Dark Blonde and Light Brown are both hair colors. The two may look similar, but the dominant color is different.
These shades may vary depending on your hair type. The common rule of thumb is that long hair suits a blonde shade.
Whereas short hair can carry the shade of light brown really well. Still, the decision is yours.
Even though the difference doesn’t seem to be much, they’re actually two completely different shades!
In this article, I’ll explain the differences between light brown hair and very dark blonde hair. Treat this article as a guide to help you choose your next hair color!
So, let’s get right to it!
Is light brown hair considered blonde?
According to anthropologists, lighter shades of brown hair are considered a blonde variant. Many dictionaries also refer to blonde as anything from light brown to pale yellow. A white brunette is always considered dark brown or black.
To help you visualize, think of the middle shade between a light blonde and a light brown. This shade is considered to be very dark blonde. It’s a shade lighter than a brunette, but it’s the darkest of the blonde family.
Moreover, the most common light golden brown hair is known as level five. This looks very similar to blonde hair. However, the shade five hair color is the lightest form of brown hair.
It’s basically a mix between brown and white. People with brown hair have high levels of Eumelanin and low levels of pheomelanin.
Dark blonde is considered to be brilliantly basic. This shade is so smooth and toned that it easily blends in with one’s natural coloring. It tends to suit all types of skin tones.
What level is dark blonde hair?
Dark blonde hair is considered to be level (7) seven. Every hair color falls under different levels. This hair color is the darkest shade of the blonde family, but this shade is still one tone ahead of light brown.
Many also describe this color as “caramel blonde” or “ash blonde.” However, this depends on the warmth.
This shade tends to pair really well with dark roots. These add depth against the lighter blonde strands.
Dark blonde hair color is basically a rich in-between tone. This color is perfect for women who want to balance brown and blonde hues. This shade of blonde can either be cool or warm.
The hair color levels are basically the base colors. Base colors and tones work together to give you an amazing hair dye. The second set of numbers is the tone color, written with a period mark before them. For instance, .1 is blue, .2 is violet, .3 is gold, and .4 is copper.
This hair color level chart allows your hair colorist to neutralize the coloration. Here’s a table summarizing different hair base colors and their levels:
| Level | Hair Color |
| 1 | Black |
| 2 | Second darkest black |
| 3 | Brown/black |
| 4 | Dark brown |
| 5 | Light brown |
| 6 | Dark blonde |
| 7 | Dark blonde |
| 8 | Medium blonde |
| 9 | Light blonde |
| 10 | White/Platinum |
Take a quick look at this video explaining hair color levels and tones:
What is the difference between very dark blonde and light brown hair?
Very dark blonde and light brown hair are two completely different colors. Light brown is a combination of brown and white. Whereas dark blonde is a mix between yellow and black.
This would mean that the dominant color in light brown is brown. While the dominant color in dark blonde is yellow. Although the difference may seem very minor, it’s not.
That one shade divides the palette of traditional colors between browns and blondes.
If you’re confused about your own hair color, you can figure it out by closely examining the base of your hair. Blonde hair usually has more golden tones at the base. Whereas brown hair always has brown tones.
Although the two shades are similar, their dominant colors are totally different! Many hair technicians advise that if your skin is pale, you should choose a dark blonde hair color. This shade will help deepen your gaze and also perfectly frame your face.
If your skin is pale or neutral, you can choose either dark blonde or light brown. That’s because your skin tone is ideal for either color.
However, if you have a darker complexion, you should choose the light brown shade. This is because brown hair colors work really well with darker skin tones. They help soften facial features.
This color also helps in reducing wrinkles and making your skin look smoother. Many people with darker complexions choose this color because it helps them look younger.
Is dark blonde the same as light brown? (Differences continued)
No, they’re not the same! As I mentioned in the level system in hair colors above, this system considers whether your hair color is blonde or brown.
Two different properties classify hair color. These properties are level/depth and pigment/color.
Pigmentation is classified as cool or warm. Nobody’s hair is exactly just one color.
Cool tones usually include ash, violet, and matte green. Whereas warm tones include copper, auburn red, or yellow.
Light blonde hair is dark yellow, and dirty blonde hair is light brown. So basically, the difference between the two shades is the tones.
Another notable difference between light brown and dark blonde hair is the concentration levels of the two pigments. These are pheomelanin and Eumelanin.
