36 Celeb-Inspired Hair Color Ideas For Brunettes

There’s a reason so many celebs gravitate towards a more subtle ombre style: It creates more dimension and body than hair that’s all one tone. “Dimension is always a better choice,” explains colorist Florido Basallo, Clairol Color Partner. “Depending on what your complexion can handle, keep the roots richer and a little deeper than the ends." Gemma Chan proves that even the slightest difference between roots and ends can create a chic, yet understated contrast.

For medium to dark brunettes like Bella Hadid who aren't into highlights, opt for an all-over color that’s neutral or slightly warmer than your natural hue—like a hazelnut. “It adds a bit of warmth to brighten up around your face without being red or too warm,” furthers Stephanie Brown, master colorist at IGK Soho.

Becoming Mrs. Nick Jonas may have been a preteen dream of yours, but now that you're an adult, Priyanka Chopra’s lush head of hair is every bit as enviable. “The cinnamon dimensional tones through her ends are just enough to complement her skin tone while also adding softness and movement to her deep brunette color,” says Odete DaSilva, creative director at Artistex Salon and Spa.

“The super-beige hue of the highlights extend from root to ends,” explains Paul Cucinello, celebrity stylist and founder of Cucinello Studio NYC. “The reason why these ‘traditional’ (i.e., not ombre) highlights work so well is because they are only about a shade or two lighter than her cool, light brown base.”

It’s hard to keep up with Kim Kardashian West’s ever-changing looks, but when it comes to her mane, she always goes back to a rich brown. “It has all the descriptors you want in a color: rich, warm, luxe, and healthy,” says Giovanni Vaccaro, Glamsquad's artistic director. “I love how glassy hair looks with this tone, which works with all lengths and skin tones.”

Love your natural color, but want to up the drama? Make strands pop with understated highlights. “It’s nice because you get the feeling of being dark and natural with a little dimension,” says Anthony Holguin, a stylist at Nine Zero One Salon. “Lea Michele’s color is a great example," he says. "Her color is good for someone whose hair is light and wants a subtle change.”

Use the fall foliage as inspiration and embrace a warm reddish brown. “It's perfect for anyone who wants to go a little bolder, but doesn’t want to be extreme,” says celebrity colorist, Rita Hazan. “I love chestnut because anyone can rock this color, because it really does look good on every skin undertone."

“If your skin is more on the peachy side, you could go cooler and ashier,” says Basallo. Just look at how fresh and flirty Victoria Secret’s Angel Barbara Palvin is after leaning into lighter brown locks.

“If you’re looking to cover your highlights from the summer, this tone could work well for you,” explains Vaccaro since a month after your color appointment, you’ll see your highlights start to come through. Trying adding waves to add an extra beachy vibe.

The oldest Willis sister turned heads with her dark lob. “She has a strong jaw line that her previous blonde long hair only expanded and emphasized," explains DaSilva of why her color change was for the better. "Whereas the new deep, midnight brown minimizes her jaw, giving her a soft classic look. Plus, the richness of the color adds depth and complements her skin tone. The simplicity is beautiful.”

Sunlit brown is exactly what it sounds like—slightly lighter ombré that adds some beachy vibes to your hair color. “This doesn’t mean it’s drastic to the point where it doesn’t look natural, but it’s definitely lighter than what we’ve been seeing,” explains Brown. Gisele Bundchen is a perfect example of how you can go lighter without looking unnatural.

“Caramel tones are perfect for anyone looking to transition their hair from dark to light, or vice versa,” explains Hazan. “What I love about caramel hair is that there are many different variations of caramel that you can work with.”

“Her rich chocolate brown is full of depth, which allows her eyes to pop,” says DaSilva of why Kunis’ thick, beautiful mane is a stand-out.

Keep the summer vibes going well into fall with honey brown ends. “A little honey and a little leftover sun tan goes well together for this fall trend,” advises Vaccaro. “If you have medium to dark skin, this tone is perfect for you.”

While you may never be royalty, you can have Kate Middleton’s lustrous hair color. The Duchess’s delicate warm, light-catching highlights deserve a literal crown.

“Olivia has light to medium skin, which works well for this tone," says Vaccaro. "She has the perfect hair length for this color."

“I would describe dirty brunette as a darker version of dirty blonde,” says Brown. Think: A mane with sandy tones, a hint of golden highlights, and an ashy neutral base color such as Chrissy Teigen’s. “It’s very beachy and natural,” she continues. “The highlights or ombré are one to two levels lighter without looking too heavy on the hair.”

“There something so chic about being glossy and dark,” says Holguin. Emma Roberts' drastic change from blonde to brunette shows how a color change can transform strands. “This color is good for someone who needs a shiny, healthy boost.”

Your complexion isn’t the only thing that can be radiant—your hair can be, too. “Honey is an ideal shade for anyone who doesn’t want to be too platinum or dark, but longs for the perfect sunbaked medium,” says Hazan.

“It’s just so refreshing to see natural hair textures and colors take center stage,” says Cucinello. “I love how her color just fades out on the ends as if she spent a good amount of time in the sun—it’s not an ombre, it’s a subtle gradation."