Brunette hair is a timeless classic that comes in so many shades, there’s a hue to suit everyone. From ashy to chocolate to light brown to caramel, the choice of brunette hair colours means you can easily change it up every couple of months if your heart so desires. It’s no wonder you want to know what is the best brunette hair dye in town!
In Light brown hair shades you need in your life right now we told you everything you need to know about having brunette hair and how to find out if brunette is truly the look for you. Now here we are with the brown box dyes money can buy!
To help you decide which is the best brown hair dye for your needs, we’ve reviewed some of the most popular brands on offer right now. By comparing their features and taking a closer look at each brand’s pros and cons, we’ve come up with a list of recommendations that should make choosing your next box of dye a little easier. Let’s go!
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Contents
- 1 Why we love brunette hair color.
- 2 Can I dye my hair brunette at home?
- 3 Which are the best brunette hair dyes?
- 4 Best brunette hair dye at a glance.
- 5 TOP PICK!
- 6 Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color, Light Ash Brown.
- 7 #1 Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color, Light Ash Brown.
- 8 #2 Garnier Olia Light Brown Hair dye Permanent.
- 9 #3 Garnier Olia Light Chocolate Brown Permanent Hair Dye
- 10 #4 Garnier Color Sensation Precious Light Brown Hair Dye.
- 11 #5. L’Oreal Paris Excellence Creme Hair Colour, Natural Golden Brown.
- 12 #6 Schwarzkopf Color Expert Omegaplex Hair Dye, Light Caramel Brown.
- 13 #7 John Frieda Medium Natural Brown.
- 14 #8 John Frieda Precision Foam Hair Dye, Medium Chocolate Brown.
- 15 #9 Garnier Nutrisse Brown Hair Dye, Iced Coffee.
- 16 #10 L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss Hair Colourant, Choc Brownie.
- 17 TOP PICK!
- 18 Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color, Light Ash Brown.
- 19 How to dye your hair at home.
- 20 How to dye your hair at home.
- 21 Parting words.
Why we love brunette hair color.
Brunette is a gorgeous natural color that frames faces, makes skin glow and eye colors pop. Did you know that there are more shades of brunette hair than any other hair color?
Brunette hair is loved for being a multi dimensional with an almost never ending hair colour spectrum of shades, tones and hues.
You know that brunette hair is the most popular hair colour around, but you’re not sure what shade will suit your skin tone.
Brunettes are blessed with a palette of shades to choose from, so it can be hard to pick just one. If you want to look at the best brown hair dye for light brown or dark brown hair, there’s no need to worry because we’ve got them covered in this review!
It’s the perfect partner for blonde ombre, balayage and highlights. It’s versatile and suits warm or cool undertones so there really is a shade or two or more for everyone.
Check out the latest brunette hair looks for ideas and inspiration.
Can I dye my hair brunette at home?
Oh yes! Brunette hair is an easy colour to DIY at home. AS LONG AS you choose your shade carefully and always look at the hair colour chart on the box dye to match your colour up with the shade your hair is now.
If your hair colour is dark– Your hair will need to be lightened first with bleach if you want to colour is a lighter brunette colour. You can’t lighten colour with colour! Check out our guide, How to bleach your hair at home, DIY style.
If your hair colour is light – you’re good to go if you want to go darker. Although if you want to go a really dark brunette colour like chocolate brown, you may need to use a couple of box dyes, or dye it more than once.
Which are the best brunette hair dyes?
When it comes to dyeing your hair brunette, there are loads of off-the-shelf box dyes to choose from!
We have reviewed all the top brown hair dye brands out there and selected our favourites based on their performance and value for money.
Our reviews include tips on how each brand works best depending on your natural colouring plus any additional information about ingredients used in these products.
So whether you’re looking for permanent or semi-permanent options, we’ll help you find the perfect match! These are our fave tried and tested brunette hair shades that you need in your life today.
Best brunette hair dye at a glance.
| Hair dye | Looks like | Best for | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color, Light Ash Brown |   | Cooling down warmer tones. | |
| Garnier Olia Light Brown Hair dye Permanent. |  | Light brown ashy hair. | |
| Garnier Olia Light Chocolate Brown Permanent Hair Dye |   | Warm and healthy chocolate brown hair. | |
| Garnier Color Sensation Precious Light Brown Hair Dye. |   | Neutral to cool skin tones. | |
| L'Oreal Paris Excellence Creme Hair Colour, Natural Golden Brown |   | Olive and warm skin tones. | |
| Schwarzkopf Color Expert Omegaplex Hair Dye, Light Caramel Brown |   | Warm, caramel tones. | |
| John Frieda Medium Natural Brown |   | Rich, ash brown hues. | |
| John Frieda Precision Foam Hair Dye, Medium Chocolate Brown. |   | No mess dark chocolate brown. | |
| Garnier Nutrisse Brown Hair Dye, Iced Coffee |   | Cool, dark brunette. | |
| L'Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss Hair Colourant, Choc Brownie. |   | Warm, deep brown with hints of red. |
TOP PICK!
Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color, Light Ash Brown.
Best brunette hair dye for: Cooling down warmer tones.
Light ash brown is probably this year’s most popular hair dye colour. This product is a true light ash brown that will help cover brassy roots. We tried it on mid-brown hair and it does come out darker than the box, but as with all dyes, they fade.
This is a little the warm side but has just enough ash tone to it to cancel out any red/orange without making your hair blue/green. If your hair naturally draws red, this is the one for you.
#1 Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color, Light Ash Brown.
They say:
- Delivers a rich, multi-dimensional shade that’s both natural looking and long lasting.
- Enriched with keratin and silk amino acid.
- ColorSilk’s ammonia-free formula leaves your hair in better condition than before you ever coloured it!
Reviewers say:
“This is the exact light ashy brown shade I was hoping for, and all my grey hair is gone. It has lasted 3 shampoos, so far, without fading. Highly recommend.”
“I bought the Light Ash Brown and focused mainly on my roots but used whatever was left for the rest of my hair and I’m pleasantly surprised. My hair looked healthier after colouring and the included conditioner was amazing.”
“Looked just as good as when I go to the salon!”
We say:
Light ash brown is probably this year’s most popular hair dye color. This product is a true light ash brown that will help cover brassy roots. We tried it on mid-brown hair and it does come out darker than the box, but as with all dyes, they fade.
This is a little the warm side but has just enough ash tone to it to cancel out any red/orange without making your hair blue/green. If your hair naturally draws red, this is the one for you.
Best for: Cooling down warmer tones.
#2 Garnier Olia Light Brown Hair dye Permanent.
They say:
- Maximum colour performance for lavish, vivid and long-lasting colour.
- Optimal scalp comfort with our non-drip smooth velvety texture of the colourant cream.
- Lavish, vivid and long-lasting colour.
Reviewers say:
“My natural colour is a light brown but I had a full head of blond highlights. I wanted to return to my natural colour and this colour was perfect, all hair was the same colour with subtle highlights. Love it!”
“This is a lovely cool natural light brown colour and it blends grey hair in but with an ashy look. My hair is super soft and I’ve had loads of compliments!”
“The final colour is lovely and uniform. The colour doesn’t take up too much but my hair is a definite ashy light brown.”
We say:
This light brown hair dye from Olia is a cool, ashy wonder. We used this on pre-lightened hair that was super dry after the harsh lightening treatment.
We love all of the OIia dyes for the nourishing oils that sinks into our hair just like a deep conditioning treatment.
We left this in for 10 mins less than advised to try and achieve the lightest ash brown colour and it worked like a dream. Not a hint of orange. This is the dye with the most visible shimmering grey tones of all the dyes on this list.
Best for: Light Brown ashy hair.
#3 Garnier Olia Light Chocolate Brown Permanent Hair Dye
They say:
- Oil is concentrated at the heart of the Olia permanent hair dye formula.
- Oil maximises the colour result.
Powered by 60% oils. - Visibly improves the quality of hair.
- Provide maximum colour performance for lavish, vivid and long-lasting colour.
Reviewers say:
“I wasn’t sure about this colour. I’ve previously had ‘light brown’ dyes that have turned out dark brown. However, I could tell when I was putting it on that this would not be the case with this chocolate hair dye. My hair is a beautiful light brown and no stubborn greys can be seen!!
“Thanks for recommending this amazing quality hair dye! Has good colour coverage and the conditioner is one of the best I have used even with high-end brands. 100% recommend this hair dye.”
“The colour was vibrant and made my hair look very sleek and shiny. Lots of people complimented me on how this looked, and even had people ask me to write it down so they could buy it themselves!”
We say:
Olia is known for it’s oil-powered properties that really fortify and renew your hair’s condition.
This is a light chocolate brown hair dye so we used it on light brown hair to add depth. It’s all over coverage is fabulous and the result was a mid-chocolate brown colour with tons of shine. Use this to soothe dry and damaged hair. And turn it into chocolatey heaven.
Best for: Warm and healthy chocolate brown hair.
#4 Garnier Color Sensation Precious Light Brown Hair Dye.
