Brunettes have so many stunning shades of brown hair for 2026! Good thing Garnier has an exciting selection of brown hair color ideas, like delicious light brown, versatile medium brown, and dramatic dark brown. Each type of brown has warm, neutral or cool undertones that pair perfectly with the same tone in your skin. Get hip to the new year's vibe with this trend-forward 2026 guide to the most popular brunette hues.
While black hair remains the most prevalent among the global population, brown hair colors take the top spot in terms of popularity. This low-maintenance range of shades is generally more adaptable and flattering for a wider range of skin tones. Current 2026 trends predict tones that lean to cool ash, dimensional brunette flair, warm golden browns, and rich mocha shades.
Let’s start on the lighter side of brown hair color ideas. This range includes softer and brighter brunette shades that boast exciting dimension and low upkeep. Best of all, the fairer browns are known to flatter the full gamut of complexions—warm, neutral, and cool—depending on undertone.
Midway between light and dark brown sit the medium browns, a versatile and balanced group of shades that flatter almost every skin undertone. They not only look completely natural, but they also tend to be a perfect choice for a low-effort brunette look.
The sumptuous range of dark brown hair color shades are perfect for creating bold, luxurious, and high-shine brunettes with dramatic contrast.
Do you have a light, medium, or dark brown hair color idea you’d love to try on? Go to our Virtual Try-On Tool, upload a selfie or turn on the live video feature. Then see how you look and choose your perfect shade of brown hair!
If you’re feeling a little stuck and need some brown hair color inspo, take our Hair Color Quiz. We’ll walk you though finding your perfect undertone, depth, and finish.
No matter what shade your hair was before applying a brown hair color, you’ll want to keep it rich and shiny. And because most shades of brown hair are prone to brassiness, it’s also key to ensure your undertone stays on cue. Follow these golden rules to consistently align your original brunette vision.
