-free, at-home application.

Next: I'm Allergic To PPD, Can I Still Dye My Hair?

Written by: Alyssa Kaplan, Photo Credit: Valerie Nguyen, IG/@hairbyvalerien