When you have naturally dark brown hair and want to change up your look with a new hair color, you may think you don’t have many options. However, there are plenty of colors that actually show up beautifully on dark brown hair without having to pre-lighten or bleach it first. The easiest shades to dye over dark brown hair are ones within a few shades of your natural color. This allows you to make a noticeable change while avoiding a high-maintenance color that requires regular toning and touching up roots. Here’s an overview of the best hair dye colors for dark brown hair.
Warm Brown
Warm brown hair dyes add subtle golden, reddish-brown hues to your natural dark brown shade. This helps add dimension and brightness without lightening your base color too much. Warm brown shades complement olive and medium complexion tones beautifully. When searching for a warm brown hair color, look for shades like chestnut, copper, cinnamon, and amber brown.
Cool Brown
If your natural hair skews more cool-toned, an ash brown or cool-toned brown hair dye is a great choice. Rather than warm red or gold undertones, these shades have subtle blue, violet, or green undertones that counteract unwanted brassy tones. This gives cool brown hair a rich, smooth finish. Great options include chocolate brown, ash brown, chestnut brown, and dark beige brown.
Dark Blonde
For a slightly lighter look, dark blonde shades like dark honey, chocolate blonde, or sand blonde will show up on dark brown hair. The darker your natural hair is, the more the blonde will come out as a subtle highlighting effect rather than drastically lightening your overall color. Focus the lighter dye on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair to create a sun-kissed Ombre effect.
Burgundy
Burgundy hair color is one of the most popular choices for dark brunettes wanting to experiment with something bolder. The deep reddish hue adds vibrancy and dimension without the need to pre-lighten your hair first. As your burgundy color starts to fade, it will blend seamlessly back into your natural brunette tone. Avoid super bright cherry reds, as these will likely require bleaching first to show up as more than a subtle tint.
Black
Opting for a blue-black or jet black dye is an easy way to deepen and enrich your natural dark brown color, especially if your hair is more of a medium brown shade. The darker shade provides a beautiful contrast against lighter skin tones. As the black shade starts to fade, it will fade back to a soft brown rather than an obvious root line.
Dark Purple
Dark, smokey purple hair has been trending for brunettes wanting a fun pop of color that flatters their skin tone. Shades like plum, eggplant, and burgundy purple will show up boldly on natural dark brown hair since the tones complement each other well. Avoid brighter purple shades like lilac as these will appear more as subtle highlights on unbleached hair.
How Does Hair Dye Work on Dark Hair?
When dyeing dark brown hair, it’s important to understand how hair color pigments work so you can set realistic expectations. There are two types of dye pigments:
- Permanent hair dye – Contains both developers and ammonia that open up the hair cuticle to penetrate deeply and permanently change the color.
- Semi-permanent/deposit-only dye – Coats the outside of hair strands without lightening or lifting original color.
Permanent hair dye is able to make significant color changes because the ammonia swells and opens the hair cuticles so that the color molecules can get inside the strand. Developers then help initiate a chemical reaction that permanently alters the natural underlying pigment.
Semi-permanent dyes and colored conditioners don’t have ammonia or lightening effects. They simply coat the outside of hair strands with temporary dye molecules. This allows them to enhance natural color with a gloss finish and added shine. But the results will be more subtle and wash out over time.
Best Application Tips
Here are some key tips for applying dye to dark brown hair:
- Opt for permanent dye for darker, longer-lasting color changes like burgundy, black, or ash brown.
- Use semi-permanent dye for subtle effects like reddish or golden browns. Expect more temporary results that gradually wash out.
- Apply petroleum jelly around hairline and ears to avoid staining skin.
- Work the dye through clean, dry hair in 1/4 inch sections for the most even results.
- Process the dye for the full development time stated on the box instructions.
- Rinse with lukewarm water and sulfate-free shampoo until water runs clear.
- Apply weekly conditioning treatments to keep dyed hair soft, shiny and protected.
Best Dye Brands for Dark Brown Hair
Look for these top-rated hair color brands when shopping for home dye kits for dark brown hair:
| Brand | Top Shades for Dark Brown Hair |
|---|---|
| Clairol Natural Instincts | Heather Brown, Coffee Black, Granite Grey |
| L’Oreal Excellence Crème | Darkest Brown, Light Auburn, Natural Blue Black |
| Revlon Colorsilk | Soft Black, Medium Auburn Brown, Dark Chocolate |
| Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme | 61 Soft Black, 63 Plum, 60 Dark Brown |
| Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit | Cashmere Brown, Amalfi Coast, Venice Black |
| SCHWARZKOPF Igora Royal | 4-47 Dark Chocolate Brown, 5-68 Cool Brown |
Professional Salon Dye Services for Brunettes
If you have a special event coming up or just want a customized color treatment, book a dye service at a professional salon. A skilled colorist can do the following:
- Do a strand and patch test to see how your hair takes to color.
- Create a subtle highlight or lowlight effect.
- Perfectly match a new shade to your skin tone and hair goals.
- Combine all-over color with balayage, Ombre, or root smudge techniques.
- Incorporate different dye formulas like permanent, demi-permanent, or semi-permanent color.
- Tone and gloss your hair after coloring for extra shine and smoothing.
Partial highlight services like balayage are a great option for naturally dark-haired women. Hand-painted highlights around the face can brighten up your look while still embracing your beautiful dark hair.
How to Care for Dyed Dark Brown Hair
Once you get your ideal shade, be sure to keep your colored hair looking salon-fresh with proper maintenance:
- Wash less frequently – Lathering every day will cause color to fade faster. Aim for every 2-3 days.
- Use cooler water – Hot showers open the cuticle causing dye molecules to escape.
- Pick sulfate-free products – Sulfates strip color; use gentle shampoo and conditioner.
- Apply weekly masks – Nourishing hair masks boost shine and softness.
- Limit heat styling – Allow hair to air dry when possible and always use heat protectant.
- Touch up roots promptly – Roots will show through quickly on dark hair. Re-dye them every 4-6 weeks.
Conclusion
Dyeing your dark brown locks a fun, new color doesn’t require aggressive bleaching or damage. Shades that complement your natural pigment like black, burgundy, purple, and cool ash brown will show up beautifully. Permament dye formulas will make the most lasting changes, while semi-permanents offer temporary effects. Keep your colored hair looking its best by using color-safe products, minimizing heat styling, and moisturizing frequently. Have fun trying a new hair color while still embracing your gorgeous dark hair!
