See yourself brunette before you commit to the color

Going brunette changes your whole look, from your skin to your eyes. Preview a few browns on your own photo before you pick one. Free to try.

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A woman with mousy brown hair
Before
The same woman with a chestnut long bob
After

Which brunette shade suits me?

Match the warmth of the brown to your skin. Warm or golden skin often looks good in chestnut and mocha, while cool or pink skin often suits deeper, cooler browns such as espresso. Try two or three shades on your photo, then check them in daylight.

Brunette shades, and how they differ

  1. Chestnut

    A medium brown with a touch of red or gold. It is warm and friendly, and it is a gentle step from many natural colors. A good first brunette if you are coming from dark blonde or light brown.

  2. Mocha and soft mocha

    Mocha is a medium-dark brown with a little warmth, like coffee with milk. Soft mocha is lighter and creamier. Both look rich without feeling heavy, and both are easy to wear.

  3. Chocolate and espresso

    Chocolate is deep and warm, and it shows shine well on smooth cuts. Espresso is very dark, close to black but softer. It is dramatic against light skin, and it is the hardest shade to lighten later.

  4. Warm or cool undertone

    Warm browns carry gold, red or copper. Cool browns lean ash or neutral. A simple check: gold jewelry usually flatters warm skin and silver flatters cool skin. If both work, you may be neutral and can go either way.

  5. Going darker from blonde or gray

    Going darker is often simpler than going lighter, but blonde or gray hair can turn flat or uneven if the color is not balanced. Ask your stylist how they will add warmth and depth so the brown looks rich, not dull.

Best for
People who want a deeper, richer color, who want to calm down brassy blonde, or who want to grow out highlights into one smooth shade.
Upkeep
Brown tends to fade toward warm or reddish tones over time. A gloss and a color-safe shampoo keep it fresh. Regrowth shows less than on blonde, though gray at the roots stands out against darker color.
Watch out for
Dark color is harder to lighten later, and a shade far from your natural one can look harsh. Start one or two steps from where you are, and check the result in daylight.

More looks to try

A woman in her fifties with long straight brown hair Before
The same woman with a chin-length bob After
A woman with long near-black hair Before
The same woman with a copper auburn shag After

Try brunette in the app

  1. Add one photo

    Use one clear photo in daylight if you can, facing the camera. Strong yellow or blue indoor light can bend how your color reads.

  2. Keep the cut, change the color

    Keep your current cut and change only the color, so the shade is the only thing that moves. Pick a brown from the color row.

  3. Compare two browns

    Try a second brown beside the first, then toggle See original. Look at how each one sits against your skin and your eyes.

  4. Try it with a new cut

    Pick a cut from the catalogue together with your brown, such as a long bob. Regenerate, then download or share to ask a friend.

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Take it to your stylist

  • Bring two shades

    Show your preview and one shade lighter. Your stylist can place you between them, and you can see how it reads in real light.

  • Say warm, neutral or cool

    Photos of brown hair vary a lot with lighting, so use words. Golden brown, neutral brown and ashy brown describe very different results.

  • Ask about gray and shine

    Mention any gray at the roots, and ask about a gloss to finish. Gray may need a different formula, and a gloss gives brunette its glossy look.

Good to know.

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Is brunette hard to maintain?

Usually less than blonde, because regrowth blends in more. Brown still fades toward warmer tones, so a gloss and color-safe care help. Gray roots show more against dark brown, so a soft mocha or chestnut can be easier.

Can I go brunette from blonde?

Yes. Going darker is often simpler than going lighter. From very light blonde the color can come out dull or uneven, so ask your stylist how they will rebuild warmth and depth before the brown goes in.

Does brunette work with gray hair?

Brown can cover gray, though new gray shows at the roots as it grows in. Softer shades such as soft mocha show it less than espresso. You can also ask about lowlights that keep some gray in the mix.

Is brunette too harsh for pale skin?

It depends on how deep you go. Chestnut and soft mocha are gentler against pale skin, and espresso is a bolder contrast. Preview both on your photo and choose the one that feels like you.

How do I keep brown hair shiny?

Shine comes from healthy ends, a smooth cut and a gloss between color sessions. Cutting damaged ends and using a color-safe shampoo help too. Rich brown reflects light well when the hair is in good condition.

Keep exploring

Ready for your new look?

See it on you before you cut. Free to try.

Download on theApp Store GET IT ONGoogle Play