Mushroom Brown Hair: What It Is and How to Wear It in 2022
Who knew mushroom could be so pretty?
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If the mushroom brown hair trend hasn’t already consumed your Insta feed, your Pinterest board, and the inside of your eyelids yet, I’ll be shocked. Because, ICYMI, mushroom brown hair—that cool-toned, earthy (dare I say, mushroomy) shade of brunette—has been trending hard in 2022. I know that the word “mushroom” doesn’t exactly sound appealing, but trust me, it’s actually so pretty. Think: Ash brown hair, with mauve, taupe, and gray undertones, making it extremely versatile.
“Mushroom brown hair is an earthy tone that’s in the neutral-medium color family,” says hairstylist and Rusk Hair’s global creative director Matt Swinney. “It’s different from other shades of brown, because most shades either take on a warm or cool tone, but mushroom is in the middle.” And because it’s so versatile, there’s tons of room for dimension, like silvery highlights, balayages, and muted, ashy shades. “There’s more of a creamy khaki tone of mushroom and then a grayish silver mushroom.” Basically, you have options here.
Since mushroom brown hair is such a unique color, celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein says to make sure you go to someone who has proven they can do it. Scroll through their Instagram pages, look at their work on their website, and straight-up ask if they can do the blend of cool, ashy tones that make up mushroom brown hair. Ready for all the inspo to screenshot before your next appointment with your colorist? Keep scrolling, because I found 21 of the prettiest mushroom brown hair ideas on the internet rn.
This Mauve Mushroom Brown Color
I am truly in love with the icy-blue undertones in this mushroom brown hair color. Just a reminder to make sure that you’re on the exact same page with your colorist before she begins “cocktailing” your shades. “It’s important to communicate that you want a mix of cool and warm tones but not a natural brown hue,” he says. “Natural brown shades won’t give you the customized undertone mixture found in the mushroom brown shade.” The result? This mauve, silvery shade.
This Soft Ombré Mushroom Hair Idea
Celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein says she loves the mushroom brown hair trend because “brunettes have always been encouraged to add warm tones, like chocolate, honey, and cinnamon to their hair, and this ashed-out tone is the exact opposite of that.” And we love everyone doing whatever TF they want (plus, who doesn’t want this buttery, mushroom ombré?).
Muted Mushroom Brown Waves
The darker you go with the mushroom brown color, the more of a muted, edgy look you’ll get. This dark mushroom brown has major winter hair color vibes, and my summer-hating soul is here for it.
Mushroom Hair With Face-Framing Highlights
Lean into the Y2k hair trends with an all-over mushroom color with two lighter, face-framing money pieces. It’ll give your color a lot of dimension and will work really well with curtain bangs.
This Warm Mushroom Brown Hair Color
If you already have mushroom brown hair and want to warm it up a bit, screenshot this pic immediately. It’s got just a touch of golden brunette coloring along the face-framing pieces that give it a summery look without altering the overall shade.
Mushroom Brown Hair With Highlights
“Mushroom brown is a beautiful mix of both warm and cool undertones, typically created with a blend of beige and pearl tones,” says Swinney. In this cute bob haircut, the mix of light and dark mushroom highlights showcases pretty much all of those undertones, and I’m obsessed with it.
Mushroom Brown Lowlights
If you want a mixture of warm tones and mushroom-colored tones, ask your colorist for mushroom brown lowlights like this. And for best results, screenshot this pic. “Bringing photo inspiration is always a great way to visually communicate with your stylist what result you’re looking to achieve,” Swinney says.
Mushroom Brown With Golden Highlights
This mushroom brown with golden highlights is legit perfect for summer. Since you still want the golden highlights to have a cooler hue, grab a blue shampoo to offset any brassiness that chlorine and the sun can cause.
Short Mushroom Brown Hair
Mushroom brown hair is such a pretty, muted color on short haircuts like this, since it’s minimalist but still has a richness to it. And if you’re already brunette, growing out a short cut or a pixie like this won’t be a big deal.
Mushroom Brown Shadow Root
Hopping on a hair-color trend is all fun and games until you have to go back for touch-ups every four weeks. To avoid the hassle, ask your colorist for a darker shadow root that matches your natural hue, so your roots can grow out easily with virtually no maintenance needed.
This Mushroom Brown and Caramel Blend
Mushroom, meet caramel hair. The two of you will be happy together, as evidenced by this truly gorgeous blend. That’s the best thing about mushroom brown hair—it’s so dang versatile.
Mushroom Brown Highlights
If your color is already on the warmer side, ask your colorist for some mushroom highlights to bring out the cooler, earthier tones. And tap in a blue shampoo to neutralize warmer and brassier tones that try to creep in.
This Silvery Mushroom Brown Hair Idea
A surefire way to get a cool-toned mushroom brunette is with some silvery-brunette undertones. And for an easy grow-out phase, ask your colorist to give you a root-y look like this pic.
Ashy Mushroom Brown Hair
Cool, ashy tones are what define a mushroom brown color, says Rubenstein. If your hair already lives in the ashy-brown realm, you won’t have to do much to recreate this look. Just use a hair toner to keep it shiny and fresh plus a deep conditioner to prevent the appearance of split ends.
Lavender-Mushroom Brown Hair
BRB, calling my colorist right now so I can get this mushroom-lavender hair color. I mean, has there ever been a prettier color? This is a good option for anyone who is going from blonde to mushroom, because the lighter tones will keep your new look from feeling too drastically dark.
Mushroom Brown Balayage
Getting a mushroom brown balayage is a great way to try out the color without committing to a full head of it. And to keep your hair as shiny and vibrant as this, grab a hair toner to help preserve your color.
Curly Mushroom Brown Tips
Wanna add just a smidge of mushroom brown to your curls? Get a few hand-painted highlights to add definition and dimension to your hair. And as you know, whenever you’re color-treating curly hair, you want to amp up the TLC afterward to repair damage. I’m talking deep conditioners, hair masks, and hot-oil treatments to keep your curls hydrated and happy.
Sandy Mushroom Brown Hair
This mushroom brown hair with sandy blonde highlights is the perfect beachy, post-vacation hair color. Follow a few beach wave tutorials or create some waves with a flat iron to really let the sun catch those lighter pieces.
This Mushroom Brown Ponytail Idea
While mushroom brown hair color won’t turn us into Winnie Harlow sadly, we can recreate this sleek mushroom ponytail idea. Prime your hair with a hair-straightening cream, then dry and flat-iron your hair to get it super straight. After you tie it in a high ponytail, wrap a section of hair around the base of the the ponytail and secure it with a bobby pin to conceal the hair tie.
Dip-Dyed Mushroom Brown Hair
This dip-dyed mushroom brown hair will literally give you the best of both brunette and blonde worlds here. Ask your colorist for a mushroom color at the top with a warm blonde dip-dye. Since you’ll need to have your hair bleached for this, be sure to stock up on a deep conditioner to give your damaged hair the nourishment it needs once a week.
Sami Roberts was the previous beauty assistant at Cosmopolitan. Keep up with her cat-filled life in New York on Instagram.
Valeriya Chupinina is a freelance beauty and wellness writer exploring the multifaceted connection between the aesthetic and internal. You can find her work in outlets like Coveteur, HYPEBAE, and NBGA. In addition to her editorial work, she consults on social media strategies for brands. You can keep up with her on Instagram @valeriyaliyevna.
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