15 Gorgeous Blonde to Brunette Before and After Transformations

At our amazing transformations, we love documenting each change. With this blog post, we will review incredible hair transformations showcased in the video “15 Gorgeous Blonde to Brunette Before and After Transformations. ”

Just the other day I was mixing a bowl of 6N when one of my clients openly admitted, “Is it weird that I’m nervous? I’ve been blonde for like twelve years.” And I was like NO, that’s totally normal because for some reason, moving from blonde hair to brunette always seems like a bigger change when it really is just a change in color. Most people think it’s as easy as just putting a dark color on. In reality, it is the complete opposite. There is a lot of things that people don’t see that are extremely important to consider, like if the blonde hair being covered is dark enough. That is super important to determine before deciding on a color. If the hair was previously highlighted, putting a brunette color over it could lead to a muddy green color that no one warns you about. Also, choosing the right depth is crucial to make your features pop instead of washing you out.

I really enjoy observing all of these transformations. Interestingly, when I turn around for the big reveal, most clients go quiet for a second and then someone will say “I look like… me?” It’s like we just let the brunette version of them out. I had a client last year who was platinum for so long that her kids had never seen her natural color. One time, she picked her kids up from school and they didn’t recognize her at all. She sent me the video, and it always makes me smile. For these 15 transformations, I am most excited for these warm and subtle changes.

Photos

#1: Going Full Send with an Auburn Pixie

I absolutely love this transformation! She bi-colored from long boring blonde to an entire box of warm angsty fiery auburn pixie! It’s so good! The warm auburn and lighter skin is beautiful together. And here’s a little secret about pixie cuts: they can create the illusion of more volume because the short layers do more displacement work. With this length, I always warn my clients that they’ll be visiting me every four to six weeks to keep the edges clean, and that they’ll only need to spend about five minutes in the morning using some texturizing paste to get it messy and piece-y. But honestly, 5 minutes of maintenance for hair this amazing is a total bargain.

#2 From Long Silver Blonde to a Chocolate Bob That Means Business

I saw this and felt a little gasp, but the difference is dramatic in the best way. Going from a long silver blonde to a rich chocolate bob is like a flowy sundress to a perfectly fitted suit. Instant upgrade. The new darker shade does something amazing. It makes the hair look almost 3 times thicker, which is why I always recommend it to fine haired clients who are bored of their blonde hair looking see through at the ends. The jaw bob creates a clean intentional look. One thing to remember is rich chocolate colors fade very quickly. So in between appointments color deposit shampoo will be a huge help.

#3 Chestnut Wavy Bob That Basically Styles Itself

What about the warmth a chestnut hue brings to her hair? The blonde was fine, but just fine. Look how warm and welcoming the brunette shade is with the waves. She oozes that “cool girl” vibe. If your hair has any sort of texture, this will really work for you. Just scrunch in some wave mousse and diffuse it if you want to be extra. The chestnut color is a good choice because you won’t need to worry about grow out. If you’re a natural dark, then it’ll blend beautifully. No worries about harsh root lines.

#4 Soft Brunette Layers That Basically Bounce on Their Own

This transformation most likely had the client saying, “I just want to look like I have really nice hair,” and honestly, mission accomplished. The layers here are clever, and not chunky or obvious. They are placed internally so that the hair moves and catches the light without looking cut into a million pieces. The brunette shade? It has this stunning, glossy quality that I’m sorry, but blonde just can’t keep up with. If your hair is a bit finer, this is the exact type of cut I’d recommend because it provides a lot of volume and movement without losing any density. This color will want a color protecting shampoo to keep the shine, and styling will be very low maintenance.

#5 That Sleek Brunette Bob You’ve Been Pinning on Pinterest

You know how you have a hairstyle saved to multiple Pinterest boards, but never commit? THIS IS THAT HAIRCUT. The transition from her long blonde hair to this sleek short brown bob has completely altered how her eyes look. Most people don’t realize the effect that hair color can have on the perceived color of your eyes. With her light eyes, the brown hair actually makes them pop even more. The tapered ends are giving just enough symmetry without looking like a helmet, which is a concern I have with bobs that are too blunt or too thick. If your hair is straight or slightly wavy, this haircut will make it look like you put in effort. You should also remember that haircuts like this require a lot of maintenance; you’re going to need a trim every 6-8 weeks to keep the shape. If you plan to lighten your hair, keep in mind that your roots will show a lot sooner with darker hair.

#6 The Warm-Toned A-Line Bob I Can’t Stop Recommending

I suggest this style to a lot of clients because it works so well, and this transformation is a great example. The A-line silhouette is really nice because it gives the illusion of extra length in the front. The warm brunette tones also help to highlight the blonde. The intentional cheek fullness that then tapers is especially flattering for heart and oval face shapes as it helps to balance everything out. If your hair is fine, definitely show your stylist this photo because the cut helps to give thickness that is impossible to achieve with long bleached hair. Collarbone length is great because it also means you can pull your hair back, which is a benefit people forget to take.

#7 Sun-Kissed Blonde to Polished Chestnut, and Her Eyes Look Incredible

The way the brown looks with her eye color is phenomenal! The blue is one hundred percent more vibrant with the brown than it was with the blonde. That’s the best part about going darker. The combination with the chestnut brown is stunning! The change in style with the shoulder length is perfect. She switched from all that long blonde hair that probably took her hours to blow dry to something that is sleek, professional and you could still look put together with air dried hair. I know going from sun kissed blonde to rich chestnut is a huge change, but look how worth it the end result is! I know we will need a filler appointment first so that the color grabs evenly, and you’ll want to budget for touch ups every 5-6 weeks because that lighter base likes to peek through, but still! Look at the result! It really is worth it!

