Light brown hair is such an underrated hair color, especially for women over 40. Yes, blondes and dark colors are fun and dramatic with their hair, but light brown is classy, easy to style, and looks gorgeous in a variety of hair styles. I had a client that had a dark auburn color for 15 years and it was such a big deal to take her to a warm light brown color. She felt emotional because she was seeing a side of herself that she had never experienced, a lit up version of herself. That’s the power of a good warm light brown.
I like all the options I can have with warm light brown hair. Light warm brown hair comes in so many shades that can be warm, golden, and even ash and others. Light brown looks awesome with your skin tonse and is a great way to enhance your natural beauty. Here are some of the cuts and styles I like. They are all varying to fit any event.
#1: Modern Textured Lob with Subtle Layers
This lob is the perfect example of a haircut that appears effortless, but really it’s very technical. It’s a good example of a cut that has layers placed to give movement without looking over-chopped. You know that look that too many layers creates? The warm light brown color you have here is really flattering for the skin and gives a healthy and rested vibe. If your hair has been looking flat recently a cut like this will give you back that volume without a high maintenence styling routine to go along with it.
#2 Chic Layered Bob with Soft Waves
I appreciate these hairstyles because they are versatile enough that they can look good on lots of different people. The loose waves create a more natural look that doesn’t make it seem like a ton of effort was put into it. No one wants to look like they spent 45 minutes styling their hair to get the ‘effortless’ look. The longer front pieces help give shape to the style and also direct the hair a bit. Just a heads up, you will need to keep it trimmed as well because once the layers grow out uneven, a lot of the nice lines will be lost.
#3 Textured Pixie Cut with Soft Volume
I’m suggesting this pixie haircut for those who are scared to go that short. The length is great (and softness) at the top, and the crown volume is flattering. It creates great proportions with the hair. The texture is also great with this haircut. The tousled, slightly undone, style helps lack of overall severity of the cut. If you have fine hair, this is perfect for you because it will actually give your hair more volume, thicker than when it is long. This is something no one tells you until you’ve experienced it. A tiny bit of texturizing paste (in your fingers and you’re good to go) *(or you could do something like “and you’re ready to go!)*
#4 Softly Curled Light Brown Layers with Face-Framing Waves
Soft curls are’ so gentle they are almost bends. That soft curl look gives warmth and dimension without going into the territory of “I curled every section with a one inch barrel” look. The real stars are face framing curls. They pull the attention and give everything a lift. If you want this look at home you will need a large barrel curling iron and a good 10 minutes to achieve this look. The trick is to not curl the ends too much! This is what gives the modern pageant look.
#5 Chic Textured Bob with Soft Beachy Waves
I love a jawline-length bob hairstyle and I’m not going to apologize for it. This style has a beachy bob that was done with a professional relaxed style and the light brown colour with subtle brighter segments is really pretty and when the light hits it, it shines. This length is perfect for anyone who wants it short but isn’t ready for *really* short, and with the right look, you can literally just scrunch in sea salt look spray, let it air dry, and walk out the door with it.
#6 Textured Light Brown Shoulder-Length Waves with Subtle Highlights
This is a color that is stunning in pictures but even better in person. The highlights are so natural that it appears as if the sun just kissed a few pieces and that is the look you want. The waves provide just the right amount of texture to the hair so that it does not appear to be draping, but rather gives it movement. If you have medium to thick hair, this is a very nice place to be as the weight of your hair will naturally help support the wave patterns so you won’t have to battle it.
#7 Softly Layered Light Brown Hair with Gentle Waves
Some hairstyles embody that quintessential French film character, soft, fluffy, and beautifully undone. This is that hair. The layers are gentle, creating movement and volume without a lot of the harshness that most layers can create. I think the reason this haircut looks best on women over 40 is because it is an effortless look that says “I have great hair” rather than “I spent a lot of time on my hair.” And that’s a world of difference that this haircut does a great job at achieving.
