6 Hair Color Tips for Brown Hair

Brown hair is undeniably gorgeous—and you can make it look even more beautiful by following a few key hair color tips specifically for brown hair. From finding the best brown hair color for your skin tone, to knowing what goes into the process of lightening brown hair, to using the right products to keep color-treated hair vibrant and shiny, there’s a lot to know. So keep reading because we’ve got you covered. We foresee a beautiful brunette hair color in your future!

1. FIND THE BEST SHADE OF BROWN HAIR FOR YOU 

If you want to stick with a classic shade of brown hair but are uncertain which one will complement your features the best, understanding your undertones is key. If you have cool undertones, you likely have pink and olive in your skin, while if you have warm undertones, your skin likely has yellow and gold tones. Those with a mix typically have neutral undertones, and that means they can get away with just about any hair color. 

For cool and warm undertones, a general rule of thumb you can follow is picking a shade that is the opposite of your undertones. In simpler terms, if you have warm undertones, pick a cool brown hair color such as chestnut, mocha, dark chocolate, or dark auburn. To DIY your hair color, try the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Cool Medium Brown or L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme in Medium Chestnut Brown. Meanwhile, if you have cool undertones, opt for a warm brown hair color, like amber, caramel, golden brown, honey, or warm red. To get the look at home, try the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Light Golden Brown or L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme in Light Reddish Brown.

2. BE PATIENT IF YOU WANT A LIGHTER HAIR COLOR

While platinum blonde hair seems to always be trending, it’s far from easy for natural brunettes to hop on the bandwagon. That’s because it’s virtually impossible to go from dark brown hair to light blonde hair in one session—if you were to attempt that, you could severely damage your hair. Going lighter requires bleaching, and the darker your starting shade, the more sessions it may take to achieve your desired level of blonde. If you want to make an extreme change, it’s best to visit a professional colorist who can guide you through the process from start to finish without sacrificing the integrity of your hair. You can DIY lighter hair with an at-home hair color kit, but keep in mind that the results might vary depending on your starting shade. Going two shades lighter should be the max you attempt at home so that you end up with results you’re happy with.

3. GIVE TRENDY HAIR COLORS A TEMPORARY TEST DRIVE

Besides the lighter hair colors that always seem to be trendy, rainbow hair colors are having their moment as well. When you have brown hair, you’ll likely have to bleach your hair first in order for the rainbow shades to show up. But let’s say you’re not sure you want to sport a rainbow hair color for the long haul—maybe you just want to rock one for a night out. In that case, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray, which shows up on brown hair without any bleaching and washes out after one shampoo. 

4. TRY OUT A HAIR GLOSS

If your brown hair color is looking a little dull these days, try implementing a gloss into your routine to temporarily add some shine to your hair color. Glosses are great to get in between hair color touch-ups since they’re an easy way to refresh your hair without continuously dyeing it, but frequent trips to the salon are costly and often inconvenient. You can DIY at home with the L'Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss. In just 15 minutes it will enhance the shine and color of your hair, tone your color, and also deeply condition. Use it on color-treated hair or your natural brown hair color. Cheers to a salon treatment in the comfort of your home!

5. TAKE CARE OF YOUR COLOR-TREATED HAIR THE RIGHT WAY

It’s not just how you color your hair that matters—it’s how you care for your colored hair, too. The most important switch to make in your hair care routine is what you’re using in the shower. Switch to a shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask that are specially formulated for color-treated hair. You can do just that with the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Repair & Defend Shampoo and L'Oréal Paris EverPure Repair & Defend Conditioner. Then Swap out the conditioner for the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Repair and Protect Balm once or twice a week for extra conditioning and deep hydration.

6. STYLE YOUR COLORED HAIR WISELY

When you’re styling your hair, always apply a heat protectant, like the L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Iron Straight Heatspray, before picking up your hot tools. Think about giving your hair a rest from the heat from time to time and try out some heatless hairstyles too. Finally, use a shine-enhancing product, like the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Treatment to add shine, tame frizz and finish off your look. Simply apply one to two pumps into your hands and smooth onto your hair starting two inches from the roots and working through towards the tips. 

Photo: Shutterstock

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