#8 Feathered Brunette Waves That Look Like a Shampoo Commercial

I admire the video for all the amazing details, but if I could do a hair flip for her I would do it in slow mo! What a beautiful transformation! It is so stunning to see the transition from rough and unruly to smooth, feathered waves. The detail of the feathers is really nice because it contributes to softness and movement without the hair thinning out in an ‘old-school layering’ type of way, which is especially beneficial for medium to thick hair that just sits there and forms a triangle shape. The warm feathered, Brunette hair looks beautiful with the shade, and highlights. The placement of highlights makes the hair look like it is glowing from within, with a depth and dimensions. To get these waves, it will take a lot of practice with a round brush, but once you master that technique it should become second nature.

#9 Caramel Brunette That Makes Gray Hair a Non-Issue

I love discussing this transformation. I get very animated when I talk about it as people express their concern about going gray. I’m thrilled to discuss the ultimate result we get. So what do people normally do? Fight the gray by going blonder? Or do they go darker to avoid the obvious root lines? Try these buttery caramel tones that blend seamlessly with gray. As you’re growing it out, your hair color actually appears very intentional. That is the goal of good color work. It saves you money, time, and stress. The curls are making this look super full. This is great if your hair is thinning out a bit, because fully blonde hair shows your scalp more than textured brunette hair. I will die on this hill because I feel strongly about this look during the gray transition for so many people.

#10 Trading Frizzy Blonde for Sleek Walnut Perfection

Something I always tell my blonde clients that they don’t believe until they see it, is that going darker can actually make your hair behave better. It’s not that the color itself is magical, but the glossing/toning process smooths the cuticle and offers a sleek look that over-processed blonde hair just doesn’t achieve. This transformation is a perfect example. She went from a frizzy, wild blonde to a rich walnut brown with subtle layers and looks like a completely different head of hair. The chest length is really flattering and the layers frame without going overboard. If your hair is naturally straight or has a slight wave, this is going to be one of those styles where you wash it, run a flat iron through a couple of sections and walk out the door looking like you spent way more time than you actually did.

#11 Short Auburn Bob That Made Me Audibly Gasp

This transformation is all about confidence! She did the big chop and switched her long wispy blonde hair for a sassy auburn bob! The change in color and style completely changes her whole look. The color auburn is very brightening on her, especially her skin. This is a very common issue with blonde hair, people keep it for so long that eventually the blonde stops working for them and the hair is left looking dull and unflattering. A warm brunette tone is exactly what this look needed to wake it up again. The length of this bob is super flattering on oval shapes. It draws all the attention to the eyes and cheekbones which is stunning! This is the kind of haircut that allows fine to medium hair to thrive. It looks voluminous without the need for a ton of product. Just a quick blow dry and you’re already out the door looking amazing!

#12 The “My Hair Looks Expensive Now” Contour Cut

I think this is an expensive hair transformation because of how intricate the detail is. This style gives off the vibe of luxury salon services that charge hundreds of dollars. I think the most striking aspect of her style is the internal layering, because it adds movement to the hair without altering the external shape of the silhouette. This technique is ideal for people with thick or medium hair that can become heavy and flat on the ends. Also, the new dark color looks better on her. I especially want to say how amazing this is for oval and heart shapes. Overall this style is really easy to upkeep because you can air dry it and it will still look intentional.

#13 Rich Chestnut Waves for When You’re Done Babying Your Blonde

I see this all the time: someone walks in with fried, faded blond hair, and they’re frustrated. Tired of the maintenance, tired of the toner appointments, and over their hair feeling like straw. And almost every time the answer is chestnut, which gives you that richness and depth and is sooo much more forgiving on grow-out than blonde ever was. The waves are really nice here and the layers really do add to the shape of the whole thing without looking choppy. I also want to touch on something that people don’t always consider: going darker can change what colors of makeup actually look best on you, so don’t be surprised if your foundation and lip color feel a little off at first. Experiment with it! The new color brought out her eyes in the most gorgeous way and the overall texture looks healthier, which it probably IS healthier now that it’s not getting bleached every eight weeks.

#14 Chestnut Contour Cut That Actually Changed Her Whole Face

Look closely at the before picture and the after because the difference is incredible! The blonde before look okay, but ended up washing her out. With sun-faded babies blonde that is something that happens over time. She eventually faded to a point where the hair blends into her skin, making everything look flat. Then we added this gorgeous chestnut contour cut and suddenly there’s definition everywhere! Her eyes pop, her skin looks warmer, and there’s actual structure to the hair. The contour cut is one of my absolute favorite techniques because I love how it’s customized to YOUR face shape and features instead of a generic one-size-fits-all situation. If your hair is thin to medium this shade is definitely going to add a ton of visual density. That cut does need to be maintained to keep that precision, but the color grow-out is pretty graceful with chestnut.

#15 Chestnut Brown Bob with Highlights That Catch the Light Just Right

I get what customers mean when they say going brunette sounds boring, but then I show them this! Just check out everything going on! This is not a flat brown, but a warm chestnut base, coupled with subtle highlights that are woven naturally around the face, and these come together to spring everything into life. This when combined with the overall multi-dimensional quality makes hair look expensive, healthy, and as if you get more hair hydration than you really do. The bob is layered perfectly to create just the right amount of movement without losing the sleek shape, and she is perfect for on the go lifestyles because you can style this in under ten minutes. Just so you know, the base color will fade, so if you wash your hair daily, I am sorry to break this to you, but you will need to stop. It’ll help if you use something sulfate free to keep the brown locked in. With results looking like this, you will have no problem babing them a little.