27 Beautiful Brown Ombre Hair Ideas to Try
Give your mane a seasonal update with one of these brown ombre hair looks.
The ombre hair trend doesn’t look like it’s going to be disappearing any time soon. In fact, it looks more gorgeous than ever – and brown ombre hair is one of, if not the, most popular way of working the colour trend.
From soft, subtle chocolate waves with caramel-tinted highlights, to a more striking brunette and ash blonde combination, you can style ombre brown hair in a myriad of ways! But if you’re feeling starved of inspiration, keep reading for our top tips on how to rock the trend and start planning your perfect ombre look, now.
Ash to Creamy Brunette Ombre
Perfect for growing out roots gracefully, this ash brown ombre looks less like an awkward grow-out stage and more like an intentional cool-girl look.
Glossy Ombre
If you really want your newly-dyed strands to pop, ask your hairdresser to add a clear gloss as part of the colouring process. This will help give your hair a healthy-looking shine and smooth the hair cuticle.
Ashlee Simpson’s Russet Tones
Warm up light complexions by adding auburn-brown ombre tones through your mid-lengths and ends, just like Ashlee Simpson. It’s a subtle way to inject warmth into your look for spring and summer, without the commitment of an all over transformation.
Brunette Ombre with Money Piece Highlights
If you don’t know about the TikTok money piece hair trend, get to know. These face-framing platinum strands contrast with the rest of the hair, giving it a fresh and updated feel.
Miley Cyrus’ Golden Brown Ombre
Anyone with mousy brown hair looking to make their strands a bit more exciting should turn to Miley Cyrus for inspiration. Her golden brown ombre is sultry, sexy and completely transforms her natural brunette hue.
Editor’s tip: Fancy trying out brown ombre hair? To help keep your brunette looking vibrant, make sure to use a shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for colour-treated hair, like the TRESemmé Colour Shineplex Shampoo and Conditioner.
Mocha Caramel
We’re fans of an understated look but we also love how ombre can let you totally overhaul your colour. This coffee-inspired shade is a perfect example.
Lily Aldridge’s Caramel Locks
Blessed with long hair? Rapunzel-length locks have never been so trendy, but if you find it’s weighing you down, choosing a brown and blonde ombre (like Lily Aldridge’s) could be the answer. The caramel tones flatter her natural dark strands perfectly, as well as add interest and dimension to her lengthy mane!
Sleek Cool Ombre
We love this beautifully blended ombre and the sleek style elevates the colour even more.
Jessica Alba’s Honey Lob
Brown to blonde ombre hair works wonderfully on those with dark eyes, as Jessica Alba proves with her highlighted honey lob (AKA a long bob). Ask your stylist to start the colour fade in line with your jaw for the most flattering effect.
Subtle Ombre
Barely-there ombre is a must try for girls who aren’t ready to commit to 6-weekly root top-ups.
Olivia Wilde’s Sepia Strands
Stuck between blonde or brown? Don’t worry if you can’t decide, because you no longer need to choose! Copy Olivia Wilde with a 2-tone brown and blonde ombre and you can rock the best of both worlds.
Caramel Honey
Honey strands can help to bring out the richness of a brunette base colour, especially when applied using ultra fine, natural-looking babylights.
Grungy Ombre
Stay dark while incorporating a touch of lightness with toffee-toned tips.
Melted Ombre
This look gets its name from the way that the root colour flows seamlessly into the lighter ombre ends.
Alesha Dixon’s Frosted Brown
It’s a common misconception that those with deeper skin tones can’t pull off lighter blonde shades. Alesha Dixon’s ombre brown hair with platinum tips look utterly stunning and show that, by keeping your roots dark, you can go as light as you like at the ends.
Vanessa Hudgens’ Dip-Dyed Bob
Want to go blonde but worried about the upkeep? A brown to blonde ombre, like Vanessa Hudgens’, requires little maintenance and will make root regrowth a total breeze!
Classy Brunette Ombre
This oh so subtle brown ombre is serving serious Kate Middleton vibes. With just the right amount of brightness through the ends to make your bouncy blow dry shine, this gets a big yes from us.
Jessica Szohr’s Peanut Butter Blonde
Layers + brown ombre = a match made in heaven! Ex-Gossip Girl star Jessica Szohr wows with her grown-out lob and peanut butter hue, and we love how the colour helps to accentuate her shorter layers. Keep up the good work, Jess!
Blonde for Brunettes
Finding a specific shade of blonde that works with brown hair can be tricky as you risk it looking unnatural, but this graduation, complete with higher, face-framing pieces, works perfectly.
Similar to Jessica Alba’s look above, here’s another sunkissed honey moment. The golden colour softly blends in with no harsh telltale highlights.
Ella Eyre’s Ash Blonde Curls
Give curly locks a summery update by lightening your tips, just like Ella Eyre. The colour contrast won’t be as harsh on curls as it appears on straighter hair, so you’ll be left with a more natural-looking, sun-kissed finish.
Ana de Armas’ Light Amber Brown
Combine brown ombre hair with blonde, face-framing highlights, like Cuban actress Ana de Armas. Doing so will open up your face and brighten your overall look, without having to bleach from the roots! So, it’s a great option to consider if you’re trying to avoid causing too much damage.
Salma Hayek’s Black Coffee Waves
Prepare to meet your match! Credit: Rex by Shutterstock
Love being a brunette but want to dip your toes into the ombre brown hair trend? We’ve got just the thing!
Instead of going super blonde at your ends, stick to shades that are no more than 2 shades lighter than your current colour, for a contrast that’s subtle yet packs a big style punch.
Jennifer Garner’s Tawny Tresses
If you’re worried that you’re ‘too old’ for brown ombre hair, think again! Jennifer Garner is a prime example that this style has no age limit. In fact, her lightened tips add a youthful edge to her look that would flatter women of all ages.
Shay Mitchell’s Chestnut Ombre
For a more modern take on the brown ombre hair trend, take note of PLL actress Shay Mitchell and her on-trend ombre ‘do.
Rather than going blonde, her ombre fades from dark brown into a warmer-toned chestnut hue, for a classy and chic style.
Rachel Bilson’s Boho Ombre
Brown and blonde ombre looks (like Rachel Bilson’s) are a great way to cheat your way to fuller-looking locks, adding texture and shape to limp strands. Fine hair? What fine hair?
Demi Lovato’s Reverse Ombre
Not one to follow the crowd? Tip this trend on its head and try a reverse blonde to brown ombre, like Demi Lovato. With lighter golden tips flowing into a warm, nutty brunette, it’s both wearable and unique all at the same time.
