Cashmere, Mink & More: Our Guide To The New Brunette Shades

Our colour expert Nicola breaks down the brunette myths.

Why is achieving the perfect natural brunette, sometimes harder than going blonde? (And how to choose the shade that's right for you)

Smoked Truffle Brown

For years, clients have been obsessed with going lighter and lighter. But recently, we've noticed more and more people embracing rich, natural-looking brunette shades...or somewhere in between (we're looking at you, Teddy Bear Bronde 👀).

And it’s easy to see why…brunette hair is often lower maintenance than blonde, can require fewer salon visits, and when done well - looks incredibly healthy, glossy and effortlessly expensive.

However, creating a natural-looking brunette is often more challenging than going blonde. The aim isn't simply to make the hair darker, it's to create a tone that both suits your individual colour palette and also looks like you could have been born with it …even after many weeks of washing! In the hair colour world, this is always a tough balance.

Cashmere Brunette

Why aren’t brunette shades always straightforward to achieve?

One of the biggest concerns clients have is that their beautiful cool or natural brown eventually turns an orange or reddish shade a few weeks later.

The truth is, all artificial dyes will gradually reveal warmth over time. Even our natural hair colour lightens in the sun and can develop golden or copper tones. Artificial dyes simply make this process more noticeable because the fade reveals the underlying warmth of the dye, as well as your natural warmth.

To create a truly natural-looking brown, we occasionally need to remove old artificial pigment before applying the new shade. This is especially common if the hair has been tinted dark for many years, as old dye can leave behind a lot of excess red or orange tones and just toning them down is only a temporary fix.

In a situation where the hair has been previously been highlighted or bleached, it will usually need to be re-pigmented before applying the final brunette shade. This replaces the warm pigments that were removed during lightening and helps prevent your new brunette colour looking flat, khaki or fading too quickly.

Not every situation is as much of a challenge as this though. On lighter virgin hair, creating a beautiful natural brunette can often be much more straightforward. A carefully formulated demi-permanent or permanent colour is usually all that's needed to enhance your natural tone while keeping the result soft and believable.

Mink Brown

So you’ve decided to go brunette, but how do you choose the right shade?

A good starting point is to look at your overall complexion.Cooler skin tones often suit ashier, smoky or beige brunettes, while warmer skin tones tend to complement richer caramel, mocha or chestnut tones. Of course, these aren't strict rulesand your natural hair colour, eye colour and personal style all play a part.

As a general guide in terms of shade, staying within two or three levels of your natural depth usually creates the most flattering and lowest-maintenance result. But that doesn't mean you can't go a lot lighter or darker necessarily, it justoften requires more upkeep and a careful colour placement.

Brunette Colour Trends 2026

If you are unsure about what kind of brown to choose, we have added a few trend examples of what you could try on your next appointment ⬇️

Velvet Mocha Brown

Mink Brown

A soft beige-taupe brunette with cool neutral undertones.

Cashmere Brunette

A silky beige brunette with understated warmth.

Velvet Mocha

A rich mocha brown with soft warmth, depth and luxurious shine.

Smoked Truffle Brown

A deep smoky brunette with muted cool undertones and a velvety finish.

If you're thinking about embracing brunette but aren't sure which shade would suit you best, we'd love to help. You can book a consultation with one of our colourists and we can discuss what bespoke shade is possible, that is also tailored to your skin tone, lifestyle and colour history.

Looking forward to seeing you in the studio!