Are you looking for the best chocolate brown hair dye that will give your hair a glossy and vibrant look this year? We’ve all been there, scouring the beauty aisle in search of that perfect shade.
But don’t worry — we’ve done the hard work for you by researching some of the top-rated chocolate brown hair dyes available in 2023.
From dark ash brown to warm mahogany, these 6 best shades are sure to add dimension and richness to any brunette color while also keeping your locks gleaming and fresh!
Read on to find out more about each hue and find out which one is right for you.
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Table of Contents
- TOP PICK!
- Garnier Olia Light Chocolate Brown Permanent Hair Dye
- What is the best chocolate brown hair dye?
- #1 Garnier Nutrisse Brown Hair Dye, Sweet Cola.
- #2 Preference Infinia Excellence, Caracas Iced Chocolate Hair Dye.
- #3 Schwarzkopf LIVE Intense Color Permanent, Bitter Sweet Chocolate.
- #4 Garnier Olia Light Chocolate Brown Permanent Hair Dye
- #5 L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss Hair Colorant, Choc Brownie.
- #6 John Frieda Precision Foam Hair Dye, Medium Chocolate Brown.
- TOP PICK!
- Garnier Olia Light Chocolate Brown Permanent Hair Dye
- Best Chocolate Brown Hair Dyes at a glance.
- How to choose the right box dye for you.
- How to dye your hair at home.
- Chocolate brown hair dye FAQs
- What color is chocolate brown hair color?
- Can I dye my hair chocolate brown at home?
- Do I need to bleach my hair to dye it chocolate brown?
- Is chocolate brown hair dye lighter than dark brown?
- How do I go from black hair to chocolate brown?
- Can you put brown box dye over bleached hair?
- Is chocolate brown hair dye warm or cool?
- Parting words
- Our Research & Review Process
TOP PICK!
Garnier Olia Light Chocolate Brown Permanent Hair Dye
Best hair dye for: Warm and healthy chocolate brown hair.
We first recommended this in Light brown hair shades you need in your life right now, and we received so much great feedback.
Olia is known for its oil-powered properties that really fortify and renew your hair’s condition.
This is a light shade so we used it on light brown hair to add depth.
It’s all over coverage is fabulous and the result was a mid-brown color with tons of shine. Use this to soothe dry and damaged hair. And turn it into chocolatey heaven.
Pros
- Gives a beautiful light brown color with no stubborn greys visible
- Good color coverage
- Contains oil powered properties to fortify and renew hair condition
- Adds depth to light brown hair
- Provides all over coverage
- Hair looks glossy and shiny after use
Cons
- Can be messy to apply due to the dye consistency
- Results may vary depending on your hair type
What is the best chocolate brown hair dye?
Feeling ready to go chocolate at home? Sweet! Here are the best chocolate brown box dyes you can buy today!
#1 Garnier Nutrisse Brown Hair Dye, Sweet Cola.
Features & ingredients:
- Natural-looking rich and long lasting hair color performance.
- Intensely nourishes and protects for up to 8 weeks.
- The after color 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 color 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 grays and it did the job.
All over even color and no grays. The color came out as stated in the box which is fab! It’s perfect.”
We say:
This is a super lush color with gorgeous multi-dimensional tones.
We tried it on mid-brown hair to give it some richness and the color came out darker, but a lovely cool iced brown. Go for this for cool, dark tones.
Best hair dye for: Cool, darkest chocolate brown.
#2 Preference Infinia Excellence, Caracas Iced Chocolate Hair Dye.
Features & ingredients:
- Up to 8 weeks of fade-defying color.
Lustrous color and shine.
From the experts of fade-defying color. - The Color Extender the revives the look of color & shine.
- Show-stopping gorgeous color.
Reviewers say:
“Beautiful color! I found it easy to apply with a great choice of shades to choose from.
I feel 2 boxes would be recommended for long hair as I had to water down the product to apply through right to the ends of my hair.”
“I was pleasantly surprised and delighted with my hair color after using this. It has a great smell and it left my hair shiny, conditioned and nourished. So far, I’ve had it in for 2 weeks and it’s not fading yet.”
“Really great product. Great gray coverage and my hair still looked like it had its original color. And it left my hair feeling soft.”
Our experience:
This is the best chocolate color on the list for all over shine.
We used this on light brown dyed hair and the color came out just like the box.
