8 Hazelnut Hair Colors You Should Try + Top Hazelnut Hair Dyes

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase.

Hazelnut isn’t just for your favorite dessert. It can also make your locks deliciously beautiful.

A brunette woman, closing her eyes sitting while letting her head fall on the side

But we’re not talking about making hazelnut hair conditioners. What we mean is this year’s trendiest shade: the hazelnut hair color.

It’s said to soften and warm up your brunette locks and enhance your natural beauty.

But is it true that it’s a flattering color for everyone? And is it a color that’s hard to maintain?

Continue reading to find out the sweetest of warm brown colors and know which hair dye brands have the most gorgeous hazelnut shades available.

We’ll also give you some handy tips for coloring your hair hazelnut at home.

What Is Hazelnut Hair Color?

Inspired by none other than the warm brown color of the nut of a hazel, this shade is a rich medium brown color with subtle golden and yellow undertones. It also has a reddish hint.

Hazelnut has less yellow than sandy blonde, is not as orange as copper, and is a little cooler than chestnut. It’s the perfect balance of gold and brown.

This shade is perfect for those who want to add color to their tresses without veering away from natural colors.

Should You Color Your Hair Hazelnut?

Hazelnut is a natural-looking shade that can be flattering to pretty much everyone, but since it’s a warm color, it is ideal for warm skin undertones.

That doesn’t go to say that you can’t have hazelnut hair if you’re cool-toned, though. The shade can beautifully give warmth and life to your look as well.

The warm and dark hazelnut color is one of the best colors for dark skin. The similarity of the hair and skin tone gives a sophisticated effect.

The color works well with light skin tones with yellow, pink, or golden undertones. It also suits medium-skin complexions with neutral or warm undertones.

8 Top Color Ideas for Hazelnut Hair

Hazelnut is a versatile color that you can use for different hair dye techniques. It can be used as one shade or can be paired with highlights for more depth and movement.

Moreover, the shade comes in different levels and tones and can also be mixed with other brown shades.

Here are some hazelnut-colored hair ideas that can serve as your inspiration.

1. Hazelnut Brown Hair Color

close up photo of woman's straight hair with hazelnut brown color

For a natural hair color that’s vivid and intense, get hazelnut brown. You can use it as a full color for your locks or apply it as balayage or baby lights to subtly lift your black hair.

It’s also an ideal color for covering grays and darkening blondes without going too dark.

2. Dark Hazelnut Hair Color

woman's short hair colored with dark hazelnut

We know how yummy dark hazelnut chocolate is. But did you know that we can give that delicious taste to our hair?

Make your hair as sweet as chocolate with a dark hazelnut shade. It’s almost similar to hazelnut brown hair but a tad bit darker.

3. Light Hazelnut Hair Color

close up photo of woman's layered hair with light hazelnut color

If you want to brighten up your medium or dark brown hair, you can choose a light hazelnut shade.

The lighter version of hazelnut gives us hazelnut latte vibes. Just like the drink brightens our day, this shade lights up our look. It does so by emphasizing hazel, light brown, and green eyes.

4. Caramel Hazelnut Hair Color

beautiful woman with short curly hair with caramel hazelnut color

As if the goodness of hazelnut isn’t enough, caramel balayage or a color melt on hazelnut brown hair will give more spice to your tresses.

The blend of these warm colors creates a gorgeous golden dimension.

Furthermore, this color is low-maintenance, so it would be a while before you visit the salon again.

5. Hazelnut Mocha Hair Color

woman with hair colored with hazelnut mocha isolated in a white background

To make your hair color richer, mix the already delicious hazelnut color with the equally appetizing mocha shade. The results are incredible.

The combination delivers a warm, reddish brown. This color is great for deep skin tones.

6. Toasted Hazelnut Hair Color

woman's braided curly hair colored with toasted hazelnut

The subtle ashy highlights give this hazelnut shade that toasted look. It makes the hair look multi-dimensional.

The shade looks more natural because of the different tones. It works well with a layered cut that gives the hair more movement to flaunt the colors.

7. Hazelnut Blonde Hair Color

photo of smiling woman with beautifully styled long hair colored with hazelnut blonde

This shade is a darker shade of blonde with the right balance of light and dark tones.

The shade looks deeper and cooler than honey blonde. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Gigi Hadid, and Kate Middleton have sported this beautiful color.

8. Hazelnut Balayage

collage photo of a woman's long hair colored with hazelnut balayage styled curl on the left side and sleek straight hair on the right side

If you’re going for a color change but are not ready to commit to it, a balayage is good for you.

