10 Best Brown Hair Dyes, As Per A Cosmetologist – 2024
These mesmerizing brown hues will convince you that brunette hair is the real deal!
Laura Dale is a Hair Expert and licensed Cosmetologist with over 20 years of experience. Laura has worked as a Global Education Director for Beauty Brands specializing in haircare and as a Beauty Editor she is passionate about sharing her love of beauty products and hair tools.
Read full bio of Laura Dale
Experience: 5 yearsMedha Deb is a commerce editor with a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts. She specializes in the areas of beauty, health, and wellness and is committed to ensuring that the content on the website is of the highest quality.
Read full bio of Medha Deb
Experience: 5 yearsMedha Deb is a commerce editor with a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts. She specializes in the areas of beauty, health, and wellness and is committed to ensuring that the content on the website is of the highest quality.
Read full bio of Medha Deb
Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
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We have just what you need if you have been looking for the best brown hair dyes. The fad for brunettes has always been on, and from books, looks to brains, the immovable spotlight has always pointed towards brown hair. Even though you might be tempted to color your hair brown, the thought of frayed and auburn tresses will keep you from experimenting with your hair. There is not just one shade to look for with the advancement in hair colors. You can experiment with any hair color or add subtle highlights that complement your skin tone, from light brown to the darkest shades. So are we ready to add a sprinkle of perkiness to your personality? Here are the 100 most flattering shades of brown hair dyes to choose from. Go ahead and select the one that suits your style the most.
In This Article
Bring Out Your Iconic Brunette With The 10 Best Brown Hair Dyes
1. Best Ammonia-Free Formula: REVLON ColorSilk Beautiful Color – 41 Medium Brown
Revlon’s ColorSilk hair dye provides you a natural-looking, multi-tonal hue with its 3D Color Gel Technology. This Revlon colorsilk brown shade helps you achieve 100% gray hair coating by giving root-to-tip hair definition. Owing to the specially blended permanent hair coloring formula with no ammonia, your hair gets a boost of keratin and silk amino acids for protection as well as maintaining a natural sheen. Multiple reviewers love this product as it successfully covers all grays and adds an amazing shine to the hair.
Pros
- 100% gray hair coverage
- Enriched with keratin and amino acid
- 3D Color Gel Technology for rich color
- Ammonia-free
- Available in 21 different shades of brown
Cons
- Could be slightly itchy if you’re sensitive to chemicals
Pro Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has garnered over 35,680 positive reviews on Amazon, and the number continues to grow.
2. Best Hair Fiber Conditioning: Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme – 415 Raspberry Truffle
This deep conditioning Garnier dark brown hair color is formulated with a non-drip color technology and is packed with nourishing ingredients like avocado, olive, and shea oils that spread evenly. For silkier and shinier hair with natural looking hair color, this shade of brown hair dye also comes with an ampoule of grapeseed oil. The soft mahogany tones from this hair dye covers 100% of the gray hair. This deep rich brown natural hair color permeates deep into hair fibers to properly nourish and condition your hair to extend the staying power of the hair dye. This shade is best if your natural hair color ranges anywhere between light brown and black. This video with a tester’s experience of using the product will give you a better insight into the Garnier Nutrisse Raspberry Truffle Box.
Pros
- Contains fruit oils
- Covers 100% gray hair
- Nourishes and conditions hair fibers
- Does not bleed
Cons
- Contains resorcinol which may cause headaches
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product is so liked by shoppers that it has gained over 25,533 great reviews on Amazon.
3. Best Long-Lasting Formula: L’Oreal Paris Excellence Créme Triple Protection Color – 5AB Mocha Ash Brown
If you’re into muted cool brown shades, this L’oreal hair dye in Mocha Ash Brown is the one to get your hands on. This long-lasting color is designed with a triple protection system that also covers 100% of all those stubborn graying hair strands, the color contains a pro-keratin complex to boost extra protection. The triple protection technology protects, maintains, and enriches your hair’s lustre before, during, and after the color has faded. So, not only are you guaranteed a semi-permanent hair color but also strengthened hair. It is recommended to conduct a patch test before use to avoid any irritation.
