12 Cinnamon Hair Color Ideas to Spice Up Your Strands

Pumpkin spice, nutmeg, ginger—there are plenty of hair color trends that draw inspiration from the spice cabinet. One of the most versatile, however, is a warm, inviting, cinnamon brown hair color. This cozy hue typically features a melange of soft brown and fiery red hues in equal proportions. The result is a stunning (and distinctly autumnal) hair color that easily flatters a wide range of skin tones and undertones.

If you’re looking for a new hue to rock this season, keep scrolling. Ahead, we’ll break down what, exactly, a cinnamon hair color looks like and offer a look at some of our favorite ways to rock the shade. Plus, we’ll arm you with our top tips for keeping your cinnamon brown hair color intact between touch-ups. 

What Is Cinnamon Brown Hair Color?

Cinnamon hair is a warm, medium-toned brown hue with a distinct reddish (or, depending on the hue, orangey) cast. Think about the warm tones of a cinnamon stick or the contents of a jar of ground cinnamon in your pantry—that earthy shade is what cinnamon brown hair looks like in its truest form. 

As with most hair colors, however, cinnamon brown is super customizable. If you’re a natural brunette and don’t want to lighten your hair, you can opt for a dark cinnamon brown hair color with soft chestnut undertones. Those who favor a lighter mane, meanwhile, can opt for light cinnamon brown hair or add golden blonde streaks throughout a warm brown base for a multi-dimensional effect. Ultimately, whatever you choose, the blend of these rich autumnal tones makes for a gorgeous and multidimensional hair color. 

12 Cinnamon Hair Color Ideas We Love 

If you’re ready to try cinnamon hair for yourself, here are 12 ways to wear the versatile shade.

1. Cinnamon spice hair

Cinnamon spice hair color is probably what you envision when you imagine cinnamon hair. The mid-toned reddish-brown hue is brought to life with dimensional highlights and lowlights, but it still stays toward the red end of the color spectrum. To recreate a similar hue at home, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color in Light Auburn. 

2. Cinnamon brown hair 

As you may be able to guess from the name, cinnamon brown hair leans slightly more brown than red. The medium brown hue is still on the warmer side, thanks to a blend of maple, nutmeg, and coffee hues woven throughout, but it’s far more subtle than a traditional cinnamon hair color. Try this medium cinnamon brown hair color if you’re a natural brunette interested in spicing things up—but not quite ready to take the plunge into redhead territory. If you’re looking to DIY your hair transformation, we suggest using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Medium Copper Brown—it’s the perfect in-between shade to introduce you into the world of warm-toned tresses.

3. Chocolate cinnamon hair color

This dark cinnamon brown hair color combines the warm, reddish-brown tones of cinnamon with the cool, rich hues of chocolate to strike the perfect neutral balance. If you have naturally dark hair—and don’t want to commit to bleaching it—this rich, dimensional shade is the perfect way to experiment with the cinnamon brown hair color trend. The L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Dark Mahogany Brown is a great choice for those looking to recreate a similar look at home.

4. Cinnamon highlights on brown hair

You don’t have to part ways with your natural hair color in order to lean into this autumnal hair color trend. Instead, opt for cinnamon highlights woven throughout a mid-toned brunette base. The reddish streaks will bring dimension and warmth to your hair but without the commitment of an all-over hair color. 

5. Cinnamon lowlights on red hair

Lowlights are similar to highlights, only rather than adding brightness, they create depth. If you’re rocking a red hair color and want to change things up, consider asking your colorist for dark cinnamon brown highlights. The rich hue will give your mane tons of dimension without making it appear lighter—and it’s a great way to transition your brighter summer hue to a darker, moodier hair color for winter. 

6. Golden cinnamon brown

Give cinnamon brown hair a sun-kissed twist by reaching for a slightly more golden iteration of the fiery hue. You’ll still enjoy plenty of warmth—but with less noticeable redness. Snag the L’Oréal Preference Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Lightest Golden Brown if you’re up for DIY-ing the brilliant reddish-gold shade at home. 

