Hair Care Tips for Brunettes

Brunette with long straight hair
Photo: Istockphoto
Do blondes really have more fun? The era of blondes may be waning, but who will rise to take their place? Brunettes! Finally, us 'brunnies' will have our chance to shine as we walk down the street. No longer will we have to contend with the stereotype of being the 'smart friend' to the 'hot blonde.' All thanks to some of Hollywood's elite actresses.
 
Mandy Moore, Renée Zellweger, Christina Aguilera, and Reese Witherspoon are just a few of the mainstream actresses and singers who have changed their natural hair color with the help of a box of hair color or a high-priced colorist. So, how do you know if you can pull off the 'it' color of the season? Just look in the mirror!
 
Okay, here's the first step: Turn on the light in the bathroom or whichever room the mirror is in. Now, take a look in the mirror. Do you have hair? If so, you can go for brown. It's true that, regardless of whether you have very pale skin or very dark skin, there's a shade of brown that's right for you. Let's start with the fair-skinned or those with less melanin; think of contrasts. The lighter your skin tone, the richer your brown shade should be. I know it may not seem intuitive, but consider the contrast.
 
If you have light skin and opt for a light brown shade for your locks, it may leave you looking washed out or even tired. Most of us are already busy and lack proper sleep as it is; we don't need a shade that exacerbates this. Instead, consider trying a dark chocolate color. While you're waiting for it to process, why not indulge in some dark chocolate?
 
Now, if you're not as fair-skinned as others, experiment with a lighter shade like chestnut brown. Once again, think about contrast. For those with olive-colored skin, consider adding beautiful honey tones as highlights or a tinted gloss on a base color not much darker than medium brown. If you have dark skin, try incorporating plenty of gold and honey highlights throughout.
 
There are new hair color products on the market designed specifically for brunette hair, whether for the base color or adding highlights. Additionally, there are special hair coloring kits that include both the base color and a highlighting step. These at-home products typically cost around $20.00 or less and can produce excellent results. However, you may need to enlist the help of a friend, unless you're a contortionist, to reach some of those spots in the back for a more even result.
 
Different shades of brown hair
Images via Canva
In addition to hair color, there are also lines of hair care products made specifically for brunettes. Some may be more expensive than others, but I believe they likely work equally well. So now your neatly coiffed little head is wondering why in the world you need to go out and buy special shampoo just because your hair is a few shades, or more, darker. Well, the reason is as simple as this... SHINE!
 
Dark hair tends to look duller and flatter in intensity than lighter-colored hair. That is where these special suds do their work. They help to smooth each strand of hair, aiding it in reflecting more light and thereby increasing shine. There are even shampoos that you can obtain from your colorist, made specifically for you with a special color glaze mixed in. If you want a bit of a red tint to your new hairstyle without appearing as though Kool-Aid was spilled on your head, try one with an auburn hue to it.
 
Now, last but not least, your makeup. Don't forget to update your face colors at the same time as you update your hair colors. You don't want to go around with a beautiful, new, dark, rich hair color and still be wearing the same blush and eye shadow from when you were a blonde. Try making things a little more vibrant. Instead of wearing pale pink on your cheeks, opt for a berry liquid blush for a pinched cheek look. However, don't use too much; you don't want to look like a prizefighter the day after the big event. Also, consider darkening your eye makeup. The big thing for lips this spring is berry-colored lip stain.
 
Come on, go out on a limb and let the world know that brunettes are the new blondes!
 
By Gretchen | Updated | ©Hairfinder.com

See also: More Hair Care Tips