Honestly, blonde had a good run. For years, the salon chair was basically a conveyor belt for foils and purple shampoo. But something shifted. If you look at the red carpet or even just scroll through your feed lately, you’ll see it. Brown is no longer the "safe" default or the "oops, I fried my hair" backup plan. It’s the main event. People are finally realizing that 2024 hair color trends brunette styles offer a level of depth and shine that platinum just can't touch.
It's about health. It's about that "expensive" look.
We’re moving away from those high-contrast, stripey highlights of the early 2000s and leaning into colors that look like they grew out of your head that way—only better. Think melted chocolate, cold-brew coffee, and candlelight. Stylists like Jenna Perry (who works with Bella Hadid) have been preaching this gospel for a minute now. The goal is "rich girl" hair. It sounds pretentious, but basically, it just means hair that reflects light like a mirror and feels soft to the touch.
The unexpected shift in 2024 hair color trends brunette
The biggest misconception about going brown is that it’s boring. People think it’s just one note. Wrong. This year, we’re seeing a massive move toward "Lived-In Espresso." It’s dark. It’s moody. But it has these tiny flickers of wood-toned warmth that prevent it from looking like a box of black dye.
You’ve probably heard the term "Old Money Brunette" popping up everywhere. It’s a real thing. This trend relies on subtle, tone-on-tone dimension. Instead of lifting the hair five levels to a bright blonde, colorists are only lifting it two levels. The result is a seamless blend that doesn't leave you with a harsh root line in three weeks.
Maintenance matters. A lot.
Nobody wants to spend four hours in a chair every month anymore. Life is too busy for that. The beauty of these current brunette shifts is that they actually look better as they fade. They mellow out. They get a little sun-kissed. It’s low-stress beauty, and that’s why it’s winning.
Texture and Tone: The "Syrup" Effect
Let's talk about "Syrup Brunette." This specific look is huge right now, largely popularized by UK-based colorists who wanted to create warmth without the dreaded "orange" tint. It uses gold and amber undertones rather than red or violet ones. Imagine pouring maple syrup over a dark surface—it has that translucent, gooey glow.
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It's delicious. It's also incredibly flattering on skin that has olive or yellow undertones.
If you’ve been terrified of warmth because you think it’ll look "brassy," this is the year to get over that fear. Brassiness is unrefined. Warmth is intentional. There is a very big difference between the two. When you use a professional gloss—think Redken Shades EQ or Goldwell Colorance—the warmth is controlled. It looks intentional. It looks like you have a constant ring light following you around.
Cowgirl Copper’s Sophisticated Cousin
You remember the copper craze from last year? Everyone went red. It was a vibe, but it was also a nightmare to maintain. Red molecules are huge; they slide right out of the hair shaft the second you look at a showerhead.
So, enter "Auburn Brunette."
It’s the compromise. You get that spicy, reddish glint when the sun hits your hair, but the base is a solid, reliable brown. It stays put. It doesn't wash out into a muddy peach color after three washes. Celebrity stylist Chris Appleton has been leaning into these "expensive" mahogany tones lately because they provide a glow that cool tones just can't replicate. It makes the eyes pop. It makes the skin look less tired.
How to actually get the 2024 look without ruining your hair
If you're heading to the salon, don't just say "brown." That’s like going to a restaurant and ordering "food." You need to be specific. Most people fail because they don't understand the difference between level and tone.
- Level is how light or dark the hair is (1 is black, 10 is platinum).
- Tone is the "flavor" (ashy, gold, red, neutral).
For the most current 2024 hair color trends brunette look, ask for a "Mid-Light." This is a technique where the highlights are kept within two shades of the base color. It creates movement without looking like a zebra. Also, mention "internal dimension." This means the colorist paints the lighter bits inside the hair, so they only peek through when you move or curl it. It’s subtle. It’s sophisticated.
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The gloss is your best friend
Whatever you do, don't skip the gloss.