7. Cinnamon brown balayage

Balayage is a nice way to get a sense of the flavor of cinnamon brown hair without a full commitment. They’re similar to highlights in that they add piecey, sun-kissed brightness to your strands, but require less upkeep than the traditional method. This is because they’re painted on to start a few inches below the root, creating a gradual, lived-in look rather than the more intentional appearance of highlights. While balayage is often done in shades of blonde, we think a cinnamon brown balayage is a great way to update a medium brunette hue.If you’re up for it, DIY your streaks with the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Balayage At-Home Highlighting Kit in Medium to Dark Brown. The kit comes with an expert applicator for precise highlight placement.

8. Cinnamon money pieces

Highlights that are brighter around the face are known as money pieces, and they look pretty luxe in a cinnamon brown hair color. The face-framing streaks can help brighten up and add warmth to your complexion without the commitment of a full head of highlights (or an all-over hair color). Another bonus: Since the look only requires coloring two streaks of hair, damage is typically pretty minimal. 

9. Cinnamon brown ombré 

The ombré hair coloring technique involves applying dye gradually from the mid-lengths to the ends of the hair. Done properly, it creates a subtle gradient effect, with the hair slowly transitioning from one shade at the roots to a different (typically, brighter) shade at the ends. It’s chic and eye-catching—not to mention, a great option for those who don’t want to commit to bleaching or touching up their roots. Opt for a vibrant cinnamon brown ombré shade to put an autumnal twist on your usual hair color.

10. Light cinnamon brown hair 

If a dark cinnamon or nutmeg hair color feels like too much of a jump from your natural hue, consider opting for a lighter variation on the trend. Accent your light brown or dark blonde base with copper, honey, and maple highlights for a vibrant look that has all of the warmth and appeal of a classic cinnamon brown hair color.

11. Cinnamon brown with strawberry highlights

We keep referring to cinnamon brown hair as autumnal, and it often is—but it doesn’t have to be. You can channel the effortless ease of summer by accenting a medium cinnamon brown hair color with blended ribbons of gold, wheat, and champagne blonde. The end result is warm and dimensional but boasts an undeniable beachy flair. 

12. Vibrant cinnamon red

For some, “cinnamon” doesn’t evoke the memory of freshly baked pies or long walks through fallen leaves. Instead, it calls to mind spicy cinnamon-flavored candy. If you’re a fan of the divisive sweets and want to stand out, try this fiery hair color. It’s bold, it’s bright, and it’s about as vivid as cinnamon-inspired strands can get. To achieve the head-turning look at home, pick up a box of the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Copper Crave and get to work.

How To Take Care Of Cinnamon Hair

If you’ve decided to commit to a cinnamon hair color, you’ll want to upgrade your hair care routine to ensure your strands look their best. Take note of the following to do just that.

1. Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner

The most important thing to change when you get a new hair color is your shampoo and conditioner. Rather than your usual shower favorites, you’ll want to switch to a system that’s formulated for color-treated hair. We suggest the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Repair Conditioner. The duo helps strengthen damaged color-treated hair from the inside out to promote smoother, stronger strands. For some extra TLC, add the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment to your shower routine, too.

2. Deep-condition your strands

Color-treated hair often needs a little extra love to look and feel its best. To help ensure your hair feels nourished and soft, we suggest reaching for a deep conditioner once or twice a week. Try the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Simply Clean Fiber Masque to help keep your cinnamon brown hair color vibrant and your strands silky, soft, and glossy.

3. Schedule regular touch-ups 

As much as we wish it were, dyeing your hair is not a one-and-done type of thing. Regardless of which hue you choose, you’ll need to touch up your color regularly to keep it looking vibrant and blend regrowth. Depending on how quickly your hair grows, you can expect to touch up your roots roughly every six to eight weeks. 

If your strands begin to look dull or lackluster between touch-ups, pick up the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One-Step In-Shower Toning Gloss. The ammonia-free formula deep conditions, adds shine, and helps enhance hair color and tone. Plus, results last up to ten days, depending on how frequently you lather up. We suggest opting for the tinted Copper shade if you want to boost the vibrancy of your cinnamon hair. Otherwise, reach for the Clear gloss—it’ll boost shine without adding any pigment to your strands.

Next Up: How to Find the Best Brown Hair Color For Your Skin Tone (and Undertone)

Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris