Chestnut brown hair combines the boldness and warmth of reds and the natural tones of browns. This rich mixture of radiant colors produces a shade of chestnut that is not too heavy and dark and livens up brunette hair! What’s unique about this chocolatey hue is its gloss that automatically transforms any mane, textured or straight, into a multidimensional one, making it super easy to style!
Chestnut Hair Color Tips:
Zendaya, Ashley Graham, and Miranda Kerr were all seen rocking this desirable hue at various gala events, and this makes it very hard not to fall in love with it! On the chestnut brown hair color chart, hues range from burgundy to mocha and from a red chestnut to a medium chestnut. There are lots of options!
Balayage artist Macy of Color & Co. Beauty Salon in Florida proves how versatile this chestnut shade is with her chart-topping examples on IG, not Pinterest!
Your undertone says a lot when looking for the most flattering chestnut hair shade for you. As a rule of thumb, opposites complement each other – warm undertones go excellent with cool chestnut reddish-brown hues and vice versa. Opt for solid nut-brown hair for a natural-looking and shiny result, or try highlights or an ombre that adds even more definition to your look!
You’ll be surprised how much you can do with this appealing shade, and this updated album of chestnut brown hair ideas will make you fall deeply in love with it!
#1: Thick Chestnut-Toned Curls
Brighten up your features with curls of a stunning chestnut tone. The chestnut tone has notes of brown, copper, and a pinch of red. This color is ideal for complementing warmer skin tones and naturally brunette hair, bringing some dimension to curly hair. When coloring curly hair, focus on extra hydration. Curly hair is naturally dryer, so thick hydration conditioners, co-washes, and oil serums will be your best friend.
#2: Long Dimensional Brown Curls
Got your heart set on long dimensional brown curls? Chestnut hair colour is a great way to add richness. And it will have people wanting to learn which shade is in your tresses. Choose this below-the-shoulders look for its mix of light and dark hues and its glossy finish. Be sure only to wash every 2 – 3 days so the chestnut shades stay intact. Also, make sure you use products meant for color-treated hair.
#3: Deeper Hair with Layers
A deeper chestnut brunette hair with layers is a rich, warm shade that will look amazing in a photo. To achieve this look, ask your hairstylist for a base color of deep chestnut. Then add subtle highlights throughout the mid-lengths and ends. This will give you added dimension and create an overall softer style. For extra volume, remember to ask your stylist to layer it! This beautiful hue can last up to 12 weeks with proper care and maintenance.
#4: Caramel Balayage on Brown Bobbed Hair
If you’re looking for a subtle but eye-catching style, this caramel balayage on brown bobbed hair is a great choice. The warm tones of the chestnut color create an inviting look that’s sure to turn heads. To make it even more interesting, ask your colorist to add some light touches of blonde and copper highlights. This will give you dimension and texture while still keeping things natural-looking. For extra shine and protection, request a gloss treatment afterward.
#5: Dimensional Light Brown Hair
A long hairstyle looks beautiful, with ribbons of light and dark in the hair. The color has added dimension, giving a point of interest. The key is to go for tones that complement, like chestnut and caramel. They melt together to give a rich look rather than working against one another.
#6: Red-Brown Hair Color with Face-Framing Layers
Chestnut hues work perfectly if you want a glossy, eye-catching shade. Warm red-browns will give your complexion a warmer feel and add radiance. For longer shapes, ask your hairstylist for longer face-framing layers. Dry them with a large round brush to give a flicky, bouncy look without sitting too short.
#7: Dimensional with Light Brown Highlights
A chestnut with light brown highlights is a natural and easy-going look. Go bolder by asking for thicker panels of light brown highlights, but away from the root to keep it low-maintenance. Toning appointments every 6 to 8 weeks will keep your color fresh and your hair shiny. Curling your hair will show off all the dimensions of your color.
#8: Beautiful Brown Ombre
Try a chestnut brown ombre if you’re looking for a natural yet impactful style. The ombre look is darker at the root and gradually gets brighter and bolder toward the ends. If you have naturally brunette hair, you’ll ask for a balayage ombre in chestnut to golden blonde. Coloring will be low-maintenance, toning every 6 to 8 weeks and lightening only two to three times a year.