In this technique, your dark locks are lightened starting from the middle and then fully saturated at the ends. The lightened parts are then colored with a beautiful hazelnut shade.

Here’s how a hazelnut balayage is done:

9. Hazelnut Highlights

woman at the salon with her long hair colored hazelnut highlights

Another way to lighten your hair without going crazy on bleach is highlighting.

Hazelnut highlights instead of blonde create darker streaks on your locks for that barely-there lift.

Because of this, the color still looks natural, and with proper application, the highlights will make you look as if you’ve just come home from a beach trip.

5 Top Hazelnut Hair Dyes

Hazelnut hair color is easy to get. The color is achieved by mixing blonde and brown tones together, specifically medium blonde and golden brown.

But if you don’t trust yourself enough to do well with color mixing, that’s not much of a problem. There are hair dye brands that offer hazelnut shades.

And we’ve listed the top ones down for you.

1
Naturtint Permanent Hair Color Gel in 7N Hazelnut Blonde

Naturtint has an innovative and gentle formula inspired by nature. It’s infused with plant-based, hair-loving ingredients that allow you to achieve a beautiful healthy color at home.

Primary benefits: Radiant color and shine; silky and hydrated hair; clean beauty

Features:

  • 92% naturally derived ingredients
  • Paraben- and ammonia-free
  • Long-lasting gray coverage

For colors inspired by nature, try Naturtint Permanent Hair Color Gel.

 

The clean beauty formula contains ingredients that are grown and harvested using sustainable practices.

Naturtint Hair Color Gel contains

  • olive oleic acid that provides vitality and moisturization for smoother, nourished hair;
  • meadowfoam seed oil that nourishes and conditions the hair for extended shine and color;
  • quinoa that helps fix the hair color;
  • organic shea butter that has vitamins and fatty acids to deeply moisturize hair; and
  • baobab proteins that nourish the hair from roots to tips.

All these powerful ingredients will give you intense, vibrant, and long-lasting color without damage.

2
Dark & Lovely Fade Resist Permanent Hair Color in 401 Hazelnut Brown

The kit now contains a nourishing care conditioner with argan oil and vitamin E to repair weakened, over-processed hair while restoring its natural strength.

Primary benefits: Up to 8 weeks of vibrant, rich color; brilliant shine; helps protect from dryness

Features:

  • Moisture Seal Technology
  • 100% gray coverage
  • Made for curly types

Experience next-level color and care for a range of skin tones with Dark & Lovely Fade Resist Permanent Hair Color.

 

The Fade Resist collection is blended with nourishing ingredients such as

  • almond oil that makes your hair smoother;
  • aloe that strengthens the strands; and
  • shea butter that moisturizes hair.

The above formula makes it great for extremely damaged, over-processed hair. Plus, its Moisture Seal Technology is specially designed to help protect relaxed and natural type 2A to 3C hair while coloring.

The result is silky, shiny hair and luxurious, long-lasting color.

3
ONC Natural Colors Healthier Permanent Hair Color in 6G Hazelnut Brown

We love that ONC dye is heat-activated, which means it doesn’t use harsh chemicals to lift the cuticles.

Instead, it traps the body heat released from the head using a thermal cap or hair dryer to open the cuticles and let the dye pigments in.

Primary benefits: Optimal scalp comfort; beautiful, gentle color; leaves hair feeling softer and smoother

Features:

  • Heat activated
  • Made with certified organic ingredients
  • Ammonia-free
  • 100% gray coverage

In using ONC Natural Colors, you are promoting not just your health but the health of the environment as well.

 

This permanent hair dye has a gentle, protein-based, low-pH formula.

It is free from

  • sulfates,
  • ammonia,
  • parabens, and
  • resorcinol.

While other dyes claim to be ammonia-free but use equally harsh alternatives, this product doesn’t have ammonia derivatives.

Not only that, but ONC’s formula is filled with vitamins, essential oils, and herbal extracts that condition and nourish your locks.

Additionally, ONC uses sustainable practices and eliminates anything unnatural like GMOs in their products.

4
Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Coverage Nourishing Color Creme in 600 Spiced Hazelnut

This hair dye delivers better color with its CoverPlus Technology, which uses deep, neutral pigments to flood extra-resistant grays for maximum coverage.

It also has balanced reflects that mimic hair’s natural highs and lows for a more natural-looking color.

Primary benefits: Easy-to-use non-drip color cream; ultra coverage; gives rich, radiant color

Features:

  • With fruit oil ampoule
  • 100% gray coverage

Get deep hazelnut hair with Garnier Nutrisse Spiced Hazelnut.

