While red and blonde never truly goes out of style, a glamorous brunette shade will definitely turn heads this season. Hairdresser to the fashionable, Toby Mellis says, “rich brunettes and smoky brown shades are grabbing more attention”. So with a delicious range of brunette shades on the spectrum to choose from, you’re sure to find the right one for you. Just remember to consider your skin tone, as this will help you find the most flattering shade.
RELATED: The easiest way to find your next hair colour
Ahead, you’ll discover everything you need to know about dying your hair brown.
Going to the dark side
Trading one shade of brown for another one can be an easy DIY process, but going from blonde to brunette is more of an in-salon proposition. Trying it at home can land you in a patchy, green mess if you don’t know what you’re doing.
“The best way to change from light to dark is by visiting a colour specialist,” insists Mellis. “With their knowledge, a colourist can proceed with colour-filling your hair, making sure the right undercoat is applied. This ensures the colour used is long-lasting and even.”
If you’re going brown on brown and you want to do it at home, Nastassja Fotiadis from award-winning salon Glow offers these tips:
• Permanent home hair colours are a quick and cost-effective option but they may contain more metallic elements than professional colours, making them harder to lift if you make a mistake. Drop by your hairdresser for a little advice first and you’ll be more likely to avoid a permanent DIY disaster.
• Remember that at-home colour washes out of finer hair more quickly than it does from thick or coarse hair.
• If you immediately dislike your DIY result, it’s best to leave your hair for six to eight weeks before doing anything to correct it. Keep a note of the date you coloured your hair – this and the amount of regrowth will give a professional colourist a clearer idea of how the colour will lift out. Another reason to get a professional’s perspective first!
• Semi-permanent colours are recommended, especially for first-time DIYers. Just remember that regular use of a semi will result in a permanent effect due to an inevitable build-up of colour.
Keeping hold of your colour
“Home maintenance and the use of a shampoo and conditioner for coloured hair is a great way to get the longest-lasting result from your colour,” instructs Mellis. “[It’s also] key not to leave it more than six weeks before going back to the salon for a touch-up.”
Product picks
Pantene Pro-V Brunette Expressions Conditioner and Shampoo($11.99 each, available in Nutmeg to Dark Chocolate for darker shades or Toffee to Almond for a lighter brunette) – Cleanses and conditions the hair while restoring colour intensity and shine.
Goldwell Love Brown Shampoo & Leave-in Fluid ($22.50 each) – Adds brilliant shine to warm brown shades and minimises colour fade.
Our favourite:Intercosmo Voila Color Kult (27.95) – This semi-permanent treatment comes in an array of colours to revitalise and condition your mane in a jiffy.
Shine on
Whether you wear a warm mocha, lush nutmeg or dramatically dark brown, a sleek glossy shimmer is imperative. In-salon glossing treatments keep colours at their most lustrous and reflective, but regular DIY treatments are also a must. “Luxurious conditioning treatments are going to be playing a bigger part than ever this year as the trend is… much more about ‘polished’ and styled looks. Maintaining your hair with professional products on a regular basis is key,” says Mellis.
Product picks
John Freida Luminous Color Glaze ($19.99, available in Chestnut to Espresso or Amber to Maple) – Like a slick of lip gloss for your hair! Formulated to revive faded brunettes with an additional dose of colour, it also leaves locks with an ultra shiny sheen.
Keune Special Care After Color Balsam (from $6.79) – Shea butter and silk proteins work to soften strands for ultimate touchability while locking in colour and preventing wishy-washy fade.
Mark Hill Intense Colour Protect Mask ($29.95) – Hydrates hair to help maintain a lush, healthy hue.
Paul Brown Hawaii Shine Amplifier ($19.95) – Perfect for an Aussie winter, this UV-defying styling mist turns the shine factor right up to glam.
Are you thinking about dying your hair brown?
