28 light brown hair colours that have us ready to call our colourist

How to keep light brown hair from looking brassy?

When it comes to swerving brassiness, its best to counteract it with cool tones. "Brunettes often suffer from too much warmth running through their hair," explains Bryony Cairns, colourist at Larry King Salon. "Adding slices of cooler tones mutes the warmth without taking away the depth of the colour. This is especially good for brunettes with blue eyes and paler complexions as the cool tones make the eye colour ‘pop’," she says.

How high-maintenance is light brown hair?

They say blondes have more fun, but they also have to spend more time maintaining their colour. Brunettes tend to fade slower than other shades and they create less damage as there's less bleaching involved.

“Depending on how much lighter you go than your natural base, maintenance should be low as your colourist will usually only take you 1-2 shades lighter. This means less upkeep and still creates the ultimate effortless hair,” says Gemma. It will also depend on whether you go for an “all-over global colour, babylights or balayage,” she adds. Highlights and balayage will grow out very seamlessly and therefore require less maintenance.

If you want to go quite a few shades lighter than your base colour, Kim Kardashian's hair stylist, Chris Appleton, has a low maintenance trick for that. “The secret to keeping it cool is adding the darker base at the root,” he explained. A root smudge gently gradiates from a darker root to lighter brown mid-lengths and ends which works beautifully on darker hair.

Lastly, the relaxed colour plays perfectly into messy hair-dos, like top knots. And the deeper root comes in handy on third day hair, since its magic at disguising oilier roots.

39 hairstyles for greasy hair if you CBA with wash day

21 Photos

By Elle Turner

View Gallery

How can you level-up light brown hair?

With the evolution of trends like expensive brunette, rather than high-contrast shades, we're focusing on more natural looks, executed beautifully. “Expensive brunette is all about giving hair energy, dimension, and detail,” says celebrity hairstylist Tom Smith, European creative director for Evo Hair. This means expertly blending in highlights and lowlights to add some subtle interest. But also, it focuses on care and condition, to create the glossiest, healthiest-looking hair colour. So, don't forget to fortify your hair with nourishing and strengthening treatments like Olaplex, and hair masks. Plus sulphate free shampoos create less colour-fade and so will make the most out of your colour.

Read More

‘Expensive brunette’ is the brown hair trend you’ll be seeing everywhere this winter

It’s all about “giving deeper hair energy, dimension, and detail.”

By Elizabeth Logan

What are the current light brown hair trends?

As we've said, it's personal and it's all about tailoring the right shade to you, but some of the trending light brown hair colours that top hair stylists have sign-posted for the upcoming season include Taupe Brunette, a cool-toned ashy brown that's free from brassy or warm undertones. “This taupe and mushroom inspired brown shade is a great option for those wanting to play with brunette shades but keen to keep away from warmth, red or chocolate tones,” Tom explains.

And, for the undecided, bronde remains one of the most-requested hair colours in the salon and sits beautifully between blonde and brunette for a light brown (or dark blonde) situation that offers the best of both.

Here's 28 of our favourite ways to wear light brown hair…

This little golden threads woven throughout this light brunette hair colour makes it look sunkissed.

This cool biscuity shade is lit up with some highlighted face-framing pieces.

This light candelit brunette looks luxe with some silky styling.

Beyonce's made light brunette (or dark blonde) her signature. The trick? Caramel strands lit up with lighter moneypiece highlights framing her face.

This pretty mousy brunette looks effortless.

Honey brown works beautifully whether it's all over or blended into darker roots.

Lean into light brunette hair with light brunette face framing strands.

A deep root and latte ends look stunning, especially when glazed for extra shine.

Halle's transition from dark roots to light golden ends is flawless.

JLo has made light golden brown strands her trademark.

Kaia's mousy gold hair looks pretty but relaxed.

This sandy brunette blends a deeper brown base with cool-toned brunette up top.

Light brown hair doesn't have to mean cool tones, this rich light auburn brown is gorgeous.

This amber brunette works perfectly with Sofia's skin tone and eye colour.

Teensy threads of gold, sand and caramel work beautifully against Priyanka's deeper brunette base.

This mid-brown hair looks lighter and brighter thanks to bold moneypiece highlights

This pretty balayage blends deeper chocolate tones with lighter toffee.

We love the shots of gold streaked along curls.

This has the same relaxed feel as beachy blonde, but translated onto brunette.

The shots of caramel across curls helps add definition, contour and glow.

Hailee's darker brunette roots make there way towards an oaty colour palette that's brighter but still low-key.

A sandy brunette balayage looks beautiful and is so easy to maintain.

The bronze, gold and amber highlights add a sunset glow.

Ana de Armas' ombre brunette hair starts deep then ends light.

This dimensional hair colour blends deeper brunette with light brown balayage.

Adding a sweep of lighter highlights around the face, mids and ends can lift a deeper base.

This soft bronze is delicate and wearable.

These golden flecks and highlights add dimension and glow.

For more from GLAMOUR's Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk