Brown hair colours are trending for 2023. With so many shades of brown to choose from, it can be hard to determine which one is best for you. Considerations like skin tone, eye colour, and lifestyle are all factors when deciding on a brown hair colour. This article will explore the most popular and flattering shades of brown for all hair types. Quick answers to common questions about brown hair will be provided upfront, followed by more in-depth analysis. Read on to determine which brown is your best brown in 2023!
Quick Answers
What is the most popular shade of brown hair? Chestnut brown and chocolate brown are the most sought after shades.
What brown hair colour is best for pale skin? Ashy light browns like taupe and mushroom brown complement fair skin nicely.
Does brown hair make you look older? Not necessarily, it depends on the depth of the brown. Medium warm browns can make skin glow without aging.
Is brown hair high maintenance? Browns typically require less upkeep than blondes. However, some shades like caramel balayage are higher maintenance.
Can brown hair be achieved without bleach? Yes, natural brunettes can deepen their shade without lightening first.
Factors for Choosing a Brown Hair Colour
When deciding which brown is right for you, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Skin tone – Fair, medium, olive, dark
- Eye colour – Brown, green, blue, hazel
- Natural hair colour – Dark brunette, light brunette, blonde, redhead
- Lifestyle – High or low maintenance
- Personal style – Modern, edgy, natural, glamorous
Matching your brown hair colour to your skin tone is one of the most important guidelines. Warm shades like chestnut brown look beautiful on medium to olive complexions. Cool ash browns are ideal for fair skin with pink undertones. Darker complexions can opt for rich chocolates while still providing contrast.
Eye colour is another factor when selecting a brown shade. Browns with subtle hints of gold, copper and caramel will make brown and hazel eyes pop. Blue and green eyes stand out against cooler ash and mushroom browns. Go a shade lighter around the face to illuminate eye colour.
Consider your natural hair colour when going brown. Brunettes can deepen and add dimension while blondes will require more lightening beforehand. Redheads may shift into browns with golden undertones for a natural-looking change. Evaluate your hair’s current state and versatility before colouring.
Maintenance level, lifestyle and personal style also influence your brown hair decision. For busy lives with no time for touch-ups, opt for hues close to your natural colour. Those wanting trendy ombré or bold colours should plan for more upkeep. Match your brown to your fashion sense – try rich chocolates for an edgy look or caramels for a glam vibe.
Best Brown Hair Colours for Fair Skin
Those with fair skin look ravishing with brown hair colours that have an ashy, cool undertone. The subtle grey mixed into the brown helps create a harmonious balance with fair skin. Here are flattering shades for porcelain, cream and light beige skin tones:
- Mushroom brown
- Ash brown
- Espresso
- Dark ash blonde
- Taupe
Mushroom brown is a trending grey-brown that looks modern and sleek on pale complexions. The grey sprinkled in helps neutralize ruddy or pink skin. For green and hazel eyes, mushroom brown makes them dazzle.
Ash brown is another excellent choice for fair ladies. The ash tone prevents the brown from looking too brassy or orange against the skin. It creates a cool-toned natural beauty look. Go for a lighter ash brown to prevent washing out your complexion.
Espresso is a deep chocolate brown that delivers a bold, sophisticated look on light skin. The darker colour creates contrast that allows fragile features to stand out. Espresso brown hair is rich and luxurious.
For blondes seeking a change, dark ash blonde seamlessly transitions into the brown family while complementing fair tones. Keep roots darker for dimension. The ash prevents unwanted brassiness.
Taupe is an ultra-cool grey-brown shade that looks stunning with ivory skin. It provides an edgy yet soft style statement. Taupe works well for both shimmery highlighted locks and deep ombré dips.
Best Browns for Olive, Medium and Tan Skin
Those with olive, medium tan or golden complexions should reach for brown shades with warm, golden undertones. The trick is finding balance between flattering warmth and avoiding an overly brassy result. Here are beautiful browns for medium to dark skin:
- Chestnut
- Honey brown
- Caramel
- Maple brown
- Bronde (brown + blonde)
Chestnut brown is one of the most beloved shades for good reason – it’s rich, dimensional and livens up olive and darker skin tones. The subtle red undertones in chestnut hair make green and brown eyes dazzle. It’s a natural yet exciting shade.
Honey brown is a gorgeous golden brown ideal for medium complexions. The warm, sunkissed shade makes skin glow year-round. It’s a great option for people wanting to cover greys but maintain a fresh style.
Salon-worthy caramel brown hair looks beautiful on tan to dark skin. The warm peachy tone flatters and doesn’t wash out medium features. It’s a lively colour for curlier hair textures too. Expect more upkeep for highlights.
Maple brown features subtle burnt orange undertones that pair excellently with warm skin. It falls under the red-brown hair colour family. Maple brown offers a fun, autumnal vibe and works for professional settings too.
Bronde is an of-the-moment mix of brown and blonde – think sun-kissed beachy vibes. The placement of strategic lighter pieces around the face illuminates darker complexions. It’s a versatile option for women wanting a natural yet eye-catching style.
Most Flattering Browns for Pale, Cool-toned Skin
Those with very fair, porcelain skin that often burns should opt for the coolest toned browns. Going too warm with your brown shade can create an unnatural orange cast on very pale skin. Here are exquisite browns for fair complexions:
- Ash brown
- Cool cocoa
- Mocha
- Espresso brown
- Soft black
Ash brown is a popular choice for pale beauties wanting to go lighter while avoiding brassiness. The ash tone neutralizes and prevents orange hues next to very fair skin. For dimension, alternate between ash and neutral soft brown.
