Beautiful brunette hair can come in all shapes and sizes. Chocolate-colored strands are perfect for creating a sleek style, emphasizing a cut with some texture, or twisting into a sexy updo.
You can also achieve some of the hot coloring trends like beautiful multicolored lollipop or mermaid locks with darker tresses if you enlist the help of a professional at your local salon.
Best Hairstyle Ideas for Brown Hair
This season, there are dozens of ways to style brown hair. Here are our picks for the 45 top hairstyles for brunettes.
Brunette Hair With Bangs
@victorkeyrouz
A fun way to change up your look is to add a trendy bang to your style. This season, disconnected curtain bangs are very hip and look great on brunettes with oval faces. Ask your stylist to layer the bangs so that they flow naturally into the rest of your cut and frame your face.
Brunette Updo
@bene.hair
If you have long hair, you can create an elegant look with a big-barreled curling iron or some large hot rollers. Create large, loose waves and then sweep them up and pin them for a pretty effect.
Brunette with Lollipop Locks
@kawaicat_salon
Lollipop locks are very in right now, and brunettes can combine their natural auburn with deep colors for a gorgeous effect. The process can be time-consuming as you may need to first lighten your strands before applying the new hue, but the end result is totally worth it.
Brunette with Braids
@saloneminence
Braids add a whimsical element to any hairstyle, and brunettes with beautiful highlights can emphasize them with a braided style. To create this romantic look, first, curl your locks with a large-barrel iron or large hot rollers, and then braid pieces on each side of your head near your temples. Crisscross the braids and bobby pin them, and then finger-comb your hair.
Brunette Pigtail Braids
@magdalena_hair
Take your braiding skills to the next level with a cute and whimsical pigtail style. Not only does this look great for a summer festival or day at the beach, but these braids will also withstand a tough workout too.
Brunette with Autumn Highlights
@live_love_dohair
Brunettes with gold or peach skin undertones look fantastic with autumn-inspired highlights. Try adding a little red or gold to your style to create beautiful contrast and texture.
Glossy Medium Brown Hair
@hairbykacie1
This is exactly what we call a medium natural hair color. This glossy long brunette hair is pure perfection without any eccentric details.
Brown Hair in a Cocoa Hue
@manetamer_arin
Cocoa or dark chocolate brown hair? Whatever you call this fantastic long dark brown hair, it still is brown locks goal.
Rich Cognac Brown Hair Color for Long Tresses
@e_belhair
If you have long hair, try having your stylist add lots of long layers into your cut to give you movement and volume. This is not only an excellent way to freshen up your style, but it is also an easy way to make your hair look healthy without sacrificing length if you have split ends.
Honey Brown Hair Color
@sangaykyab
Honey brown hair color creates the effect of sun-kissed brown hair. Perfect for girls with a warm skin undertone, just like golden brown or caramel highlights.
Smooth and Sleek Brunette Hair
@elena_gromova_sk
Brunette hair is known for being healthy. Showcase that by sporting a smooth and sleek style. Use a smoothing serum for extra shine when you blow dry and a heat protectant to keep your tresses healthy if you use a smoothing iron.
Medium Brown Hair with Chestnut Tint
@victorkeyrouz
Oh, that long brown hair with a chestnut tint! It’s meant to make everyone around nuts, indeed. Emphasize the beauty of your natural hair color with a touch of this fiery shade.
Dark Brown Hair Color with Babylights
@haiirbae
Light babylights create an effect of dirty brown hair color mixed with partial highlights.
Brunette Classic Bob
@the_bob_haircut
The bob is one cut that will never go out of style for brunettes. The short, breezy style falls right at your jawline and features a side swept bang for an effect that’s equal parts cute and sophisticated.
Brunette Lob
The “lob”, also known as the long bob, is a favorite haircut of brunette celebrities. The cut usually hits right at shoulder height, and you can wear it smooth or textured. This is a great style if you like the idea of a low-maintenance cut, but don’t want super short hair.
Brunette Stacked Bob
@the_bob_haircut
Different than a traditional bob haircut, the stacked bob adds interest on the back of your cut. The hair will be longer around your face and shorter with lots of layers in the back, making it perfect to show off a beautiful neckline. It’s a great style to wear sleek or textured.