Pros
- Long-lasting result
- Infused with pro-keratine complex
- Triple protection technology
- 100% gray hair cover
Cons
- Some may find the scent overpowering
Pro Tip REVLON ColorSilk Beautiful Color - 41 Medium Brown Best Ammonia-Free Formula | Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme - 415 Raspberry Truffle Best Hair Fiber Conditioning | L’Oreal Paris Excellence Créme Triple Protection Color - 5AB Mocha Ash Brown Best Long-Lasting Formula | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color | 41 Medium Brown | 415 Soft Mahogany Dark Brown (Raspberry Truffle) | 5AB Mocha Ashe Brown |
| Dimensions | 3.44 x 1.94 x 6.13 inches | 2.13 x 3.25 x 6.25 inches | 3.5 x 6.5 x 2.75 inches |
| Weight | 6.4 Ounces | 7.2 Ounces | 8.16 Ounces |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 35,680 | 25,533 | 24,051 |
| Price | $8.58 | $7.97 | $8.99 |
4. Best Vegan Formula:The Henna Guys Henna Hair & Beard Dye – Dark Brown
Henna is probably one of the best natural brown hair dyes, which is why The Henna Guys bring you their curated organic hair dye that is a blend of indigo and other herbs. One of the best qualities of henna is that it conditions hair while coloring it naturally, without any chemicals. Amla or Indian gooseberry, neem, bhringraj or false daisy are the special herbs that have been blended into finely milled powder to provide you not only a rich, nutty but also promote hair growth, strengthen hair, and prevent premature graying. Multiple reviewers recommend this product to add color, shine, and volume to your dull and limp hair.
Pros
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Promotes overall health of hair
- Natural ingredients for care and protection
Cons
- Product tends to bleed
Pro TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has received 12,080 positive Amazon reviews from its users, stating its numerous benefits.
5. Best Moisturizing Formula:Softsheen-Carson, Dark & Lovely Fade Resist Color – 377 Sunkissed Brown
This sunkissed brown hair dye sounds just as you’d expect and even more! Now with the soft-sheen brown hair color, achieving long-lasting and supremely shiny hair will be cakewalk. The Dark & Lovely Fade Resist hair dye’s sunkissed shade is that of a lovely golden tinge mixed with a medium brown hair dye. Moisture Seal and Fade Resist features of this hair dye helps lock in moisture and offer a brilliant extra shine while protecting hair against breakage. Enriched with nourishing ingredients like argan oil and vitamin E for silky and luxurious hair color lasting up to 8 weeks, this fade-resistant hair dye is one to look out for. This video review details a tester’s experience of using the product.
Pros
- No drip jelly formula
- Prevents hair drying
- Contains natural ingredients for nourishing hair
- Lasts up to 8 weeks
- Locks in moisture
Cons
- May not suit all hair types and colors
Pro Tip6. Best USDA Certified Option:Naturtint Permanent Gel Hair Color – 5N Light Chestnut Brown
The Naturtint hair dye dark brown is a clean alternative to regular dyes and is made without any ammonia, artificial fragrance, or parabens. Certified by the USDA BioPreferred Program, this hair dye is a petroleum-free propylene glycol formula. The softness and shine of using this hair dye are simply unmatchable as its ingredients are 92% naturally derived and are high quality. Olive oleic acid in the formulation is a fatty acid that provides health and vitality to the hair while the meadowfoam seed oil retains the moisture and lustre of your hair. Apart from these, nourishing ingredients like quinoa, baobab, and organic shea butter are added to rebuild the hair’s natural keratin and provide the needed amino acids.
Pros
- 92% naturally derived ingredients
- USDA certified
- Contains no parabens, ammonia, and artificial fragrance
- 100% vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Dermatologically-tested
Cons
- May not offer long-lasting wear
7. Best Fragrance-Free Formula:Schwarzkopf Simply Color – 5.65 Truffle Brown
The Schwarzkopf hair dye in Truffle Brown is yet another lavish hair color to help cover your grays. With nourishing ingredients including oat milk, soy protein, and argan oil, the colorant becomes a sensitive scalp-friendly option. This hair dye formula is dermatologist-tested which results in this dye being free of ammonia, silicone, alcohol, PPD, and PTD. Another great addition to this product is that the carton in which the product comes is 100% recyclable and therefore compostable.