 

“Nourished hair means better color.” That’s what Garnier Nutrisse believes. 

This formula has a grapeseed oil fruit ampoule that you can pour directly into your color mix for added moisture and protection while you color.

Furthermore, the box contains an after-color conditioner that’s infused with triple oils:

  • Avocado for repairing and strengthening the strands.
  • Olive for extra moisture and shine.
  • Shea for moisturizing the hair and scalp.

The formula locks in moisture for soft, silky, and nourished hair.

5
Clairol Professional Beautiful Collection Semi-Permanent Color in 6N Toasted Hazelnut

If you don’t want to use a permanent box dye, this one’s for you.

This semi-permanent hair dye has the same intense color as permanent dyes but without the harshness of ammonia or hydrogen peroxide.

Primary benefits: Delivers moisture, shine, and softness; long-lasting, deep conditioning results

Features:

  • With advanced O2 Technology
  • Busts gray hair

Give your hair new life the easy way with Clairol Professional Beautiful Collection Semi-Permanent Color.

 

Clairol’s Advanced O2 Technology uses oxygen in the air to develop the color. That means there’s no need for a developer. The gentle formula will revitalize your color without the damage of peroxide.

It can cover grays, enhance natural colors, or refresh color-treated hair without the added chemicals.

With Clairol’s semi-permanent dye, you can expect beautifully blended toasted hazelnut on soft and silky hair.

How to Dye Your Hair Hazelnut at Home

Now that you’ve seen some hazelnut color inspiration and products, you must be in for the hazelnut hair ride!

Dyeing your hair hazelnut at home isn’t difficult, and we’re going to make it much easier for you.

To Bleach or Not to Bleach

If you want to upgrade your level 7 or higher blonde to a hazelnut hair color, there’s no need to prelighten your hair. What you need is a no-lift developer (10-volume).

If you already have medium to light brown hair and would just want to change to a lighter shade, you can mix your dye with a 20-volume developer for a little lift. The box dyes are perfect for that.

However, for darker brunettes, you may need to lighten your hair a little. If you’re going for hazelnut blonde, for example, bleaching your locks is a must.

But if you just want a toasted hazelnut or hazelnut brown, mixing the dye with a 30-volume or 40-volume developer on dark brunette hair should do.

Tips for Dyeing Your Hair at Home

The steps for dyeing your hair depend on the product you’re using. So it’s best to follow the instructions that come with your hair dye.

However, here are some tips that we recommend for the best color results.

Do a strand test. 

This will help you see if the color will work on your hair. It will also check for allergic reactions.

Protect your hands, clothes, and surfaces.

Whatever type of hair dye you’re using, you should always use gloves so you won’t stain your hands. Also, wear old clothes that you don’t mind staining.

Lastly, cover your surfaces when you’re coloring your hair to protect them from product spills. You can use old newspapers for this.

Do not shampoo before you color.

You may think that it’s better to wash your hair first before you dye it. Well, shampooing may dry your hair and make it thirstier. 

Moreover, a recently washed scalp is more prone to irritation because there isn’t enough sebum (natural oil) to protect it from harsh chemicals.

Do not shampoo right after coloring.

It’s best to wait at least 48 hours after coloring before you wash your hair. This will let the dye pigments settle into your strands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hazelnut a Warm or Cool Color?

The hazelnut shade is considered warm even though it has neutral golden undertones.

Is Hazelnut Light or Dark Brown?

Hazelnut is neither light nor dark. It stands in between. The shade is medium brown. It can be made darker using dark brown lowlights or lighter using caramel or blonde highlights.

Try the Hazelnut Hair Color

You don’t need to be bold to try the hazelnut shade for your hair. Because it’s a beautiful natural color, it’s something anyone can go for.

Of course, to get the top hazelnut hair, especially ones with highlights or balayage, we recommend that you let a professional do the job.

But if you simply want to change your hair color, you can also achieve hazelnut hair color at home. Mix your own dyes or buy a ready-made shade. The decision is totally up to you.

What Other Hair Colors Can You Try?

Check out these hair dye ideas:

Author

  • Rachelle Velasco

    Rachelle, is a sought-after freelance hair and makeup artist, shines particularly in the world of hair color. From subtle ombres and balayages to vibrant hues and intricate root work, she crafts unique styles tailored to individual preferences. Beyond her artistic talents, Rachelle also holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, showcasing her diverse skill set and dedication to learning.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *