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COLOURING OPTIONS FOR NATURAL BROWN HAIR
How to choose your hair colour if you have natural chestnut brown hair?
If your natural hair colour is chestnut brown, you’re part of the quiet majority… but what a versatile one! Chestnut or medium brown is one of the most common hair colours in Europe, especially in Western countries. And maybe you’re one of those people who had light hair as a child, only for it to darken naturally into a chestnut shade during adolescence. It’s a common evolution influenced by environment, sun, and genetics.
Chestnut hair comes in many shades: light chestnut, classic brown, dark chestnut, with golden, ash or even mahogany undertones.
To be honest, I used to think chestnut hair lacked character… until I realised its real strength: versatility. Its neutrality makes it incredibly adaptive. It softens, balances, warms, and allows bold changes without ever looking harsh.
So if you’re looking to brighten up your chestnut locks or change things up without losing your natural charm, follow my guide.
Recommended hair dye shades for natural brown hair
1 Black 2 Dark Brown 3 Medium Brown 4 Brown / Chestnut 5 Light Brown 6 Dark Blonde 7 Blonde
When you have natural brown hair, the golden rule is to stay close to your base. To keep things soft and natural, avoid drastic contrasts and stick to shades within one or two levels of your own. That means you can easily go from dark brown to light brown, try a soft dark blonde, or even deepen your tone with a rich brunette.
But let me be clear: the base colour isn’t everything. It’s often the undertones that make or break the final result. I learned this the hard way when I once went for a golden blonde on my naturally medium brown hair. My pale skin didn’t agree with it, and I looked washed out in every photo. That’s when I started really paying attention to how undertones match with skin tone.
👉 If you’re unsure about colour codes and levels, have a look at my hair dye colour chart and code meanings
What about your eye colour?
Often overlooked, eye colour is a game changer when choosing a hair dye. Warm golden tones can really bring out hazel or green eyes. Ashy browns deepen blue eyes, and coppery undertones give new life to dark brown eyes.
I remember one of my readers who said she always felt “dull” after dyeing her hair. I asked her about her eyes – hazel with green hints. We went with a light brown base with golden reflections. A week later she messaged me: “It’s like my eyes are glowing again.”
👉 See the best hair dye shades for your eye colour
Why your skin tone matters so much when you have brown hair
You might think brown hair goes with everything, but it actually requires more finesse than you’d expect. Fair skin with golden brown? Radiant. That same skin with an auburn brown? Sometimes too harsh. And medium or olive skin with hazelnut or chocolate undertones? Stunning.
I’ve seen so many people choose a colour just because it looked great on someone else, only to be disappointed. But when you match your hair dye to your skin tone, everything aligns – your complexion glows and your hair looks like it was always meant to be that way.
👉 See how to choose your hair colour based on your skin tone
So which hair colour should you go for exactly?
It all comes down to two things:
- Pick your base shade: This is the first number in the hair dye code. If you’re naturally light brown, consider base levels like 3 (medium brown), 4 (light brown) or 5 (dark blonde).
- Add the right highlights or undertones: These are the second and third numbers. They create light, warmth or dimension.
🎯 Always aim for balance: hair, skin, and eyes. That’s how you achieve that effortlessly flattering result.
And my personal tip? Start with a shade close to your natural base and add a subtle tone. Once you see how your hair reacts, you’ll know if you want to go bolder… or not.