They say:
- It’s a creamy textured hair colour with a scented flower oil fragrance.
- The hair colour offers a powerful and non-drip formula with unique intense pigments.
- Delivers up to nine weeks of colour and shine.
Reviewers say:
“It’s great value and has a lovely depth of colour. It doesn’t damage hair at all and turned out quite well even on top of one of my previous dyes.”
“I use the colour Light Brown and it never lets me down. Easy to use, my hair feels amazing afterwards and the colour last a fair while.”
“Normally brown colours go nearly black on the ends, I don’t like that. I find this covers grey very well and doesn’t leave an unsightly strip of intense colour on the ends, which is a big plus!”
We say:
This is a natural or neutral light brown that’s quite close to chestnut brown. It’s a great first colour to test the water and see if brunette is hair really suits you.
The results of using this easy to maintain colour depend on your hair shade to begin with but it’s a versatile and ‘safer’ brown to try with a mix of complexions and eye colours.
Best for: Neutral to cool skin tones.
#5. L’Oreal Paris Excellence Creme Hair Colour, Natural Golden Brown.
They say:
- Flattering, luminous colour, full of natural highlights.
- Up to 100% grey coverage, less visible re-growth.
- Replenished hair, full of body & shine.
- Easy application brush.
Reviewers say:
“I have to say I am very happy with the colour/feel/look of my hair partly I think it works so well is because you get a brush with it which means you can very much direct where the colour goes so less likely to miss bits and you can do more with it.”
“It does leave it looking like you have highlights but in a subtle way and my hair feels and looks very shiny and full of life.”
“My hair felt in great condition and even better with the conditioner provided. I was thrilled with the colour and the different tones. I have received loads of compliments on the colour. And the best thing was that the colour still looked great after three weeks.”
We say:
Light Golden Brown is a shade between light chocolate and light caramel, and it’s perfect for the summer months. With Golden brown as your base, your hair will be naturally sprinkled with highlights from the sun to give it a sunkissed glow.
In some lights it will look more blonde, in some light it’ll look more brown. In ALL lights, it will look fabulous!
Best for: Olive and warm skin tones.
#6 Schwarzkopf Color Expert Omegaplex Hair Dye, Light Caramel Brown.
They say:
- Permanent hair colour rich, long lasting.
- Perfect grey coverage.
- Anti-breakage technology.
- Contains hylauronic acid which hydrates and nourishes your hair
- Protects hair from damage and cares for hair during and after colouring.
Reviewers say:
“Used this colour a month ago and this is the first time ever I’ll be buying the same colour again!”
“WOW! It leaves your hair in amazing condition, yes mine came up a bit darker, but the tone is true to the box.”
“I was a hairdresser so I know a thing or two about hair colouring and this stuff is seriously good! I’ve just used the follow up treatment and my hair is super soft and shiny, if anything its in better condition now.”
We say:
Caramel balayage, ombre, bronde and all-over jobbys are dominating hair colour trends this year for good reason.
If you want to try all over Caramel Brown at home, it’s an extremely flexible colour. There are many different hues that you can choose from – from light caramel browns to deeper browns and more reddish tones. It’s a warm, rich colour that knits well with dark roots for a on-point grown-out colour look.
Best for: Warm, caramel tones.
#7 John Frieda Medium Natural Brown.
They say:
- Lock in ash brown hair colour with our thick, saturating foam hair dye.
- Non-drip foam penetrates strands for deep colour saturation.
- Spreads easily into roots and hard-to-reach areas.
- Nourishing after-colour conditioner seals in colour for long-lasting, tonal richness.
Reviewers say:
“I cannot tell you have amazing it is!! It’s so easy to use and it smells so nice. You don’t get a ridiculous dark head line. There’s no warmth to the colour but I think with the right highlights it will look even more fabulous!”
“I have natural dark blonde/mousy brown hair. I was nervous about using this permanent foam dye at first as it is quite different to the semi-permanent crème dyes I’ve been using. The dye is a beautiful ash brown colour. Not too dark, cool, and has covered up most of the red! So happy!”
We say:
We love John Frieda Precision Foam. It’s easy to apply, doesn’t drip and really saturates your hair with colour.
This is a medium ash brown but it came out darker than the box on our medium brown, coloured hair. But brown dyes are notorious for producing results darker than the box so if in doubt, go for the light ash brown hair dye.
What we loved about this one was that it got rid of our red/brassy undertones. It was a sultry, rich colour with cool hues and although it was quite dark to begin with, it gradually faded after a few washes to a lighter ash brown colour.
Best for: Rich ash brown hues.
#8 John Frieda Precision Foam Hair Dye, Medium Chocolate Brown.
They say:
- Lock in rich, salon-quality medium chocolate brown hair colour.
- Thick, saturating Precision Foam
- Non-drip formula penetrates strands for deep colour saturation.
- Spreads easily into roots and hard-to-reach areas.
- Complete coverage without patchiness.
Reviewers say:
“I love the colour of this hair dye, it is darker on my hair than on the box but it isn’t too dark. It 100% covered some grey hairs I wanted to cover. I will definitely use this product again as it was so easy.”
“I’ve tried loads of brands but John Frieda foam is brilliant. Really easy to apply and doesn’t drip.”
First time using this product and I liked the result so much, I’ve purchased four more! The colour was rich and vibrant and did a good job with covering the grey at the temples. Left my hair in good condition and looking fresh.”
We say:
This is another Join Frieda brown hair colour on the list and we used it on dark hair. It gave a beautiful rich brown sheen to our hair and left it feeling silky and well-conditioned.
You’ll need two boxes if your hair is long as the foam really sinks into your hair, especially if it’s dyed hair that is more porous. Overall, this hair dye is the easiest to apply as the foam makes it simple and mess-free.
Best for: No mess dark chocolate brown.
#9 Garnier Nutrisse Brown Hair Dye, Iced Coffee.
They say:
- Natural-looking rich and long lasting hair colour performance.
- Intensely nourishes and protects for up to 8 weeks.
- The after colour conditioner is enriched with 4 oils.
- For silky, shiny and stronger hair with less breakage.
Reviewers say:
“I love this hair dye, so easy and nice to use. It’s gentle on my skin and my hair, and doesn’t stain my forehead when it drips on my skin.”
“This is a great colour with easy application. It has a bit of a smell when being applied but doesn’t last long. It also turns your hair a bit darker than it is. So I wouldn’t leave it on as long next time.”
“My hair is just below shoulder length and there was more than enough dye to cover it all evenly. I left on for the maximum time it said to cover my greys and it did the job. All over even colour and no greys. The colour came out as stated in the box which is fab! It’s perfect.”
We say:
This is a super lush colour with gorgeous multi-dimensional tones. We tried it on mid brown hair to give it some richness and the colour came out darker, but a lovely cool iced brown. Go for this for cool, dark tones.
Best for: Cool, dark brunette.
#10 L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss Hair Colourant, Choc Brownie.
They say:
- Achieve natural-looking colour with visible shimmering tones.
- The no-ammonia crème formula blends away grey hair.
- Has a luscious smell.
- The conditioner is enriched with goji extract.
Reviewers say:
“I love this colour and the final results were what I expected. Very easy to use and easy to follow instructions too. The products smelt nice, unlike other brands I’ve used before and after numerous washes my colour still looks fresh, shiny and bright. Very happy!”
“Lovely colour, easy to apply and left my hair looking healthy without any sign of dryness. It had a fairly subtle odour for a hair colour which didnt linger. Highly recommend.
“Loving this, it looks so natural and my hair is healthy. It looks completely different, it looks like it has so much more life now. All of my friends have noticed and complimented me :)”
We say:
This is a delicious sounding colour that looks as good as it sounds. We used this hair dye on mid brunette hair with fading highlights to see if it could give us an even coverage.
And it did! It smells great going on and the results were a lovely warm chocolate shade with subtle undertones of red. This is a warm brown colour that reveals the beautiful radiant red tones of your hair.
Best for: Warm, deep brown with hints of red.
TOP PICK!
Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color, Light Ash Brown.
Best brunette hair dye for: Cooling down warmer tones.
Light ash brown is probably this year’s most popular hair dye colour. This product is a true light ash brown that will help cover brassy roots. We tried it on mid-brown hair and it does come out darker than the box, but as with all dyes, they fade.
This is a little the warm side but has just enough ash tone to it to cancel out any red/orange without making your hair blue/green. If your hair naturally draws red, this is the one for you.
How to dye your hair at home.
How to dye your hair at home.
Parting words.
You wanted to know what is the best brunette hair dye for you.
The truth is, there isn’t one perfect shade of brown hair dye that suits everyone. It’s more about finding a colour that complements your skin tone and eye colour. If you’re not sure where to start, it can be hard knowing which shades are right for you or if they’ll suit your complexion at all.
That’s why we’ve done the research so you don’t have to!
Whether your natural hair colour is dark blonde or light brown, these are our favourite hair dye products that will give you gorgeous brunette locks in no time at all!