How to Dye Your Hair Light Brown

Co-authored by Karen Leight

Last Updated: November 2, 2022 References

Light brown is a beautiful hair color with a wide range of shades available. There are cool shades, like ash and pearl light brown, neutral shades, and warm shades like golden and copper light brown. For the most flattering results, choose a light brown shade that compliments your skin tone. If you’re going from black or dark brown hair to light brown, you may want to visit a professional hair stylist to ensure good results. If you’re only going slightly lighter or darker than your natural shade, you can get great results using a home box dye.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing a Light Brown Hair Dye

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1
Identify the shade “level” of your hair. Hair levels are judged on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being black and 10 being the lightest blonde. As a reference point, level 5 is considered to be light brown. Examine your current hair color and rate it based on this scale.
- Level charts can help you determine your level if you still aren’t sure. Type “shade range hair level” into a search engine to bring up the info you need.
2
Choose a color 1-2 shades from your current color if it’s already brown. Compare you current hair color to the color on the box to find a color that is within 2 shades of your current hair color. This will help to ensure that your results look more natural. Also, keep in mind that you may want to bleach your hair first if it’s black or very dark brown. ^{[1]
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- If you're dyeing your hair brown from a lighter color, you may need to use a medium-tone filler color to prevent your hair from turning muddy or brown.
Tip : If you are planning to make a drastic hair color change and don’t feel confident about doing it yourself, it’s best to visit a salon and allow a professional hair stylist to do this for you. ^{[2]
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3
Identify the colors you wear most often to determine your skin tone . Light brown hair dyes come in warm and cool tones, and one might work better for you than the other depending on your skin tone. For example, if you have warm skin tone, then a warm-toned light brown dye would probably work best. However, if you have a cool skin tone, then a cool-toned light brown would best compliment your skin tone. The items in your closet can help you to decide which tones look best on you if you’re unsure. ^{[3]
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- For example, you may want to go for a warm shade of light brown, such as honey or golden, if you wear a lot of warm colors, such as red, yellow, orange, and brown.
- Or, you may want to opt for a cool shade of light brown, such as ash, if you wear a lot of blue, lavender, pink, and grey.
- Work with a hair stylist to determine what hair color would look best with your skin tone.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Applying Light Brown Dye

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1
Lay out all of your supplies and cover your work surfaces. Get everything together that you will need to dye your hair and place newspaper over your bathroom counter and floor to protect it from any dye that might drip down. Put on an old T-shirt, a hairdresser’s cape, or a towel around your shoulders to protect your clothing. Then, put gloves on your hands to protect them from the dye. Some other items you might want to have out include: ^{[4]
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- Lip balm or petroleum jelly to apply around your hair line.
- Makeup remover wipes or a damp washcloth to remove any hair color that gets on your skin.
- A hair color application brush to make it easier to distribute the color.
2
Divide your hair into 4 or more sections. Use a comb to part your hair down the center going from the crown down to the nape of your neck. Then, divide those sections in half by making a part that goes from ear-to-ear across the top of your head. Use hair clips to keep the sections in place as you work. ^{[5]
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- If your hair is thick or long, divide each of the 4 sections in half again.
3
Apply the dye mixture to each section your hair. Use your gloved fingers or a color application brush to “paint” the mixture onto each section of your hair going from the roots to the tips. Make sure you saturate each section of your hair with the dye to avoid a patchy appearance. Continue until all of your hair is saturated with the dye. ^{[6]
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- Try using 2 mirrors to make it easier to see the back of your head while you dye your hair. Stand in front of a mounted mirror, such in your bathroom, and use a handheld mirror to look at the back of your head.
Tip : Don’t wash your hair for 2-3 days before dyeing it. This will help to reduce any irritation the dye might cause to your scalp. ^{[7]
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4
Develop the dye for the amount of time indicated by the instructions. After applying the dye, you will be able to see the color develop gradually to your desired shade of light brown. Set a timer for the amount of time indicated by the dye instructions to avoid leaving it on for too little or too much time. ^{[8]
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- Check the dye's instructions for maximum set time, which is usually 30 minutes. Dyes stop developing after the max time elapses. Leaving it on past that time will not do anything. ^{[9]
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Use cool or lukewarm water to rinse the dye out of your hair, Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. Do not shampoo your hair after rinsing it out. However, if your dye kit came with a conditioning packet, you may apply the conditioner to your hair, leave it in for 3-5 minutes, and then rinse it out with cool water to help seal the hair cuticle and lock in your color. ^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Caring for Your Color

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1
Use a clarifying shampoo if the color turned out darker than you wanted. If your color did not yield the desired shade of light brown and you ended up with a medium or dark brown instead, using a clarifying shampoo right after dyeing your hair may help to lift some of the color and give you the desired shade. Shampoo your hair as you normally would with the clarifying shampoo, rinse thoroughly with warm water, and then condition your hair and rinse with cool water to close your hair cuticle. ^{[11]
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- You can purchase a clarifying shampoo in the beauty section of a drug or grocery store.
2
Wait at least 2 weeks to dye your hair again if it’s not dark enough. This is more likely if you bleached your hair before dyeing it or if you opted for a dye color that was too light. If your hair color turned out lighter than the box shade, then you may be tempted to dye it again right away. However, it is best to wait for at least 2 weeks before re-dying your hair. This will help to prevent damage to your hair from over-treating it. ^{[12]
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- You may want to select a darker shade to get the desired color of brown.
- If a second dye job does not result in the desired shade of light brown, see a hair stylist! Don’t dye it a third time.
3
Shampoo and wet your hair as little as possible to protect the color. Water alone causes color to fade after you dye it, but certain shampoo can also fade your color more quickly than others. For maximum protection against fading, use a color-protecting shampoo, such as one that is sulfate-free, and only shampoo your hair 2 times per week. Wear a shower cap to prevent your hair from getting wet and use dry shampoo to freshen up your hair between washes. ^{[13]
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- Make sure to use a color protecting conditioner every time you shampoo your hair as well.
- When you do wash or rinse your hair, use cool water to prevent the color from bleeding.
The heat from your blow dryer and styling tools can also fade your color. Keep it looking vibrant for longer by applying a heat-protectant product to your hair before you blow dry, curl, or flat iron it. ^{[14]
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Tip : Even the sun can lighten your hair color over time, so make sure to protect your hair with a hat or scarf if you will be spending the day outdoors.

Community Q&A

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Question

What is the best color to dye light brown hair?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

It really depends on the current color of your hair, and choosing the right color dye can make all of the difference. Start by identifying the shade of your hair. Hair levels are judged on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being black and 10 being the lightest blonde. As a reference point, level 5 is considered to be light brown. Examine your current hair color and rate it based on this scale. Then, compare you current hair color to the color on the box to find a color that is within 2 shades of your current hair color. That way you'll make sure your hair color will look more natural. Additionally, light brown hair dyes come in warm and cool tones, and one might work better for you than the other depending on your skin tone. If you have warm skin tone, then a warm-toned light brown dye would probably work best, and if you have a cool skin tone, then a cool-toned light brown is your best bet.

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Question

Can you dye your hair light brown without bleach?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Yes, but only if your natural (or current) hair color isn't too dark. If you have really dark or black hair, bleaching your hair before you dye it light brown will give you the best results. But you can also try plant-based hair dyes if you want to avoid using bleach, which can be harsh on your hair. For instance, henna hair dyes can progressively lighten your hair until you're happy with the shade. You may have to dye it multiple times, but you won't have to use any bleach!

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Question

How long does light brown hair dye have to sit in your hair?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

It can vary slightly depending on the dye you're using. After you've applied the dye to your hair, you'll be able to see the color develop gradually to the shade of light brown that you want. Check the dye's packaging to see how long you need to leave it in order to dye your hair a specific shade. Then, set a timer for that time and check your hair when it goes off. If you want it a little lighter, try waiting a few more minutes. But be sure to check the dye's instructions for maximum set time, which is usually 30 minutes. Dyes stop developing after the max time elapses. So leaving it on past that time won't do anything or make your hair any lighter.

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Things You'll Need

Hair dye
Plastic hair clips
A cape or clothes you don't mind staining
Applicator brush
Vinyl gloves
Newspapers
Comb
Lip balm
Makeup remover wipes or a washcloth
Color-protecting shampoo and conditioner
Heat protectant

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How to Dye Your Hair Light Brown

Steps

Choosing a Light Brown Hair Dye

Applying Light Brown Dye

Caring for Your Color

Community Q&A

Tips

Things You'll Need

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