Those with light brown hair have very small amounts of Eumelanin and some pheomelanin. On the other hand, dark blonde hair has no Eumelanin and a very heavy concentration of pheomelanin.
Regarding which is better, darker hair, like light brown, is better at camouflaging damage than lighter hair, such as split ends and flyaways. The thick and glossy strands make the hair appear healthier.
Is blonde or brown hair more attractive?
Many believe that most men prefer blondes. However, despite popular belief, men might actually favor brunettes. There’s scientific evidence that men find women with darker hair more sexually attractive.
According to a study, longer and lighter hair is the most attractive. However, lighter brown and blonde hair is seen as more attractive than darker or black hair.
Numerous studies point to brunettes being more attractive. A 2011 study from a dating app called Badoo validates this. According to this study, 33.1% of the men revealed that they found brunettes more attractive than blondes.
Whereas, 29. 5% of them found blondes more attractive. On the other hand, Brown-haired women were still ahead of both of them. This shows that many people, men or women, prefer darker shades like brown over blonde.
While light brown may be seen as more attractive, dark blonde is also a popular choice among many! This is because dark blonde hair offers a more natural alternative that is still fashion-forward.
It’s considered the darkest shade of blonde. However, it’s still one tone ahead of light brown.
Dark blonde hair is frequently seen on top models such as Gigi Hadid. It’s believed that it can instantly upgrade anyone’s style. This hair color is great for all skin tones, and it’s also relatively low maintenance.
What is the difference between dark blonde and dark ash blonde?
The difference is that the natural tint of dark blonde has full grey coverage. Whereas the ash dark blonde has full coverage on hair, which is about fifty percent grey.
Dark blonde is a level seven with no outspoken warm or cool undertones. It’s a neutral color that fits both cool and warm skin types. When we talk about shades of dark blonde, they come under the range of 7.0 to 8.
The ash dark blonde hair is a level 7.1. It’s considered to be an ash tone. This color looks amazing on the skin with a pink or blue call undertone.
Mix it with the blonde 7.0 to tone down the ash color. The 7.1 ash dark blonde appears darker than the 7.0 dark blonde.
Many other blonde shades have different levels. For example:
- Golden Dark Blonde: Level 7.3
- Copper Dark Blonde: Level 7.4
- Caramel Dark Blonde: Level 7.7
Ash blonde hair is a shade of blonde with darker roots and a hint of grey. It creates an ashy blonde tone. It’s a cooler shade of smoky blonde hair, which works best on naturally blonde or light brown hair.
The colors are cool-toned as compared to warmer tones such as golden blonde.
My hair is light brown, but in the sunlight, it looks blonde; what color is it?
This is a very common question amongst many with this type of hair color. The answer to this is very simple. Whatever color your hair is when you’re indoors is your natural color.
This is because sunlight makes most hair colors look lighter due to how light reflects off the surface. So basically, if your hair looks brown in very little light, brown or dark brown is your main natural color.
Light brown hair may also appear more reddish during the summer. Lighting has a great impact on the way we perceive colors.
Moreover, most people with very dark hair have a blend of two types of hair pigment. This includes black Eumelanin and brown Eumelanin. It’s also possible to have a little bit of a reddish pigment.
Therefore, if your hair blends black, brown, or a little bit of red, the brown hues will be visible under bright light. Whereas, without bright light, your hair will just look pure black. This means you don’t have a hundred percent black Eumelanin in your hair.
Final Thoughts
- Light brown and very dark blonde hair may appear similar, but they differ by just one shade on the hair color scale.
- Light brown is classified as a level 5 hair color, while dark blonde falls in level 6/7.
- Many women tend to go for the blonde shades. These are very common in aging women. That’s because blonde or light blonde hides grey extremely well.
- The distinction between these shades lies in the dominant color. Light brown leans more towards brown, and very dark blonde has yellow as its dominant hue.
- Your skin tone can influence the choice between these shades. Pale skin is often complemented by dark blonde, and darker complexions favor light brown.
- Hair color can appear differently in various lighting conditions. Sunlight often makes hair look lighter than it does indoors.
- Both shades have a unique appeal. Dark blonde offers a natural alternative that suits various skin tones. And light brown is ideal for those looking to lighten their appearance.
- Studies suggest that personal preferences for hair color can vary. Some men find darker hair more attractive, and others do not.
- Ultimately, the decision between light brown and dark blonde hair comes down to personal style. And it also depends on how well the color complements your features.
I hope this article helped answer all your queries about the two similar yet different shades!
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