It is a cool color but the warmest of the cool dyes we tried. Go for this one for gloss and shine.
Best hair dye for: Shiny and glossy chocolate brown hair.
#3 Schwarzkopf LIVE Intense Color Permanent, Bitter Sweet Chocolate.
Features & ingredients:
- Intense and vibrant color
- Fade resistant color
- Built-In Vibrancy Serum
- Activates color pigments at the core of each strand for vibrant color results.
- Maximises hair color depth and radiance.
Reviewers say:
“I’ve been using this color for a few months and I love it! My hair feels so healthy and is so shiny!”
“I used this color for the first time and it came out exactly the shade on the box – a lovely dark brown chocolate.”
“I felt like a change from my normal black hair and decided to cover my roots with Bitter sweet chocolate.
I could see difference in shade immediately! My roots were dark brown and the rest of my hair got a nice brown hint to it.”
Our experience:
Just like the name, this is dark and bittersweet.
We tried with dark brown dyed hair to give it some lustre and shine.
The color result was a glossy dark dark brown almost black. Don’t leave it on as long as they say if you want a browner colour.
Best hair dye for: Darkest brown shades.
#4 Garnier Olia Light Chocolate Brown Permanent Hair Dye
Features & ingredients:
- Oil is concentrated at the heart of the Olia permanent hair dye formula.
- Oil maximises the color result.
Powered by 60% oils. - Visibly improves the quality of hair.
- Provide maximum color performance for lavish, vivid and long-lasting color.
Reviewers say:
“I wasn’t sure about this color. 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. My hair is a beautiful light brown and no stubborn greys can be seen!!
“Thanks for recommending this amazing quality hair dye! Has good color coverage and the conditioner is one of the best I have used even with high-end brands. 100% recommend this hair dye.”
“The color 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!”
Our experience:
We first recommended this in Light brown hair shades you need in your life right now, and we received so much great feedback.
Olia is known for it’s oil-powered properties that really fortify and renew your hair’s condition.
This is a light shade 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 color with tons of shine.
Use this to soothe dry and damaged hair. And turn it into chocolatey heaven.
Best hair dye for: Warm and healthy chocolate brown hair.
#5 L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss Hair Colorant, Choc Brownie.
Features & ingredients:
- Achieve natural-looking color 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 color 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 color still looks fresh, shiny and bright. Very happy!”
“Lovely color, easy to apply and left my hair looking healthy without any sign of dryness. It had a fairly subtle odour for a hair color which didn’t 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 :)”
Our experience:
This is a delicious-sounding color 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 shade with subtle undertones of red. This is a warm brown color that reveals the beautiful radiant red tones of your hair.
Best hair dye for: Warm chocolate brown with hints of red.
#6 John Frieda Precision Foam Hair Dye, Medium Chocolate Brown.
They say:
- Lock in rich, salon-quality medium chocolate brown hair color.
- Thick, saturating Precision Foam
- Non-drip formula penetrates strands for deep color saturation.
- Spreads easily into roots and hard-to-reach areas.
- Complete coverage without patchiness.
Reviewers say:
“I love the color 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 color 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 dark color on the list and we used it on dark hair. It gave a beautiful rich brown sheen to our hair and left it feeling like silk and well conditioned.
You’ll need two boxes if your hair is long as the foamy bubbles really sink into your hair, especially if it’s dyed hair which is more porous.
Overall, this hair dye is the easiest to apply as the foam makes it simple and mess free.
Best hair dye for: No mess dark chocolate brown.
TOP PICK!
Garnier Olia Light Chocolate Brown Permanent Hair Dye
Best hair dye for: Warm and healthy chocolate brown hair.
We first recommended this in Light brown hair shades you need in your life right now, and we received so much great feedback.
Olia is known for it’s oil-powered properties that really fortify and renew your hair’s condition.
This is a light shade so we used it on light brown hair to add depth. It’s all over coverage is fabulous and the result was a mid-brown color with tons of shine.
Use this to soothe dry and damaged hair. And turn it into chocolatey heaven.
