Over the last year, vivid hair trends like neon and metallic shades have been stealing the spotlight from more traditional colors—but that’s all about to change. The latest hair color making waves in the beauty world is deeper and darker than the technicolor hues you’ve come to know and love, but equally spectacular. Meet, mushroom brown hair, the stunning neutral shade of brunette you didn’t know you were missing that's close in tone to mushroom blonde hair color. Thinking about trading in your dirty blonde or ash blonde hair? Give mushroom brown a shot instead.
If you’re ready to embrace neutral shades and leave bright hair colors behind, mushroom brown may just be the perfect shade for you. Read on for everything you need to know about the brunette hue plus 18 ideas to bring to your colorist when it’s finally time to return to salons.
What color is mushroom brown?
Mushroom brown hair may be inspired by a fungus, but the color is anything but icky. The shade takes most of its inspiration from the ever-popular portobello. Just like the tasty mushroom, this color only appears to be standard brown hair at first glance. The closer you look, light gray and brown hues begin to peek through.
Is mushroom brown cool or warm?
While other popular brunette trends like chocolate or golden are super warm, mushroom brown can be neutral or on the cooler side if you opt for a shade with gray, moody undertones.
How to get mushroom brown hair?
To get mushroom brown hair color, we always recommend making an appointment with a professional if you want to ensure you end up with an Insta-worthy hue. Before you head to the salon, be sure to have a few inspiration photos saved on your phone, so you can show your colorist exactly what you want. While your colorist will know how to create a standard mushroom brown hair color without much assistance, there are many different ways to craft a mushroom brown hue.
If you prefer a lighter hue of mushroom brown, ask your stylist to create a light brown base and blend in tons of blonde highlights. If a deep mushroom shade is what you're after, ask your stylist to blend chocolate brown lowlights into your ash base.
Once you’ve settled on a style, your stylist will begin by creating an ash brown base color. Then, he or she will layer on highlights and lowlights to create a multidimensional look depending on your inspiration pictures.
What kind of maintenance does mushroom brown hair require?
Like most brunette hair colors, mushroom brown hair is a fairly low maintenance hair color. Just because it’s low maintenance doesn’t mean you won’t have to make a few tweaks to your hair care routine, however.
If your natural hair color is very close to mushroom brown, you should be able to stretch the time between touch-up appointments several weeks or even months. Mushroom brown is also a great color to help cover salt and pepper strands because the ashy undertone can help gray hair blend right in.
Plan to head to the salon for touch-ups every six to eight weeks if your natural hair color is nowhere near mushroom brown or if you want to make sure your color looks its best at all times. If you’re not sure which timeline is appropriate for you and your hair, your stylist will be able to suggest the best schedule for a follow-up appointment.
For a quick touch-up in between color appointments, you should also make a hair gloss appointment. Your colorist will use a formula like Redken Shades EQ Ash Brown or Matte shades to refresh your mushroom brown hue with a subtle wash of demi-permanent hair color that lasts four to six weeks. While the Shades EQ Matte shades still give the hair the product’s signature shine, these formulas can also refresh your mushroom brown hue with cool, earthy tones and eliminate unwanted warmth.
If you’re trying to conceal gray strands, ask your colorist about Redken’s Ash Brown Cover Fusion shades. This low-ammonia permanent hair dye provides 100 percent coverage for gray hair while addressing aging hair concerns such as loss of elasticity and shine.
Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo
An essential color-depositing blue shampoo to tone and neutralize brassy orange tones in highlighted, balayaged, or natural brown hair.
Color Extend Brownlights Conditioner
An essential color-depositing blue conditioner to help tone and get rid of brassiness in highlighted, balayaged, and natural brown hair.
Color Extend Magnetics Mega Mask for Color-Treated Hair
A mask for vibrant and long-lasting color protection.
The Products You Need For Ash Brown Hair
Salon touch-ups are important, of course, but your at-home care routine can help extend the life of your color—especially for ashy hair colors like mushroom brown. When it comes to at-home care for mushroom brown, the main goal is to prevent that gorgeous ashy hue from becoming brassy over time. That’s why you’ll need a color toning shampoo and conditioner system like Redken Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo and Conditioner. This color-depositing, blue toning system for brunettes is ideal for preventing and neutralizing brass on both highlighted and natural brown hair. The shampoo formula gently cleanses hair without stripping color while helping to maintain and tone your cool-toned brunette color.
