25 chestnut hair colour ideas to inspire your next salon visit
If you're looking for brown and brunette-level contrast with the warmth of a bold red, auburn, or blonde, chestnut hair colour just might be your new favourite shade.
As for what the chestnut hair colour actually is? “Chestnut is a perfect combination of red and brown shades,” says Michelle Cleveland, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon & Extension Bar. “When combined, it takes on the look of a chestnut, which is where it gets its name from.”
But it's not as simple as just combining two colours together; it's a rich, multidimensional hue that falls within the brunette family with a twist, says Danielle Keasling, hair stylist and Ulta Beauty team member. “Infused with a subtle warm, reddish-golden undertone mostly seen in outside light, it’s brown hair with a luxurious, sunlit glow," Danielle explains. "While brown or brunette shades can range from ashy to deep espresso, chestnut hair is defined by its subtle warmth, giving it an extremely healthy appearance and incredibly polished feel.”
Despite how chic the shade is however, it's surprisingly low-maintenance, and even as it grows out, it looks completely natural. “Chestnut hair is also universally flattering, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to add warmth and depth to their hair,” Danielle continues.
No matter your aesthetic or preference, or if you identify as a lazy girl when it comes to beauty, there's at least one — or a few — chestnut hair colour styles that are sure to suit your vibe and lifestyle. Here's everything you need to know about the trending shade.
What is chestnut hair?
“Chestnut is a rich, warm shade of brown with subtle red and golden undertones, creating a natural and earthy appearance,” Christine Bellemare, co-founder, owner and lead stylist at Maven A Collect, tells GLAMOUR. “It often reflects light beautifully, showcasing a soft shimmer of warmth, and is versatile enough to complement a variety of skin tones.”
It's also especially easy to embrace the shade if you already have dark blonde or brown hair. “All brown and brunette hair naturally has warm reddish undertones, making chestnut an effortlessly easy addition,” Christine continues. “It instantly elevates any shade of brunette And brings out the glow in any skin tone giving a warm, sun-kissed look.”
How to find the best shade of chestnut for your skin tone
“Anyone can pull off a chestnut glow by adjusting the intensity to complement their natural skin tone,” says Renée Valerie, director of R+Color Education. “A comprehensive consultation with your colourist will ensure you find the ideal chestnut shade, considering your skin tone, complexion, eye colour, and maintenance commitment, so you always look effortlessly polished.”
That said, to determine the best shade of chestnut for your skin tone in the meantime, Christine suggests you identify your skin tone and whether that’s warm, cool or neutral.
“From there, take into consideration your natural hair colour to determine the best shade of chestnut, says Christine. “For lighter hair, a lighter chestnut shade will add warmth and dimension without overwhelming your natural base. ”For darker hair, rich, deeper chestnut tones will blend more seamlessly while adding shine and vibrancy.”
How to maintain chestnut hair colour at home
As is usually the case with dyed hair, you'll want to use colour-protecting and preserving hair care. “For maintaining shine and ensuring long-lasting colour, I highly recommend R+Co Bleu Primary Color Shampoo” says Renée.
Danielle agrees, recommending Matrix Instacure Build a Bond to preserve the warm tones. “Also use daily heat protection spray if you’re using hot tools is a must,” she says. "You want to preserve that richness and shine. Thermal sprays protect the colour from fading with a added benefit of memory and hold.”
Christine suggests Wella Professionals Color Fresh Mask as well. “It's a great choice for maintaining your color at home.”
Are you inspired yet? Ahead, see 25 of the best chestnut hair colours to try, according to stylists and colourists.
Instagram/@oliviaculpoClassic Chestnut
If you need just one person to influence your chestnut hair colour journey, let it be Olivia Culpo; almost every expert interviewed for this story cited her as prime chestnut hair inspo. “Classic chestnut brown offers a rich, all-over shade that exudes timeless elegance,” Danielle says.
Instagram/@hungvanngoSun-Kissed Chestnut
For something subtle but super flattering, consider a soft, golden, and sun-kissed take on chestnut. “It's a a soft fusion of golden blonde and light chestnut tones for a sun-kissed effect,” Danielle continues. “Highlights in chestnut are perfect for those with darker hair looking to create a soft contrast without going overly blonde.” One great example is Halle Berry's hair.
Instagram/@hairinelWarm Chestnut
“Chestnut instantly elevates any shade of brunette and brings out the glow in any skin tone giving a warm sun kissed look,” adds Michelle. One of her favorite examples of such? Chrissy Tiegen. "She wears her warm-toned chestnut so beautifully,” she says.
Instagram/@kendalfedailRich Chestnut
“Chestnut tones suit a wide range of people but are especially flattering on those with warm or neutral undertones in their skin,” says IGK co-founder, Chase Kusero. “It's an excellent option for brunettes looking to add richness and dimension to their hair.” One such example? This gorgeous, deep, classic, and rich shade of brunette.
Instagram @nailsbyzolaGolden Chestnut
“The best candidate for a chestnut colour is someone who already has a natural shade of brown hair, either all over brown or can be put over existing highlights to give a more dimensional look,” says Christine, pointing to Hailey Bieber's golden shade as a perfectly low-maintenance way to wear the look.
Instagram/@robeauhairHoney Chestnut
Medium-brown hair lovers might want to consider honey chestnut brown. “It’s a beautiful shade that ranges from deep reddish brown to light golden brown, and is very versatile colour that suits many skin tones and can be both warm and cool in tone,” says Nicole Lucero, a colourist at Mahogany Grace Salon. “It is a low-maintenance hair colour that requires minimal touch-ups.”
