Brown hair can be far from basic with its wide variety of tones and hues that will suit anyone – be they warm like Priyanka Chopra’s or cool complexioned like Rihanna’s – there is sure to be one shade that complements their beauty perfectly.
Consult with your stylist about obtaining a sandy brown shade with large swaths of highlights on a dark base, similar to natural balayage or subtle ombre techniques. This tone works particularly well for light complexions with blue or green eyes.
Warm
Warm tones make brown hair color ideal for warm complexions. Warmer shades also bring out gold in their eyes, and should help bring out their gold shimmer. Your salon professional can assist in finding a shade of medium brown that complements both your skin tone and undertones. To do this, look at the veins underneath your wrist in natural lighting to determine your undertones. If they appear green rather than blue, these indicate warm undertones in your complexion.
Sandy blonde has made waves among trends, yet it can look equally lovely on brunettes. Ask your stylist to apply hand-painted balayage highlights in a light, neutral shade on your brunette locks for maximum impact.
Warmer tones work wonders with medium and dark brown hair, accentuating tanned skin tones and blue or hazel eyes. Priyanka Chopra sports an exquisite caramel brown bob, enhancing her complexion while brightening her eyes.
Cool
An ideal shade of brown hair can accentuate your complexion and eyes, like in Viola Davis’ case, with her mahogany hue paired with golden skin tones and blue eyes. Try pairing this look with caramel or paler smoky highlights for added dimension.
Ask your colorist to add subtle sandy brown or light honey balayage highlights to your chestnut brown locks to keep them from looking dull. This lighter-to-dark highlighting technique works particularly well on medium or warm brunettes who want their appearance to remain natural.
Cool-complexioned individuals should consider opting for a dark plum brown shade with an intense violet cast, such as an eye-catching dark plum ombre or highlight in this dramatic shade. It looks incredibly stunning on blondes and brunettes with olive or light brown skin tones; ask your stylist to highlight or ombre this hue for added drama, keeping it shiny with regular glossing treatments (such as Arrojo’s Whipped Treatment) that contain nourishing oils to maintain shine and keep it looking its best!
Neutral
Neutral skin tones have it easy when choosing their hair color because they suit warm and cool shades, giving you more options than those with paler complexions. You can experiment with bright hues that might wash out other faces.
To determine your skin tone, look closer at the veins on your wrist – greenish veins indicate a warm complexion, while blueish ones indicate cooler ones. Next, consider eye color and what clothes are typically worn to work as indicators of skin tones.
If you have medium-brown hair, strawberry blonde can add an uplifting summery tone without over-washing your complexion. Or, for something rich and earthy to suit both warm and cool complexions alike, dark brown with mahogany highlights is another good choice. Or ask your stylist about walnut ash brown with its violet undertones or the classic look of caramel to give a brunette dimension to neutral skin tones.
Dark
Depending on your preferred shade, brown hair can be as dark and sensual as black. Cool-toned shades with blue or purple undertones look lovely against dark skin tones and blue-eyed eyes, making this style especially complementary for dark complexions and blue-eyed people. Ask your stylist to add a pop of color at the ends for an edgy style that works for straight, wavy, or curly tresses!
Mahogany brown is another stunning shade for brunettes, boasting rich coppery undertones with reddish undertones that look incredibly stunning when worn against olive or neutral skin tones and bring out green eye pigmentation. This hue accentuates blue-eyed people and can bring out their green irises beautifully.
If you prefer something less dramatic, your stylist can add caramel highlights to your natural brown shade for an effortlessly blended look that complements all complexions and eye colors. Or try Jenna Dewan’s medium golden brown ombre look; make sure it stays shiny by using products free from sulfates and parabens intended for colored hair, such as shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated to care for colored locks.
