Brown Hair Color Chart: Every Shade, Level and Tone
Ten brown shades from bronde and light brown to chocolate and espresso, with the level, tone, who each one suits, what to ask for and how much upkeep it needs.
Brown is the most common hair color in the world, and also one of the most varied. A cool mushroom brown, a glowing golden brown and a red chestnut are all “brown,” but they look completely different on you. Telling your stylist “just brown” leaves a lot to chance.
This brown hair color chart shows ten popular brown shades with their level, tone, who they suit and how much upkeep they need, from bronde and light brown to chocolate and espresso.
Quick answer: Brown hair runs from level 2 (espresso, almost black) to level 6 (light brown). Within each level, the tone decides the look: ash and mushroom browns are cool, light brown and chocolate are neutral, golden and caramel are warm, and chestnut and red brown add red. Cool undertones usually suit ash and mushroom brown, warm undertones suit golden, caramel and chestnut, and neutral undertones can wear almost any brown.
Brown hair color chart
| Shade | Level | Tone | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronde | 6 to 7 | Neutral (brown + blonde) | Low |
| Light brown | 5 to 6 | Neutral | Low |
| Mushroom brown | 6 | Cool (ash, taupe) | Medium |
| Ash brown | 5 to 6 | Cool (ash) | Medium |
| Golden brown | 5 to 6 | Warm (gold) | Low |
| Caramel brown | 5 to 6 | Warm (amber) | Low to medium |
| Chestnut brown | 4 to 5 | Warm (red-gold) | Medium |
| Red brown | 4 to 5 | Warm (red) | Medium |
| Chocolate brown | 3 to 4 | Neutral to warm | Low |
| Espresso brown | 2 to 3 | Neutral to cool | Low |
Swatches are a guide only. Real hair changes color in different light and on different bases, so ask for a strand test before a big change.
Brown hair levels 2 to 6
Colorists measure lightness in levels from 1 (black) to 10 (lightest blonde). Browns sit between level 2 and level 6. See every level on our hair color chart.
| Level | Name |
|---|---|
| 2 | Darkest brown (espresso) |
| 3 | Dark brown |
| 4 | Medium brown |
| 5 | Light brown |
| 6 | Lightest brown / dark blonde |
Light brown hair: the easiest brown to wear
Light brown hair is a level 5 to 6: light enough to catch the sun, dark enough to still read as brown. It flatters almost every skin tone, hides regrowth well and only needs a gloss every couple of months. If your natural color is medium brown, a one-level lift to light brown is usually done in a single appointment.
- Cool light brown (mushroom or ash) suits fair skin with pink tones.
- Neutral light brown works for almost everyone.
- Warm light brown (golden or caramel) suits warm and olive undertones.
Ash, golden or red: which brown tone suits you?
- Ash and mushroom brown: cool, with gray or green tones. Best for cool undertones and for brown hair that turns orange.
- Neutral brown (light brown, chocolate): balanced. The safest pick if you are unsure of your undertone.
- Golden and caramel brown: warm and glowing. Best for warm and olive undertones.
- Chestnut and red brown: warm with red. Lovely on fair, peachy skin, but the red fades faster.
Not sure of your undertone? Take our undertone finder, or try the hair color quiz for shade ideas beyond brown.
What is bronde hair?
Bronde is a blend of brown and blonde. It starts with a light brown base and adds soft, blended blonde pieces, usually with balayage, so there is no hard line between the two. It gives the brightness of blonde with the easy grow-out of brown, which makes it a popular step for brunettes who want to go lighter slowly. For more ideas, see our balayage hair colors and the blonde hair color chart.
Highlights for brown hair
- Caramel highlights on dark or medium brown add warmth without much upkeep.
- Light brown highlights on dark brown hair give soft dimension and grow out gently.
- Honey or bronde balayage brightens the ends and frames the face.
- Ash babylights on cool browns soften brassiness.
More inspiration lives in our hair color ideas and fall hair colors.
How to keep brown hair from turning brassy
- Use a blue shampoo once a week. Blue cancels the orange that shows up in lifted brown hair.
- Book a gloss or toner every 8 to 10 weeks.
- Wash in cool water with a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo.
- Protect hair from sun and chlorine, which pull out the cool tones first.
When the color is done, use our hair salon tip calculator to tip your colorist.
Keep going: see every level on the hair color chart and compare blondes on the blonde hair color chart.
