Found: The Best Summer Hair Colors for Brunettes

Seasonal changes provide an opportunity for fresh beauty moments, and many people take to changing up their go-to hair color ahead of the warmer months. A summer blonde refresh or quick balayage appointment can give you a fresh feel. But for brunettes, the decision to go blonde isn’t so easy. Luckily, there are lots of fun summer hair colors for dark hair to try instead. According to celebrity colorist Min Kim, warmer tones like cinnamon, cherry and gold complement the underlying pigments in brunettes and allows for brightness without the damage that can come from extreme lightening. Beyond that, she explains that these shades also require less upkeep, meaning you can enjoy summer without lengthy salon appointments. With so much inspiration floating around, we spoke with three colorists to find the best hues trending for those with darker hair this summer.

Featured experts

• Min Kim is a celebrity colorist
• Ruby Devine is a colorist and salon owner
• Mia Santiago is a hairstylist and salon owner

Summer Hair Colors for Brunettes

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Caramel Balayage

Sun-kissed tones, such as caramel, enhance natural depth without clashing with seasonal fading. Using the balayage highlighting technique adds a beachy vibe without making a drastic change. The trick, as colorist Ruby Devine notes, is to lightly paint the dark strands with caramel tones so they blend seamlessly.

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Cherry Cola

“This deep, reddish-brown shade adds a fun pop of color that’s subtle in the shade but glows in the sunlight,” says Devine. She explains that low-lift tones also don’t require extreme lightening, which helps preserve the health of naturally dark hair.

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 Cinnamon Highlights

If you’re not exactly ready to give up your dark hair, try cinnamon highlights to brighten your strands just a touch. “On deep espresso hair, the addition gives glossy dimension and catches the sun beautifully while maintaining the richness of dark hair,” says Kim.

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Swiss Mocha

Subtle mocha tones give deeper shades a soft glow for summer. “It maintains richness, fades gracefully, and requires less upkeep, enhancing your natural base for a vibrant, low-maintenance summer look,” says colorist Mia Santiago. To keep the sunlit glow intact, she recommends booking gloss appointments every four to eight weeks to refresh pigments.

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Mahogany Copper

A rich, warm-toned red blends beautifully with dark hair and adds dimension and vibrance in summer light. This mahogany copper color effortlessly melds several shades for a seamless blend.

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Chocolate Mocha

“This shade is a soft, multi-dimensional take on classic brunette that incorporates subtle warm and cool tones for a natural, lived-in look. It’s a rich and sophisticated option for those who want something fresh but understated,” says Kim.

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Cinnamon Brunette

Cinnamon brunette is the perfect balance between a deep brown and rich red. With underlying pigments from both, it brightens the hair and gives it a golden glow like the setting summer sun.