Brown Hair Color Ideas

• It takes a smart brunette to play a dumb blonde. -- Marilyn Monroewoman in pink satin dress image by Tracy Martinez from Fotolia.com
  
  Brunettes are said to be sophisticated and sexy. Many believe that there are just two shades to brunette: black and brown. However, there are so many shades of brown hair from dark to dirty blond and in-between. A great benefit to having and dying your hair brown is that roots are less noticeable. There are many brown hair color ideas that prove blonds really don't have more fun.
  
  

Brown Hair as a Base

• Brown hair is great for being a "base" color. Because the color tends to be"natural" in appearance, highlights can be added to brown hair to add dimension and a layered look. When naturally brown gets sun, it lightens in areas creating caramel pieces. This can be achieved with bleach and a low developer. It should be left on for about fifteen minutes, depending on how light you want the strands. Brown hair also holds reds very well. For a trendy look, try dying sections on your brunette hair red or copper. It will give the hair the highlight effect without peroxide or bleach.
  
  

Going Dark

• If your natural color is mousy brown/ ashy brown, go darker. The roots may show, but they can easily be fixed between touch-ups with mascara. Someone who is a brunette but needs a richer color should add darker browns via a glaze. Semi-permanent color is a way to try out deeper browns. If this is too drastic, keep your natural brown and add low lights in multiple colors to your hair. Try darker brown pieces underneath, honey pieces to the top. This contrast will showcase the depth of brown hair.
  
  

Naturally Brunette

• Hair Color Ideas says that in winter skin gets paler and hair darker. Embrace the brown. Unlike bleach, darker dyes do not strip or open the cuticle of the hair, but rather fills it in. For a natural way to go brunette, try henna hair dyes. They are made from plants, and they dye hair dark organically. Lush Cosmetics sells four kinds of brunette enhancing solid hennas: caca brun (brown), caca rouge (red), caca marron (chestnut) and caca noir (black). These are made with conditioning and moisturizing cocoa butter. Always keep dark hair healthy, because it absorbs more heat and light than lighter hair, and you want it to reflect the shine as well.