55 Drop-Dead Gorgeous Dark Brown Hair Color Ideas

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Written by Rachel Miller

Updated: October 12, 2024

Dark brown is a long-loved go to for anyone who wants to bring instant luxury to their look. And, with so many dark brown hair colors, there are no limits to what this sultry shade can do. 

This ultra-versatile brown can suit any skin tone and hair type, bringing a rich and magnetizing trendy charm. There are so many ways to play with deep brown that this color can fit any style, from soft to edgy, and everything in between. 

If you’re not already sold, you will be by the time you see these 55 drop-dead gorgeous dark brown hair color ideas. Let’s dive in!

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image via @paintmyhairr

Freshen up your brunette locks with dark chestnut waves and caramel highlights. This warm-toned dark brown is a rich, earthy base for the caramel highlights to come in and create soft illumination and depth. Then, style this color with waves to give this style some oomph.

#2. Sleek Espresso Bob with Side Swept Bob

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image via @latesthair

If you’re looking for something deep and chic, go for a sleek espresso side-swept bob. This sophisticated style blends the sultry shade of brown with the smooth and chic side-swept bob. Because of the clean and polished look, this cut is best for straight hair to get that too-cool look.

#3. Layered Walnut Brown Waves

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image via @thepaintedgrove

Get a natural-looking glow-up with layered walnut brown waves. Whether styled or natural, these waves bring soft, carefree elegance to your look, enhanced by the natural walnut brown and elevated by the layers. This is a great style for medium or thick hair, and the neutral color complements any skin tone.

#4. Dark Brown Pixie with Textured Top

A dark brown pixie with a textured top is an ideal blend of simplicity and sophistication, particularly for thicker hair. This is a lovely low-maintenance cut that brings cool edginess, courtesy of the textured top layers. Then, the dark brown color brings that sophisticated charm.

#5. Rich Cinnamon Brown with Subtle Layers

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image via @herahairbeauty

Warm up your style with subtle layers of rich cinnamon brown. Any hair type can get some sweet, glowing warmth from this color, with soft texture and volume from the layers. It may be a simple change, but it’s a stunning one.

#6. Straight Dark Brown with Ashy Highlights

Give your straight dark brown hair a little lift with some ashy highlights. This smooth transition brings gentle depth and dimension to flat and fine hair, freshening things up and slightly brightening the look without going too light.

#7. Chocolate Brown Shag with a Fringe

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image via @marisacuts

The chocolate brown shag with a fringe is a charming combination of chic sophistication and 70s style. Chocolate brown adds classic elegance to any hairstyle. Then, shaggy layers instantly give groovy texture and volume to the straightest and finest hair, with the fringe bang as a chic finishing touch to bring attention to your eyes.

#8. Warm Mahogany with Soft Curls

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image via @herahairbeauty

Warm mahogany brown gives cooler and paler skin tones a cozy glow, while keeping that luxurious look we love dark brown hair colors for. Then, style it with soft curls to give it an even more alluring aesthetic. Even for natural soft curls, this color is an epic glow-up.

#9. Dark Brown Angled Lob

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image via @my.salon.ks

A dark brown angled lob is the ultimate style for a look that screams modern sophistication. This long, angular bob is the perfect clean-cut look to frame your face and let your dark brown color really stand out with a tastefully trendy flair.

#10. Smoky Brown with Feathered Ends

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image via @lawrencestylings

Give yourself a natural smoke show style like a smoky brown color on a long cut with feathered ends. This slight change brings a naturally soft and airy look that gives your hair a renewed texture and definition with a dusting of natural beauty.

#11. Dark Brown Undercut

Show off your daring side with a dark brown undercut. Rocking an edgy undercut with a dignified dark brown brings a striking balance between lavish and lively. And, even better, this confident combo is low-maintenance.

#12. Voluminous Toffee Brown Curls

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image via @laurenpiluso

Sweeten up your springy curls with some volume and a tasteful toffee brown color. This is an exuberant style that brings your curls everything they need to look their best with maximum volume, high definition, and spring-loaded bounce. The toffee brown adds a slight sun-kissed vibe, while still holding the classic charm of dark brown.

