Style Hair Mushroom Brown Hair Is Trending—And It's Much Prettier Than It Sounds By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 27, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Instagram/@salsalhair When sunny and warm summer days are finally on the horizon, most Southern ladies are ready to freshen up their look with a new cut or color in anticipation. While your first instinct might be to match the weather with warm tones like gold, honey, caramel, and chestnut, we argue that the best approach to the changing season is the new cool-toned hair color trend taking over: mushroom brown hair. (Quite literally, the hue favors the ashy grey-brown tint of the popular portobello mushroom. Aim for that, and you're well on your way.) The multi-dimensional hair shade gets its rich blended color from an ashy base that's layered with highlights and lowlights. Sticking with only cool to neutral brown and blonde shades is the ultimate key to getting the earthy tint. Our favorite part about taking on this end of the spectrum for spring and summer: As your skin gets a fresh sun-kissed glow, the cool tones of this trend get more striking. The versatile hair color allows room to customize, as well. Use traditional highlights, balayage, or babylights; and choose between shades ranging from beige blondes to dark mochas. You can create your perfect personalized ashy look. We've rounded up some major mushroom brown hair inspiration to show just what we've all been missing out on. 01 of 18 Sleek Babylights Pinterest A medium ash brown base gets this flawless finish from major highlighting and lowlighting throughout. If you have straight hair, we're thinking this sleek look is definitely the way to go. 02 of 18 Ash Bronde Pinterest This perfectly blended earth shade captures the mushroom brown color with its fully cool-toned look. The monochromatic finish just might be our favorite approach. 03 of 18 Soft Blending Instagram/@salsalhair Soft and subtle are key here. This look uses various medium ashy shades to get that earthy hue. It's made even trendier with a perfect medium-length, layered cut. 04 of 18 Sunkissed Mocha Pinterest This version is the closest thing you'll get to a sunkissed ashy look, thanks to light neutral blonde balayage throughout the dark mocha mane. This approach will bring out warmer skin tones. 05 of 18 Warmer Base Pinterest This slightly warmer shade is full of dark chocolate and neutral brown and blonde highlights. It's more neutral but still gets that cool toning from the violet-brown color. 06 of 18 Beige Face Framing Pinterest This dark ash base is kept minimal and monochromatic, but the heavy beige blonde and ash brown face-framing catch the light in an effortless, natural-looking way. 07 of 18 Blended Bob Pinterest This medium mushroom brown color uses babylights to get a cohesively blended ashy shade. Can we talk about how stunningly it complements her warm complexion and green eyes? 08 of 18 Dark Balayage Pinterest This ultra-dark cool brown gets some beige blonde and light ash brown balayage highlights for a more dimensional look that gives an edginess to the trendy wavy look. 09 of 18 Silver Sombré Pinterest These silky strands blend down into a soft ombré effect with a grayish ash shade that completely encapsulates the earthy mushroom tint. 10 of 18 Ash Brown Balayage Pinterest This subtle version lets natural brunettes ramp up their signature shade. The dark chocolate base is given a multi-dimensional look from light ash brown balayage. 11 of 18 Muted Metallic Pinterest Go fully into the ash trend with this muted metallic hue that still gets that cool factor from subtle balayage. This look is for the edgiest of ladies. 12 of 18 Icy Babylights Pinterest This ash bronde gives a lighter mushroom brown shade and ups the cool factor with a grayish tint. We love how this color treatment makes her blue eyes pop. 13 of 18 Subtle Lob Instagram/@hairbykacie1 Soft highlights and lowlights enhance this mocha base, while the angled lob-length haircut makes it even trendier. The ashy colors almost take on a grayish-violet tint. 14 of 18 Ashy Ombré Pinterest You get a gradient of cool tones in this style with a mocha brown base followed by ashy brown and icy beige blonde balayage. The seamless finish will grow out easily and subtly as the season progresses. 15 of 18 Piecey Babylights Pinterest Get eye-catching color with contrasting babylights that go lighter and darker than the dark mocha base. This shade will really make a statement once summer rolls around. 16 of 18 Ashy Beige Pinterest This overall finished look is seamlessly blended into an earthy tone full of beige and light ash brown, which complements her peachy skin tone and also works well with warmer complexions. 17 of 18 Contrasting Highlights Pinterest While the lower half of the hair is covered with ash brown, the dark roots are peppered with lighter icy blonde balayage to create a more pronounced contrast. 18 of 18 Edgy Cool Tones Pinterest While this style veers the most off course from the mushroom brown color, it shows how cool tones, such as blue, violet, and gray, are able to blend together easily. Frequently Asked Questions Are ash brown and mushroom brown hair colors the same? Ash brown hair is the same as mushroom brown hair. The hair hue combines a classic brunette with a soft blend of highlights or low lights. This hairstyle is a step between brunette and blonde with various shades of silver highlights that complement a smoky, subtle, and understated brown. What skin tone goes with mushroom brown hair? As an ashy brown color, mushroom brown hair complements skin types with warmer undertones. Mushroom brown can act as a neutral hue or lean towards the cooler side when combined with gray undertones. Adjust mushroom brown hair to include more highlights or earthy tones depending on your eye brown and skin tone. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit