22 Gorgeous Light Brown Hair Color Ideas
These stunning light brown hair color ideas elevate any style and suit all skin tones.
Tiffany Young is the CEO and founder of ThinHairThick and a certified trichology practitioner with 6 years of experience. She is also a recognized expert in the hair and beauty industry with celebrity clientele.
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Experience: 3 yearsAparna Harry is a beauty and lifestyle content writer with over three years of experience in writing for different genres. She has a master’s degree in English Literature from The English And Foreign Languages University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Mysore.
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Some hair colors only work on specific skin tones – light brown is not one of them. Light brown is a versatile shade that complements all skin tones. To show you what we mean, here are 22 light brown hair color ideas you can try out. Light brown works with so many skin tones, hair colors, and hair types because it falls smack dab in the middle of the hair color spectrum. So, if you are blonde, you can transition to light brown easily, and the same goes for brunettes. With the ever-increasing popularity of the blonde trend, it is no surprise that many people are coloring their hair light brown. Keep reading to check out some truly awe-inspiring light brown hair color trends. Scroll down now!
Quick Hair Color Guide: Light BrownHow To Choose A Shade: Warm shades of light brown work well for warm-toned people and flaunt hair layers. Cool shades of this color suit cool-toned people and enhance hair gloss.
Level Of Maintenance: Medium
Suitable For: All hair types
Looks Best With: Neutral eye makeup with red lips
In This Article
22 Light Brown Hair Color Ideas
- Natural Light Brown Hair Color
- Light Brown With A Subtle Balayage
- Light Golden Brown Hair Color
- Light Sable Brown Hair Color
- Light Chocolate Brown Hair Color
- Heavy Light Brown Highlights
- Soft Light Brown Balayage
- Dark To Light Brown Fade
- Light Sandy Brown Hair Color
- Dark Hair To Light Brown Balayage
- Heavy Light Brown Balayage
- Light Brown Babylights
- Light Ash Brown Hair Color
- Light Hazelnut Brown Hair
- Light Brown Balayage With Auburn Undertones
- Smooth Light Brown Bob
- Fall-Inspired Light Brown Hair Color
- Milk Chocolate Pixie
- Light Auburn Brown Hair
- Light Brown Highlights
- Light Brown Highlights On An Angled Bob
- Light Brown Ombre
1. Natural Light Brown Hair Color
If you have dark brown or black hair and want a softer natural color, this look is for you. The light brown textured locks appear to have an even color. The lower lengths of the hair seem slightly lighter caramel shade than the rest of the hair, creating a subtle ombre that looks very natural.
Hair Types: Works best on straight, wavy, or slightly curly hair.
Textures: Ideal for fine to medium hair.
Length: Suitable for medium to long hair.
2. Light Brown With A Subtle Balayage
If you want the perfect sun-kissed bronze look, it is hard to do better than a light brown balayage. This style starts with a medium brown base that quickly fades to a beautiful light brown. The highlights on this balayage begin very close to the roots and create subtle texture in the style.
Hair Types: Perfect for straight or wavy hair.
Textures: Works well with fine or medium hair.
Length: Best on medium to long hair.
3. Light Golden Brown Hair Color
This warm-toned light brown style is so smooth. The dark roots melt into a gorgeous golden brown, which helps create depth in the style. The style also has sable undertones that make it perfect for women with all skin tones. The shoulder-grazing length of this style is perfect for those who want a low-maintenance hairdo that looks gorgeous at all times.
Hair Types: Complements straight or wavy hair.
Textures: Works with fine to coarse hair.
Length: Ideal for shoulder-length or longer hair.
4. Light Sable Brown Hair Color
This hairstyle has been colored to perfection with the perfect amount of gloss. The light sable brown shade has cool undertones that have been highlighted with the glossy finish. There is a subtle fade from the darker roots, which helps create depth in the style, and the result is truly gorgeous.
Hair Types: Best for straight or slightly wavy hair.
Textures: Ideal for medium to thick hair.
Length: Ideal for medium-length cuts.
5. Light Chocolate Brown Hair Color
The choppiness of this lob coupled with the light chocolate brown hair color is a sight to behold. The freshly colored locks are smooth and glossy with choppy ends that help add dimension to the style. The darker roots on the style create a natural look with a lot of depth.
Hair Types: Perfect for straight or wavy hair.
Textures: Works really well with medium to thick hair.
Length: Works on medium-length lobs.
6. Heavy Light Brown Highlights
This natural looking light brown is one of our favorites for fine hair. The medium brown base has been heavily highlighted in fine sections to help create texture and dimension. The result is a light brown that looks natural and voluminous. If you were looking for a style that could add volume to your fine, straight hair, this is it.
Hair Types: Ideal for straight or slightly wavy hair.
Textures: Perfect for fine hair.
Length: Best for medium to long hair.
7. Soft Light Brown Balayage
This is another great style for women with fine, straight, and silky hair. The style looks so natural that it’s almost impossible to tell that it has been colored. The natural brown base fades to a beautiful light brown. The stylist has created a subtle balayage in this look by meticulously painting highlights onto a few sections to help add texture with the subtle contrast.
Hair Types: Perfect for straight or silky hair.
Textures: Ideal for fine hair.
Length: Suitable for medium to long lengths.
8. Dark To Light Brown Fade
This light brown balayage on dark brown hair is a look that will keep the heads turning. The customized beige highlights for brown hair are heavier at the front than the back, perfectly framing the face. The dark brown beautifully blends into a light, almost blonde color. The fine highlights at the back of this style create the perfect amount of contrast, adding texture and dimension to the style.
Hair Types: Complements straight, wavy, or slightly curly hair.
Textures: Best for medium to fine hair.
Length: Works well on medium to long hair.
9. Light Sandy Brown Hair Color
If you are a natural brunette and have always wondered what you would look like as a blonde without having to take that extreme leap, this style is the perfect compromise. In fact, it looks so good, it wouldn’t be a compromise at all. The medium brown roots on this look are blended out to a gorgeous light sandy shade. The style is beautifully tied together with subtle cool undertones.
Hair Types: Suitable for straight, wavy, or slightly curly hair.
Textures: Works well with fine to medium hair.
Length: Works with medium to long hair.
10. Dark Hair To Light Brown Balayage
Melting butterscotch toffee. That was the first thing that came to mind when we laid eyes on this style. The brunette base has been highlighted and melted to a beautiful light brown. The highlights have been painted on in thin sections and start very close to the roots. As you progress to the lower lengths of the style, it fades to a butterscotch brown. This style is perfect for women with fine hair. It adds texture and dimension.
Hair Types: Great for straight or wavy hair.
Textures: Perfect for fine hair.
Length: Ideal for medium to long hair.
11. Heavy Light Brown Balayage
Getting an extreme color change means having to attend regular touch-ups to keep your hair looking natural. This look, however, has been styled with a heavy balayage, which gives you the desired lighter copper look without the maintenance that a solid color would take. The style will look just as natural growing out as it does freshly painted.
Hair Types: Suitable for all hair types: fine, medium, and thick.
Textures: Works really well on straight, wavy, or loosely curled hair.
Length: Perfect for medium to long hair.
12. Light Brown Babylights
Babylights are a classic look that will never go out of style. Regardless of what color your hair is, a subtle babylights fade is one of the best ways to spruce it up. This light brown babylights look is a super low-maintenance style that is sure to add dimension to your hair. The brown roots fade out to a lighter brown, creating a natural looking melt.
Hair Types: Suitable for all hair types, but best for fine hair.
Textures: Works with straight and wavy textures.
Length: Great for short to medium hair.
13. Light Ash Brown Hair Color
Tones so cold are a rarity on light brown hair. However, this style does its name complete justice. The light brown locks have been toned to perfection to achieve the perfect ashy taupe color. The stylist has also added lighter ash highlights to the look. The ash brown hair color highlights have been placed in thin sections, making this style perfect for women with thin hair.
Hair Types: Ideal for medium to fine hair.
Textures: Suitable for straight and silky hair.
Length: Looks good on short to medium hair.
Anncy Twinkle, a Youtuber, shared her personal experience of dyeing her hair to ash brown color and how content she was with the amazing results. She talked about her entire hair journey and how she cut hair strands to decide on the most apt hair color. She states, “My hair is like so ashy, there is no golden, no yellow (i).” And, proceeds to express her satisfaction with the subtle brown shade and ash blonde tone.
Trivia14. Light Hazelnut Brown Hair
We are so smitten! This adorable bob has the right amounts of warmth, volume, and depth! The dark brown base has been spruced up with a hazelnut balayage; and the highlights begin very close to the roots. The natural dark base creates a lowlights effect that adds depth and emphasizes on the volume of the style. The bob has a choppy finish, creating an adorably messy look that has stolen our hearts. If you are looking for excellent highlight ideas for dark brown hair, this style is surely one of them.
Hair Types: Suitable for all hair types, especially for thick hair.
Textures: Suitable for wavy and curly texture.
Length: Suitable for short to medium styles, such as bobs,.
15. Light Brown Balayage With Auburn Undertones
This beautiful style incorporates a smooth fade from a dark chestnut brunette to a light brown. The brunette base creates a lowlights effect that helps add depth and an illusion of volume to the fine hair while the lighter ends attract all the attention. This style is ideal for fine-haired women who want to go lighter.
Hair Types: Ideal for fine hair.
Textures: Straight, wavy, or loose curls work perfectly.
Length: Looks best on medium to long hair.
Trivia16. Smooth Light Brown Bob
This smooth light brown bob incorporates all things we love. From subtle contrast and fine highlights to a beautiful fade, it has the right amounts of it all. The style is dynamic yet simple. The medium brown base fades to a beautiful light brown, all while keeping it classy and natural. This style is perfect for women with fine, straight hair.
Hair Types: Perfect for fine and straight hair.
Textures: Best for straight textures.
Length: Designed for short to medium bobs.
17. Fall-Inspired Light Brown Hair Color
Light brown is the perfect color when it comes to experimenting with fall looks. This style incorporates a light brown color with perfectly balanced warm and cool tones. While fall colors tend to fall on the warmer side of the spectrum, this one seems to have drawn inspiration from the cooler tones of fallen autumn leaves.
Hair types: Suitable for medium to thick hair.
Textures: Use for straight or wavy/slightly curly hair.
Length: Works on all kinds of hair with medium length.
18. Milk Chocolate Pixie
We love all the colors on the chocolate brown spectrum, and this milk chocolate, in particular, has taken our breath away. The cropped pixie bob has an even-toned color that is soft and muted. The cut coupled with the color is nothing short of gorgeous perfection.
Hair Types: Best for medium to thick hair.
Textures: Ideal for straight or slightly wavy textures.
Length: Designed for short, pixie-style cuts.
19. Light Auburn Brown Hair
The warm tones on this style are completely off the hook! The warm rust brown base fades to a magical light auburn brown. The stylist has painted on highlights very close to the roots, adding so much dimension to the look. The highlights are placed in thick sections, making this style perfect for women with thick hair.
Hair Types: Perfect for thick hair.
Textures: Complements wavy curls.
Length: Sits best on mid-length to long hair.
20. Light Brown Highlights
If you love subtlety, this look is tailor made just for you. Medium brown base in this look has been highlighted to perfection with light brown in fine sections. The contrast helps add texture to the look, making this perfect for women with fine and straight hair.
Hair Type: Ideal for thin hair.
Textures: Excellent on straight and wavy hair.
Length: Ideal for medium-length hair,.
21. Light Brown Highlights On An Angled Bob
When it’s about keeping things brown, nothing can beat the brown bob with light caramel highlights, made popular by Posh Spice. The angled bob contours the jawline and suits almost all face shapes, while the warm light brown highlights on the upper layer and dark brown below add depth and dimension to the hair. This hairstyle is perfect for women with straight hair.
Hair Types: Great for medium and fine hair.
Textures: Best for straight hair.
Length: Perfect for short to medium bobs.
22. Light Brown Ombre
If you want to color your hair without touching or treating your roots, this is it for you. The warm brown hair turns into a beautiful shade of medium blonde as it moves down. This frothy coffee hair color will suit short, medium, and long hair. It is ideal for people with thick/thin hair as the color makes the hair appear voluminous.
Hair Types: Suitable for thick and thin hair.
Textures: Complements wavy or slightly curly hair but also works with straight hair.
Length: Best for medium to long hair.
Not only does light brown hair look extremely gorgeous, but the style is also super easy to achieve at home. Keep reading to find out how you can get the look at home!
Key Takeaways
- Light brown goes with almost all skin tones and hair types.
- Opt for natural brown, light brown, or sable brown hues for your hair to achieve a more sophisticated and subtle look.
- Heavy light brown highlights can steal the show with their texture and dimension, which make the hair look voluminous and natural.
- To add dimension to your hair, opt for low-maintenance light brown baby lights.
DIY: How To Get Light Brown Hair At Home
With a few supplies and a little extra time on your hands, you can dye your hair to a beautiful light brown right in the comfort of your home. To get the look, follow the steps listed below.
You Will Need
- Light Brown Box Dye
(Ensure that you choose a box dye that mentions what base it works for e.g. “Light Brown For Blonde” Or “Light Brown For Dark Hair.” If the box doesn’t mention what base it is meant for, check the color chart to determine whether it will work on your natural hair color.) - Applicator Brush
- An Old Shirt
- Gloves
- Hair Brush
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Vaseline
Method
- Before you start, read the instructions on the box dye. If you are going lighter from dark hair, ensure that your hair has not been washed in a couple of days. This will help the coloring process. For light hair, you can work with hair that has been freshly washed.
- Brush your hair out to get rid of any knots or tangles.
- Apply Vaseline all along your forehead, ears, and neck. This will help prevent staining.
- Put on your gloves and an old shirt that you won’t mind getting stains on.
- Divide your hair into four or more equal and manageable sections to ensure even application.
- Following the instructions on the box, mix your color and developer.
- Using an applicator brush, start applying the color onto your hair, one section at a time. Ensure that all the strands are coated so that you do not end up with patchy hair.
- Once you are done with all the sections, leave the light brown hair dye on for the amount of time specified on the box.
- Wash and condition your hair.
