35 Ways to Wear Golden Brown Hair All Year Long | Hair.com By L'Oréal

Stay Golden: 35 Ways to Wear Golden Brown Hair All Year Long

To achieve golden brown hair, your colorist will create a brunette shade blended with golden undertones to add brightness, shine, and dimension to your look.

By Jelani Addams Rosa & Powered By L’Oreal Professional Products Division
Update Date: 31 Aug 2026
All the cool girls have been loving ash brown hair colors these past few years, but we’re finally starting to see a shift back into warm-toned territory. Hence, our renewed admiration for golden brown hair.

If you want to experiment with warm tones without giving up your dark brown hair, golden brown is the perfect way to do so. For everything you need to know about golden brown hair—including how to maintain it and the best ways to wear it—keep scrolling!

What color is golden brown hair?

If you want all the brightening benefits of golden blonde hair but none of the commitment, meet golden brown. To achieve golden brown hair, your colorist will create a brunette shade blended with golden undertones to add brightness, shine, and dimension to your look. The best part? Golden brown shades complement any skin tone.

Is golden brown good for grey hair?

If you’re looking to cover your grey hair, golden brown is a great option for your new hue. The key to completely covering grey hair is to have your colorist use a permanent hair color formula. Schedule a consultation with your colorist to see if a permanent golden brown hair color is right for you.

Is golden brown warm or cool?

The golden hue is naturally a warm color, which means most golden brown hair colors will appear warm. However, a talented colorist can manipulate your color to appear warm or cool. If you like golden brown hair but are looking for a hue that’s just a bit cooler, show your colorist some inspirational pictures of ashy golden brown hair.

How do you care for golden brown hair?

Unless you were born with naturally golden brown hair (um, jealous much), chances are good you had to head to the salon to achieve your new hue. And unless you’re blonde, your colorist likely lightened your hair to achieve your new color. While golden brown hair is markedly less work than say, platinum blonde, anytime you lighten your hair there’s a chance for brass and orange undertones to rear their ugly head. Upgrading your routine to include products formulated to nourish and color-correct your new hue will keep your mane looking fresh between appointments.

Begin by swapping your regular shampoo and conditioner for a system formulated for lightened brunette strands. We recommend the Matrix Total Results Brass Off Duo. This shampoo deposits blue-violet pigments when you wash your hair, so brassy tones are neutralized, and so you can enjoy your new color, and extend the time between salon visits, even longer. After the pigmented shampoo neutralizes unwanted warm tones, this conditioner, with vitamin hair oil, volumizes and smooths strands so hair is nourished, soft, and moisturized.

If you’re looking to punch up your brass-fighting measures, add the Matrix Total Results Brass Off Custom Neutralization Mask to your routine. This highly concentrated blue formula acts as a toner and a deep treatment. Lightening your hair can sometimes leave it feeling dry and brittle. If your hair is in need of some extra TLC, swap out your regular conditioner for a hair mask like Matrix Total Results Miracle Creator Nourishing Strengthening Mask. This multi-tasking mask revitalizes, nourishes, and strengthens hair in just 60 seconds!

The Best Golden Brown Hair Color Ideas To Try Now

  1. Honey Golden Brown Hair
    A few strands of honey is all it takes to bring the warmth of your golden brown hair to the next level.

  2. Light Golden Brown Hair
    This lighter take on golden brown is absolutely stunning (and a major win for fair skin tones).

  3. Brown Hair with Golden Highlights
    Nothing quite shakes up a dark brown base like highlights. Ask your colorist to add a few golden highlights throughout your strands for a subtle change that will make your hair look so much brighter.

  4. Medium Golden Brown
    If your natural hue falls somewhere between light and dark brown, opt for this medium golden brown shade to give your strands a low-commitment upgrade.

  5. Dark Golden Brown
    If you have naturally dark hair, you don’t have to go much lighter to add a pop of gold to your hue. Opt for a dark brown hue with just a hint of gold to edge into the look without too much commitment.

  6. Caramel And Golden Highlights
    Looking to add even more warmth to your brunette strands? Ask your colorist for a mix of golden and caramel highlights for a dimensional look that’s perfect for any time of year.

  7. Cool Golden Brown
    If you love the way cool tones look with your skin tone this cool golden brown is the perfect way for you to embrace this trend.

  8. Cinnamon Golden Brown
    Looking to spice up your golden brown hue? Look no further than this dimensional cinnamon golden brown hair color.

  9. Vintage Golden Brown
    Vintage gold has a particularly regal hue. Embrace your inner queen with this vintage golden brown hue.

  10. Golden Bronde
    If you’re a blonde at heart but can’t get enough of the golden brown trend, give this golden bronde hue a try.

  11. Auburn Golden Brown
    This auburn golden brown hue is the perfect transitional color from summer to fall.