Pros
- Comes without PPD, ammonia, and other chemical irritants
- Gentle on scalp
- No strong smell
- Does not bleed or fade
- Perfect for gray coverage
- Dermatologist-tested
Cons
- Some may find the slightly drying
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has received 5,543 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.
8. Best For Sealing Gray Hair:Tints of Nature Simply Healthier Hair Colour – 4N Natural Medium Brown
Seeking to go back in time for classic brunette hair? Fret not, the Tints of Nature’s deep rich brown hair color is just what you need to turn your natural hair into a Hepburn brown. This pretty brown hair dye contains 95% naturally derived ingredients, is vegan, and is free from harsh chemicals like ammonia, parabens, resorcinol, and propylene glycol. The hair color covers 100% gray hair as well as provides a gorgeous, healthy gloss to your hair with its specially developed low-chemical formula to naturally lock in the color and strengthen your hair for visibly strong and restored hair. Check out some reviews on Amazon if you wish to learn more about the hair dye.
Pros
- Seals all gray hair
- 95% naturally-derived ingredients
- Long-lasting
- No smell
Cons
- May contain sulfate
9. Best Handcrafted Hair Dye:Naturcolor Herbal Based Haircolor Gel – 6N Sagebrush Brown
The 6N Sagebrush Brown from Naturcolor is a light brown dye that provides a natural tint to your hair. The entire range of their dyes are handcrafted with the finest Italian pigments that are plant-based. This lighter shade of brown hair dye also comes without ammonia, resorcinol, or parabens for repeated usage that will not damage your hair. The dye does its job to cover all the gray areas — literally — and results in a long-lasting natural brown tone. Multiple reviewers recommend this hair dye for those who have sensitive skin.
Pros
- Handcrafted
- Ideal for chemically-sensitive people
- Covers gray hair
- No smell
Cons
- May not offer lasting color
10. Best Drugstore Hair Color:Clairol Nice’n Easy Crème Natural Looking Permanent Hair Dye – 6 Light Brown
Drugstore boxed dyes are usually frowned upon by hairstylists, but this Clairol light brown hair dye will give that flout a run for its money. The Nice’n Easy medium brown is a permanent color cream hair dye that is gentle on your hair and scalp. It is infused with oil that conditions your hair to be soft and shiny. Clairol’s Colorblend Technology maintains the longevity of the dye and covers 100% gray hair. Ensure you conduct a patch test before use.
Pros
- Lasts up to 8 weeks
- Blends 3 colors into every shade
- Restores moisture and shine
- One of the best drugstore hair colors
Cons
- Strong fragrance
Things To Consider When Buying A Brown Hair Dye
- Find your undertone
Undertones play a big role when it comes to cosmetics. The key aspect in locating your perfect shade of brown is to pick shades that are opposite to your skin’s undertones. So, if you have a yellow, olive, or warm skin tone, select cooler shades. Similarly, if you happen to fall on the cooler spectrum of the skin tone, look for shades that have a warmer essence in their names. A quick way to find your undertone is to flip your wrist and check for greenish or bluish veins. You have warm undertones for green, and cool undertones for blue veins. Note if you happen to have a mix of both green and blue veins, you likely have neutral undertones, which means choosing any shade of brown will look gorgeous on you.
- Pay attention to their names
Cool shades usually have “ash brown” or “mushroom” or “cool” mentioned in the shade names. So, if you have warm-toned skin, focus on browns that cater to seemingly cool-toned names. “Golden”, “sunkissed”, “mahogany” or “chocolate” browns in shade names indicate they fall on the warmer spectrum, thus, if you have cooler undertones, opt for a brown shade that has a hint of warmth.
- Post-care for color-treated hair
Now, it is a given that whichever hair dye you opt to purchase unless it is organic henna will have some amount of chemicals that may or may not affect your hair. After you dye your hair, the process of taking care of it steps up to a new level as you may find yourself with drying, frizzy, or even greasy hair. So, do not forget to deep condition your scalp and hair on a weekly basis to restore and lock the moisture in your strands.
- Conduct a patch test
This surely goes without saying that you must always test a new product on a smaller portion of your skin to observe any reaction.
Opting for a brown hair dye opens the door to a myriad of shades to choose. Besides the cultural and somewhat stereotypical connotations this color holds, history has a list of icons that have rocked the shades of brown. Be it auburn, ash, chocolate or simply dark; a brown full head of hair just adds the needed bit of pizzazz. This clearly shows how brown isn’t just another color apt within the walls of corporate realms. To help you locate your perfect shade, we hope that from the above list of browns that branch out from one single color, you are able to find your best brown hair dye.
Laura Dale, a licensed cosmetologist, a hair expert, and a master stylist with over 20 years of industry experience, suggests, “When choosing your color pay special attention to the type of dye you are using. Those looking to cover gray hair should opt for a permanent color, and if you are looking to blend gray, or you have no gray and want to go all dark should try a semi-permanent or demi permanent shade.”
Infographic: A Detailed Guide On How To Apply A Brown Hair Dye
We often go to professional colorists at the salon to get colored hair, but each visit feels more expensive than the other. Worry not! You can pamper your tresses at home and color them differently without going to the salon and breaking the bank every two months. The infographic below explains how to apply a brown hair dye at home, which might be helpful if you are planning to try it out yourself. Take a look!
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
If you want to go subtle with your hair color, you can never go wrong with a soft brown shade. Brown is a universally flattering hair color and is available in dark and light shades that compliment every skin tone. The REVLON ColorSilk Beautiful Color – 41 Medium Brown is perfect for a natural warm brown shade, while the L’Oreal Paris Excellence Créme Triple Protection Color – 5AB Mocha Ash Brown is a great cool brown color. The Naturtint Permanent Gel Hair Color– 5N Light Chestnut Brown is a good choice for those who want a dark brown and prefer natural ingredients. The options are endless, from light brown shades like honey and caramel brown to darker ones like chocolate and chestnut brown for a sun kissed look. So whether you are coloring your hair for the first time or want to refresh your existing hair color, you can pick your favorite best brown hair dye from the list. These colors are free from ammonia, available in different shades of brown, offer 100% gray coverage, and are long-lasting.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long does a permanent brown hair dye last?
A good semi permanent dye or permanent brown hair dye should be lasting anywhere within 6 to 8 weeks.
Do brown hair dyes have bleach in them?
No, most boxed dyes or colorants that cater to darker hair colors do not contain bleach. The only bit of “lightening” that you’d notice from a lighter brown shade depends on the level of developer used in the dye.
Can a brown hair dye damage hair?
No, semi-permanent or permanent hair dyes contain a heavy amount of natural oils which help keep your hair safe, without resulting in damaged hair. However, almost all dyes have an amount of chemicals that could affect your hair’s texture, thus a post-care color-treated hair routine is a must.
Can a brown hair dye cover red hair?
If you have red color-treated hair or are genuinely a redhead, opt for a darker shade of brown. This will cover the reddish hair.
How long do you leave brown dye in your hair?
Around 30-45 minutes should be sufficient for a brown dye to settle on your hair after the dyeing process.
What brown hair dye has no red in it?
Red, orange, and yellow are the natural undertones that combine and form different shades of brown. However, to completely eliminate redness, you can opt for the Dark Ash Brown hair color. This color has no traces of shades of red or orange.
Does ash brown cancel out red?
Yes. Any dye with a tinge of ash effectively eliminates the traces of warmer undertones, or in this case, red.
What is the difference between ash brown and brown?
Ash brown has a tinge of gray and is a medium shade of the color brown. Brown is the shade that gives out one of its many variations, called ash brown.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Medha Deb, is a hair care aficionado and takes pleasure in helping people choose the right products for their tresses. For this article, she has extensively researched brown hair dyes and scrolled through hundreds of reviews posted by users to curate the list of best products mentioned above. These long-lasting dyes are available in various shades that fully cover gray hair and nourish and condition the locks. Besides, they help you up your style game.
Read full bio of Laura Dale
Read full bio of Medha Deb
Read full bio of Medha Deb
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
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