When it comes to hair color, pairing the right tones can make all the difference in achieving a beautiful, harmonious look. Lavender and brown may seem like an unexpected combination at first glance, but with some thoughtful consideration, these hues can actually complement each other quite nicely. In this article, we’ll explore whether lavender is a good match for brown hair and provide tips on how to make this color combo work.
The Color Theory Behind Lavender and Brown
According to color theory, brown is a neutral and warm tone that sits next to orange on the color wheel. Lavender, on the other hand, is a much cooler shade that contains hints of blue and purple. At first, these differences may make lavender and brown seem incompatible. However, with careful execution, the right balance can be struck.
The key is to choose a brown base color that leans slightly ashy or cool-toned rather than overly warm. This will allow the lavender tones to stand out while still complementing the brown base. dusty browns, taupe browns, and ash browns provide an ideal neutral foundation for pastel lavender highlights.
When pairing colors, you also want to pay attention to the saturation levels. Lavender is quite a saturated, vivid tone. By choosing a more muted brown and then weaving in bold pops of lavender throughout, you can create a striking yet balanced contrast. The brown keeps things grounded while the lavender provides feminine vibrancy.
Best Techniques for Combining Lavender and Brown Hair
When incorporating lavender into brown hair, placement is key for creating a natural, seamless look. Here are some of the best techniques to try:
- Chunky Face-Framing Highlights: Framing the face with thick stripes of lavender is a go-to technique for good reason. By illuminating the features you want to stand out, face-framing highlights let the lavender enhance your beauty while remaining relatively subtle.
- Scattered Babylights Throughout: For a touch of lavender that peeks through brown locks, get babylights sparsely distributed throughout the head. The randomness prevents solid blocks of color while infusing a fun pop of purple here and there.
- Peeking Underlayers: Concentrate bright lavender hues along the underlayers of hair, keeping the surface layers primarily brown. When you flip your head upside down or move your hair, the hidden purple will surprise and delight.
- Ombré Tips: For a modern, edgy effect, transition brown hair into lightened ends dipped in lavender. The concentrated color on the tips helps prevent the lavender from looking overly icy or stark against darker roots.
No matter where you decide to incorporate it, the lavender should be dialed up or down to match the depth of the brown base. Aim for a satisfying balance of brown dominating the overall color while pops of light purple provide lively contrast.
Best Skin Undertones for Lavender and Brown Hair
Like with all hair colors, how flattering lavender and brown will look depends partially on your complexion. Here are some key skin undertone considerations:
- Cool Undertones: People with fair skin and pink, red, or bluish undertones (think Snow White or Reese Witherspoon) tend to look best in cool, icy colors like lavender. The purple tones will enhance the blue undertones in the skin.
- Warm Undertones: Those with peach, yellow, or olive skin undertones (like Kim Kardashian) typically shine in warmer shades. Dusty brown rather than ash brown paired with softer lavender hues tends to complement this skin tone best.
- Neutral Undertones: Neither predominantly cool nor warm, neutral undertoned complexions are versatile when it comes to hair color pairings. Medium beige-brown hair and moderately saturated lavender is a safe bet.
No matter your skin tone, avoid going too extreme with the lavender, which can make hair look unnatural against the skin. Soft, muted purples blended well with neutral browns give the best chance of suiting most complexions.
Celebrity Inspiration for Lavender and Brown Hair
If you’re still unsure about embracing the lavender and brown hair color trend, looking to celebrity examples can help convince you. Here are a few stunning stars who have rocked this combo:
- Kylie Jenner: She tested out a bob with brown roots transitioning into a soft pastel lavender shade. It looked gorgeous against her warm skin tone.
- Selena Gomez: Selena went bold with tiger stripe brown and lavender highlights on a short cropped cut. The contrast looked edgy yet playful.
- Kate Bosworth: Kate’s shoulder-length lob featured dove grey roots melting into lavender ends in an ombré effect. It highlighted her bright blue eyes beautifully.
Other celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Kaia Gerber, and Zendaya have also experimented with versions of brown and lavender hair for a unique, fashion-forward look. Their stylish examples prove this color combo can work for all hair lengths and textures.
Maintenance Considerations for Lavender and Brown Hair
If you decide to mix lavender and brown hair colors, proper maintenance is essential for keeping it looking fresh. Here are some key upkeep tips:
- Use sulfate-free shampoo and cool water washes to prevent fading.
- Wash less frequently (every 3-4 days) to maintain vibrancy.
- Apply purple toning gloss or masks between salon visits.
- Use bonding treatments and Olaplex to strengthen the lightened hair.
- Avoid heat styling to prevent drying out the hair.
- Get a refresh touch-up every 4-6 weeks as the brown roots grow in.
Being diligent about at-home care and seeing your colorist regularly will keep the lavender pops looking freshly done. Use a good leave-in conditioner daily and deep conditioning masks weekly to combat any dryness from the bleach.
| Hair Type | Ideal Lavender Shades |
|---|---|
| Cool, Ash Brown | Icy, blue-based lavenders |
| Warm, Golden Brown | Muted, beige-based lavenders |
| Dark espresso brown | Deeper eggplant or wine purples |
Conclusion
While an unconventional pairing at first glance, lavender and brown hair can create a stylish, complementary look with some thoughtful handiwork. Focus on mixing cool-toned browns with pops of vivid lavender concentrated around the face or ends. Tailor the lavender intensity to suit your skin tone. With proper placement and maintenance, you can pull off this unexpected combo for a unique, fashion-forward hairstyle that’s sure to turn heads.