Even if you aren't changing your color, a clear or slightly tinted gloss is the secret weapon for brunettes. It seals the cuticle. It adds a layer of shine that lasts about six weeks. If you look at someone like Dakota Johnson or Hailey Bieber, their hair always looks "expensive" because it’s incredibly glossy. It’s not necessarily about the specific shade; it’s about the finish.
Maintenance: The Brunette Rulebook
Darker hair requires a different kind of love than blonde hair. While blondes are fighting breakage, brunettes are fighting dullness. The sun is your enemy here. UV rays oxidize the pigments in your hair, which is why your beautiful cool-toned brown can turn into a rusty orange by mid-July.
- Use a UV protectant. It sounds like a marketing gimmick, but it's not. Look for sprays that contain sunflower seed extract or specialized polymers.
- Blue, not purple. If you’re a dark brunette and you’re seeing orange, purple shampoo won't do anything. You need blue shampoo. Blue is opposite orange on the color wheel; purple is opposite yellow. Use it once every two weeks.
- Lower the heat. High heat literally "cooks" the color out of your hair. If you’re using a flat iron at 450 degrees, you’re basically stripping your expensive salon visit away in one pass. Keep it at 350 or lower.
The Reality of "Chocolate Cherry" and Red-Based Browns
There’s a lot of talk about "Chocolate Cherry" right now. It’s a deep, dark brown with a subtle violet-red undertone. It’s stunning. But a word of caution: if you ever want to go back to blonde, this is a tough one. Red pigments are stubborn. They like to stay in the hair. If you’re a hair chameleon who changes your mind every three months, stick to the "Bambi Brown" or "Mushroom Brunette" categories. They’re easier to pivot from.
Mushroom brunette is still hanging on, by the way. It’s that very cool, almost grey-toned brown. It’s tricky to achieve because it requires neutralizing all the natural warmth in the hair. It’s high maintenance in its own way because those cool tones are the first to fade. You’ll need a lot of toning masks.
Why the "Quiet Luxury" hair trend isn't going anywhere
We’re in an era of "less is more." The 2024 hair color trends brunette movement is a direct response to the "over-done" look of the 2010s. People want to look like they woke up with incredible hair. They want to look healthy. They want to look like they have a great dermatologist and a private chef.
Darker hair generally makes the hair look thicker and healthier because it fills in the porous parts of the hair strand. If your hair is feeling thin or fried from years of bleach, going back to a rich brunette can literally make it look like you grew 20% more hair overnight. It’s a literal optical illusion.
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Practical next steps for your brunette transition
If you're ready to make the jump, don't just grab a box from the drugstore. Box dye is often "progressive," meaning every time you use it, it gets darker and darker until it looks like shoe polish. It’s a nightmare to remove.
First step: Book a consultation for a "Global Gloss" or a "Tonal Shift." These are low-commitment ways to see if you like a darker look without the permanent "point of no return."
Second step: Evaluate your skincare. If you go significantly darker, you might need to adjust your blush or lipstick. Darker hair can sometimes wash out very fair skin if the tone is too cool, so you might want to lean into those "syrup" or "honey" tones to keep some life in your complexion.
Third step: Invest in a sulfate-free shampoo. This isn't optional for brunettes. Sulfates are surfactants that literally scrub the color molecules out of your hair. If you’re paying $150+ for a color service, don't ruin it with a $5 shampoo. Look for brands like Pureology or Kevin Murphy that are specifically formulated for color longevity.
Brunette is the move. It’s rich, it’s varied, and honestly, it’s just more interesting than the "standard" blonde we've seen for the last decade. Whether you go for a "Candlelit Brunette" with tiny sparkles of light or a deep, "Liquid Espresso" that looks like glass, the goal is the same: hair that looks cared for.
Start by collecting three photos. One of the base color you want, one of the "glow" you like, and—this is the most important part—one photo of what you don't want. Telling your stylist "I hate this specific shade of orange" is way more helpful than saying "I want it to look natural."