Best Chocolate Brown Hair Dyes at a glance.
| Hair dye | Looks like | Best for | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garnier Nutrisse Brown Hair Dye, Iced Coffee. |
| Cool dark chocolate brown hair colour. | |
| Preference Infinia, Caracas Iced Chocolate Hair Dye. |
| Shiny and glossy chocolate brown hair. | |
| Schwarzkopf LIVE Intense Colour Permanent, Bitter Sweet Chocolate. |
| Darkest brown shades. | |
| Garnier Olia Light Chocolate Brown Permanent Hair Dye |
| Warm and healthy chocolate brown hair. | |
| L’Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss Hair Colourant, Choc Brownie. |
| Warm chocolate brown with hints of red. | |
| John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Hair Dye, Medium Chocolate Brown. |
| No mess dark chocolate brown. |
How to choose the right box dye for you.
Box dye. We all know it can be a great money saver and a great way to experiment with color, but we also know it can be a bit hit and miss.
Never fear! We’re here to help you choose the right box dye for you and make sure your at-home color transformation is absolutely flawless. Read on for helpful tips and tricks!
Know your base hair color
The first step in deciding which box dye is right for you is determining what your base hair color is.
There are five main categories of natural hair color: black, brunette brown, blonde, red/auburn, and grey/white.
Depending on your starting shade, it will be easier to find a box dye that perfectly matches the tone and depth of your hair.
For example, if you have naturally light brown hair you should look for a box dye in the medium brown range.
We always recommend going only a shade or two away from your base hair color. Especially if you want to go lighter – this may need bleach!
Match your hair color up to the hair color chart on the side of the box dye and ALWAYS do a strand test before you start!
Know Your Hair Type
Different types of hair take differently to dyes, so it’s important that you know what kind of hair type you have before choosing a box dye.
If your hair tends to be dry and brittle, then stay away from ammonia-based dyes as these can damage already fragile strands.
The main ingredient in most box dyes is peroxide, so if you’re looking for something gentler then opt for formulas that contain less than 10% peroxide.
Instead, opt for nourishing ammonia-free formulas like vegetable-based or henna dyes that will give you beautiful color without sacrificing moisture.
This will help ensure that your hair won’t be overly damaged by your new hue. It’s also important to be aware of other ingredients like silicone and parabens – both of which can be harsh on your tresses – as well as conditioning oils like keratin that will help keep your locks hydrated and your scalp healthy during and after coloring.
Semi-Permanent vs Permanent
The next step is deciding if you want a semi-permanent or permanent box dye.
Semi-permanent dyes will last anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks, while permanent dyes can last up to 6 months or longer depending on how often you wash your hair.
Keep in mind that semi-permanent dyes cannot lighten your hair color so if you want a dramatic change, then a permanent dye may be better suited for you.
Consider Your Skin Tone
Your skin tone plays an important role in selecting the perfect hue for you.
Cooler skin tones tend to look best with cool shades of brown like mocha, espresso or ash brown, warmer skin tones suit warmer shades like chocolate cherry and warm chocolate brownie.
Dark skin tones or olive skin tones can opt for dark chocolate hair, and if you have a lot of gray hair to cover, you should go lighter with chocolate caramel or balayage brown.
But remember–at the end of the day this is all about personal preference!
If there’s a shade out there that speaks to you (even if it clashes with your complexion), go ahead and give it a try – life is too short not to rock whatever color makes you feel fabulous!
Perform a Strand Test
Before committing fully to that gorgeous new hair color, it’s always wise to perform a strand test first.
This will help ensure that you get the desired results and prevent any unwanted surprises later on down the line.
(A patch test tests for irritation and allergies and should be done 24-48 hours before you plan to dye your hair).
All you need to do is take a small section of hair from an inconspicuous part of your head (such as behind an ear or near the nape of your neck) and apply some of the dye according to package instructions.
Wait around 30 minutes or however long specified on the box and then rinse off with cool water; this will give you an idea of how well the product works with your current hue and let you know if there are any issues or surprises before you dye your whole head!
How to dye your hair at home.
Chocolate brown hair dye FAQs
What color is chocolate brown hair color?
Chocolate brown has multi-dimensional tones that are richer, warmer and more golden than ash brown but not as red as deep dark mahogany.
This color is loved by all because it makes your hair appear fuller, thicker and glossier whichever shade you choose.
From chocolate cherry to mocha to iced and milk chocolate brownie, the range of gorgeous chocolate hair colors are enough to make your mouth and eyes water!
You can also go light or darkest brown hair color with this brunette shade. It’s a great face-framing color for warm and cool skin tones alike.
It also works amazingly as a base for other styles too like ombre, brown balayage and highlights.