#13. Dark Sienna Brown with Slight Waves

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image via @live_love_dohair

Bring some allure to your almost wavy hair with dark sienna brown. The dark sienna brown brings depth, warmth, and natural-looking glamor. You can amp up your natural texture with a little tousling or by curling your ends with a flat iron for slight waves.

#14. Long Dark Brown Waves with a Middle-Part

Go for traditional magnificence with long dark brown waves, styled in a timeless middle part. This may be a low-key look, but it makes a high-fashion statement, with a sultry shade of brown, long lustrous waves, and a balanced middle part.

#15. Brunette A-Line Bob with Light Waves

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image via @ericamartin_hair

An A-line bob is a classy meets contemporary look, especially on dark brunette hair. This also gives slightly wavy hair a little more oomph, while still keeping the complementary A-shaped frame. Even for straight hair, this is a charming look that puts your facial features on center stage.

#16. Glossy Coffee Brown with Blunt Ends

If you’re looking for a clean and tidy style for your glossy coffee-brown locks, get a blunt-ended cut. Blunt ends are the perfect minimalist touch for elevating the already alluring coffee-brown color, giving that extra polished look to any hair type.

#17. Dark Brown with Copper Streaks

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image via @dandy_lionroots

If you need something to lighten and define your dark brown locks, but you don’t want blonde, copper streaks are a much better middle ground. These warm, rustic tones bring just enough illumination to create a more defined texture, without minimizing the magnificence of your dark brown color. Plus, the warm tones give any skin tone a nice, healthy glow.

#18. Chocolate Brown High Bun

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image via @hairbykaymar

A chocolate brown high-bun is all things chic, pairing the sweet and sophisticated tones of chocolate brown with a highly trendy high-bun. This is a great fast and fab updo for a special occasion, or you can do a messy high-bun for a more casual look. Either way, your hair is always at the top of its game.

#19. Dark Brown Layers with Side-Bangs

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image via @vinoth_styler

Need something simple to revive your dark brown locks? Go for layers and side bangs! This trendy style brings any hair type a brand-new look with improved volume and texture, and side bangs to finish the look with a chic charm.

#20. Short Spiky Dark Brown Cut

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image via @venus_trimz

Fierce meets flawless in a short spiky dark brown cut. This edgy cut balances the elegance of the dark brown color with the spunky spiky style. The best part? It takes seconds to style every day. Confidence and convenience? Yes, please!

#21. Dark Brown Beehive Updo

If you need a quick and easy updo with all the volume and vintage vibes, look no further than a beehive updo. Combined with dark brown hair, this look is pure perfection, with a sleek finish and retro flair. You can even pair it with an undercut for a little modern edge.

#22. Sleek Chestnut Middle-Parted Ponytail

Smooth, simple, and symmetrical. That’s how we describe the sleek chestnut ponytail with a middle part. This low-key style keeps your hair out of your face while bringing that dignified, sleek look and balance from the middle part. And then, a classic chestnut brown color tops it all off with an organic allure.

#23. Dark Brown Waves with Auburn Tints

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image via @elie_jj

Want something simple, but with a high impact? You need to add some auburn tints to your dark brown waves. These dark red hints bless your tresses with a sultry and dramatic aesthetic, created by the multidimensional contrast with the dark brown and enhanced by natural and styled waves.

#24. Dark Brown Bob with Razor Ends

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image via @__k_vu__

Adding razor-cut ends to the classic bob is a minor change with major impact, bringing even the finest, flattest hair some much-needed texture while giving your dark brown shade a trendy touch.

#25. Long Espresso Brown Layers with a Fringe

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image via @hairwithbenefits

Espresso brown is a timeless dark brown hair color that looks all-natural and super-chic, all at the same time, amplifying the soft texture of the long layers and a fringe bang to connect the cut, creating a chic frame for your facial features, especially your eyes.

#26. Dark Brown with Subtle Purple Highlights

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image via @ashley.blendshair

If you love your dark brown hair color but want a whimsical twist, add some subtle purple highlights. The captivating contrast between the cool, subtle purple tones and dark brown takes your look to new depths, adding luminous dimension and a fairytale flair.

