Chestnut brown is the autumnal shade that makes heads turn all year long. If you’re looking for a low maintenance, high sass look, this rich brunette color is it. So what is the best chestnut brown hair dye you need to get the look at home?
In Best brunette hair dye we told you all you need to know to find out if brown hair is for you.
Here’s everything you need to get the on-trend brunette hair color at home.
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Table of Contents
- Why Chestnut Brown?
- Can I dye my hair chestnut brown at home?
- Which is the best chestnut brown hair dye?
- TOP PICK!
- L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Medium Chestnut Brown.
- #1. L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye, Medium Chestnut Brown.
- #2 Schwarzkopf Color Expert Omegaplex Hair Dye, Chestnut Brown.
- #3. Naturtint Permanent Hair Color, Natural Chestnut.
- #4. L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss, Hair Dye, Chestnut Brown
- #5 Garnier Color Sensation Permanent, Deep Chestnut Brown
- #6 John Frieda Precision Foam Color Hair Dye, Dark Red Brown.
- TOP PICK!
- L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Virginia Chestnut Brown.
- Best chestnut brown hair dye at a glance.
- Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Right Chestnut Hair Dye for You
- How to dye your hair at home.
- How to care for chestnut hair
- Parting words
- Our Research & Review Process
Why Chestnut Brown?
Chestnut brown hair is really popular for a lot of good reasons. It’s a beautiful color that looks warm and welcoming. What’s great about it is how well it works for everyone. No matter what your skin tone is, chestnut brown can complement it nicely, making you look radiant.
And when it comes to styles, chestnut brown is super versatile. Whether your hair is straight, curly, short, or long, this color makes it look even better. It adds a nice depth to your hair, making it look rich and full of life.
So, why go for chestnut brown? It’s simple. It’s a color that makes you feel good and look great. It’s easy to match with different styles and it makes your hair look vibrant. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to change up your look in a way that feels natural and stylish.
Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration.
Can I dye my hair chestnut brown at home?
Good news – it’s easy to dye your hair this shade at home! But the color you’ll achieve depends on the color your hair is now.
If your hair color is darker than light brown– you’ll need to lighten your hair first to get the look. This will involve bleach so you might want to chat to your hairdresser. You can’t lighten color with color!
If your hair color is lighter than light brown – or even the same, perfecto. You can dye your yourself. Just read the advice on the box of light brown hair dye you choose carefully to match it with the color your hair is now.
Which is the best chestnut brown hair dye?
As a box dye this color can be hard to find and is similar in tone to many other colors such as dark auburn, light brown, chocolate brown and even mahogany.
But never fear, we’ve found the best chestnut brown color hair dyes your good money can buy to get the true hue at home!
TOP PICK!
L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Medium Chestnut Brown.
Best for: All over chestnut shine.
This is a beautiful colour. We dyed our light brown hair and left it in for slightly longer than the recommended time. It’s a real, nutty colour that’s not as red as some on the list. It’s almost slightly golden in some lights.
It has gorgeous multidimensional tones and left our hair feeling soft and silky too with plenty of shine. This is the best chestnut hair dye for us.
Pros
- Beautiful Color
- Easy to Apply
- Leaves Hair Soft and Shiny
- Covers Grey Hair
- Enhances Brown Hair
- Clear Instructions
- Deep, Warm Highlights
- Multi-dimensional Tones
- Silky Feel
Cons
- Less red, slightly golden- may not suit all preferences
#1. L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye, Medium Chestnut Brown.
Features & ingredients:
- Unique shades of Préférence with light-reflecting dyes, for a luminous color full of reflects.
- A new floral fragrance with amber notes.
- Shine Protect Conditioner
- Enriched with a UV filter and Vitamin E derivative.
- Use week after week to preserve the shine of your colored hair.
Reviewers say:
“The color is beautiful and very easy to apply. Left my hair very soft and shiny. I haven’t used the color extender yet but if it works will be a godsend for hair coloring.”
“I love this gorgeous shade for my hair. It covered all those pesky greys and gave my boring brown hair a beautiful shine. It was very easy to use, the instructions provided a step by step guide.”
