To help you select your perfect shade, we enlisted colorists Jenny Balding and Jonathan Colombini’s advice in selecting their top dark hair dye picks and techniques for home use, along with recommended formulas that nourish hair for minimal damage.
Mocha Brown
Mocha brown with warm red undertones offers an ultra-subtle upgrade that celebs such as Kim Kardashian and Clelia Theodorou (Towie’s Clelia Theodorou) swear by.
Chocolate Brown
Chocolate brown hair color is a timeless classic that complements all skin tones beautifully. Not too dark nor too light, chocolate brown works in various hairstyles significantly. Sheer chocolate brown hair is an easy hue to maintain, creating an effortlessly seductive style when combined with highlights or balayage. Kristen Danyal is one beauty who showcased this look by keeping her rich mahogany hue while adding highlights in cinnamon and magenta hues for an unconventional ombre effect.
Pearl Tone
Pearl blonde is a beautiful way to add extra shine and frame your face like Leonardo Da Vinci did, preparing your complexion like one of his paintings. Warm yet cool enough not to draw too much attention away from your eyebrows, pearl blonde will do just the trick. If you aren’t ready to bleach your entire head, balayage offers another subtler, stunning approach. Try an ash-blonde hue if your roots need refreshing more often; this hue pairs nicely with olive skin tones!
Honey Balayage
Opt for demi or semi-permanent shades if you’re not ready for fuller-coverage dye. They will be less damaging, says Colombini, and great for refreshing roots between salon visits. Add an even softer touch with wintery baby lights in cool blonde hues for a delicate, subtle effect, suggests stylist Viktorija Sinkeviciute. She notes this look will suit neutral to warm complexions perfectly. Alternatively, opt for rich chestnut brown with black highlights for an eye-catching hue that requires little maintenance and care. This hue will look luxurious while being low maintenance – use hair oil regularly to prevent dryness and ensure color integrity between appointments.
Money Piece
Money-piece hair highlights are an effective way to add a splash of color without dyeing your entire head. This technique highlights only the front strands around your face for a face-framing effect that works great with all hairstyles. This trend is ideal for medium-length hair, allowing you to experiment with color without being overly dramatic. Try pastel purple or cool blue for an eye-catching, modern, and stylish look! Celebrities such as Beyonce and Khloe Kardashian have popularized this glamorous highlight style. A blonde money piece on dark hair gives off an irresistibly sun-kissed glow, so finding a colorist experienced with creating money piece highlights can create the desired sun-kissed glow. But be wary: finding someone capable of applying them correctly so your highlights blend harmoniously into the rest of your locks is crucial for creating this look successfully.
Lighter Ends
Darker brown shades with lighter ends are an effective way to add dimension and volume to dark hair without going blonde, says Brook. “This style works especially well if you have fine locks that need additional body.” Hairstylists often recommend semi- or demi-permanent dyes as an alternative to bleaching their locks since their formulas do not include developers and allow experimentation without permanent damage to your locks. Add an extra splash of color with tinted toner or hair mask! Give your dye job an added boost with vibrant toner or mask shades!
Curly Curls
If you have textured hair, highlight its curls with color. According to Mahshid Baghaei of Mizu Louis Licari, this can make them appear even fuller while making them stand out against your natural brown tone, according to Mahshid Baghaei’s advice. Hickory brown, with more red tones than mahogany and excellent results on morenas, offers another fantastic shade option to consider when adding depth to brunette strands without going full-on red. Take your cue from its name; the hue is inspired by wood, known for its strong grain and dark red tones. Adding this subtle yet impactful hue adds dimension without going all-out red. Burgundy brown can also be an excellent option, featuring delicate wine red hues on a rich dark brown base that complements all skin tones. Remember that your colorist may lift the roots to achieve this look.
