You may choose to dye your hair for a number of reasons - maybe you're looking to cover up roots with brown hair dye, or maybe you just fancy a change from a lighter colour. Whatever the reason, though, if you're looking to dye your hair brown, you've come to the right place, as we've narrowed down the best hair dyes to buy right now.
From Garnier to Clairol, Schwarzkopf to L'Oreal, there's a range of brands that have excellent hair dye products if you're looking for a change and don't fancy paying salon prices. These brands have some of the best dyes for natural colours, so if you're keen on switching up your colour without going crazy, look no further.
But, if keeping it subtle isn't your style, there are a tonne of colours out there on the market and vibrant hair dyes that speak more your language. You just need to look to lavender hair dyes and baby pink colours for inspiration, with loads of influencers and celebs taking part in the trend.
Closer's best brown hair dye at a glance:
Best easy-to-use hair dye (Editor's Choice): L'Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss, £9.99 on LOOKFANTASTIC
Best nourishing brown hair dye: Garnier Nutrisse Permanent Hair Dye, £8 on LOOKFANTASTIC
Best semi-permanent hair dye: BLEACH LONDON Super Cool Colour Hair Dye, £8 on LOOKFANTASTIC
Not all of us need to go too wild though - and if you're just looking for something simple, the best brown hair dye can be a perfect way to upgrade your hair 'do without signing up to too much. Whether you're looking to switch up your look with the best blonde hair dyes or you're a soon-to-be brunette - from to Bleach London to Garnier - here are our favourite brown hair dyes...
SHOP: The best brown hair dye to buy right now
Best easy-to-use hair dye (Editor's Choice)
Lookfantasticwww.lookfantastic.com
L'Oréal are a game-changer when it comes to hair care and we can't get enough of the quality of their hair dye - especially their Casting Creme Gloss. So easy to use, and gives a lovely chocolate glow if that's what you're looking for. We love that this hair dye is one that many continue to go back to, and many reviewers like to rave about Casting Crème Gloss, including one saying they have used it for years as it's so easy and effortless to use. The brand claims it only takes a mere half an hour to achieve a lustrous glossy finish.
Pros
- Makes the hair look glossy and shiny
- Comes with a nourishing conditioner
- Ammonia-free
Cons
- Not suitable for darker hair shades
Best vegan brown hair dye
bootswww.boots.com
A new product to the hair dye market, Garnier's Good Permanent Hair Dye blends two things together: beauty and an eco-friendly lifestyle. Perfect if you're looking for hair care that keeps the environment in mind, as well as your hair. Ammonia-free, this nourishing hair dye contains natural ingredients, including shea butter to nourish the hair. We also love that reviewers said this vegan friendly hair dye is easy to use if you're a first time hair-dyer.
Pros
- Enriched with shea butter
- Up to 100% grey coverage
- Ammonia-free
Cons
- Too much product leaves a sticky residue
Best nourishing brown hair dye
lookfantasticwww.lookfantastic.com
Garnier provides top-quality products without the high-end price tag, and we can't thank them enough for that. The Garnier Nutrisse permanent hair dye is perfect if you're looking for hair dye with calibre in mind. You can be sure this brown hair dye will leave your hair looking shiny and nourished without the need to run to the hairdressers. Its formula, made up of avocado oil, olive oil, cranberry oil and shea oil leave the hair with a high-shine finish and a silky soft feel. Customers agree, with reviewers stating it's an amazing hair dye that covers greys and adds shine to your hair.
Pros
- Contains four natural oils to leave hair silky
- High-shine finish on the hair
- Effective on grey hair
Cons
- May not last as long as other permanent dyes
Best semi-permanent hair dye
lookfantasticwww.lookfantastic.com
A semi-permanent solution perfect for people who are new to the world of hair dye. Ideal if you're looking for a change of colour but aren't ready to commit, thanks to BLEACH LONDON's Super Cool Colour hair dye. Many reviewers love that this hair dye is temporary and allows everyone to experiment without committing to a permanent colour, which we love. This cruelty-free and vegan-friendly dye makes for promising results, with it's cool, light brown coffee colour that has a vibrant pigment.