#8 Chic Curly Light Brown Textured Crop
In the case that you have natural waves or curls, certainly consider something like this! The warm light brown color is fantastic and at this length, the curls offer so much character to the look. The cut is great because the layers are just subtle enough to let the curls do their thing without being heavy or forming that triangle shape, which is always the struggle with curly hair. The length is super versatile- you can dress it up or down! Just a hint of curl cream and a quick scrunch and you’re good to go!
#9 Elegant Light Brown Layered Cut with Subtle Movement
This haircut has layers and that is sometimes all it takes. The color is a light brown that is soft and has highlights just enough to avoid a flat look, and the layers have a soft swing to them that keeps it polished but not rigid. For someone that wants a haircut that looks good every day with little effort, this is a perfect example. The shape will be well maintained in the medium density hair of the person using it, so for the most part it does precisely what it is intended to do, and that is the biggest compliment that I can give to a haircut.
#10 Softly Layered Light Brown Hair with Face-Framing Highlights
I have to give props to the face-framing highlights. They really brighten up the front of the hair. Also, the hair does not look darker in the back, which is something that so many colorists do. The soft layers and the loose waves, really do look great. Sometimes that is the goal. You don’t need to have a dramatic change. Sometimes, the goal is just to walk out looking like the best version of what you had before.
#11 Textured Light Brown Short Crop with Soft Layers
I like this crop because it has personality, and isn’t trying too hard. The tousled texture creates fullness which is perfect for finer hair, as it can create the illusion of more hair. The light brown hue is warm enough that it doesn’t look washed out, making it a great color choice for a shorter cut. If you’re considering going short, this would be a great choice for something soft and feminine!
#12 Textured Light Brown Bob with Soft Volume
This bob has that slightly undone quality that makes all the difference between looking styled and looking *good*. The light layers are just enough to get some air into it, while the tousled finish keeps it from going flat as the day goes on. If you have finer hair and have been struggling with bobs that go lifeless by noon, a light volumizing mousse at the roots before you blow dry makes a world of difference with a cut like this. The warmth of this brown is really pretty too, it’s one of those colors that flatters most skin tones.
#13 Softly Layered Light Brown Waves with Face-Framing Texture
The first thing I notice and appreciate is the way the front softens everything. The subtle highlights are blended so beautifully with the waves, and the model is giving me major hair envy because it looks like she just woke up and rolled out of bed. If you have natural waves, you can just air dry your hair and leave.
#14 Chic Textured Short Cut with Soft Curls
This style is so beautiful and great for someone who wants a less bold style that is still a little feminine. The curls are soft, approachable, and nicely frame the face. The length is great to highlight the neck and jawline, and the curls help to soften any starkness. If you have hair that does this sort of thing, consider yourself lucky. This style takes little to no effort to accomplish, in fact, it takes about five minutes at most. Not all short cuts fit well into your lifestyle, but this one will be a super easy adjustment.
#15 Textured Light Brown Shag with Soft Bangs
Shags are everywhere right now and it’s fantastic. They’re so versatile, but this one is special for the bangs. Instead of being blunt and heavy, they are soft and light, which means they will frame the face instead of taking over. And all those layers gives it that bouncy lived in look that shags are known for. If your hair falls flat and you are looking for a cut that will give you more volume and structure this is it. No more morning volumizing spray routines. The light brown here really compliments the layers by adding depth to the color.
#16 Softly Textured Light Brown Layers with Subtle Volume
This hairstyle has an effortless chic quality about it. The movement created by the way the layering has been done is great. The cut is not too stiff and boxy, the layers blend with the cut, and feel soft. The mid-length highlights add dimension, and the shoulder length is universally flattering. It is also long enough to pull back if you need to, but short enough to have and maintain an actual shape. ‘This hairstyle offers a more relaxed styling routine and is a low maintenance-dry and go’ kind of hairstyle.
#17 Textured Light Brown Curly Bob with Soft Volume
I really want you to try bob-length hair if you have natural curls because I know it’ll look amazing. Shorter lengths give your curls space to spring up creating their own volume. The warm light brown color that you can see here will glow against your skin and will look so natural compared to bobs without curls. It will be easy to maintain and you will get to enjoy your hairs natural style but you’ll definitely want to keep some anti frizz serum around for humid days.
