Ombre hair has become one of the most popular hair trends in recent years.
This gorgeous look features hair that gradually blends from a darker shade at the roots to a lighter shade at the tips.
While ombre works beautifully on blonde hair, it can also look absolutely stunning on brunette locks.
The dark roots help ground the look while the lighter ends add dimension and flair.
If you’re a brunette looking to spice up your hairstyle, ombre may be just what you need.
Let’s look at beautiful ombre hair colors perfect for brunettes.
So continue reading to discover stunning options that will have you racing to the salon!
Subtle Caramel Ombre
The beauty of brunette ombre lies in its subtlety. You can create gorgeous dimension in your dark locks without an extreme contrast.
For a natural yet eye-catching look, ask your colorist for lighter caramel and honey blonde shades blended through the midlengths and ends.
Focus the lighter hues from below the collarbone and down. Keep your roots a rich solid brown to mimic regrowth and maintain a brunette base.
When choosing your base shade, opt for a neutral to ashy brown that matches your natural color. Warm up the ombre tones to complement this base. Have your colorist hand-paint thin slices of buttery blonde using a balayage technique to create a seamless fade. Focus the most saturation on the very ends for brightness that pops.
Style your hair in loose waves to show off the blend of hues. A side part and messy curl creates romantic movement to showcase the lightness.
This is one of the most low-maintenance ombre looks that flatters all skin tones. The subtle lightening illuminates your features without overwhelming your complexion.
Take care to use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner set to keep those gorgeous caramel tones from fading too fast. Look for nourishing formulas with UV filters to prolong vibrancy. Apply a weekly conditioning hair mask as well.
Chestnut to Caramel Balayage
For beautifully blended color melt, try a chestnut brown to caramel ombre. Ask your stylist for a balayage technique, painting the lightened shades from mid-shaft down.
Concentrate the most saturation of caramel hues on the very ends. Keep the roots and upper lengths more chestnut to mimic natural regrowth.
Start with a rich chestnut base, keeping your natural roots if you have darker brown hair. Ask your colorist to hand-paint thin slices of creamy caramel blonde using a balayage technique starting below the shoulders.
Focus the most opaque saturation on the ends for a pop of brightness. The brown and blonde shades should seamlessly transition in an ombre fade. Add coppery toner to the caramel shades to enhance vibrancy.
Style your hair straight to show off the fade of color.
Or create soft tousled waves for a warm, beachy look that flatters bronze skin tones. Try parting to one side and using a large barrel curling iron to create romantic cascading curls. Use a color-depositing hair mask once a week to boost vibrancy and fight brassiness. This ombre is ideal for those with naturally dark brown hair who want subtle sun-kissed lightness.
Dark Chocolate to Butter Blonde
Add a touch of buttery brightness to rich chocolate brown hair with this stunning ombre.
Ask your colorist to use foilayage techniques, starting mid-shaft down to the ends with creamy blonde shades. Focus vivid opaque butter hues on the ends and tips for maximum impact.
Keep your roots and upper lengths a deep dark chocolate brown.
Choose an espresso brown base to contrast the buttery tones.
Have your colorist hand-paint ultra bright golden blonde ribbons starting mid-length and concentrating color at the tips. Use foils to intensify the opacity on the ends. Toners can enhance the ashy cool tones in the brown and cancel out warmth in the blonde. Finish with a gloss for shine.
The contrast of cool, dark brown against the warm golden blonde is striking yet wearable. Style your hair poker straight to show off the dramatic color shift.
Or add soft waves for tons of dimensional movement and shine. Try parting to the side and use a large-barrel iron to touch in sculpted curls. Use a purple toning shampoo once a week to fight brassiness and enhance the ashy tones in the blonde. This ombre packs more of a punch for brunettes who want a bold yet sophisticated look.
Warm Cinnamon to Strawberry Blonde
Warm up your dark locks with spicy cinnamon and strawberry-kissed shades.
Ask your colorist for a coppery cinnamon brown with ribbons of strawberry and apricot blonde painted through the midlengths and ends. Concentrate the most intense pops of copper and rose gold on the lower lengths and tips. Keep your roots and upper hair a rich chocolate brown for contrast.
Choose a chestnut brown base to match your natural root color. Have your stylist paint on slices of coppery cinnamon, apricot, and rose gold using a balayage technique starting mid-shaft. Saturate the ends with custom-blended strawberry and peach toner for vivid brightness.
Finish with a gloss treatment to boost shine.
Style with loose romantic waves to showcase the paintbrush effect.
Or wear straight to show off the alternating stripes of color. Try a side part with cascading curls using a waved iron to get tons of movement that shows off the hand-painted ribbons. Use a color-safe shampoo and mask system to fight fading and enhance vibrancy of the spicy tones.
This ombre works beautifully on brunettes with golden undertones in their skin and eyes. The mix of warm shades brings out such complexions beautifully.
Espresso to Hazelnut
For a rich, autumnal ombre, try blending espresso brown with hazelnut and caramel blonde shades. Ask your colorist for a single process dye technique, lightening all over but concentrating the bleach on the mid-lengths to ends. Paint vivid opaque hues of caramel and hazelnut on the lower lengths and tips.
Keep your roots and upper lengths a deep, dark espresso brown.
Choose an intense espresso base. Have your stylist apply foils to the mid-lengths and ends to lighten up to 4 levels lighter. Hand-paint alternating slices of hazelnut and caramel using a balayage technique on the lightened lengths. Saturate the ends with an opaque hazelnut glaze for high impact.
Finish with a nourishing conditioning treatment.
Style with cascading curls to show off the increasingly lightened shades on the ends. Try parting slightly off-center and use a triple-barrel waver iron to create romantic texture that showcases the ombre dimension. Use a weekly conditioning hair mask to boost shine and softness in your color-treated locks.
This ombre works well on medium to tan skin tones, adding beautiful warmth and radiance to your complexion. The brown sugar tones evoke cozy sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes.
Ash Brown to Icy Blonde
Contrary to popular belief, brunettes can absolutely rock icy platinum hues too. The trick is blending it from an ashy root color to prevent harsh contrast.
Ask your colorist to lift your ends to a pale icy blonde, keeping roots and midlengths a cool ash brown. Concentrate the most intense platinum hues on the very ends and tips to mimic a dip-dye effect.
Choose a natural ash brown base to complement the icy tones. Have your colorist lighten the lower lengths using foils for precise application.
Tone the ends an extreme platinum white and finish with a violet gloss for an opaque icy effect. Add blue shampoo to your regular regimen to maintain the ash-silver tones between salon visits.
Style straight and sleek to show off the chic ombre color melt. Or add waves for an edgy mermaid effect. Part hair off center and use a flatiron to touch up the ends, pulling straight down to show off long lengths. Use purple shampoo and conditioning masks to prevent brassiness and enhance icy tones.
While this ombre has high-maintenance upkeep, it creates an edgy yet elegant look on brunettes with naturally cool-toned hair. The washed out icy tips give off modern rocker vibes for the style-daring.
Rich Chocolate to Creamy Blonde
For brunettes who want to go dramatically lighter on their ends, try this rich chocolate to creamy blonde ombre. Your colorist should use foils to carefully lighten the mid-lengths and ends to a pale ivory blonde. Concentrate the most opaque creamy hues on the tips. Keep roots and upper lengths your natural deep chocolate brown.
Pick an opaque chocolate brown as your base to contrast the ivory ends. Have your stylist foil the lower lengths, lifting up to 4 levels and toning to an icy platinum blonde.
Apply an opaque creamy toner on the tips and ends for a high-impact ombre pop. Use Olaplex treatments during processing to prevent breakage of compromised strands.
Style the bold contrast in beachy waves, showing off glossy movement. Or wear sleek and straight to highlight the extreme color shift from dark to light.