Pros
- Easy for a spontaneous hair change
- Cruelty-free and vegan-friendly
- Can be used on toned hair
Cons
- Doesn't last as long
Best vibrant brown hair dye
bootswww.boots.com
If you're looking for a good colour payoff, Schwarzkopf Live Urban Hair Dye is the ideal solution for you. With intense shine and vibrancy thanks to its built-in vibrancy serum, you can't go wrong with this hair dye. One reviewer said how she was thrilled with the results after using the shade chestnut brown. Her hair was left feeling soft and looking shiny, while another called the dye 'rich' and 'glossy' - it's everything we could want and more. We're sold.
Pros
- Built-in vibrancy serum for impressive shine
- Longer-lasting permanent colour and fade resistant
- Up to 70 per cent grey coverage
Cons
- Long and thick hair requires two packs
Best budget-friendly hair dye
bootswww.boots.com
OGs when it comes to hair dye, Clairol's Nice'N Easy hair dye works a treat for all your hair dye needs, whether that's covering up your pesky greys to taking a leap and going for a brand new hair colour. Many reviewers say this hair dye is the best value for money for an at-home hair colour, with one customer saying they have been loyal to the brand for over 10 years. This budget permanent hair dye gives you natural looking and long-lasting results, all from your own home.
Pros
- 100 per cent grey coverage
- Affordable price point
- Nourishing conditioner built in
Cons
- Reviewers say it's highly scented
Best brown hair dye for a quick touch-up
lookfantasticwww.lookfantastic.com
Want a quick fix or a touch up that won't let you down? We think Josh Wood's Colour Kits are the perfect solution, especially if you want a colour that works quickly with no ammonia, 100 per cent grey coverage and a lightweight feel. The easy-to-use colour kit comes in six shades of brown, from light to dark, so all bases are covered. Customers were thrilled, stating the colour is rich and long-lasting, and that's not to mention that it's ridiculously easy to use, with 'fantastic salon standard results at home', according to one reviewer.
Pros
- Feels lightweight on the hair
- Rich and long-lasting hair dye
- Comes with a conditioning treatment
Cons
- Some reviewers say lighter brown ends up looking darker
Which brown hair colour is best?
We awarded L'Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss as our Editor's Choice as it is inexpensive, but still provides hair with perfect coverage (especially for greys) and leaves hair looking glossy and shiny. There is no ammonia in this product either so it won't smell when applied to your hair. We'd also argue this is the best brown box dye out there too.
What is the best brown hair box dye?
We would suggest that if you're looking for a permanent brown hair box dye that is best for longevity, Garnier's Good Permanent Hair Dye is the box dye for you, lasting up to eight weeks.
What is the best cool brown hair dye?
If you're shopping for a cooler-toned brown hair dye, you may find that you have to look more meticulously. Garnier's Good Permanent Hair Colour hair dye offers a wide range of brown hair dyes, from cool to warm and everything in between. This is the best option if your hair is on the cooler side of the undertone spectrum.
What is the best colour to dye dark brown hair?
Typically, if you have dark brown hair, you are limited to what colour you can dye your hair without using bleach. However, you can still spice your hair up with brown box dye that incorporates burgundy or dark red tones.
How does hair dye work?
Hair dye works by coating the hair with colour or by penetrating each hair cuticle, entering the hair cortex and bonding with the hair, according to hair brand Wella. Since hair constantly grows, the colour you choose to dye it will ultimately grow out, so you will need to keep dying it if you want to maintain the colour you chose to dye it.
If you are curious about how to easily remove hair dye, you can check out our guide on how to remove semi-permanent hair dye.
Does hair dye ever fade completely?
Unfortunately, despite its name, permanent hair dye doesn't stay in your hair forever and will fade over time, much like semi-permanent hair dye. If you imagine your favourite fake tan, these things will fade over time. It's good to maintain your hair colour by making an effort to regularly dye your hair every six or eight weeks to ensure that your hairdo looks fresh and stays fresh.
Want to know how to make it last longer? You can check out our advice on how to keep hair dye from fading if you need some tips on hair maintenance.
What hair colour stays the longest?
Luckily, if you're thinking of colouring your hair brown, you'll be pleased to know that it is the most durable hair colour and will stay the longest. Similarly, if you're thinking of buying some red hair dye, auburn hair dye or red-brown toned hair dye is best and will stay in your hair for much longer.
Emma Richardson is a Beauty & Fashion Products Writer for heat, Closer and Grazia. She covers shopping, lifestyle, celebs and anything trending. She uses brown hair dye for her locks and has experience using a range from the market.