Cool cocoa is a dark chocolate shade mixed with grey/blue undertones. It’s edgy yet refined on ultra-pale skin. Keep roots darker and ends lighter to create attractive contrast and definition.
Mocha hair colour is a cooler chocolate brown that aligns nicely with rosy ivory skin. The hint of ash prevents any unwanted red tones from developing. It’s ideal for fall and winter palettes.
A rich solid espresso brown adds striking sophistication to alabaster skin. The darkness provides definition against otherwise fragile features. Avoid any warmth in your espresso shade to keep the cool tone intact.
Soft black is a near-black shade that won’t overwhelm fair skin. The touch of brown softness balances out porcelain tones beautifully. It’s a daring yet delicate colour choice for pale complexions seeking drama.
Best Low Maintenance Browns
To keep trips to the salon and daily styling routines minimal, follow these guidelines for picking low-key brown shades:
- Stick close to your natural colour level and base tone
- Avoid extremes in lightness/darkness
- Skip highlights or lowlights
- Select single process colours
- Use semi-permanent vegetable-based dyes for darker hair
Choosing a brown within one or two shades of your current colour requires little upkeep. Extremes of lightness and darkness exhaust hair’s condition and increase contrast at the root. Subtle chocolate browns, beige browns and chestnuts align with many natural shades.
Highlights, lowlights and ombré dip-dyes look stunning but require regular touch-ups to maintain. Opt for single process colour all-over for less maintenance. Semi-permanent vegetable-based dyes gradually wash out for low-commitment brown hair.
Here are effortless specific shades for low-key brunettes:
- Dark chocolate brown
- Chestnut brown
- Dark ash brown
- Latte brown
- Cappuccino brown
Any of the above options make changing up your current natural brown shade easy. They blend away greys, add glossy dimension and minimize reliance on salon visits!
Modern & Trendy Browns
Beauty is fleeting – brown hair colour trends come and go each season! Here are the need-to-know brown colour techniques and vibes for 2023:
- Bronde – Sun-kissed brown and blonde mix
- Mocha melt – Creamy chocolate brown ends
- Rogue copper strands
- Pink-toned browns
- Faded browns
Bronde is huge for 2023 and the perfect marriage of brown and blonde. Placement of caramel pieces frames the face while darker chocolate brown provides depth and contrast.
Mocha melt colour features soft chocolate brown hues concentrated on the midlengths and ends. It provides a modern two-toned look when paired with lighter roots. Less commitment than full colour!
Adding a few rogue strands of coppery red throughout brown locks livens up the colour in a subtle yet fresh way. It also minimizes brassiness and brightens skin.
Ashy pink-based browns are an edgy statement balanced with feminine flair. They allow brunettes to experiment with colour without full commitment. Rose brown pairs great with platinum pieces.
Faded browns like those achieved using l’oreal quick blue shampoo provide an undone look. The colour mimics naturally lightened locks in the sun for a low-key summer style.
Choosing Your Perfect Brown
With endless brown hair colour options, choosing the right one for your complexion and lifestyle may seem daunting. Start by considering your skin’s undertones and current hair colour. Warm honey browns suit peachier mid-tone complexions, while ash chocolate browns flatter very fair skin.
Eye colour, desired maintenance level and personal style impact your decision too. Those with brown eyes may opt for lighter beige browns to illuminate, while busy professionals will want to stay close to their natural shade. Don’t be afraid to ask your stylist for guidance – they know best!
Whichever brown you choose, be sure it makes you feel confident and beautiful. Experiment to determine if you feel your best in rich chocolate browns or light cappuccino hues. Embrace cooler greige browns for an edgy vibe or warm amber browns for a glam look. Most importantly, have fun with the journey of discovering your perfect brown hair colour!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does brown hair make you look older?
Brown hair does not necessarily make you look older. While very dark browns can age lighter complexions, medium and light beige browns actually create a youthful glow on most skin tones. Multi-dimensional browns with touches of caramel and auburn maintain a fresh, lively look. Avoid flat, monotone shades which can appear aging.
What skin tone does brown hair look best on?
Brown hair is versatile and can look beautiful on all skin tones when the undertones are properly aligned. Fair skin with pink undertones look best in ash and platinum browns. Olive and darker complexions glow with golden honey browns and chestnuts. Medium tan skin appears lively with maple browns. An experienced stylist can guide you to the most flattering shades.
Does brown hair look good on older ladies?
Brown hair is extremely flattering on older women and gentler than harsh black or blonde shades. Chestnut, beige and ash browns gracefully frame aging faces. Avoid box dye monotone browns, which can look severe. Multi-tonal dimensional browns with touches of grey gracefully embrace the aging process. Regular trims boost volume for thinning locks.
What skin color can pull off brown hair?
Nearly every skin tone can pull off some shade of brown hair beautifully. Fair skin looks great with ash and mushroom browns. Medium complexions glow with chestnut and honey browns. Olive and dark skin shine with chocolate and espresso shades. Compare your skin’s veins to determine undertones when selecting most flattering browns.
Does brown hair make green or hazel eyes pop?
Brown hair colours certainly make green and hazel eyes dazzle. Caramel and golden brown shades illuminate the green hues in hazel eyes. Ash and chestnut browns intensify the striking contrast of emerald green eyes. Go a touch lighter around the face to really accentuate eye colour if desired.
Conclusion
With limitless options, brown hair colour should be selected carefully based on your individual features and preferences. Cool-toned ash browns harmonize with fair complexions while warm golden browns make medium to tan skin glow beautifully. For stand-out eyes, go for lively caramel browns. Remember to consider your lifestyle maintenance level too. Achieving that perfect shade of brown that complements your complexion and personality is well worth the effort. Go for it!