Honey Brown Hair Is The Sunkissed Brunette Shade You Need This Summer

When summertime rolls around, there are only two things we want more than anything: To lay on the beach all day every day and to find the perfect summer hair color that enhances our sun-kissed glow. If you’re a brunette looking to embrace sun-kissed hair in the most natural way possible, you’re in luck! Honey brown hair is trending, and like its sister shade honey blonde, this sweet, warm-toned hue is a go-to summer shade.

Looking to learn more about honey brown hair? Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about the sweet shade plus 10 of our favorite ways to wear the look.

What color is honey brown hair?

For the brunettes out there looking to go warmer and lighter, it’s time to meet honey brown! The light brown hair color with hints of natural-looking honey throughout is truly the best of both worlds. Brunettes can stay true to their roots while adding a low-maintenance touch of brightness and dimension to their mane.

If you’re starting out with very dark hair, your colorist will need to use bleach to lift your color before applying the golden honey shade. While bleach will always cause damage, your stylist can work with you to ensure that you leave the salon with your strands looking and feeling their best.

How do you care for honey brown hair?

Now that you’ve fallen in love with honey brown hair, here comes the fun part: maintaining your new hue. While honey brown is on the low-maintenance side of salon color, it’s still important to pack your routine with products formulated for color-treated hair.

First, swap out your regular shampoo and conditioner with a color-safe system like the Biolage R.A.W Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner. Formulated with coconut milk and meadowfoam, the system helps protect color-treated hair, leaving it soft and shiny with lasting color vibrancy.

To prevent your new hue from turning brassy, you’ll need to add a blue shampoo and conditioner in your weekly routine. We recommend Redken’s Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo and Conditioner. This progressive toning system is ideal for preventing and neutralizing brass on both highlighted and naturally brown hair.

If your strands are feeling extra dry after a color session, incorporating a weekly hair mask into your routine can do wonders for the look and feel of your strands. The Pureology Hydrate Superfood Treatment is formulated with goji berry extract and olive oil to help fortify and strengthen damaged hair.

The damaging effects of heat can do a number on the vibrancy of your color. We recommend investing in a heat protectant such as the Biolage Thermal Active Setting Spray, which protects hair against heat styling while adding body and volume for long-lasting control.

Photo Credit: @hairbylaquitaburnett.

Who does honey brown hair work best for?

The best part about honey brown hair is that it’s one of the few shades that flatter every skin tone. Whether you opt for a full head of honey brown highlights, or a honey brown balayage, the color is the perfect transition into natural-looking summertime hair.

Photo Credit: @ksenia_nemchaninova.

What does honey brown hair color look like?

There’s no one way to try honey brown hair. Your colorist will be able to give you a unique color based on your desired level of maintenance, your skin tone, and the base color you’re starting out with. If you’re looking for some inspiration, keep scrolling for 10 of our favorite ways to wear the shade.

The Best Honey Brown Hair Ideas To Try Now

Photo Credit: @cutdyegetfly.

Honey Brown Highlights

Anytime you’re looking to edge into a new hue without going overboard, look to highlights. Honey highlights help bring warmth and dimension to your natural hue—without the commitment of all-over color.

Photo Credit: @creativeheadz_se.

Golden Honey Brown

Looking to recreate that golden hour glow on your mane? Ask your colorist to add a hint of gold to your honey brown hair.

Photo Credit: @morellosalvatore.

Honey Brown Balayage

Even with new hair coloring techniques popping up left and right, we could never forget about balayage! If you’re looking for a low-maintenance way to show off your honey brown hair, give a traditional balayage a try.

Photo Credit: @colorbymattrez.

Honey Brown Midlights

If you’ve never heard of midlights before, let us break it down for you. Created by Redken brand ambassador Matt Rez, the midlight technique involves connecting your highlight color to your base color for a natural, non-streaky look. Hopingto learn more about midlights? Check out our complete guide.

Honey Brown To Honey Blonde Ombre

If there’s one hue that’s almost equally as stunning as honey brown, it’s honey blonde. Craving a look that’s a mix of both dark and light? Ask your colorist for an ombre that incorporates both shades.

Photo Credit: @ggstruecolors.

Chocolate Honey Brown

If you’re looking for a seamless way to enhance your chocolate brown hair, honey brown blends seamlessly into the shade. If you want a look that’s extra sweet, this rich, dimensional shade is for you.

Photo Credit: @thefrothyblonde.

Honey Brown With Face-Framing Highlights

If you’re not ready to commit to a full head of highlights, ask your colorist about face-framing highlights. These strategically-placed highlights are applied to the strands framing your face to brighten your complexion while leaving your base color untouched.

Photo Credit: @tbtbsalon.

Amber Honey Brown

Looking to add even more dimension to your honey brown hue? Opt for pops of amber throughout your hair. This reddish variation of honey brown looks stunning with a tan.

Photo Credit: @lautrice_shenellhair.

Honey Brown Curls

If you thought you couldn’t try honey brown hair with curls, think again! In fact, the dimension of honey brown looks even better on curly manes.

Photo Credit: @goodvibesgreathair.

Honey Brown Bob

So many people go shorter with their cut during the summer months, and we can’t blame them! A bob haircut is the trendiest way to keep your neck cool as the temperatures rise.