Brunette Bob with Bangs
The bob hairstyle looks good on almost everyone, but you can stay on-trend this season with a fresh twist. Try adding bangs to the style. It doesn’t matter if they’re thick, choppy, or wispy, a fresh fringe can completely transform your look paired with this classic cut.
Brunette Undercuts
@hairheaven00
One of the prettiest new trends in brunette hair is the undercut. Here, your stylist will create a custom design on the back, lower half of your hair that will only be revealed when your hair is up or short enough. It’s a gorgeous way to showcase your neckline and makes your up-do that much more glamourous.
Shoulder-Length Brown Hair with a Bit of Auburn
Shoulder-length brunette hair with a face-framing center part is another classic way to style your tresses. This flattering length is easy to maintain, and the center part is flattering on most face shapes.
Brunette Hidden Rainbow
If you love the idea of mermaid or rainbow-colored locks, but also want to be able to show off your traditional side, check out the hidden rainbow trend. Here, your stylist will create a gorgeous multi-colored look on the lower layers of your hair, but leave your top layer your classic brunette color.
Brunette Pixie
The ultimate low-maintenance haircut, the pixie, looks amazing on brunettes. Not only does it show off your neckline and the gorgeous shape of your face, but the contrast of dark hair to skin makes this style look dramatic day or night.
Brown Hair with Caramel Highlights
If you love a little caramel in your latte, you might also love this hair trend. Adding caramel highlights to brunette locks creates beautiful dimension and contrast, and is one of the current top hair trends.
Brunette Short and Curly
Gals with naturally curly hair, or who have talent with a medium or small-barreled curling iron, can achieve this trendy short look with just a little effort. This fun spin on a traditional bob lets your locks unfurl and creates a carefree look that’s perfect for day or night.
Brunette with a Deep Side Part
Changing up how you part your hair is an easy way to completely change your look without having to do a thing. Try styling your brunette tresses with a deep side part and pinning your hair behind your ear to secure it in place. You’ll get an instant dramatic effect.
Brunette Half Up
Try pulling up just the top half of your hair when you want a chic style. You can use this pic for inspiration and do a classic center part and then create volume with loose curls, or you could go a sleek route for a perfect festival-ready feel.
Brunette Low Ponytail
One of the best ways to get your hair off your face and neck is the classic ponytail. You can freshen up this look by changing up the position of your elastic. Try tying it low at the nape of your neck and pulling out a few pieces of hair around your face for a style that’s perfect for the office or a night dancing on the town.
Brunette Wrapped Ponytail
Take your traditional, smooth ponytail up a notch by covering up your elastic with this easy wrap trick. Take a small section of hair from the bottom of your ponytail and wrap it around your hair tie. Secure it on the underside with a bobby pin and voila! Instant sleekness.
Brunette High-Volume Ponytail
Take your ponytail from day to night by adding some volume at the crown of your head. Separate your bangs from the rest of your hair, and pull the back part up into a high pony. Then, tease your bangs to add volume. Finally, smooth them out and back, pinning them into your ponytail to give your style an elegant flow.
Brunette Side Braid
Give your traditional braid a twist, and some tousle to create a romantic look. Try bringing your braid over one shoulder, and leaving a few pieces loose to frame your face. For the ultimate sexy touch, curl those pieces with a large-barrel curling iron.
Brunette Double Bun
Buns are so much fun, why would you have just one? This spunky twist on the ballerina favorite not only gets your hair up off your face and neck on a hot summer day, but it also looks super cute as well.
Brunette High Bun
Buns used to be just for ballerinas and librarians, but that’s all changed. The high, messy bun is an on-trend look that looks great in the workplace, and while you’re out having cocktails with your friends. The key is to make sure it’s not too tight, or too perfect.
Brunette Low Bun
A pretty bun secured at the nape of your neck can be both casual or elegant. To glam it up, try adding in a sleek center part and keeping it smooth and sexy.
Brunette with Bobby Pins
At one time, Bobby pins were a hair accessory that was meant to be hidden, but not anymore. You can find beautiful, embellished hairpins that can be a glamorous accessory and might even take the place of jewelry with your outfit. Try choosing one or two pins with an eye-catching gemstone or pattern and using them to clip back a small piece of your hair for a bohemian look.
Brunette Beach Waves
Gently tousled hair that looks like you took a dip in the ocean and let your waves dry all day in the sun is a very on-trend look. You can recreate that beauty at home without needing to spend time in the surf by using saltwater-based hair products that are perfect for brunettes. A large-barreled curling iron can help ladies with straight hair achieve the look. If you have naturally curly or wavy hair, you can just wash, scrunch, and let your hair air-dry for carefree locks.
Brunette One-Layer Hair
Just because lots of layers is a trendy look right now doesn’t mean that having them is the only way to style your brunette hair. Depending on your texture, a chic single-layer cut might be perfect for your hair. This dramatic style is razor sharp and looks amazing with shiny, healthy tresses.
Brunette with Rose Gold Highlights
For a totally unique look, try adding some subtle highlights in a surprising color, like rose gold. This very on-trend look creates a pretty contrast against chocolate colored hair.
Brunette with Ice Highlights
Who knew that one-day gray hair would be cool? Gray or ice colored strands are having their moment, and they look especially dramatic when paired with dark-colored locks.
Mohawk French Braid
For a fun take on a half-up style, try this edgy mohawk French braid. For a little extra bombshell factor, give your locks body and wave to create a messy effect.
Alluring Dark Brown Hair with Highlights
This classic bob adds unique elements to give your brunette locks a flirty twist. Try adding subtle honey colored highlights and creating a wavy, messy texture to change up your style for a summer look.
Brunette with Peek a Boo Color
Whether your wear your brunette strands straight, wavy, or curly, you can add a fun pop of peek a boo color underneath to create an interesting effect. Here, the model has light highlights, but you could use any color that matches your personality.
Extravagant Dark Chocolate Brown
Highlights and hair color are definitely popular right now, but another way to make your brunette locks really shine is to wear them in a deep chocolate brown. Ask your stylist to recreate this rich color all the way through to make your strands look good enough to eat.
Brunette Top Knot
Sometimes you might need to just get your hair out of your face. This casual top knot is perfect for running errands, heading to the farmer’s market, or getting in a sweat session at the gym.
Loose Side Braid
The loose side braid is easy to execute and looks great on brunette hair. Try teasing your locks at the crown to get body and volume, and weaving a chunky braid for a casual style.
Brunette with Subtle Purple Tint
The latest rainbow hair color trends don’t have to be completely in your face to be beautiful. This model offsets here dark brown hair with a barely there purple tint that looks glamours, and a little bit funky, but just in the right light.
Light Roast Brunette Hair
Are you both a brunette and a coffee lover? Then this color combo is perfect for you. Take your inspiration from your morning pick-me-up to create the perfect brunette palate to frame your features.
FAQs
What color looks best with brunette hair?
Brown hair colors are terrifically complemented with orangey-red, gold, dark brown, and a range of green colors from deep forest green to olive and sage. So, women with long brown hair, a medium brunette hairstyle, or short chocolate shades should consider these colors for their hair accessories and outfits.
How can I make my brown hair more interesting?
Experiment with your color: opt for soft highlights or a rich colors ombre, get different shades of lowlights, try out a light blonde balayage, or go into deeper shades of brown. Play with the cut itself: grow out long brown tresses, cut them into a short dark brown bob, or add more fun with stylish bangs or layers. Changing hair texture is also a fun game: big curls, soft waves, and messy strands give life to fine locks and create new hairstyles without much effort.
What colors look best on dark brunettes?
Ruby red, burgundy, plum, and claret are the win-win options for dark brown hair color.
What blonde hair color is best for brunettes?
Actually, all light blonde hair colors can work magic if chosen according to the color type of a girl. Cool brown locks are a good match for super light, pale, platinum, icy shades of blonde. Warmer brown hues work well with golden, strawberry-blonde, or honey-blonde. Neutral buttery and wheaty shades of blonde are mostly suitable for all brown locks.
What is dirty brunette hair?
This brunette version of dirty blonde hair color consists of a brown hair base mixed with shades of golden blonde highlights. Thus, women get a more neutral, dimensional, and low-maintenance hair color.
It doesn’t matter how you style brunette hair because the deep color always looks gorgeous. It’s important to take good care of your locks, and Bustle gives you nine tips how in this article. To keep your hair looking shiny and healthy, be sure to wash and condition it regularly, use high-quality styling products, and protect it from the heat and the elements.
If you color your tresses, the haircare experts at Matrix recommend that you shampoo less often to preserve your hue. Additional tips to help your visit to the salon last longer include using a cooler water temperature when you wash your hair in the shower and using a shampoo that’s specifically designed to care for color-treated hair.