Dark brown hair is massively underrated, but we’re doing our part to give it the credit it deserves. While brunette hair might be extremely common, it’s more complex than you think! It can have a ton of different undertones, and it can be combined with other hair colors easily to achieve all kinds of effects. All-over brunette, highlights, balayages, and sombrés – there are so many ways to rock dark brown hair, and we’ve found the best examples of each style! Whether you’re a natural brunette wanting to play around or someone with a totally different hair color looking to make a big change, we’ve got you covered! We’ve selected the most stunning examples of dark brown hair from across the Internet to show you all of the different options and get you inspired.
1. Brunette Hair with Caramel Swirl
This gorgeous balayage combines different shades of brown for a rich, sweet look. The bulk of the hair is colored a cool dark brown hair color, with threads of warm caramel adding that transitional brightness that makes the color feel more complex.
2. Dark Brown Hair with Vertical Highlights
For highlights to be good, they don’t need to be plentiful but just well-placed. This stunning curly brunette hair color is touched by vertical streaks of golden brown that give a sun-dappled effect to the hair while also giving the illusion of intense shine and thickness.
3. Dark Brown and Ash Balayage
This balayage keeps things totally neutral, which is why it works despite the high color contrast. The super dark brown hair is neither warm nor cool, and the same is true for the intense ash blonde balayage, which leads to a harmonious effect.
4. Lush Brunette Waves
Long hair styled into smooth waves will probably look amazing, no matter the color. That’s why these chocolate brown locks seem regal, though we got to admit those golden streaks in the mids and ends also help.
5. Dark Brown Hair with Money Piece
If you want a dark brown hair color but are also still tempted to feel like a blonde, then this is exactly the kind of look to experiment with. The bulk of the hair remains a dark and neutral brown shade, with a hint of dirty blonde balayage and then a money piece, which is a streak of blonde right at the front that brightens up the whole face.
6. Blingy Gold and Dark Brown Hair
This is a heavily highlighted example of dark brown hair, with a neutral, espresso-colored base that’s made blingy and dynamic thanks to streaks and streaks of shimmery gold blonde. It works even better because of the flirty layered haircut.
7. Metallic Ash Brown Hair
Romantic waves and curls would look pretty no matter what, but a metallic touch of ash brings them to the next level. The bulk of the hair is a cool dark brown that combines beautifully with the cool ash shade, and a hint of hair gloss makes it look like molten metal.
8. Earth Mushroom Brown Hair
This high-contrast look is irresistibly dramatic. It’s a very cool-toned balayage, with cool dark brown hair balayage over with super-light mushroom blonde tones, which add a ton of shine and lightness without brassiness.
9. Espresso and Ginger Hair
Now, this look is spicy! This shade of espresso brown hair is perfectly neutral (maybe even a little cool), so these ginger-colored balayage streaks add some very warm contrast. It’s the perfect combination of red and brown, especially if you’re wanting autumn hair.
10. Dark Auburn Brown
This is a more restrained but slightly warmer take on brunette hair. There are neutral, espresso-colored lowlights in there, but the ruling shade is a warmer brown that leans towards auburn with touches of honey here and there.