Instagram/@danadelaneyDark Chestnut
“This luminous and reflective shade is a natural brown color with hints of caramel and golden undertones and loads of rich shine,” Shvonne Perkins, master colourist and lead educator at home hair colour maker Madison Reed, says of dark chestnut. To get the look, Shvonne advises being specific about wanting a burnished, golden chestnut brunette without it becoming red. “The tones you want to add to your brunette are mahogany, golden, and copper mixes—not literal red tones." Think: Laura Harrier's glossy shade.
Instagram/@jessicaalbaChestnut Dimension
Another chestnut hair icon, according to pros? Jessica Alba, of course. "Jessica Alba’s signature chestnut highlights bring out her natural warmth and depth," she says. But you don't have to be famous to rock the look: “Chestnut highlights create subtle ribbons of warmth through dark brown hair for added dimension.”
Instagram/@dafne_evangelistaFire Chestnut
Want to try red? “Fire Chestnut is an all over auburn brown with a red chestnut undertone,” says Lorena M. Valdes, a colourist at Maxine Salon. pointing to Camila Mendes' fiery new shade as a great example of the look. “I would recommend doing an all-over colour to create this look. The maintenance will be every six to eight weeks for roots and as needed apply a gloss to refresh the ends."
.jpg)
Instagram/@priyankachopraDeep Chestnut
Chase also loves the deep chestnut shade. “It's a rich, dark tone with red undertones, as seen on Priyanka Chopra Jonas," he says. Especially since, despite how luxe it looks, it's actually low-maintenance compared to cooler tones. “That's because it blends seamlessly with brown bases,” he explains.
Instagram/@dimitrishairChestnut Blonde
Want something on the lighter side? Add warm, reddish-brown highlights through sun-kissed blonde hair for what Chase calls classic chestnut blonde.
Instagram/@sarahhylandVibrant Chestnut
“Vibrant chestnut is a vibrant brunette shade with subtle undertones ranging from copper red to golden hues,” says Renée. “While it is technically a brown, it stands out for its warmth and richness, making it distinctly different from more neutral traditional brunettes.” Sarah Hyland has been sporting one of our favourite takes on the vibrant shade.
.jpg)
Instagram/@jacobrozenbergChestnut Balayage
Contrary to what some people may think, balayage is still one of the prettiest ways to wear chestnut hair color. "Chestnut balayage achieves a natural, sunlit gradient perfect for effortless chic and that lived in look everyone’s loving,” says Danielle.
Instagram/@basedkenkenAuburn Chestnut
For something closer to auburn, simply combine the two: “Auburn chestnut pops in the sun," says Lorena. "To get the look, make an appointment for an all-over colour to create this look. For maintenance it will need a root touch-up every four to six weeks and when needed a gloss to freshen up the mids and ends.”
Instagram/@claytonhawkinsBlended Chestnut
According to Chase, blended chestnut highlights are a great option for adding subtle warmth to a brunette base. “This adds depth and dimension to flat or monotone brown hair,” he says.
Instagram/@goldenmsChestnut Caramel
“Chestnut caramel brunette is a natural brown with hints of caramel and golden undertones, and loads of rich shine,” says Shvonne, noting that the colour is especially luminous and reflective. “It’s a departure from the subdued, ash tones featured in the trends from seasons past.”
Instagram/@renatocamporaEspresso Chestnut
Chase also points to beautiful chestnut espresso with lots of shine as a prime shade for 2025.
Instagram/@marktownsend1Chestnut Highlights
Low-maintenance and natural-looking, it's hard to go wrong with chestnut highlights. “Chestnut highlights create subtle ribbons of warmth through dark brown hair for added dimension,” says Danielle. “Dakota Johnson is a great example.”
Instagram/@hair__poetChestnut Lowlights
“Adding chestnut lowlights or undertones can elevate your overall look without a drastic colour change, by adding light reflection and dimension to flat, dark hair,” says Daniell. “It’s great to enhance natural curls, waves, and texture by creating a shimmering, multi-tonal effect.” Case in point: Chloe Bailey.
Instagram/@peterluxhairChestnut Ribbons
Lorena also recommends what she calls “chestnut ribbons,” which you can achieve by asking for balayage with subtle gold and red undertones. “This shade is great on brunettes who want to warm things up,” she says. "Glossing in between balayage appointments will keep the colour vibrant and shiny.” You'll recognise the look from Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Instagram/@paulyblanchButterscotch Chestnut
“Adding chestnut tones to your hair, whether as an all-over colour or delicate highlights, can boost shine, enhance luminosity, and breathe new life into dull strands,” Renée continues.
Instagram/@dimitrishairChestnut Contrast
Celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos recommends a chic, dark chestnut shade with high and low contrast hues of brown. “This adds depth, dimension, and shine to the hair,” he says, pointing to his client Amal Clooney is a prime example of the shade. “It's a simple yet sleek look.”
Instagram/@haileesteinfeldChestnut Undertones
For even more chestnut inspo, look at Hailee Steinfeld's hair. “Hailee Steinfeld is often spotted with chestnut undertones in her brunette locks, adding softness to her bold features,” says Danielle.
Chris PizzelloToasted Chestnut
We're not done with the chestnut hair influencers. “Zendaya’s glossy chestnut waves highlight her glowing complexion,” says Danielle – and it's true, her chestnut hair is indeed iconic.
Instagram/@adamburrellChestnut Blend
Lorena also recommends incorporating warm, reddish, chestnut, and caramel tones throughout your hair for a natural-looking warm aesthetic. “Baby-lights or balayage would mimic what the sun does to the hair naturally,” she says.
This feature originally appeared on GLAMOUR US.
