Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Style
  3. Hair
  4. The Best Hair Color Ideas for Brunettes

The Best Hair Color Ideas for Brunettes

Mary Shannon Hodes, Associate Digital Editor at Southern Living
By Mary Shannon Wells
Skip gallery slides
FB
Mushroom Brown Hair
Credit: Pinterest
Since blonde hair is a lighter base, it once seemed as though blondes had more options when it came to hair colors. With techniques like balayage taking the front seat in hair color, though, brunettes can have just as much fun with color. Lately, ashy brunettes are front and center in hair trends. These cool brunette hair colors are edgier than your everyday warm honey highlights, and they look amazing. With smoky hues like chocolate mauve and ash brown in the lead, the best brunette shades of today aren't traditional by any means. If you're not interested in going grey, try out cool-tone babylights for a hint of ice. Who's ready to head to the salon?
Start Slideshow

1 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cool Espresso

Cool Espresso
Credit: Instagram/@che.r.mariano

This dark brunette is absolutely gorgeous, especially when blended with cool, slightly lighter tones for a sombré effect.

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Icy Babylights

Icy Babylights
Credit: Instagram/@saripaints

This brunette is iced up with wintery babylights in cool blondes and beiges.

2 of 12

3 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Smoky Sombré

Smoky Sombré
Credit: Instagram/@habitsalon

This subtle ombré fades from a cool, dark brunette to icy, beige ends. Sombré is a great color job if you want to grow out your natural color.

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Beige Brown and Ice Gold

Beige Brown and Ice Gold
Credit: Instagram/@kimwasabi

This gorgeous blend of muted brunette and a cool-toned gold makes for a striking combination.

4 of 12

5 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ash Brown

Ash Brown
Credit: Instagram/@takuya648

If you can’t tell from some of the colors we’ve already listed, ashen tones are in. This brunette is snowy and cool.

5 of 12

6 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chocolate Mauve

Chocolate Mauve
Credit: Instagram/@lo.rean

Chocolate mauve is the moodier version of rose brown hair color, and we’re here for it. This combo of smoky, brunette, and purple hues is so cool.

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Mushroom Brown Hair

Mushroom Brown Hair
Credit: Pinterest

Mushroom brown hair has taken the Internet by a storm, and it’s not losing momentum. The muted, ashy, almost-grey, almost-brown shade seems low key but has big impact.

7 of 12

8 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Charcoal Brunette with Silver Babylights

Charcoal Brunette with Silver Babylights
Credit: Instagram/@xo.farhana.balayage

This darkest brunette is softened around the edges with delicate, ashy babylights.

8 of 12

9 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Dusty Lavender

Dusty Lavender
Credit: Instagram/@kimwasabi

Lavender, also known these days as “melodramatic purple,” is the new millennial pink. You’re going to see the shade everywhere from your nail polish to your home décor, so why not your hair color?

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pearly Cocoa

Pearly Cocoa
Credit: Instagram/@takuya648

This muted, light brunette has a pearly sheen that’s hauntingly pretty.

10 of 12

11 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Denim Balayage on Deep Brunette

Denim Balayage on Deep Brunette
Credit: Instagram/hoang.n.pham

This icy, silvery blue looks truly mesmerizing against a deep brunette base.

11 of 12

12 of 12

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cool-Tone Ombré

Cool-Tone Ombré
Credit: Instagram/@scixxorhands

From the almost purple brunette top to the sandy bronde bottom, this ombré is cool and collected. Not to mention the bangs are perfectly on trend.

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Mary Shannon Wells

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 12 Cool Espresso
    2 of 12 Icy Babylights
    3 of 12 Smoky Sombré
    4 of 12 Beige Brown and Ice Gold
    5 of 12 Ash Brown
    6 of 12 Chocolate Mauve
    7 of 12 Mushroom Brown Hair
    8 of 12 Charcoal Brunette with Silver Babylights
    9 of 12 Dusty Lavender
    10 of 12 Pearly Cocoa
    11 of 12 Denim Balayage on Deep Brunette
    12 of 12 Cool-Tone Ombré

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    The Best Hair Color Ideas for Brunettes
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.