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30 Best Light Brown Hair Color Ideas to Inspire Your Next Salon Visit

You're due for a fresh cut and color!

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Sparkling amber. Golden chestnut. Sandy bronze. These are just a few ways to describe the beauty of light brown hair. This pretty hue is as versatile as it is flattering, and works for basically any skin tone, any age, and any season. Need proof? Check out some of the gorgeous light brown hair color ideas we've rounded up here—they are sure to convince you.

Whether you’re looking to deepen naturally blonde hair or lighten and highlight medium or dark brown hair, a light brown shade is easy to achieve and a convenient way to mix things up without going too out-of-the-box. A sun-kissed shade of brunette will shine bright in the summer but also works with all of the sweaters, turtlenecks, and autumn accessories you’re planning to rock when fall rolls around. In short, light brown is the perfect transitional color.

What’s more, as the celebs here show, light brown hair looks youthful and gorgeous in every style and length, from Nicole Richie's chic "lob" cut to Melissa McCarthy’s medium-length hairstyle. It’s hard not to be inspired by their gorgeous 'dos! When dyeing your hair, just make sure that you have some experience if you're doing an at-home job (and that you have help from the best drugstore hair dyes) or that you rely on your favorite hairstylist to help you achieve your new look.

1

Light Caramel Highlights

light brown hair color light caramel highlights
Dimitrios Kambouris//Getty Images

Lighten up your look with caramel highlights like Bella Hadid's. They would look just as pretty on straight or wavy hair as they do on curly hair.

2

Face-Framing Copper Highlights

light brown hair color face framing copper highlights
Kevin Mazur//Getty Images

If you have darker brown hair, you can keep your overall color and add brightness to the front with warm, face-framing copper highlights. Hey, if it's good enough for Beyoncé, it's good enough for us! 😍

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3

Warm Brown

light brown hair color amber waves
Michael Buckner//Getty Images

Stay close to your natural color and add a little warmth throughout to achieve Chrissy Teigen's pretty look here. With this style, you can easily go a long time between trips to the hair salon.

4

Soft Auburn Ombré

light brown hair color ideas warm brown ombré
Steve Granitz//Getty Images

We love Emma Stone with her usual bright red hair, but this auburn ombré is so soft and pretty, too. It would be flattering on any skin tone.

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5

Bronde

brown hair color ideas bronde
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No one does bronde better than Jennifer Lopez! Her allover honey highlights are perfect for brunettes wanting to look sun-kissed for summer and beyond.

6

Taffy Blonde

light brown hair color taffy blonde
Dominique Charriau//Getty Images

Sydney Sweeney's taffy blonde look feels glamorous yet so natural. This shade is perfect for anyone who wants to take a much-needed break from the damage that can come with dyeing your hair blonde.

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7

Beachy Bronzed Brunette

light brown hair color beachy brunette
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Jessica Alba's look strikes the perfect balance between blonde and brunette. Keep building on this color to add even more dimension and lightness.

8

Ash Bronde

light brown hair color ash brown
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Any blondes looking to go a little darker can take a lesson from Lily-Rose Depp. We love this ash bronde color with subtle, sun-kissed highlights at the bottom.

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9

Golden Brown

light brown hair color warm brown
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Mandy Moore looks amazing as a blonde or a brunette, but this in-between shade of golden brown is just stunning!

10

Soft and Subtle

light brown hair color elizabeth olsen
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Have olive eyes like actress Elizabeth Olsen? A light brown hairstyle with hints of honey and chocolate will complement them perfectly.

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11

Caramel Ends

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Chic is the first word that comes to mind when gazing upon Ciara's glossy ponytail. Her dark roots fade into a fab caramel that borders on blonde thanks to some well-placed highlights.

12

Fawn

light brown hair color sarah chalke
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Sarah Chalke's lovely, subtle highlights help her light brown locks look positively luminous. Look at that glow!

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13

Bronzy Brown

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Eva Mendes's cascading waves are enough to convince almost anyone to try a shade of golden brown, especially during the fast-approaching pumpkin spice latte season.

14

Natural Roots

light brown hair color jessica alba
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Jessica Alba's shiny locks transition from a dark brown to a vibrant caramel, demonstrating how growing out your roots can help create a stunning ombré.

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15

Highlights in Different Hues

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To achieve Jamie Chung's relaxed yet eye-catching look, ask your stylist for some highlights in varying hues for plenty of depth. Style your hair in loose waves to help show off the slight variations in color.

16

Light Brown With Copper

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Actress and model Lily-Rose Depp's warm, light brown waves feature touches of copper. They're just as eye-catching as her sultry makeup and dress.

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17

Ombré Lob

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The gleaming giant bow on Lily James's dress amplifies the golden hues in her coppery brown hair. A shorter cut gives her look a modern edge.

18

Blonde Highlights

london, england   march 08 rosamund pike attends the radioactive uk premiere at the curzon mayfair on march 08, 2020 in london, england photo by mike marslandwireimage
Mike Marsland

Subtle blonde highlights like Rosamund Pike's can work wonders with any light brown shade. They'll brighten up both your hair and complexion.

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19

Hot and Cold

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Brenda Song's half-up, half-down 'do is far from boring. The warm and cool shades in this color are a perfect complement to a bronzy eye and bold lip.

20

Soft Brown

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Schitt's Creek star Annie Murphy's light brown locks verge on strawberry blonde. Her color is a fun choice if you love red hair but are naturally a brunette.

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Carol Lee
Associate E-Commerce Writer

Carol Lee is the Associate E-Commerce Writer at ELLE.com, where she covers all things beauty and personal care. Before joining the team, she was an editor at Food Network Magazine and HGTV Magazine and ran the beauty section at The Pioneer Woman. Carol received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from New York University and was one of the first customers to visit Glossier’s flagship store in New York’s Soho neighborhood. Over the years, she’s tested countless makeup, hair, and skin care products, and written hundreds of articles covering the beauty space, from pieces about the trendiest launches to roundups of the best products on the market. As a Korean-American, she grew up in a sea of Korean makeup and skin care products and is a bona fide expert on the ever-expanding world of K-beauty, helping lead our coverage. Additionally, she’s also always on the hunt for the perfect lipstick and watches the same few comfort sitcoms (Frasier, Cheers, Seinfeld, New Girl, etc.) over and over again.

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