Tired of having to pre-lighten or bleach your hair? Or perhaps you've been looking for a new, rich color? Try out a brunette shade! Brown hair dyes are no longer boring or flat. There's a wide range of brunette shades that can emphasize your features, from deep cocoa to ashy brown. Plus, modern hair dyes often contain nourishing ingredients to minimize the damage of dyeing.
After combing through the Internet, we've handpicked 10 brunette hair dyes that work for different undertones and are highly recommended by reviewers. L'Oreal Paris' Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Color is our top pick on our list since it produces a rich, natural color without drying out your hair. For more options, check out our top 10 list! Want to know what brunette colors work best with your skin's complexion? Scroll down to our buying guide for some tips.
Take a look at our list of the 10 best products that reviewers also love. We've selected a variety of colors that are all formulated with nourishing ingredients.
Deep Bronzed Brown
$8.97
Amount | 5 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Permanent |
Nourishing ingredients | Glycerin |
Extras | Conditioner, serum, gloves |
Dark Natural Brown
$9.99
Amount | 2.7 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Permanent |
Nourishing ingredients | Rice bran oil, babassu nut oil |
Extras | Conditioner, gloves |
Mocha Ash Brown
$7.99
Amount | 4.39 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Permanent |
Nourishing ingredients | Ceramides, collagen |
Extras | Pre-color serum, conditioner, gloves, comb |
Intense Cocoa
$9.97
Amount | 4 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Permanent |
Nourishing ingredients | Hydrolyzed collagen, hydrolyzed keratin, mineral oil |
Extras | Pre-treatment serum, conditioner, gloves |
Auburn Brown
$8.97
Amount | 5.6 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Permanent |
Nourishing ingredients | Glycerin, camelina sativa seed oil, vitamin E, UV filter |
Extras | Conditioner, gloves |
Dark Brown, 2 pack
$11.78
Amount | 3.84 oz. each |
---|---|
Type | Permanent |
Nourishing ingredients | Mica, algae extract |
Extras | Brush, bowl, gloves |
Velvet Brown
$9.96
Amount | 4 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Permanent |
Nourishing ingredients | Glycerin, oleic acid |
Extras | Conditioner, gloves, applicator bottle with developer |
Medium Brown
$2.68
Amount | 4.4 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Permanent |
Nourishing ingredients | Keratin, silk amino acids |
Extras | Conditioner, gloves |
Cocoa
$28.00
Amount | 6.7 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Temporary |
Nourishing ingredients | Hydrolyzed soy protein, argan kernel oil, apricot kernel oil |
Extras | None |
Medium Natural Brown
$6.97
Amount | 3.88 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Permanent |
Nourishing ingredients | Avocado oil, olive oil, shea butter |
Extras | Conditioner, fruit oil concentrate, gloves and inserts |
Image | 1 ![]() L'Oreal Paris | 2 ![]() John Frieda | 3 ![]() L'Oreal Paris | 4 ![]() Schwarzkopf | 5 ![]() L'Oreal Paris | 6 ![]() Clairol | 7 ![]() Schwarzkopf | 8 ![]() Revlon | 9 ![]() Moroccanoil | 10 ![]() Garnier |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Color | Precision Foam Color | Excellence Creme Permanent Hair Color | Keratin Color Rich Even Color | Superior Preference Fade-Defying + Shine Permanent Hair Color | Root Touch-Up Permanent Creme | Color Ultimate Hair Color Cream | Colorsilk Beautiful Color | Color Depositing Mask | Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme |
Features | Rich Brown Color With Enhanced Shine | Foam Formula for Even Coverage | Permanent Dye Offering Fantastic Gray Coverage | Keratin Prevents Hair Breakage | Natural-Looking Dye Infused With a UV Filter | Easy-to-Use Hair Dye for Quick Root Touch-Ups | Brightening Formula for a Shiny Red-Brown Color | Non-Drip Gel Dye Offers Easy Application | Two-in-One Temporary Dye With Nourishing Ingredients | Oil-Based Formula That Deeply Moisturizes Your Hair |
Price | $8.97 | $9.99 | $7.99 | $9.97 | $8.97 | $11.78 | $9.96 | $2.68 | $28.00 | $6.97 |
Amount | 5 oz. | 2.7 oz. | 4.39 oz. | 4 oz. | 5.6 oz. | 3.84 oz. each | 4 oz. | 4.4 oz. | 6.7 oz. | 3.88 oz. |
Type | Permanent | Permanent | Permanent | Permanent | Permanent | Permanent | Permanent | Permanent | Temporary | Permanent |
Nourishing ingredients | Glycerin | Rice bran oil, babassu nut oil | Ceramides, collagen | Hydrolyzed collagen, hydrolyzed keratin, mineral oil | Glycerin, camelina sativa seed oil, vitamin E, UV filter | Mica, algae extract | Glycerin, oleic acid | Keratin, silk amino acids | Hydrolyzed soy protein, argan kernel oil, apricot kernel oil | Avocado oil, olive oil, shea butter |
Extras | Conditioner, serum, gloves | Conditioner, gloves | Pre-color serum, conditioner, gloves, comb | Pre-treatment serum, conditioner, gloves | Conditioner, gloves | Brush, bowl, gloves | Conditioner, gloves, applicator bottle with developer | Conditioner, gloves | None | Conditioner, fruit oil concentrate, gloves and inserts |
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Now that you know our top picks, let's move on to the buying guide! Here are some important factors that you should keep in mind while choosing a product, like its staying power, shade, and ingredients.
While searching for a brunette hair dye online, you'll notice that most products are permanent or temporary. We'll walk you through the key differences between the two types so that you can decide which one meets your needs.
A permanent dye deposits color straight into the cortex of your hair, changing your hair's texture and natural color permanently. If you're looking for a dye to cover up grays or brassy tones, a permanent product is the way to go! Plus, the color can last for six to eight weeks, so this type of dye is ideal if you want long-lasting results.
Since permanent dyes often contain strong chemicals, such as ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, your hair might become dry or brittle after application. These ingredients may also irritate those with a sensitive scalp. So, opt for an ammonia- and peroxide-free formula if you have sensitive skin or dry hair.
As its name indicates, a temporary dye provides a short-term color that will wash out after one shampoo. So if you are not ready to commit to a brunette color or just want to touch up your hair a little before getting it done professionally, choose a temporary dye.
One drawback of temporary dyes is that they cannot cover gray hair. They aren't formulated with lightening agents, so they won't be able to lift your hair color too. But, compared to permanent dyes, temporary products are much less damaging.
When it comes to brunette shades, there are a seemingly endless number of options. But not all shades will work on you, and picking the wrong one might wash you out.
Generally speaking, a brunette color should have the same undertone as your skin. If you don't know how to determine your undertones, we have a simple tip for you. Flip your wrist and check the color of your veins. If you see bluish or purplish veins, you have cool undertones. Meanwhile, green veins indicate warm undertones.
If your skin is warm-toned, warm shades that have copper or golden tints, such as chestnut, golden brown, chocolate, and butterscotch, will accentuate your features. If you have a dark skin tone, deep brown shades like mocha will look fabulous on you!
On the other hand, those with cool undertones can consider colors with a bluish or purplish tinge like ash brown or cool brown. If you have fair skin, try a brunette shade that's the opposite of your skin's undertones. Warm colors like golden brown and walnut can help you make a statement.
We also recommend that you avoid colors that look flat. You should choose a formula that combines several tones and highlights to get a natural-looking and multi-dimensional color.
Regardless of the type, the chemicals in hair dye can cause your hair to dry out. However, you can minimize the damage by choosing a formula infused with moisturizers like shea butter, glycerin, and vitamin E; these ingredients can replenish lost moisture and keep hair silky-smooth.
Plant-based oils, including olive oil, coconut oil, and argan oil, drench your hair with moisture and leave it feeling soft. Since they are loaded with fatty acids and vitamins, they can fortify your hair and promote cell regeneration for healthier hair.
Keratin, soy protein, and silk amino acids are other nourishing ingredients you may encounter while looking at hair dyes. Basically, they are proteins that can protect your hair from breakage.
If you want your hair color to stick around for longer, consider products with a UV filter. Excessive exposure to UV rays can lead to discoloration, frizziness, brittle hair, and split ends. But a UV filter can somewhat neutralize the damaging effects of UV rays and seal in your hair color.
While many products are formulated directly with conditioning ingredients, some come with a separate after-treatment conditioner or pre-coloring serum. These additional treatments help revitalize your hair and are strongly recommended if you already have weak or damaged hair.
Brunette hair dyes come in three different consistencies: cream, gel, and foam. A cream formula is the most common. It's usually quite thick and doesn't drip, so you can easily distribute the coloring cream without causing a mess.
On the other hand, gel is thinner in texture and can also be spread easily throughout your hair. While gel can be a bit messy to deal with, it quickly absorbs into your hair to deliver a rich color.
Foam hair dyes aren't that common, but they often guarantee easy and even application. The non-drip foamy texture can be distributed easily into roots and hard-to-reach places. In general, we recommend foam and cream dyes if you're new to home-dyeing since they can be easier to apply.
If you're dyeing your hair for the very first time, you might want to choose a kit that includes a hair brush, an applicator bottle, and protective gloves. These accessories will make your home-dyeing experience as stress- and mess-free as possible.
A hair brush will help you spread the formula evenly, while an applicator bottle and protective gloves help prevent chemicals in the hair dye from drying out or staining your skin.
Maybe this is your first time dyeing your hair at home, or maybe it's your hundredth. Either way, we can all learn from each other! This video offers some helpful tips on how to dye your hair safely and effectively at home.
Bebexo encourages you to moisturize pre-treatment, section your hair, remove jewelry, protect your skin, and more. Watch the video in full to see all of her tips!
After dyeing, you might notice that your hair has become quite dry. Thankfully, there are tons of products that can help moisturize and heal your hair. Check out our suggestions below!
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