Blend it with lighter brown, caramel and blonde to add even more depth and sun-kissed shimmer to your look.
It can fade to red in between colorings so make sure you have a good blue shampoo at hand to combat any brassiness.
And because of it’s warmth, red lowlights make a beautiful autumnal style.
Check out the latest looks for ideas and inspiration.
Can I dye my hair chocolate brown at home?
The fabulous news is that this is an easy color to do yourself at home.
The best advice is to choose a shade lighter than the color you are now because brown box dyes tend to come up darker.
Remember you can’t lighten color with color, so if you want to go a lighter shade of chocolate brown, you’ll need to pre-lighten your hair first.
This means using bleach, so chat to your hairdresser if you’re not sure about doing it yourself – you don’t want to get this wrong!
Do I need to bleach my hair to dye it chocolate brown?
The answer is maybe.
If your hair is currently a dark color, then you will probably need to lighten it before applying a chocolate brown dye.
If your hair is lighter, you may be able to get away with using a dye that doesn’t require bleaching.
Of course, it’s always best to consult with a professional hair colorist to find out what will work best for your hair.
But in general, as long as your hair is light enough, you shouldn’t need to bleach it before dying it chocolate brown.
So go ahead and experiment with different shades until you find the perfect one for you!
Is chocolate brown hair dye lighter than dark brown?
When it comes to hair color, many people think that all brown dyes are created equal. However, tonally there is a big difference between chocolate brown hair dye and dark brown hair dye.
Chocolate brown is actually lighter than dark brown, and it also has a more red undertone.
As a result, chocolate brown can be a great choice for people who want to add some dimension to their hair without going too light.
How do I go from black hair to chocolate brown?
So you’ve decided you want to go from black hair to chocolate brown. It’s a big change, but it’s definitely doable.
First things first, you’ll need to find a good shade of brown that suits your skin tone.
Once you’ve found the perfect shade, you’ll need to bleach your hair.
This can be a bit of a daunting task, but luckily there are plenty of helpful bleaching tutorials online.
After bleaching your hair, you’ll need to apply the color.
And that’s it! Just be patient and follow the instructions carefully, and you’ll be rocking chocolate brown hair in no time.
Here’s a great video that shows you how to dye your hair to chocolate brown from black hair step-by-step.
Can you put brown box dye over bleached hair?
The good news is that yes, you can!
If you’ve ever bleached your hair, you know that the process can be pretty damaging. Bleaching not only strips your hair of its natural color, but it also dries it out and makes it more susceptible to breakage.
As a result, many people are left wondering if they can simply put brown box dye over their bleached hair. Thankfully, brown box dye will help to cover up any brassiness and restore some of the moisture to your hair.
However, it’s important to choose a shade that is close to your natural color. Otherwise, you may end up with an unnatural-looking result.
You should also avoid using box dye if your hair is very damaged. In this case, it’s best to see a professional colorist who can help you achieve the look you want without further damaging your hair.
Is chocolate brown hair dye warm or cool?
It’s an extremely versatile color that you can find in shades that are warm or cool. Hurrah!
If you prefer warmer tones, then the rich brown shades like caramel chocolate, chocolate brownie and light chocolate might be for you.
If on the other hand, you’re drawn to cooler shades, then iced mocha, cocoa and cherry chocolate colors could swing things your way.
If you don’t know whether your undertones are cool or warm, just use our checklist below!
If you have cool undertones
- Your skin tone is pink or pale.
- You blush easily!
- Jewel and pastel colors are so your thing.
- The color yellow washes you out and does not look good on you.
- You have blue not green veins in your wrist.
- Pearls and silver jewellery look awesome on you.
If you have warm undertones
- You have red or golden tones in your natural hair.
- Your skin tone is golden, tan or olive.
- You might have freckles.
- You have green not blue veins in your wrist.
- You suit bright or rich shades better.
- Gold jewellery looks awesome on you.
Parting words
Finding the right hair dye for you can be a bit of a struggle.
There are so many shades that you need to find one that is just right for your complexion, style and personality.
The good news is that there are plenty of options out there for all tastes, styles and budgets.
Whether it’s as subtle as an accent or as bold and daring as your only color choice, there are plenty of options for how to wear the rich shade that will suit anything from a day at work to a night on the town with friends.
So go ahead and indulge in all those delicious chocolate brown hair dyes. Good luck!
Found your perfect 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!