#18 Elegant Light Brown Blunt Cut with Soft Layers
I like blunt cuts that are softened with some layering because it gives you that clean line at the bottom while still having some movement through the body of the hair. This one hits exactly at shoulder length which is that perfect spot where it still swings when you move but is not so long that it loses its shape. The light brown is nice and rich here, not ashy, not gold, just the perfect neutral warmth. I will say blunt cuts do need more frequent trims than layered cuts because the line shows everything, so keep that in mind if you are someone who stretches appointments.
#19 Chic Light Brown Bob with Subtle Highlights
The highlights on this bob hairstyle are amazing! The highlights look expensive and are very well placed, not stripy like a child did them. The slight texture in the bob cut ensures it doesn’t look like a helmet. I always have the concern with cuts like this that it will look too smooth and uniform and then it will look like a helmet. The cut is super smart and polished enough for work but also means you won’t feel too done up for the weekends. It means you can do both without any extra hassle.
#20 Effortlessly Chic Light Brown Beachy Waves
I’ve always said this and I will always say this: shoulder length hair with some relaxed beachy waves is THE most universally flattering style. This hairstyle looks great in the photo because it has just the right amount of layers to create a relaxed, wavy look that is heat-free and she also has a lovely warm light brown shade that adds even more warmth to her look. If you want to go on autopilot with your hair but still want to look great, this is the haircut and color for you. Literally all it will take is some texturizing spray and your hair will look as if you have an amazing life in an exotic location.
#21 Chic Light Brown Textured Pixie with Subtle Highlights
Short hair doesn’t have to be harsh. This Pixie cut is an example I use to show how soft short hair can be. The highlights on top are super cute and create a tonal variance which helps the hair show some dimension! Plus the texture helps to avoid an overly neat and boyish look. This cut keeps that feminine touch which is important to a lot of my clients, even if they don’t say it. And low daily effort is a big selling point for this cut!
#22 Chic Light Brown Textured Bob with Subtle Movement
This bob has just the right amount of personality to be fun without being a haircut you have to style every day. The texture will also keep the hair moving instead of just sitting there. Chin length is super flattering too because it gives a nice frame without covering anything up. Plus, the light brown color is warm and welcoming so you look friendly. I know it sounds odd to compliment a hair color, but I promise it is sincere. On humid days, be sure to have a smoothing cream ready. Moisture in the air can make textured cuts tricky.
#23 Elegant Light Brown Stacked Bob with Subtle Layers
Some people may think stacked bobs have a bad reputation, but we think the style looks very modern. The stacking gives the hair extra natural volume, rounded shape, and layers in the front keep the hair from looking stiff. The highlights are well-blended and create a more rich and interesting color, rather than the old, streaky look. This haircut may look effortless, but in reality, it does a lot and that’s the goal of the best haircut.
#24 Softly Layered Light Brown Hair with Subtle Face-Framing Bangs
Let’s take a moment to appreciate how these bangs have changed the whole haircut! They are soft bangs that make the face look softer and the cut more approachable. I also really like the cut that is under the bangs. It’s nicely layered, and will fall how you want it to even without any styling. When people are unsure about getting bangs, I suggest this type of lightweight soft framing because the grow out really isn’t a problem since it’s so easy to keep bangs at the perfect length with a quick trim every couple of weeks.
#25 Effortlessly Chic Light Brown Shag with Soft Waves
This shag is the haircut that comes to mind when I am not at work, which I think shows how much I enjoy this haircut. The waves and layers all complement each other, and I have to say the light brown solid base and subtle golden highlights looks so expensive and effortless. Shags look great on finer hair because all the layers create the illusion of more hair and the movement keeps things interesting even if you do nothing to style it. This is the one if you want something with a rock and roll vibe, but is still decent enough to wear out to brunch with the mother-in-law.
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