Honey Brown Hair Is Your Shortcut To a Natural-Looking Glo
Sweet, warm, and dimensional—what’s not to love?
As far as hair color trends go, honey brown hair is a timeless and versatile favorite. The warm, golden brown hue commands attention with its radiant glow, reminiscent of the sweet, ambery syrup it's named after. Whether you're looking for a subtle sun-kissed look or a bold, rich transformation, honey brown offers an array of possibilities that can suit any skin tone. Below, find everything you need to know about honey brown hair color, including how to find the right shade and our favorite products to maintain its vibrancy for weeks to come.
What Is Honey Brown Hair?
Classically, honey brown hair is a dimensional, golden-brown shade reminiscent of—you guessed it—honey. Much like real honey, which can vary in tone from pale yellow to deep amber, honey-colored hair can range from golden bronde to a deeper bronzed-brown hue.
Is honey brown warm or cool-toned?
Thanks to its fusion of golden, bronze, and amber tones, honey brown hair typically leans warm. As such, it’s particularly flattering on those with warm skin tones. That doesn’t mean you can’t rock the shade if you have cool or neutral skin—you just have to find the right variation of the shade for your complexion. An ashy brown hair color woven with honey brown highlights, for example, can be a great option for those with cooler skin tones. A rich caramel honey brown hair color is another variation that works well across a range of skin tones and undertones, thanks to its relatively balanced blend of cooler and warmer pigments.
Why honey brown hair looks so glowy
Whether neutral or warm, honey brown hair isn’t one singular color—it’s most often created by blending several similar hues, such as amber, maple, gold, and caramel, throughout a medium brown base. The combination of these luminous shades creates a multi-dimensional effect that makes the hair appear glowy and naturally sun-kissed. Maintaining a proper hair care routine (more on that shortly) can boost shine further, giving your tresses an almost metallic-looking finish.
How To Get a Honey Brown Hair Color
There are several ways to get a honey brown hair color, so your first step is deciding what, exactly, you’re after. Ahead, we’ll break down how to choose between all-over color vs. honey brown highlights, when it’s safe to DIY your transformation, and when to leave it to the pros.
Choosing between permanent color, highlights, or balayage
All-over color is the way to go if you want a uniform shade from roots to ends. It’s also one of the easiest options to DIY at home—even if you’re new to coloring. Just keep in mind that it does require regular root touch-ups, especially if your natural color is much lighter or darker than your chosen honey brown shade.
If you prefer something softer, highlights are a great alternative. Full highlights add overall warmth and brightness, while partial highlights focus on the face-framing pieces for a subtle, sun-kissed effect. For the lowest-maintenance option, consider balayage. This hand-painted technique starts further down the hair, allowing your roots to grow in more naturally—no harsh lines, no frequent touch-ups.
Our best at-home honey brown hair dyes
If you settle on an all-over transformation, we suggest picking up the L’Oréal Paris Fèria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Honey Brown. This permanent hair dye kit is designed specifically for natural brunettes and delivers dramatic results in as little as 25 minutes–no pre-lightening needed. Plus, the kit comes with a vitamin-infused shine serum and a Bonding Care Complex Conditioner to help reinforce weakened hair bonds and strengthen hair by up to 40%.
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When to visit a professional colorist
If you’re going for a major transformation, it’s best to leave it to the pros. Dramatic lifting—like taking your hair several shades lighter—can be tricky to achieve safely at home without risking damage or uneven color. The same goes for corrective color, which often requires a trained eye to fix unwanted tones or patchy results.
More detailed techniques, like precision balayage or bold money pieces, are also better suited for the salon. These looks rely on strategic placement and blending to get that seamless, high-impact finish—something that’s hard to replicate without professional experience.
10 Honey Brown Hair Color Ideas To Try
There are plenty of ways to make this warm, radiant shade your own. Below, discover a few honey brown hair color ideas to inspire your next look.
1. Light honey brown hair
If you love lighter brunette shades and a uniform finish, light honey brown is worth trying. Because it’s a single-process color, it’s relatively easy to achieve at home with an at-home honey-colored hair dye. We love the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Sparkling Amber, which is suitable for medium blonde to dark brown hair and provides long-lasting color with tons of natural-looking dimension.
2. Honey highlights on brown hair
For a more dimensional look, weave honey highlights through a medium golden brown base. This classic take adds natural-looking movement and warmth to your hair, giving it dimension without too much contrast. Keep it subtle with a few soft ribbons, or dial it up with richer golden tones blended throughout.
3. Medium honey brown hair
Medium honey brown strikes a balance between soft and statement-making. The golden tone feels warm and inviting, while the added depth keeps it from looking overly bright. For an at-home option, try the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Caramel Glow.
4. Dark honey brown hair
Honey brown doesn’t have to be light to show off its signature warmth. A deeper take on the shade delivers rich, golden undertones while still leaning brunette. For a similar look at home, try the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Permanent Hair Color in Medium Golden Brown.
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5. Honey brown ombré
Ombré is a great low-maintenance way to wear honey brown hair. This technique keeps your roots natural while gradually lightening the mid-lengths and ends into a soft, honeyed blonde. The result is a seamless gradient that grows out beautifully—no harsh lines, fewer touch-ups.
6. Golden honey brown balayage
If you prefer something more blended, honey brown balayage offers a soft, sun-kissed effect. Unlike ombré’s more noticeable contrast, balayage uses hand-painted highlights to create a natural-looking finish. This technique requires a practiced hand to nail, so we recommend scheduling an appointment with a seasoned colorist for the best results.
7. Ashy honey brown
Ashy honey brown blends soft, sandy brunette tones with subtle gray undertones for a more muted finish. It’s especially flattering on cooler skin tones, as the smokier pigments help enhance natural blue or pink undertones and give the complexion a balanced, refreshed look. For a similar look you can get at home, try the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Downtown Brown.
8. Honey brown money piece
If you’re not ready to commit to an all-over change, a honey brown money piece is an easy entry point. This technique focuses on lightening only the face-framing sections of hair to create a bright, sun-kissed feel. Against a darker base, it adds instant contrast and dimension—no full color overhaul required.
9. Honey brown lowlights
Lowlights are a great way to weave honey brown tones into lighter hair. Applied with demi-permanent or permanent color, lowlights add depth and contrast without relying heavily on bleach. The result is a richer, more dimensional brunette with a softer grow-out than all-over color.
10. Ambery honey brown
Why choose one shade when you can have both? Blending copper tones with a classic honey brown hue creates a warm, multidimensional color with plenty of vibrancy. The mix of golden and red tones is especially flattering on warm undertones and helps enhance your skin’s natural golden cast. You can head to the salon for a custom blend, but if you’d rather DIY your look, try the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Permanent Hair Color in Light Amber Brown.
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How To Care For Honey Brown Hair
While coloring your hair—both at home and in the salon—may seem easy, it also requires patience and proper aftercare to keep your hair looking healthy and beautiful. To increase the lifespan of your honey-dipped ‘do, heed the following haircare tips.
1. Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner
First things first, you’ll want to swap your current wash day duo for a pair specifically formulated for color-treated hair. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair+ Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair+ Conditioner. The citric acid-infused formulas, which are designed for bleached and dyed hair, help repair weakened hair bonds for stronger, more resilient strands with every wash.
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2. Utilize a hair glossing system
To prevent your color from getting dull, rotate a glossing system into your routine twice a week or as needed. Our go-to hair gloss treatment is the three-step L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing System. The collection includes a Glossing Shampoo to gently cleanse hair, a Glossing Conditioner to help moisturize and smooth strands, and a 5-Minute Lamination Hair Mask to help seal the hair fibers and boost shine. Learn more about the range and how to use it in our article, What Is a Hair Gloss?
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3. Deep condition weekly
Color-treated hair benefits from a little extra care, and deep conditioning is one of the easiest ways to keep it looking and feeling its best. Chemical processing can leave strands more porous, which often leads to dryness, dullness, and increased breakage over time. A regular deep conditioning treatment helps replenish lost moisture, smooth the hair cuticle, and restore softness and shine, all while supporting overall hair health. We’re fans of the L’Oréal Paris Feria Strength Repair Ultra Care Conditioner because it strengthens the hair and boosts hydration—all while helping to extend the vibrancy of your luxurious new hue.
4. Always use heat protection
Heat protection is always a must, but it’s especially vital for colored hair, which is more prone to fading and damage. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair+ Oil-in-Serum is a great option for warding off heat damage because it goes the extra mile: it reinforces weakened hair bonds, protects hair from future damage, and leaves hair intensely shiny with a lightweight, non-greasy finish. Best of all is its versatility—you can use it on damp hair before styling or on dry hair as a finishing touch.
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