#27. Short Choppy Brunette Bob with Highlights

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image via @latesthair

A short choppy brunette bob with highlights is the quintessential blend of edgy and elegant. The short choppy layers of the bob bring bold texture to the flawless face-framing bob, which is lightened and defined by highlights for an even livelier look.

#28. Dark Brown Retro Curls

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image via @goldplaited_

There’s nothing more classically glamorous than dark brown retro curls. You can create these curls from your natural curly texture or by using hot rollers, creating a voluminous vintage look that, paired with the natural-looking dark brown, is nothing short of dignified.

#29. Rich Dark Brown Beach Waves

Become a brunette beach goddess, with rich dark brown beach waves. This earthy, luscious brown brings an exotic type of beachy look, and with beach waves, looks effortlessly sun-kissed.

#30. Dark Brown French Bob

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image via @giadoeshair

Get that Parisian chic look with a dark brown French bob! This minimalistic style works with all hair types, creating the perfect shape to highlight your most important facial features with that trendy French girl flair.

#31. Swooping Bangs on Chocolate Brown Hair

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image via @ashleyb.hair

If you’re looking for an easy revival for your beautiful chocolate brown hair, add some swooping bangs. Swooping bangs are an instant game-changer for any cut and work with any hair type to create a softened yet sultry style, particularly on a rich chocolate brown.

#32. Dark Brown with Soft Red Undertones

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image via @glamourhairstyless

Heat your dark brown hair color up with soft red undertones. This red-toned infusion enriches dark brown with eye-catching vibrancy and warmth, immediately leveling up any hairstyle. Plus, the warmth can help pale skin tones normally washed out by dark brown.

#33. Chestnut Brown Waves with Blonde Tips

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image via @headstudio

Need to brighten up your chestnut brown waves? Get some blonde tips! Blonde tips give a slight sun-kissed effect, giving a light and summery glow to your chestnut brown waves. Tousle your waves to give this look an even more beachy aesthetic.

#34. Sleek Dark Brown Fauxhawk with Undercut

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image via @salon.ck

You don’t need a fancy color to stand out. All you need is a bold cut, like a sleek fauxhawk with an undercut. This spunky style gives dark brown hair a high-profile edge, with long top layers to shape in a fauxhawk (or, however you like), and a textured undercut to fortify that edgy aesthetic. 

#35. Brunette High Top Fade

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image via @k6mil

A brunette high-top fade is an alluring androgynous look that needs almost no styling to look great. This convenient cut features a high top with subtle volume and texture, transitioning into a grungy undercut.

#36. Dark Brown with Bold Blue Streaks

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image via @stack.styles

Adding bold blue streaks brings a mesmerizing mystical element to dark brown hair, no matter the length or texture. These vibrant tones create a bold contrast with the low-key dark brown, creating unexpected illumination and dimension with an unparalleled playful aura.

#37. Long Dark Brown with Boho Braids

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image via @braidsbyjalisa

Bring that Bohemian-chic vibe to your look with long dark brown boho braids. This is a traditional Bohemian look perfect for giving long brown locks that perfect beachy style with an artistic flair.

#38. Mocha Brown with Soft Layers

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image via @glossedbysteph

Effortlessly stylish, soft layering can be enough to upgrade any haircut. But on mocha brown, this color works wonders, bringing elevated volume and texture. And, when it’s in the right lighting, there’s a whole lot of dimension for a hypnotic hairstyle.

#39. Dark Brown Side-Parted Pixie

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image via @ilikehaircom

Polished meets punchy, in a dark brown side-parted pixie. This striking style brings sheer confidence, while the dark brown shade keeps things soft and sophisticated for the perfect balance. And even better, it’s totally low-maintenance.

#40. Rich Brunette with Vintage Curls

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image via @themaneartistry

You don’t need blonde hair to be a Bombshell babe. All you need is vintage curls on your rich brunette hair. No matter the length, these ultra-glam curls bring classic red carpet-worthy glam. Style them in a side part for that extra vintage vibe.

