Top 5 Medium Brown Hair Dyes: Honest Review & Guide

Ever stared at a wall of hair dye boxes, feeling completely lost? You want that perfect, rich medium brown, but every shade looks slightly different in the box. It’s a common struggle! Choosing the right medium brown hair dye can feel like a guessing game. Will it be too ashy? Too warm? Will it even cover those stubborn grays?

Finding that sweet spot—a natural, flattering medium brown—is key to a successful at-home color session. We know the frustration of spending time and money only to end up with a shade that doesn’t match your vision. That’s why we dove deep into the world of medium brown dyes.

This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down what to look for, how to match the shade to your skin tone, and which brands consistently deliver beautiful, true-to-box results. Get ready to finally choose your perfect medium brown with confidence! Keep reading to unlock the secrets to flawless at-home coloring.

Top Medium Brown Hair Dye Recommendations

SaleBestseller No. 1

L'Oreal Paris Excellence Crème Permanent Hair Dye, Triple Care Hair Color with Hyaluronic Acid for 100% Gray Coverage, 5 Medium Brown, 1 Kit (Packaging May Vary)

Nothing Covers Gray Better: Excellence Crème is a Triple Care Color routine that deeply cares for your hair and covers 100% of grays, even stubborn ones. Hair color for gray hair coverage is formulated with Hyaluronic Acid to protect hair as it colors
Triple Care Color Routine: Care for your hair with every step. Protective Coloring Cream protects hair for long-lasting color. Caring Shampoo with Hyaluronic Acid gently cleanses hair and scalp. Caring Deep Conditioner with Hyaluronic Acid nourishes hair
Suitable Hair Dye Kit For All Hair Types: This non-drip, crème formula is available in 27 shades, made for all hair types and textures. No permanent hair color protects better or covers grays better (vs each leading competitor's top selling brand)
L'Oreal Paris Hair Color: We offer permanent, semi-permanent & temporary hair dye plus root cover up, anti-brass toners and lightening systems. Cover grays, highlight hair, or go lighter with L'Oreal's collection of hair coloring products
L'Oreal Paris Innovation: We are a total beauty care company that combines the latest in technology with the highest in quality for the ultimate in hair color, hair care, hair style, skin care and cosmetics

SaleBestseller No. 2

L'Oreal Paris Superior Preference Luminous Fade-Defying Permanent Hair Color, Hair Dye For Up to 9 Weeks of Radiance, Medium Brown 5, 1 Hair Dye Kit

Find Your Superior Preference Signature: Our new and improved Superior Preference Permanent Hair Color creates rich, luminous, fade-defying hair color for gray hair coverage, radiance and conditioning for up to 9 weeks. Suitable for all hair types
No-Drip Permanent Hair Dye Formula: Now with a no-drip texture, our gel formula offers better hair adherence and a more precise application. A concentration of long-lasting dyes combined with conditioning gel texture results in better hair fiber coating
Hair Color Kit: Includes Color Gel, Developer Crème, Shine Protect Conditioner, 1 pair of gloves and instruction leaflet. Our UV Filter and Vitamin E-infused Shine Protect Conditioner helps keep first-day color vibrancy and provide silky, resilient hair
L'Oreal Paris Hair Coloring Products: We offer permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary hair dye plus root cover up, anti-brass toners and lightening systems. Cover gray hair, highlight, go bold with bright color or even try an ombre hair color
L'Oreal Paris Innovation: We are a total beauty care company that combines the latest in technology with the highest in quality for the ultimate in hair color, hair care, hair style, skin care and cosmetics

Bestseller No. 3

Schwarzkopf Keratin Permanent Hair Dye Cream, 5.0 Medium Brown, Professional Quality Color for Up to 100% Gray Coverage, Bond Enforcing System

Rich Professional-Quality Hair Color: Our premium permanent hair dye delivers multi-dimensional color while nourishing your hair. Keratin-infused hair dye provides a vibrant color, enhancing your natural tone with soft, even coverage from root to tip
Strengthens and Softens: Our 3-step Bond Enforcing System helps strengthen hair, making it 5x more resistant to breakage*. Plus, the included pre-color serum is infused with Vitamin B6 and collagen that help protect and prep for softer hair
Complete Gray Coverage: Designed to cover grays in one step, this professional-quality formula offers even-toned color with long-lasting color intensity. A great choice if you’re looking to soften the appearance of grays without sacrificing color payoff
Deep Nourishing Effect: The conditioner, infused with K-Bond Plex technology, helps repair the inner hair structure, making hair look renewed & strong with striking color. It also helps maintain curl pattern and natural texture
Easy At-Home Application: Includes a pre-color serum, developer, color cream, post-color conditioner, and disposable gloves for clean application. For hair longer than shoulder length, use two boxes for full, even coverage

SaleBestseller No. 4

Clairol Nice'n Easy Permanent Hair Dye, 5 Medium Brown Hair Color, Pack of 1

Clairol Nice'n Easy 5 Medium Brown. Permanent natural looking color with 100% gray coverage.
THE SECRET TO NATURAL-LOOKING COLOR? 3 tones and highlights enhances your hair's natural highs and lows. Easy as can be!
Oil infused formula smooths hair for better color uptake.
Follow with Revitashine Intense Treatment for strenghtened hair bonds and longlasting color.
Available in 44 natural looking shades.