Try a middle or side-swept part and touch up the ends with a flatiron to show off the dimensional color. Use a violet-blue toning mask weekly to neutralize brassiness and prevent orange tones from showing through. This striking ombre packs a stylish punch, giving off Hollywood glamour vibes.
But the dark roots keep it low-maintenance by mimicking regrowth.
Black Coffee to Caramel Ribbons
For bold texture and dimension, ask your colorist for thin ribbons of buttery caramel and honey blonde woven throughout intense jet black coffee brown hair.
The painted stripes of light and dark create incredible depth and movement. Concentrate the brightness on the lower lengths to create an ombre effect, keeping roots coffee-colored.
Opt for an opaque black coffee brown base, leaving natural roots if they are dark enough. Have your stylist hand-paint ultra-thin ribbons starting below the shoulders using a balayage technique.
Make ribbons wider on the ends for a blended ombre effect. Use a custom-blended honey and caramel toner on pre-lightened slices to create vivid color that pops.
Style with piece-y waves, allowing the streaks of color to peek through. Or wear straight and sleek to blend the alternating tones together.
Try parting hair off-center and use a diffuser on low heat to encourage natural-looking texture and movement that shows off the tiger stripes.
Use a hydrating mask to condition your color-treated strands. This ombre works beautifully on pale to medium skin tones, creating a striking contrast against the skin. It’s perfect for naturally dark-haired beauties craving a pop of lightness.
Espresso to Rose Gold
Give your dark locks a touch of rose gold radiance with this luxe ombre. Ask your colorist for a rich chocolate brown base with ribbons of copper, rose gold and peach shades painted through the mid-lengths and ends.
Concentrate the most intense rose gold hues on the tips. Keep roots and upper lengths a deep espresso brown.
Choose an espresso base to contrast the rosy ends. Have your stylist hand-paint contrasting ribbons of copper, rose gold, and peach using a balayage technique on the lower lengths. Saturate the ends in an intense rose gold toner for striking brightness.
Use Olaplex during processing to maintain integrity of strands.
Style with soft romantic waves to show off the painted effect.
Or wear straight to blend the tones together.
Try a side-swept part with cascading curls using a triple-barrel waver iron.
Piec-ey texture shows off the dimensional color ribbons. Use a weekly nourishing hair mask to boost shine and prevent fading of the jewel-toned ends. This ombre works beautifully on olive and tan complexions, bringing out golden undertones. The mix of rosy and peachy shades flatters and illuminates most skin tones.
Dark Chocolate Melt to Amber
For gorgeous tone-on-tone dimension, try melting rich chocolate brown hair into shimmering amber shades. Ask your colorist for a single process all-over color, lifting your ends more to create an ombre effect.
Paint the most concentrated amber and caramel hues on the lower lengths and ends. Keep roots and midlengths slightly darker in a chocolate espresso brown.
Opt for a neutral dark chocolate brown base. Lighten strands gradually using foils, increasing intensity on the ends. Hand-paint alternating slices of caramel and amber using a balayage technique.
Saturate the ends in an amber glaze for high shine dimension. Use a color-depositing conditioner to enhance warmth.
Style with loose, textured waves to show off the warm color variations. Or wear sleek and straight for a more blended effect. Try parting slightly off-center and diffuse hair 80% dry to encourage natural-looking waves that show off the ombre color melt.
Use a color-safe shampoo and nourishing weekly mask to maintain vibrancy. This ombre works beautifully on tan to dark skin tones, bringing out golden glow. The rich range of brown shades creates incredible depth and dimension.
Dark Mocha to Bronde
For understated enhancement of your natural color, try this mocha brown to bronde ombre.
Ask your stylist for an all-over single process application, lifting the ends to a dark coppery blonde. Concentrate the most vivid bronde shades on the very ends, keeping roots and upper lengths a rich mocha brown.
