With fall just around the corner, it’s the perfect time for a hair color change. Choosing between a cool brown or warm brown hair color can be difficult. Both can look gorgeous, but the right shade depends on your skin tone and personal style. Keep reading for tips on how to choose between cool or warm brunette hair color for your next salon visit.
What is a cool brown hair color?
Cool brown hair colors have subtle ash, beige, or platinum undertones that counteract warmth. This gives cool brown shades a slightly icy, muted appearance. Common cool brunette hues include milk chocolate, dark ash brown, chestnut, and lighter beige browns. Cool browns pair best with fair, pink-undertoned complexions. The subtle coolness helps brighten the skin and eyes. Cool shades also complement colorings with blue, gray, or green eyes.
What is a warm brown hair color?
Warm brown hair colors contain subtle golden, caramel, cinnamon, or reddish-brown tones. This gives warm brunette shades a richer, deeper warmth. Common warm shades include chocolate, chestnut, caramel, maple, and auburn browns. Warm brown hues complement peach, yellow, or olive complexions best. The subtle warmth helps enhance a golden skin glow. Warm browns also flatter hazel, green, or brown eyes beautifully.
How to choose between cool or warm brown hair
Choosing between a cool or warm brown shade depends primarily on your skin’s undertones. Here are some tips:
- If you have very fair skin with pink, rose, or ruddy undertones, a cool brown will usually be most flattering.
- If your skin is medium with yellow, olive, or golden undertones, a warm brown will look beautiful.
- If your skin is somewhere in between with neutral peach or beige tones, you can wear some cool or warm browns.
- The current trend in hair color is for shades to complement your eye color. Cool browns enhance blue eyes while warm browns make green and hazel eyes pop.
- Consider if you want your hair to contrast your skin and eyes or be harmonious. Cool against warm or vice versa creates contrast. Matching undertones creates harmony.
- Your desired finished look matters too. Cooler hues result in more muted, ashy hair while warm shades create a richer, bolder look.
- Don’t be afraid to ask your colorist for their recommendation! They are the experts.
How to maintain cool or warm brown hair
Proper at-home care is crucial for keeping cool and warm brown hair color looking fresh. Here are some tips:
- Use a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo to help retain color vibrancy and shine.
- Replace old hair tools that may damage hair and cause fading.
- Rinse with cool water and limit washing to every 2-3 days.
- Use a moisturizing mask weekly and deep conditioning treatment monthly.
- Protect hair from sun exposure with hats or gentle styling products containing UV filters.
- Get a gloss or glaze treatment every 4-6 weeks to refresh color.
- See your colorist for a single process color or highlights every 8-12 weeks.
Cool brown hair colors
Here are some beautiful cool brown hair colors to inspire your next look:
| Cool Brown Shade | Description |
|---|---|
| Ash Brown | A muted, gray-ish brown with an ashy finish |
| Mushroom Brown | A soft gray-beige brown |
| Chestnut | A rich, dark brown with subtle cool undertones |
| Espresso | A very dark brunette with nearly black undertones |
| Smoky Topaz | A dark gray-brown with a hint of charcoal |
Warm brown hair colors
Here are some beautiful warm brown hair color options to consider:
| Warm Brown Shade | Description |
|---|---|
| Golden Brown | A rich, bright brown with strong golden undertones |
| Auburn | A reddish-brown shade |
| Maple | A cinnamon brown |
| Mocha | A mix of chocolate and caramel hues |
| Chestnut | A deep brown with subtle warm red undertones |
Celebrity hair color inspiration
Need more inspiration? Here are some celebrities rocking cool and warm brown hair colors flawlessly:
Cool Browns
- Taylor Swift’s Chocolate Brown
- Anne Hathaway’s Chestnut Brown
- Kristen Stewart’s Ash Brown
- Lily James’ Rich Cool Brown
Warm Browns
- Jennifer Lopez’s Caramel Highlights
- Meghan Markle’s Sunkissed Brown
- Kim Kardashian’s Espresso Brown
- Jessica Alba’s Warm Chestnut
How to transition from one brown shade to another
If you’re transitioning from warm to cool brown hair or vice versa, here are some tips for a smooth color change:
- Do it gradually over multiple salon visits. Going too drastically different in one session can be damaging.
- Ask your colorist to first even out your current color, then add subtle tones of your new shade.
- For example, if going warmer, first neutralize ashy tones, then add golden highlights before going all-over warm brown.
- Consider doing a full highlight or balayage to help bridge the transition between shades.
- Use a toning or glazing treatment to cancel unwanted tones of your previous color.
- Be patient! It can take several months to achieve a completely new hair color.
Conclusion
Whether you choose a cool or warm brown hair color ultimately depends on your complexion, eye color, personal taste and lifestyle needs. Both cool and warm brunette shades are gorgeous fall hair color options. Just be sure to select a hue that complements your skin tone and enhances your eye color beautifully. With proper at-home care and salon maintenance, you can rock a cool or warm brown shade with shine, dimension and vibrancy all season long!