If you’ve never used color toning shampoo or conditioner before, here’s how to add the products to your routine. Once or twice per week, swap out your regular color-treated shampoo and conditioner for the Color Extend Brownlights system. Lather your strands with the shampoo and let it sit on your hair for three to five minutes depending how much toning your color needs. Then, thoroughly rinse the shampoo from your hair and immediately follow with the conditioner.
While bleach is not usually necessary when coloring hair brunette, color services can often make your hair look and feel drier than normal. Combat dry-feeling strands by incorporating a hydrating deep conditioning mask into your weekly routine. We recommend Redken Color Extend Magnetics Mega Mask. This two-in-one hair mask is both a treatment and care extender designed specifically for color-treated hair.
What is the best way to wear mushroom brown hair?
Mushroom brown hair will look striking no matter how you style it. However, we think it looks best on long hairstyles because it’s composed of several different shades and has so much depth. Having longer hair will really allow your mushroom brown hair to shine.
If you’re not sure how to slay your own mushroom look, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite mushroom-inspired shades and styles.
The Best Mushroom Brown Hair Colors To Try Now
Good hair day by @hellobalayage.
Frosted Mushroom
Here at Hair.com, we come across new hair colors almost every day. To say we experience color envy would be an understatement. As much as we can’t stop drooling over the latest and greatest color trends, a few of us just can’t imagine parting with our absolute favorite hair colors.
If you’ve been slaying mushroom brown hair since before it was popular and are looking for a way to update your color without getting rid of all of your mushroom brown strands, consider this frosted look. These platinum blonde highlights instantly brighten up any brunette hue. This look is also perfect for anyone who’s been brunette their whole life and always wondered if blondes have more fun—go blonde without really going blonde.
Good hair day by @cristenkelso.
Golden Mushroom
When you hear the word mushroom, an image of a squat little fungus comes to mind. However, any pizza topping connoisseur will tell you not all mushrooms look the same—which means there’s actually a huge selection to choose from if you’re looking to have mushroom-inspired hair.
If you’re looking for a mushroom brown shade that’s a bit more golden brown with less ash, look no further than golden mushroom. This shade perfectly combines the ash brown we’ve come to associate with mushroom with beautiful golden highlights for a final shade that is all fall inspiration.
Good hair day by @elixirhairstudio.
Roasted Mushroom
If you love golden mushroom hair but want your hue to be a bit more brunette, consider roasted mushroom. This slightly warmer version of mushroom brown hair is just as delicious as roasted mushrooms straight out of the oven—no cooking required.
Good hair day by @farkashairsalon.
Mushroom Roots
If you’re a natural brunette but know in your heart of hearts you were meant to be a blonde, this shade is for you. Leaving your roots mushroom brown will help to make this a low maintenance style. Instead of heading back to the salon every few weeks as you would with an all over blonde look, you can space your touchup appointments up to 12 weeks apart. Meanwhile, your ash blonde balayage will pair perfectly with your fungus inspired roots.
Good hair day by @vaniaramirezhair and @alexcampeotto.
Black To Mushroom Brown Ombre
If you have black hair, you can still have fun with a trendy color mushroom brown. Instead of spending countless appointments lifting your onyx hue light enough to create a mushroom brown shade, ask for mushroom brown ombre. Your newly lightened ends will instantly bring warmth to your style and you won’t have to worry about touching up your roots.
Good hair day by @emily.alders.
Portobello Mushroom
The best thing about mushroom brown hair is that you have a variety of mushrooms to be inspired by! Portobello mushrooms aren’t just the biggest edible fungi out there, they also provide fantastic hair color inspiration. Ask your colorist for this light ash brown hue that almost borders on gray for delectable hair color.
Good hair day by @paige_legacygurnee.
Mushroom Brown Balayage
If all over hair color is more commitment than you’re ready for, opt for mushroom brown balayage. This hand-painted technique allows you to go longer in between touch-ups and creates a near seamless grow out.