“After a few failed attempts with very one dimensional flat browns I used this beautiful hair dye. It’s exactly what I was dreaming of. A gorgeous deep mid-brown with stunning warm highlights, greys are well blended. I am so pleased with it and have received so many compliments.”
Our experience:
This is a beautiful color. We dyed our light brown hair and left it in for slightly longer than the recommended time. It’s a real, nutty color that’s not as red as some on the list. It’s almost slightly golden in some lights.
It has gorgeous multidimensional tones and left our hair feeling soft and silky too with plenty of shine. This is the best hair dye for us.
Best for: All over chestnut shine.
#2 Schwarzkopf Color Expert Omegaplex Hair Dye, Chestnut Brown.
Features & ingredients:
- Permanent hair color 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 coloring.
Reviewers say:
“This is a dye produces a nice, rich, nuanced brunette, which is perhaps darker than shown on the box initially, but is nowhere near the dark brown/black I have always ended up with before.”
“The dye is fantastic for grey hair, I’ve always had trouble with dyes that seem to fade on grey hair after a few washes. This holds fast for weeks, even the whispy hairs in front of your ears that almost never seem to hold a color.”
“So glad I chose this! My hair is incredibly soft and shiny and smells great! No residual ammonia smell. I do have quite a lot of grey, which it covered completely. It did come out a shade darker than I expected, but I still love the color! It actually looks and feels better than when my hairdresser does it!”
Our experience:
We tried this on dyed ash brown hair with the aim to give it a nuttier hue. The dye was easy to apply and there was enough in the bottle for our shoulder-length hair too.
The color came out darker than expected and is a deep, warm brown color with red undertones. The reviews say it lasts really well too.
Best for: Dark chestnut tones.
#3. Naturtint Permanent Hair Color, Natural Chestnut.
Features & ingredients:
- Permanent Hair Color with 100% grey coverage
- Easy to use, non-drip gel formula
- Enriched with natural plant and seed oils and extracts to gently care for your hair and scalp, with no ammonia.
- Long lasting, naturally radiant color and shine.
- Now with a NEW Multi-Care Mask enriched with quinoa!
Reviewers say:
“Brilliant coverage and no ammonia so no itching of the scalp after application! Definitely recommend this product.”
“I’m very happy with this product. Did cover my greys ( I kept it for 40min). No itchy scalp, no unpleasant smell during or after colorisation. Hair mask included in pack is amazing- my hair is so soft now!”
“Easy to apply, lovely color, although one box isn’t enough for medium length hair, I always use two. Lasts longer than other high street purchased colorants and with no ammonia, its more pleasant and the aftercare cream it comes with is amazing!”
Our experience:
This was our first foray into Naturtint – the completely natural hair dye that is ammonia-free and chock full of goodness for your hair. If your scalp is usually sensitive and gets itchy with hair dye products, this is definitely the dye for you.
Natural brunettes will find their color is most enhanced with this color. The coverage and cooler tone is stronger than we imagined and gave a slightly ashy chestnut shade.
Best for: Sensitive scalps.
#4. L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss, Hair Dye, Chestnut Brown
Features & ingredients:
- Achieve natural-looking color with visible shimmering tones.
- The no-ammonia crème formula blends away grey hair, and provides a luscious smell.
- Color lasts up to 28 shampoos.
- After coloring, the conditioner is enriched with hazelnut protein that illuminates your brown hair.
- It leaves your hair soft and voluptuous with an exceptional shine.
Reviewers say:
“I had really bad grey hairs in my roots and this got rid of them. So easy to use and apply. I had excellent coverage and had healthy shiney hair after using.”
“Before I applied the product my hair wasn’t in the best condition, however after my hair color has become super natural and my hair was left silky smooth. A great product and would recommend it to anyone.”
“I have to say that it covered greys well and was a nice warm color as I previously had dyed red hair. It has covered the color and grey well.
I would definitely use this again if I am wanting to stay a more natural color.”
