Light brown hair is at the far end of the brunette hair spectrum, often looking closer to blonde than naturally darker hues. But if you have light brown as your base color, you can experiment with so many different hues and color schemes, as it’s the perfect foundation from which to work. 

Our advice is to change your hair color with the seasons. Feel free to add darker, reddish hues as the leaves fall from the trees, and don’t be afraid to lighten things with a sparkle of ash and silver during the cool winter months. 

For inspiration, read on and discover our stylist’s best recommendation for nine light brown hairstyles to experiment with this year. 

Introducing the spectrum of light brown hair colors 

If you look at a brunette or brown color hair chart, you will see that light brown is at one end of the spectrum, while darkest brown is at the other. In between them are shades like ash, honey, bronze, caramel, chocolate, auburn, and mahogany, each with its own hues, tones, and complexions. 

The beauty of experimenting with hair color is that you can mix, match, and achieve variations that combine elements from each end of the spectrum. For instance, light ash brown and honey highlights on mahogany hair can both work well. 

As a starting point, consider your natural base color, as it will help when it comes to choosing which supplementary colors (if any) to add to your hair. You can also pre-order light brown hair color dye online, which is an easy way to adopt any of the recommendations we introduce below. 

9 light brown hair colors to try this year 

As we illustrate in this section, there are so many ways to color and style your light brown hair, so don’t feel like you have to stick with the tried and tested. Here are nine beautiful colors, with our recommendations for the best time of year to go for each:

1: Light ash brown hair color 

Light ash brown hair color

Light ash-brown hair is the obvious choice for women with cool complexions. Sometimes referred to as light mushroom-brown, this color is cool-toned with silver flashes, giving off cool, calm, and collected vibes. While lacking in natural warmth, light ash-brown hair is a beautiful color scheme in the fall and winter months. 

2: Light golden brown hair color 

Light golden brown hair color

If you’re looking for brown hair that looks naturally sun-kissed with a golden hue, light golden brown hair is the way to go. This color gives off beachy vibes, with sandy and golden tones that immediately transfer you to the white golden sands of your dream vacation destination. We think light golden brown is a brilliant way to embrace lighter hair without going blonde during the summer months. 

3: Light caramel brown hair color 

Light caramel brown hair color

Caramel light brown hair is perfect for women who want to go slightly darker but aren’t necessarily ready to take the plunge with a reddish or copper makeover. Light caramel brown is on the warmer end of the spectrum with light, golden tones that give off calming vibes, perfect for the changing weather so common in spring time.

4: Light reddish brown hair color 

Light reddish brown hair color

Light brown and red are a match made in heaven. The fiery hues given off by this color are perfect for the natural colors of fall and will effortlessly match your autumn wardrobe. If this color isn’t rich enough for you, copper is a good alternative. 

5: Light brown hair color with dark highlights 

Light brown hair color with dark highlights

Light brown hair color with highlights works throughout the year. We love the addition of dark highlights to light brown hair in particular, as the contrast is effortlessly stunning. You can also switch things up and add blonde or lighter highlights to your naturally darker brown hair if you wish. Light brown hair with darker highlights gives off nutty tones that evoke memories of Christmas and the holidays, making this a dreamy choice for your winter hair color. 

6: Honey light borrow hair color 

Honey light borrow hair color

Light honey hair is perhaps the perfect bridge between blonde and brunette and is a viable candidate if you aren’t ready to leap from one to the other. Honey-kissed hair can be well suited to every season, but we love its soft, subtle tones when the nights are drawing in throughout fall. It can really help your outfits shine, and it will bring out the best in your facial features. 

7: Light chestnut brown hair color 

Light chestnut brown hair color

Chestnut is a wonderfully soft and soothing color choice for women with light brown hair. This brown hair has subtle red undertones that deliver earthy, warm hues, perfect for all seasons. Chestnut is also a great base color, lending itself well to highlights and accents for something a little bit different. 

8: Natural light brown hair color with blonde highlights 

Natural light brown hair color with blonde highlights

If you’re blessed with naturally light brown hair, adding blonde highlights is your passport to a dreamy summer look. The blonde highlights expertly add depth and texture, showcasing a style that’s chic, light, and airy. As in the example above, natural light brown hair with blonde highlights looks great on women with long hair, given the perception of additional length that highlights often help you achieve.

9: Light copper brown hair color 

Light copper brown hair color

While copper might be too red for some people, this glamorous look takes your classic brunette hair to all-new levels. Slightly lighter than conventional copper, light copper brown hair achieves the perfect blend between bronze and light brown, making it a gorgeous hue for the fall months. You can even add highlights to this look to enhance the color scheme. 

How to choose hair colors for light brown hair 

Your starting point should always be your natural color or at least the darkest base color you plan to work with. If your hair is naturally dark brown or black, you will need to lighten your hair before choosing any of the above color schemes. At-home bleaching kits are a good option, but some hair dyes come with a lightener, meaning you don’t necessarily need to bleach your hair first. 

You will find lots of brands online that market pre-made, at-home hair dyes and color kits that are relatively easy to use. Simply follow the instructions listed on the box and dye your hair yourself, a process that shouldn’t take more than an hour or so. 

Alternatively, if you’re not confident of doing it yourself, you can ask your stylist to dye your hair on your behalf, but be mindful that it’s much costlier to do this, and you will need to spend several hours at the salon. If you book in with your stylist, make sure you attend the appointment with a light brown color in mind to make things easier. 

Conclusion 

Whether your hair is naturally light brown or you need to dye your hair to achieve lighter, natural hues, this color scheme is exceptionally popular right now. As we have shown in this article, there are so many beautiful tones and hues that you can experiment with if you want to rock a light brown hair color this year, from ash brown to light copper brown. 

You can add color to your hair at home yourself, or you can arrange an appointment with your stylist for a professional touch. Be sure to check out our FAQs below for more details on choosing the best light brown hair color for your styling preferences this year. 

FAQ

Which is the best light brown hair color? 

Q1: We love the soft, sun-kissed hues of light golden brown hair, which is a dreamy option for all seasons. Light chestnut brown hair is similarly attractive, making both popular options among women with naturally light brown hair. 

What is the most attractive light brown hair color? 

Q2: This depends on so many factors. During the colder months of the year, we love the silvery hues of light ash brown hair, while fall lends itself to the reddish hues of light brown copper hair. If you’re adaptable and roll with the seasons, you can choose an attractive light brown hair color to match your feelings and mood.