Choose a neutral mocha base that matches your natural color. Hand-paint fine bronde slices starting mid-length using balayage technique. Apply vivid copper and bronze toner on the ends for dimension. Use a demi-permanent gloss on mid-lengths for additional shine and blending.
Style with soft beach waves to show off the subtle lightening effect. Or wear straight and smooth for uniform blending of the hues.
Try parting hair off-center and use a triple barrel waver iron to touch in sculpted curls that show off the gradient color melt from mocha to bronde.
Use a color-safe shampoo and hydrating mask to maintain softness and vibrancy. This ombre mimics the way hair naturally lightens from sun exposure for a believable look. The bronde ends brighten your complexion without overwhelming.
Espresso to Smoky Blue
Make a bold fashion statement with an icy blue ombre against rich chocolate brown hair. Your colorist should use foils to carefully lighten and tone the mid-lengths and ends, first to a pale blonde then to a smoky steel blue. Concentrate the most intense icy blue at the tips. Keep your roots and upper lengths a deep espresso brown.
Choose a neutral espresso brown base. Lighten the lower lengths with foils up to three levels then apply a blue toner for at least 15 minutes to deposit vivid color. Apply a smoky blue demi-permanent color on the ends for opacity. Use Olaplex to prevent damage to strands.
Style sleek and straight to show off the dramatic color melt. Or add waves for an edgy mermaid effect. Part off-center and use a flatiron to touch up ends, pulling straight down.
Use color-depositing shampoo and mask between appointments to refresh the blue. While high maintenance, this rock n roll ombre makes a striking impression on naturally dark-haired beauties. The contrast pops against all skin tones.
Warm Brown to Amber Red
Warm up your brunette locks with spicy amber reds blended through the ends. Ask your colorist for an all-over application, lifting the ends to create an ombre effect.
Paint rich cherry and amber reds on the lower lengths and tips. Keep your roots and upper lengths a neutral warm brown.
Choose a chestnut brown base. Lighten the lower lengths and paint on cherry and amber red tones using a balayage technique focused on the tips.
Use a clear gloss on the mid-lengths for a seamless blend. Amp up the vibrancy with a red depositing shampoo and weekly conditioning treatment.
Style with tousled waves to showcase the pop of color on the ends. Or wear sleek for a more uniform blended effect. For tons of dimensional texture, try finger drying hair 80% and allow to air dry. This brings out the painted streaks of color.
Use color-safe shampoo and deep weekly conditioning to prevent fading of the vibrant red tones. This ombre works beautifully on olive to dark complexions, bringing out golden radiance in the skin. The spicy red ends flatter and brighten most skin tones for a glamorous look.
Ombre Hair Tips for Brunettes
Now that we’ve explored stunning brunette ombre options, let’s cover some haircare, styling, and maintenance tips to keep your look gorgeous:
– Use color-safe sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to preserve your color and enhance vibrancy. Wash with cool water instead of hot to prevent fading.
– Apply a weekly hydrating hair mask to boost moisture and shine in color-treated hair. Focus on nourishing ends to prevent dryness.
– Use a color-depositing toning shampoo or mask once a week to fight brassiness and boost tone.
– Protect strands with a heat protectant spray when using hot tools. Allow hair to air dry when possible to prevent damage.
– Book touch up appointments every 4-6 weeks to refresh your roots as your hair grows out.
– Add lightweight oils or serums to boost shine and smooth flyaways in conditioned hair.
– Get trims every 8-10 weeks to snip off dry ends and allow the ombre to move down the lengths as your hair grows.
– Use purple/blue toners to keep blonde ends icy. Use copper/red toners on mid-lengths to prevent orange hues.
– Add bends, waves and curls when styling to create movement that shows off multidimensional color.
With proper techniques and aftercare, brunette ombre hair can look absolutely gorgeous.
The dimensional shades bring out beautiful glow in your skin and eyes.
So embrace your dark side and give these stunning ombre styles a try! Your radiant new locks will turn heads for sure. Let us know if you have any other questions!