#9: Sleek Short Bob Haircut
A short bob haircut is sassy and cute—a great option for women that prefer short hair and easy styling. The bob is always a classic and very popular, as you can make a big statement with minimal styling effort. A chestnut color makes for a shiny, healthy look. A volumizing shampoo with no sulfates is recommended for upkeep at home.
#10: Warm Chestnut Balayage
A warm chestnut balayage is a natural sun-kissed look. A balayage is a painting technique that keeps the highlights away from your root and lighter on your ends. Balayage leaves your hair with no line of growing out and keeps this color low-maintenance.
#11: Natural-Looking Brown
Chesnut brown can be achieved with a painting method called balayage. Ask your stylist if they are familiar with balayage and let them know you’d like highlights that look very natural and are low-maintenance. Upkeep will be color gloss treatments every 6 to 8 weeks.
#12: Beautiful Brunette Balayage
If you’re thinking about going lighter for the first time, ask for a brunette balayage. A balayage is painted on highlights that look very natural by mimicking what the sun does to your hair naturally. Ask your stylist what tone will be best for your highlights depending on your natural color and undertones in your skin. A brunette balayage is very low-maintenance since the color will grow out seamlessly. Color gloss appointments will be every 6 to 8 weeks.
#13: Sleek Straight Long Hair
We love a sleek straight long hair color. If you want to grow your hair long and healthy, the best option is to stay away from blonding services. Doing a nice chestnut color in a gloss or a semi-permanent can add shine and excitement while keeping your hair healthy.
#14: Chestnut + Mahogany Brown
Chestnut and mahogany go beautifully together. The natural chestnut tones mixed with the flair of mahogany will create a beautiful dimension for any brunette. Mahogany is one of those colors that fade fast, so regular toning in the salon will help keep your hair color fresh. Use color care products at home and try not to shampoo every day, but at least every other day.
#15: Very Dark Brown
A very dark brown is a great low-commitment color for women coloring for the first time. If you have naturally dark hair and are interested in switching it up, ask your stylist for a subtle change with a chestnut color. Your stylist can paint on highlights and tone your hair to a gorgeous dark chestnut.
#16: Glossy Light Toasted Chestnut
A lightly toasted chestnut brown is a head-turner. Working from a natural light brunette, your stylist will decide to keep you at your natural level and add warmth or a level or two lighter with natural warmth. When going from blonde to the toasted chestnut color, your stylist will do a deep gloss with neutral, warm, and gold tones.
#17: Lived-In Balayage Highlights
If you want a low-maintenance color, a color with chestnut balayage highlights is a perfect choice. The highlight looks best over a dark brunette base. The balayage technique will create highlights that mimic the sun naturally to your hair. The typical maintenance will be toning every 6 to 8 weeks and deep conditioning to keep your shine.
#18: Rich Red
A rich red is a bold and gorgeous statement. The coloring can be done in a block pattern to combine brunette and red. You can do a balayage toned with the chestnut red, keeping the root a natural brunette and growing out easily. Keep your color fresh with color-safe shampoo and conditioner.
#19: Stunning Beach Waves
Chestnut beach waves are great for an effortlessly gorgeous style. The color is very natural looking and is easy to upkeep. Styling is easy to moderate with a blow dryer and curling wand. Curl your hair away from your face in the same direction, so you’ll get a nice wave out of the curls when you brush. Finish your style with texture cream. Add some dry shampoo at the root for added volume and to make your style last longer.
#20: Beautiful Chocolate-Cherry Brown
A chocolate-cherry brown is a fun way to try out warm tones. We love that styles are trending more on the warm side again. Warm hair color looks great on most skin tones, so ask your stylist if a chocolate cherry color would work for you. The cherry tones can be kept fresh with red-toning shampoos or conditioners. Please don’t use high heat when styling; your color will last longer.
#21: Gorgeous Balayage with Brown Tones
A gorgeous brown balayage with chestnut tones is chic and classic. If you have dark brown hair, adding balayage highlights toned to a level or two above your natural color will add a beautiful dimension. Upkeep on the balayage will be minimal, with a toning gloss every 6 to 8 weeks. Keep your color fresh with a moisturizing color care shampoo and conditioner.
#22: Effortless Brown on Extra Long Hair
A shiny brown on extra long hair is a natural-looking, beautiful look. If you’re a brunette naturally, you can ask your stylist for some added warmth to your brown or even ask for a few balayage highlights toned to only a level or two lighter than your brunette color. If you have blonde hair and want to go darker, your stylist must add warmth to keep the color from looking muddy. It’s always recommended to use color care shampoo and style it with color-locking cream.
