How to Color Auburn Hair Dark Brown

by Elizabeth Chaplin

Color your naturally auburn hair dark brown.

ortrait of woman smiling with long flowing brown hair. image by Paul Hill from Fotolia.com

Auburn hair is essentially a deep brown color with a reddish undertone. Auburn ranges in shades from light to dark and from brilliant to just a hint of red. When coloring your auburn hair any other color, it can be difficult to cover up those reddish tones. There are several types of hair color on the market, and many are found in beauty-supply stores or drugstores. Transition your hair from auburn to dark brown with at-home boxed hair color instead of visiting a salon. The finish will be comparable to a stylist, but much less expensive.

Items you will need

  • Semi-permanent dark brown hair color in ash
  • Towel
  • Rubber, plastic or latex gloves
  • Plastic cling wrap
Step 1

Mix the semi-permanent dark brown hair color in ash according to the manufacturer’s directions. Ash tones are cool and combat the warm tones found in auburn hair.

Step 2

Drape a towel over your shoulders to protect your clothing. Make sure your hair has not been washed for at least 24 hours and is free of styling products like hairspray or gel.

Step 3

Apply the hair color, wearing gloves to protect your skin, all over your head from root to tips. Avoid getting the color on your scalp.

Step 4

Pile your hair on top of your head. Wrap a piece of plastic cling wrap snugly around your head to keep the hair in place. Let the dye set for 15 minutes or according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Step 5

Rinse your hair with cool water until the water runs clear. Condition your tresses with the provided conditioner in the hair color box. Any sulfate-free conditioner will also work. Rinse your hair with cool water.

Tips

  • If you are unsure of how dark to go, select a color that is one shade lighter than the shade you desire. Often, colors shown on the boxes are not accurate for every hair type.

    Rub a line of petroleum jelly around your hairline to keep the dye from getting on your skin.

    Using semi-permanent hair color allows the dye to fade naturally without leaving your roots looking grown-out. Also, semi-permanent color is often free of ammonia, which causes damage to your hair.

    If you want to keep a slight reddish tint to your dark-brown look, use a dark brown color labeled “natural” or “golden.”

Photo Credits

  • ortrait of woman smiling with long flowing brown hair. image by Paul Hill from Fotolia.com