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Ash Brown Is Set to Be the Biggest Spring/Summer Hair Color Trend
Take a walk on the cool-toned side.
There was a time—miss you already, 2014—when cool tones in makeup and hair were everywhere. Kylie Jenner had blue hair. The internet was obsessed with MAC Rebel lipstick. "Golden" hair was seen as brassy and cheap. But times have changed, and now, a golden hue is evocative of sunshine. A never-ending midnight sun, if you will. But 2026 hair trends point to creamy colors as the signature look. Think: Hair that looks healthy, natural, and fresh—and cool tones, like ash brown, fit beautifully in this category.
"Whereas warm brunette shades look lighter and richer, ash brown colors are usually deeper with a smokey, matte-like finish," says Nina Rubel, colorist at Rob Peetoom in NYC. Ash brown for winter? Yeah, I know, it's groundbreaking. But these will flow seamlessly into spring and summer, especially if you add dimension through itsy-bitsy highlights, balayage, and money pieces (aka bright face-framing layers). Or go all out with a full head of cloudy, grayed-out brunette. Before you make your decision though, peep our inspo below based on the top brown hair color trends of 2026, plus read a few of Rubel's insights on how to choose the right color for you.
Classic Ash Brown
So, what exactly is ash brown after all? It's a cool-toned brunette shade with gray, purple, blue, or even green undertones. Some call it "mushroom brown," others opt for simply "cool brown." However, one thing that remains constant is its distinctive, smoked-out look. See it on Lisa here—the soft shade brings out the blue in her eyes while remaining rich. In a sea of warm tones, ashy brown hair can look expensive and luxurious.
Ash Brown Hair With Face-Framing Highlights
You don't have to give up your light tones to try an ashy brown hair look. Case in point: Ciara's money pieces in a similarly cool-toned shade of blonde that perfectly matches her ash-brown roots. Make sure your stylist tones your color after they bleach these pieces to give them a similar icy look.
Deep Ash Brown
Dark brown hair colors are often dubbed "espresso" or "dark chocolate," but this shade is more of an umber or chestnut brown. It has rich saturation, but the undertone is still cool. If you already have dark hair but want to experiment with an ashy tone, try a cool-toned brown color gloss all over. It'll add that coolness without mega commitment.
Dimensional Ash Brown
Dubbed a "Whisper Highlight," this look shows that a subtle touch of ash brown can bring to life super brunette colors. Ana de Armas's color is subtle and dimensional without a heavy-looking highlight throughout. Instead, there's a touch of brightness throughout.
Ash Brown With Highlights
Fact: Dark, brown-black roots are a great way to complement some of the lighter tones in your ash brown hair color. Jennifer Garner's highlights aren't too cool-toned, though, adding a bit of piece-y ness throughout her color that gives mega dimension. And it's perfect for anyone who is afraid of their hair looking too grayed-out.
Rich Ash Brown
If you aren't really into the highlighted look, you'll love this all-over ash brown hair color. The result is soft, creamy, and super subtle (like, subtle enough that you can go lighter come spring or summer). Kaia Gerber's old Hollywood waves look especially expensive in this shade too (in fact, many people describe it as "expensive brown.")
Ash Brown Balayage
Balayage—i.e. hand-painted highlights—is a great way to get in on the ash brown hair color trend if you're looking for something a bit more subtle. The roots remain nice and dark, but the lengths have some ashy—but blended!—highlights for contrast.
Light Ash Brown Hair
Beige brown (aka a lightened ashy brown color) is the perfect balance between cool and warm tones—this beige leans on the cooler side, making it a stepping stone into ash brown hair. If you usually go with a warmer coloring, this is a way to incorporate the trend without going all the way to the other side of the color wheel. To keep these pieces bright, wash with a purple shampoo once a week or so.
Ash Brown Bob
Yup, a bob looks good with every single hair color, including this deep ash brown. In fact, it makes a blunt, chic cut look even edgier when it's cool-toned.
What to consider before going ash brown:
Skin tone
"When choosing any hair color, it's always important to take your skin tone into account," says Rubel. A good rule of thumb? Cooler colors (like ash brown) generally work best on cooler skin tones, while warmer colors are best for, you guessed it, warmer skin tones. But that doesn't mean ash brown is totally off the table if you have a warmer skin tone, says Rubel—you'll just need to work with your colorist to find the best placement and technique to complement your look (i.e. adding in a few golden highlights around your face and throughout your lengths to create balance, says Rubel).
Starting point
Another important thing to keep in mind: Make sure you consider your starting color before going ash brown. "If you're starting with very dark hair and your goal is ash brown, you'll likely need to lighten your hair first before depositing the ash brown shade," she explains. "Always consult with your colorist before your appointment and make sure you bring reference photos of what you like and dislike."
Meet the expert:
- Nina Rubel is a hair colorist and the creative director at Rob Peetoom in New York, NY.
Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?
Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan, and has four years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing beauty stories, like the best shampoo for a dry scalp and the best hair-growth oils. She regularly works with the industry’s top hairstylists to assess new trends, formulas, and brands.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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