#41. Dark Brown with Subtle Green Highlights

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image via @hairsoho_176

Feeling creative? Go for a unique and unexpectedly cool combination like dark brown with subtle green highlights. This trendy and mystifying infusion of green brings an intriguing depth and dimension to dark brown with a too-cool-to-care vibe.

#42. Chocolate Brown with Chunky Layers

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image via @live_love_dohair

Chocolate brown hair is a classic go to for a chic style. But the chunky layers, with their robust volume and bulky texture, give it a trendy flair. You can even add some highlights for an ultra-defined look.

#43. Dark Brown with Sleek Silver Stripes

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image via @theneonblonde

Looking for something contemporary and runway-ready? Add some sleek silver stripes to your dark brown hair. The streaks brighten and define your hair while adding a futuristic flair to your whole look.

#44. Long Dark Brown Layers with Flip Ends

You don’t need to change your dazzling dark brown color to lighten up your look. All you need are some long layers with flipped ends. These luscious layers bring volume and soft texture, creating the perfect base for flipped ends to get maximum movement for a style that screams natural glam.

#45. Dark Brown Buzz Cut

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image via @enby_razor

If you’re feeling confident, go for a dark brown buzz cut that lets your face steal the show. This no-maintenance look lets the minimal dark brown hair stand out, creating a super-androgynous look with effortless charm. 

#46. Espresso Brown with Soft Pink Tips

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image via @paulmitchell

Give your energetic espresso brown a flirty twist by adding soft pink tips. This subtle pink blends beautifully with the espresso brown, giving your look a romantic charm, especially when styled with voluminous waves. 

#47. Dark Brown with Bold Bangs

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image via @goth_adjacent_

Hit the catwalk, with a fab style, like dark brown hair with bold bangs. No matter the cut, bold bangs create that super-chic style, while highlighting your eyes, particularly with the dashing dark brown.

#48. Chocolate Brown with Tight Curls

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image via @sipesstudios

Bring a smooth, sultry look to your tight curly hair with a rich chocolate brown. This multidimensional color brings reflective depth and definition to your tight curls, all with a luxurious vibrancy.

#49. Fiery Red Ombre on Dark Brown

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image via @japa_salon

Go bold and blazing with fiery red ombre on dark brown hair. All hair types and lengths can get a gorgeous upgrade that creates the illusion of more volume, thanks to the depth of the dark brown roots, with a dramatic transition into the ombre for red-hot radiance.

#50. Sleek Dark Brown with Delicate Braids

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image via @gabys.idea

Go low-maintenance and high-fashion with delicate braids on sleek dark brown hair. This effortlessly stylish look is best on long hair but can bring an instant Boho-meets-baddie vibe to any aesthetic.

#51. Rich Brunette on Spiral Curls

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image via @culturecurlstudio

Nothing beats the luxe look of a rich brunette with spiral curls. This earthy brown brings depth and dimension to your curls, making them look more defined, no cutting or layers required.

#52. Dark Brown with Electric Blue Balayage

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image via @hairbyrosalina

Want to energize your dark brown hair? Zap it with some electric blue balayage. The cool tones of the blue complement the depth of the dark brown for a brilliant contrast with an unparalleled edgy vibe.

#53. Chocolate Brown Asymmetrical Cut

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image via @latesthair

Go for a modern marvel, like an asymmetrical cut on chocolate brown hair. This contemporary features a one-sided imbalance, letting side-swept bangs create the frame for your face. The chocolate brown tones keep this look approachable while retaining the allure.

#54. Dark Brown with Feathered Layers

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image via @elluzhairdresser

Nothing says soft and sexy like dark brown hair with feathered layers. This light and airy layering technique is the perfect lightweight lift for thick dark brown hair, with gentle movement on the bottom for full body from root to tip.

#55. Glossy Espresso with Dramatic Side-Swept Bangs

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image via @skny_usa

Bring a lavish and dynamic look to your glossy espresso hair with dramatic side-swept bangs. The sweeping bangs side frame your face with a flawlessly edgy charm, and complement any haircut, especially the lush tones of glossy espresso.


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