#23: Darker with Beautiful Blonde Highlights
Do your long tresses need a new look? How about you freshen them up with a new hair color? You can get inspiration from the browns of the woodsy chestnut tree! Jazz up this shade of darker chestnut-colored hair with blonde highlights, and pull off this stunning look. If not, pair your chestnut brown color with caramel highlights. When it comes to styling, waves will add a pop to your hair’s new color.
#24: Nutty Ash
This hue is inspired by one of the top ten colors in New York Fashion Week, Spring-Summer Collections – toffee. However, some slight adjustments were made by increasing the ash component, making it closer to a chestnut brown shade to eliminate the brassiness. To give it more depth and gradient, balayage your hair with Goldwell Silk Lift Lightener before toning. This creates an illusion of fuller hair too. The best thing about this hair color is that it’s neither too cool nor warm.
#25: Sun-Kissed Hair with Balayage
Look at this gorgeous cherry-choco, maroon, + mahogany color! It’s a medium reddish shade of brown that looks sun-kissed. The coloring technique incorporated the colors to give this red-brown and chestnut auburn hair color.
#26: Sassy Dark to Light Ombre
When opting for low-maintenance brunette color, this ombre will be your best option. It’s a gorgeous dark to light chestnut ombre that suits your warm undertone. It offers a darker shade on its roots to let your natural black hair grow out. If you have long and thick hair, this trend works great, especially when you style it with hair products for classy waves.
#27: Perfect Reddish-Brown
Glow up by wearing a strong reddish-brown color! Either do it yourself with boxes of chestnut brown hair dyes or ask for help from a colorist for a perfect finish. When styling the reddish hues on your auburn long hair, go for soft waves to add movement to your chestnut strands.
#28: Warm Golden
A full fringe (bangs) and asymmetrical chestnut bob is ideal for ladies with a rounder face shape and fair skin tone. This warm golden brown will adorably frame your face and highlight your lovely features.
#29: Lovely Dark Chestnut
If you have dark hair, then consider this dark brown color! Add a bit of shine to your long, wavy tresses, and show off a lovely dark hair color with flair. Apply oil from your mid-lengths to your ends for a glossier outcome.
#30: Multi-Dimensional Blonde Balayage
This chic chestnut and blonde balayage hair trend screams dimension! It even looks more dramatic when matched with voluminous waves. Don’t forget to dry your long locks completely before curling to avoid any breakage. It’s a perfect example of a dimensional warm balayage, where you can see all colors and brown tones. The warmth of this chestnut brown hair balayage keeps the blonde bright with rooted rich shades.
#31: Sultry Dark Hair with Light Highlights
Brown highlights suit any natural hair color and length. Very dark tan hair like this will certainly show off a deep bronze accent. If it’s too much, ask your stylist for hair with honey highlights instead.
#32: Deep Chocolate Brown Hair with Highlights
Dark brown hair is extravagant, but when put together with deep brown and almond highlights, it makes your look all the more delectable. Ask your stylist for a deep side part and long bangs to frame your face when going for a mocha hair color.
#33: Gorgeous Light Chestnut
Looking soft and natural! This beautiful shade of light chestnut offers a more lived-in, low-maintenance look. Who doesn’t want that? Add soft waves to the ends of your lengthy, lighter tresses for a subtle movement. With a shine spray, this toasted hair color will be as radiant as it only appears.
#34: Romantic Brown with Highlights
Chestnut brown hair with highlights on wavy, long tresses is the combination for any woman who wants to make an entrance. Try adding more of a shade of copper highlights to bring out the nuttiness in your hair.
Related: Best copper highlights on brown hair.
#35: Youthful Medium Brown
Try a lived-in chestnut hair color. Many brunettes tend to fall flat and need more depth, but you can have a beautiful multi-dimensional color with simple balayage and a glaze. Ask your stylist to give you a simple round brush blow-dry to accentuate the layers and the style.
#36: Subtle Golden Chestnut
What I like about a golden chestnut color is its subtle soft degradation while being highly technical at the same time. My beauty tip to carry off a highlighted look is to start with hair that has a mid-brown base. To maintain your look at home, I recommend the brand Réflexion by Kerastase. Continuous care leads to a healthy head of hair!
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