Remember to follow this method to the T for best results. Scroll down to read simple and easy tips to keep your light brown hair radiant and fresh.
Maintenance Tips For Light Brown Hair
Follow these simple steps to maintain the beauty and longevity of your light brown hair:
- Use Sulfate-Free Shampoos: These help prevent hair color from fading, keeping your light brown hue vibrant for longer.
- Deep Condition Often: Opt for conditioning treatments weekly at least once to replenish moisture, ensuring your hair stays soft and healthy.
- Limit Heat Styling: Excessive use of heat tools can damage your color and texture, so try to minimize their use and always apply a heat protectant.
This list of light brown hair color ideas is a canvas of endless possibilities. With a little care and the right shade, your light brown locks will shimmer with personality and style, turning heads wherever you go.
So, how do you pick the right shade? The perfect shade of light brown hair has to blend seamlessly with the rhythm of who you are. The signature hue is not just about a color but about chemistry, mood, and making your hair an extension of your essence. Scroll down to see how to celebrate your individuality.
How To Choose The Best Shade Of Light Brown Hair
Choosing the right shade of light brown hair can make your features pop and blend well with your skin tone. Here’s a guide to help you identify the best light brown shade for you.
- Determine Your Skin Tone
Understanding your skin tone is the first step to choosing the right hair color. Skin tones fall into three primary categories:- Cool: Pink, red, or blue undertones.
- Warm: Yellow, peachy, or golden undertones.
- Neutral: A mix of both cool and warm undertones.
- Match Hair Color To Skin Undertones
Once you determine your skin tone, then you can find a light brown that suits it well:- For Cool Undertones: Go for the shades Ash Brown or Light Chocolate Brown. These colors will give sophistication and not overpower your complexion.
- For Warm Undertones: Use shades like Golden Brown or Caramel Brown. These will emphasize the warmth on your skin and give it a sun-kissed effect.
- For Neutral Undertones: You have the flexibility to choose from both cool and warm shades. Colors like Light Golden Brown or Sandy Brown can work beautifully.
- Consider Your Natural Hair Color
- If you have naturally dark hair, lighter shades like Light Ash Brown may require bleaching for optimal results.
- For those whose hair is a natural blonde color, going into light brown might be easier and just simply a touch-up job.
- Consider Maintenance Routines
- Colors like Light Auburn Brown or heavily highlighted colors may need touch-ups frequently.
- Natural-looking shades such as Light Brown with Subtle Balayage can blend out better, and salon visits are less often needed.
- Try Before You Buy
Many hair color brands offer virtual try-ons. This is a great way to see how the different shades would look on you without committing.
We hope this guide will enable you to choose the perfect shade from the sea of our light brown hair color ideas! When in doubt, talk to a hairstylist for a color matching your skin tone, hair type, and desired look. You can now comfortably choose the perfect light brown color that enhances your natural beauty and suits your personal style.
Infographic: 7 Light Brown Hair Color Ideas You Can Experiment With
Light brown is a versatile color that complements all hair types, skin types, and skin tones. If you are struggling with which shade to go for, don’t worry, we have got you covered. Check out the infographic below to know our round up of the 7 best light brown hair colors you can experiment with. Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
Hair color can transform your appearance and elevate your style quotient to new heights, and whether you want a subtle balayage or a total hair transformation, light brown is one of the best hair colors to work with. You can also spruce up your hair with vivid light brown shades like amber, cinnamon, mahogany, or ginger as highlights or balayage. As it is in the middle of the hair color spectrum, light brown goes with a wide range of complexion tones, hair colors, and hair types. So, if you’re blonde, you can simply transition to light brown, and brunettes can do the same. It’s no surprise that many people are dying their hair light brown due to the growing popularity of the blonde trend. So, what are you waiting for? Get inspired by the light brown hair color ideas shared on this post and hop on the light brown hair color ideas for brunettes and blondes alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colors show up good on light brown hair?
Light brown hair looks beautiful when complemented with shades of red, blue, green, and purple.
What is the lightest shade of brown?
Ecru. This is a light shade of brown that has a soothing, pale yellow undertone.
How do I choose the right shade of brown hair?
It depends on your skin tone. Choose a warm tone if you have a cool skin tone and vice versa to complement your complexion.
What is light brown hair called?
Light brown hair is often referred to as honey brown or golden brown hair.
What number is light brown hair color?
This depends on the brand of hair dye. Usually, darker hair colors have a lower number and blonde hair color has a higher number. Light brown usually lies at 5, 6, or 7.
Illustration: Gorgeous Light Brown Hair Color Ideas
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team
Transform your look by opting for stunning brown hair colors. Watch this video to get inspired to try a new brunette look and be the talk of the town!
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i. How tiktok made me dye my hair ash brown & it changed my WHOLE look…https://youtu.be/YrS-f6ZNHkw?feature=shared
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