Good hair day by @melaniedessauer_hairstylist.
Mushroom Brown Lowlights and Highlights
As we mentioned before, there are a variety of mushrooms to be inspired by—so why choose just one? If you can’t settle on which mushroom brown hue you love the most, ask your colorist to add lowlights and highlights in your favorite mushroom-inspired shades.
The Best Mushroom Brown Hairstyles And Cuts To Try Now
Good hair day by @hairsvetik.
Mushroom Brown French Roll
Think of the French roll as a close cousin of the French twist. The French roll maintains the fundamental rounded shape of the traditional twist while embracing an elegant casualness that makes this style perfect for a black tie affair or brunch with your besties.
Good hair day by @bliss312.
Mushroom Brown Pigtail Dutch Braids
Braids are one of our favorite ways to show off a new hair color and we can’t get enough of these pigtail Dutch braids. Allowing a few inches of hair to hang loosely from your pigtails is a great way to update this elementary school style staple.
Good hair day by @andrewlovescolor.
Half-Up Mushroom Brown Ombre
If you only have a few minutes to craft a hairstyle but still want to look put together, look no further than a half-up hairstyle. Simply sweep the top half of your hair up into a simple top knot and you’re ready to head out the door in less than two minutes!
Good hair day by @mustafaavci.
Mushroom Brown Hollywood Waves
When you think about glamorous hair colors, blonde immediately comes to mind. However, this style proves mushroom brown can be just as glamorous platinum strands.
Good hair day by @davidszentkiralyi.
Sleek And Shiny Mushroom Brown
Let your stunning mushroom-inspired hair color take center stage by styling your strands in a sleek and shiny style. As much as we love straight hair, heat styling your strands can sometimes make your hair look and feel fried instead of flawless.
Use a heat protectant product like Redken Extreme Play Safe 3-in-1 Leave-In Treatment to ensure your straight strands look and feel nourished. After you’ve dried and flat ironed your mane, spritz a few sprays of Redken Frizz Dismiss Anti-Static Hair Oil for a shiny final touch.
Good hair day by @sharonshairstudio.
Mushroom Brown A-Line Lob
If you recently colored your hair mushroom brown and are looking for the perfect haircut to compliment your color, look no further than an A-line lob. Over the last few years, the lob has earned a reputation for being a universally flattering haircut. While that is true (a lob looks amazing on everyone), chances are good just about everyone you know has a lob.
If you don’t want to give up your lob but don’t want to have the same haircut as your BFF, mother-in-law, and boss, consider an A-line lob. The slight angled variation in the cut is all you need to take your cut from drab to fab.
Good hair day by @hairbyjohnd and @zaina_gohou.
Mushroom Brown Curls
Start at the back of your head, working with 2-inch sections of clean, dry hair. Spray each one with heat protectant before wrapping it around a 1-inch curling iron. Hold or clamp each section of hair until just heated through, approximately 30-60 seconds depending on your hair’s thickness. Continue curling 2-inch sections of your hair until you’ve completed your entire head.
Good hair day by @larackay.
Mushroom Brown Chignon
This elegant chignon is perfect for any special occasion. Simply gather your hair at the nape of your neck and secure your strands into a low ponytail. Allow a few strands to hang free to frame your face. Loosely wrap your ponytail around itself to form the chignon and secure your bun with several bobby pins. Once your chignon is secured, place your favorite hair accessory in your bun for the final touch.
Good hair day by @vj_style_nn.
Mushroom Brown Curtain Bangs
If you’ve always wanted to try bangs but never knew if you could pull them off, consider curtain bangs. Curtain bangs are great for beginners because they’re short enough to give you the traditional fringe feel, but long enough to be disguised as long layers.
Good hair day by @pierrickberinger.
Mushroom Brown Blunt Lob
Blunt lobs look amazing on just about everyone, but they’re particularly great for people with fine hair. The cut is long enough to style but short enough not to weigh your hair down, and the blunt cut will help your strands to appear thicker.
Whatever you decide, we want to see your ashy hair color. Use the hashtag #hairdotcom to tag us in your posts.
Interested in having a professional give you flawless mushroom brown hair? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.
