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 colour 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 colour at home.
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Contents
- 1 What is chestnut brown hair colour?
- 2 Can I dye my hair chestnut brown at home?
- 3 Which is the best chestnut brown hair dye?
- 4 Best chestnut brown hair dye at a glance.
- 5 TOP PICK!
- 6 L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Virginia Chestnut Brown.
- 7 #1. L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Virginia Chestnut Brown.
- 8 #2 Schwarzkopf Color Expert Omegaplex Hair Dye, Chestnut Brown.
- 9 #3. Naturtint Permanent Hair Color, Natural Chestnut.
- 10 #4. L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss, Semi-permanent, Light Brown
- 11 #5 Garnier Color Sensation Permanent, Icy Chestnut Brown
- 12 #6 John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Hair Dye, Medium Red Brown.
- 13 TOP PICK!
- 14 L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Virginia Chestnut Brown.
- 15 How to dye your hair at home.
What is chestnut brown hair colour?
This warm brown colour has undertones of red and is a perfect blend of copper and chocolate. It’s best suited to those with warm skin tones but it can be cooled by mixing with ashy browns too.
The low maintenance, multidimensional look is here to stay and is a great base for other gorgeous colour trends – like blonde Balayage, blonde highlights, caramel and blonde Ombre.
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 colour you’ll achieve depends on the colour your hair is now.
If your hair colour 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 colour with colour!
If your hair colour 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 colour your hair is now.
Which is the best chestnut brown hair dye?
As a box dye this colour can be hard to find and is similar in tone to many other colours such as dark auburn, light brown, chocolate brown and even mahogany.
But never fear, we’ve found the best chestnut brown colour hair dyes your good money can buy to get the true hue at home!
Best chestnut brown hair dye at a glance.
| Hair dye | Looks like | Best for | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
| L'Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Virginia 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, Semi-permanent, Light Brown |   | Soft chestnut hair. | |
| Garnier Color Sensation Permanent, Icy Chestnut Brown |   | Long-lasting colour. | |
| John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Hair Dye, Medium Red Brown. |   | Warm red chestnut. |
TOP PICK!
L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Virginia 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.
#1. L’Oreal Preference Permanent Hair Dye,Virginia Chestnut Brown.
They say:
- Unique shades of Préférence with light-reflecting dyes, for a luminous colour 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 coloured hair.
Reviewers say:
“The colour is beautiful and very easy to apply. Left my hair very soft and shiny. I haven’t used the colour extender yet but if it works will be a godsend for hair colouring.”
“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.”
We say:
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 hair dye for us.
Best for: All over chestnut shine.
#2 Schwarzkopf Color Expert Omegaplex Hair Dye, Chestnut 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:
“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 colour.”
“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 colour! It actually looks and feels better than when my hairdresser does it!”
We say:
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 colour came out darker than expected and is a deep, warm brown colour with red undertones. The reviews say it lasts really well too.
Best for: Dark chestnut tones.
#3. Naturtint Permanent Hair Color, Natural Chestnut.
They say:
- Permanent Hair Colour 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 colour 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 colourisation. Hair mask included in pack is amazing- my hair is so soft now!”
“Easy to apply, lovely colour, 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!”
We say:
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 colour is most enhanced with this colour. 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, Semi-permanent, Light Brown
They say:
- Achieve natural-looking colour with visible shimmering tones.
- The no-ammonia crème formula blends away grey hair, and provides a luscious smell.
- Colour lasts up to 28 shampoos.
- After colouring, 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 colour as I previously had dyed red hair. It has covered the colour and grey well.
I would definitely use this again if I am wanting to stay a more natural colour.”
We say:
This Casting Creme Gloss is a light brown colour 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, Icy Chestnut Brown
They say:
- Intense, long-lasting home hair colour
- 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 colour. 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 colour 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.”
We say:
Chestnut is always a warm colour 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 colour with depth and dimension.
The reviews rave about it’s long-lasting colour and there is definitely less fade after a couple of washes. Go for this and get longer time in between colourings.
Best for: Long-lasting colour.
#6 John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Hair Dye, Medium Red Brown.
They say:
- The thick, rich foam penetrates strands for deep colour saturation.
- Locks in rich colour for fade-resistant, salon-quality results.
- Spreads quickly and easily onto roots and hard-to-reach places.
Nourishing after-colour conditioner seals in colour for long-lasting tonal richness.
Reviewers say:
“I’m a hairdresser and I love to change my colour, 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 colour I wanted and the colour shown on the box.”
“You get a really natural looking colour 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 colour so far is showing no signs of significant fading.”
We say:
This John Frieda dye is a conker-brown colour 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 colours 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 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 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.