Why light brown?
It’s not as rich as dark brown. It’s not as bright as blonde. It’s not as vibrant as red. But damnit, light brown hair is fabulous! There are so many variations of colour within ‘light brown’, and whatever your skin tone, make-up style, or even eye colour, there will be a light brown shade to suit you! It’s also one of the least heavy-going hair colours in terms of dying, and so your hair can stay luscious and healthy as well as covered in gorgeous colours.
Brown is beautiful
When you think of light brown, you should think of full and varied colour – anything but ‘mousy’! There are a tonne of options, including caramel and copper, so be sure to check out some colour charts before you go for the big dye just to see which ones you think will suit you. The benefit of light brown is that is warms up your facial features, and is very complementary to most eye colours, whereas dark brown often looks better on lighter complexions. Light brown is a winning colour for almost all skin tones, so play around and see what might work for you!
Choose your shade
There are a lot of food-related shades within ‘light brown’, which makes the colours easy to visualise. Many shades are referred to in terms of coffees, which often describe the way that the colour is highlighted. For example, ‘latte’ hair has a mid-brown base with creamy highlights to give it a varied latte-like appearance. Try this with a colour-pop lipstick, such as red, for that stunning 1940s Hollywood glamour. Caramel and honey shades have a warmer, more golden look to them, and these will lighten a darker base beautifully. The warmer shades also look gorgeous teamed with bronze make-up.
Mix it up
The less ‘blocky’ your hair dye, the more natural it will look. The eye dances over three or more shades, so it might be a nice idea to choose two colours for highlights over a base colour for the most natural-looking locks. For an authentic sun-kissed glow, have a mid-brown base (especially in the back and underneath sections) with lighter shades around the face and at the ends. These are the bits that naturally soak up the sunshine, so this will give you that just-back-from-holiday glamour!
If you fancy that hugely popular ombre look, light brown hair is perfect!! Lighter brown or even ash-blonde tips will look gorgeous against a mid-brown foundation. Alternatively, if you are leaning towards the copper shades, opt for all-over highlights (not just at the tips) for a really warm and vibrant look that will bring out the colour in your cheeks. This will look particularly stunning if you have green eyes.
Loving the light brown
So many A-list ladies have tried light brown hair, and for some it has stayed their signature look! Angelina Jolie’s hair is slightly darker than ‘light’, but she often teams that dark base with beautiful creamy highlights. Jessica Biel opts for the warmer, honey tones over a chestnut base for a vibrant and golden overall colour. Kate Beckinsale, too, has a beautiful caramel tinge to her lovely locks, really enhancing her bone structure and pale complexion.