Our experience:
This Casting Creme Gloss is a light brown color but we found it to be more of a hazelnut brunette than their Chestnut Honey shade which was more golden.
With either one, you can be guaranteed soft, soft hair thanks to the lush smelling conditioner. Go for this is you have particularly dry hair and it’ll bring it back to life.
Best for: Soft chestnut hair.
#5 Garnier Color Sensation Permanent, Deep Chestnut Brown
Features & ingredients:
- Intense, long-lasting home hair color
- Up to 100% Grey Hair Coverage
- Mirror Shine: Reflects light and shimmers for a glossy finish
- Enriched with mother-of-pearl extracts
- Creamy texture wraps every hair without dripping
- Floral fragrance allows for an enjoyable application
Reviewers say:
“I use this product regularly as it does not fade as much as other products on the market.”
“Good long lasting color. Doesn’t fade. Leaves hair in good condition Would recommend it.”
“Pleased with this hair-dye, very easy to apply (did need 2 boxes for long hair), no dripping or mess in my bathroom. My hair was dark/golden blonde so was slightly worried about the color but took the risk. I’d say it’s pretty accurate to the box, love the rich reddish tone. My hair feels super soft, great value too so would use again.”
Our experience:
Chestnut is always a warm color but we tried this Icy hue to see if we could achieve a cooler tone. It still came out warm but it was a rich, glossy color with depth and dimension.
The reviews rave about it’s long-lasting color and there is definitely less fade after a couple of washes. Go for this and get longer time in between colorings.
Best for: Long-lasting color.
#6 John Frieda Precision Foam Color Hair Dye, Dark Red Brown.
Features & ingredients:
- The thick, rich foam penetrates strands for deep color saturation.
- Locks in rich color for fade-resistant, salon-quality results.
- Spreads quickly and easily onto roots and hard-to-reach places.
Nourishing after-color conditioner seals in color for long-lasting tonal richness.
Reviewers say:
“I’m a hairdresser and I love to change my color, I enjoy trying a variation of home box dyes so I know what good to use on the market. This product is great even coverage, great shine and exactly the color I wanted and the color shown on the box.”
“You get a really natural looking color that looks good even in sunlight. Results are a bit darker than the image on the box.”
“My hair was exactly the shade I had hoped for when I first went to the salon. Its still soft and shiny and looks healthy. The color so far is showing no signs of significant fading.”
Our experience:
This John Frieda dye is a conker-brown color with dark red undertones that added richness to our dark brown hair.
This shade is a touch darker than on the box so you might end up darker than you hoped for. This is best for darker hair colors to add a multi-dimensional, warm conker hue.
Best for: Warm red chestnut.
TOP PICK!
L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Virginia Chestnut Brown.
Best for: All over chestnut shine.
This is a beautiful color. We dyed our light brown hair and left it in for slightly longer than the recommended time. It’s a real, nutty color that’s not as red as some on the list. It’s almost slightly golden in some lights.
It has gorgeous multi-dimensional tones and left our hair feeling soft and silky too with plenty of shine. This is the best chestnut hair dye for us.
Best chestnut brown hair dye at a glance.
| Hair dye | Looks like | Best for | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
| L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Medium Chestnut Brown | All over shine. | ||
| Schwarzkopf Color Expert Omegaplex Hair Dye, Chestnut Brown | Dark chestnut tones. | ||
| Naturtint Permanent Hair Color, Natural Chestnut. | Sensitive scalps. | ||
| L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss, Hair Dye, Light Brown | Soft chestnut hair. | ||
| Garnier Color Sensation Permanent, Deep Chestnut Brown | Long-lasting colour. | ||
| John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Hair Dye, Dark Red Brown. | Warm red chestnut. |
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Right Chestnut Hair Dye for You
Choosing the perfect chestnut hair dye isn’t just about picking a box off the shelf – it’s about finding the shade that sings to your soul and complements your natural beauty. Let’s walk through some key points to consider:
#1 Skin Tone
Your skin tone is like the canvas for your hair color. Chestnut comes in various shades, from warm, rich tones to cooler, ashy ones.
If you’ve got a warm skin tone (think golden, peachy, or yellow undertones), go for a chestnut with similar warm undertones.
Cooler skin tones (think pink, red, or bluish undertones) can really pop with a chestnut that has a hint of ash.
And if you’re blessed with a neutral skin tone, guess what? You can rock pretty much any chestnut shade!
#2 Hair Type & Texture
Your hair type and texture are like the personality of your locks.
Fine hair? It tends to grab onto color quickly, so be mindful of the timing.
Thick or curly hair? You might need more dye than you think to get that rich, even coverage.
Remember, the same color can look different on various textures, so consider this when choosing your chestnut hue.
#3 Semi-Permanent or Permanent Hair Dye
Are you flirting with chestnut, or are you in it for the long haul?
Semi-permanent dyes are like a short-term romance – they’ll fade away gracefully over time, perfect if you’re just testing the waters.
Permanent dyes, on the other hand, are your long-term commitment, offering lasting color and grey coverage. Decide how long you want your chestnut adventure to last.
#4 Skin Test
Before going all in, try a strand test. Apply the dye to a small, hidden section of hair.
This way, you’ll see exactly how the color turns out on your hair, helping you decide if it’s the chestnut of your dreams.
How to dye your hair at home.
How to care for chestnut hair
Stepping out with your new chestnut hair is like wearing autumn’s most beautiful hues all year round.
To keep your chestnut locks looking as luscious and vibrant as the day they were colored, here are some essential tips:
Embrace Color-Safe Products
Your chestnut hair deserves the best, and that means using shampoos and conditioners specifically formulated for colored hair.
These products are like a gentle hug for your hair – they cleanse and condition without stripping away your beautiful chestnut color.
Cool Water Rinse
When you wash your chestnut hair, think of it as a delicate flower that needs tender care. Rinse with cool or lukewarm water.
Hot water can be harsh on colored hair, causing your stunning chestnut shade to fade faster than a sunset.
Keep the Heat Low
We all love a good styling session, but excessive heat can be a party pooper for your chestnut color.
When using heat styling tools, keep the temperature low and always use a heat protectant. Think of it as sunscreen for your hair!
Regular Trims
Regular trims are like spring cleaning for your hair.
They keep your ends healthy and prevent split ends from taking away from the beauty of your chestnut color. Aim for a trim every 6-8 weeks to keep your hair looking its best.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Colored hair loves moisture. Treat your hair to deep conditioning treatments or hair masks regularly. It’s like a spa day for your locks, keeping them hydrated, happy, and vibrant.
Avoid Chlorine
Chlorine and colored hair aren’t the best of friends. If you’re a swimming enthusiast, protect your chestnut hair by wearing a swim cap or rinsing your hair with clean water before and after a dip in the pool.
Enjoy the Sun, but Protect Your Hair
Just like your skin, your hair needs protection from the sun. Wear a hat or use hair products with UV protection to keep your chestnut color from fading under the sun’s rays.
Parting words
And there you have it – our roundup of the best chestnut hair dyes for this year, each promising to infuse your locks with that rich, warm, and utterly captivating chestnut hue.
Whether you’re a seasoned brunette looking to add depth and dimension or a color enthusiast eager for a stunning transformation, there’s a chestnut shade out there waiting just for you.
Found your perfect chestnut shade? We’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @colouredhaircare or Facebook and share your hair dye success stories. Looking for more hair care tips? Check out How to Look After Colored Hair: 11 Expert Secrets For Long-Lasting Color.
Our Research & Review Process
To ensure our recommendations are as comprehensive and reliable as possible, we’ve undertaken an extensive research effort.
We cite scientific evidence and journals, collect real user reviews and gather impartial perspectives from hair stylists, users, and experts in the field.
Additionally, we conduct hands-on testing by using products and applying hair dyes not only on our own locks but also on real human hair extensions and hair pieces of different hair type, textures and lengths.
This rigorous approach allows us to provide you with insights into which products genuinely live up to their promises.
As always – please consult with a professional hair colorist or stylist for advice on how to color your own hair at home. It’s different for everyone!