SaleBestseller No. 5

Garnier Hair Color Nutrisse Nourishing Creme, 50 Medium Natural Brown (Truffle) Permanent Hair Dye, 2 Count (Packaging May Vary)

50 Medium Natural Brown (Truffle) Permanent Hair Dye: A medium brown hair dye that allows your natural tones to show without reflects that nourishes while it colors & adapts to all hair textures for radiant, long lasting, even color & 100% gray coverage
Hair Dye Kit: The only hair color with a separate fruit oil ampoule that you snap & pour directly into the mix; Follow hair dye with our after color hair conditioner, infused with a blend of 5 fruit oils: avocado, olive, shea, argan & coconut oil
100% Gray Hair Coverage: Our hair color for gray hair coverage has been formulated with color boost technology, our permanent hair color delivers rich and long-lasting color
Nourished Hair Means Better Color: Formulated with a blend of five fruit oils: Avocado, Olive, Coconut, Argan & Shea oils. Lock in moisture and color with our after color mask for hair that is smooth, silky and protected against dryness
Discover Your Shade: For bold and lasting shades for all hair textures, Garnier Nutrisse Hair Color is available in over 60 cruelty-free and vegan hair dye shades - formulated without animal-derived ingredients

Bestseller No. 6

Revlon ColorSilk with Bond Repair Complex, Brown Permanent Hair Color, 100% Gray Coverage, Ammonia Free Hair Dye, Vegan Keratin, 41 Medium Brown (Pack of 3)

HELPS REPAIR HAIR: Bond Repair Complex + Vegan Keratin Fillers help repair hair from the inside out.
LESS HAIR LOST FROM BREAKAGE: Up to 98% less breakage vs. uncolored hair.
HAIR LOOKS & FEELS STRONGER & HEALTHIER: Up to 94% silkier, 9X shinier hair vs. uncolored hair. Leaves hair in better condition than before coloring.
EVERYTHING YOU LOVE FROM THE #1 HAIR COLOR IN THE U.S.***: Ammonia-free** color delivers 100% gray coverage and up to 8 weeks of vibrant, salon-quality color and shine.
WORKS ON ALL HAIR: This no-mess, no-drip formula works on all hair types and textures.|

SaleBestseller No. 7

Clairol Root Touch-Up by Nice'n Easy Permanent Hair Dye, 5 Medium Brown Hair Color, (Pack of 1)

The #1 root touch-up* for long-lasting, natural-looking roots. Matches leading shades, even salon color* *based on units sold *Among leading retail permanent shades and pre-formulated salon color.
Cover your roots for 100% gray coverage that lasts up to 3 weeks in just 10 minutes!
ColorBlend Technology seamlessly blends root regrowth with your existing color and gives you evenly matched color from root to tip
Salon-inspired tools in the kit! Touch-up like a pro with our unique brush and bowl. Salon-quality application. No roots, no grays, no trip to the salon!
The complete root touch-up kit is easy to use - just mix, brush and dry for covered roots!

SaleBestseller No. 8

Revlon ColorSilk Tone + Gloss + Care Demi Permanent Hair Color, Dye Kit with Leave-In Scalp and Haircare Serum, 2x Shinier, 4x Stronger, 5 Medium Brown, 4.5 fl oz

GLOSSY COLOR: Enhances color with a range of glossy shades for multi-dimensional, natural looking results
SHINY + STRONG: Leaves hair 2X shinier* and 4X stronger*
INCLUDED SERUM: Hydrating Leave In Scalp & Hair Serum cares for your hair and scalp after coloring
LOW COMMITMENT: Demi-permanent hair color, lasts up to 28 washes
BLENDS GRAYS: Gives up to 60% gray coverage

The Ultimate Buying Guide for Medium Brown Hair Dye

Choosing the right medium brown hair dye can transform your look. This guide helps you pick the best box or permanent color for beautiful, natural results. Medium brown sits perfectly between light and dark brown, offering a rich, versatile shade.

Key Features to Look For

When shopping for medium brown dye, check these important features first:

Shade Number Accuracy: Look for numbers usually starting with a ‘5’ or ‘6’ in professional color charts (e.g., 5.0 or 6N). This tells you the depth of the brown.
Tone Indicators: Check for undertones. ‘N’ means Neutral (natural looking). ‘A’ means Ash (cool tones, reduces red). ‘G’ means Gold (warm tones). A good neutral medium brown (like 5.0 or 6.0) works for most people.
Coverage Claims: If you have grey hair, ensure the box specifically states “100% Grey Coverage.”
Conditioning Ingredients: Look for added oils or proteins listed on the box. These keep your hair soft after coloring.

Important Materials in Your Dye Kit

The materials inside the box matter for ease of use and hair health.

What You Need Inside

Developer: This liquid activates the color. Most at-home kits use 20 Volume developer, which lifts the hair slightly to deposit the new color.
Color Cream/Gel: This is the actual pigment you mix with the developer.
After-Color Conditioner: Use this! It seals the cuticle and locks in the color molecules, making the shade last longer.

Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality

Some dyes give you better results than others. Know what makes a good dye.

Quality Boosters (Improves Quality)

Ammonia-Free Formulas: These are gentler on your scalp and hair structure. They reduce damage significantly.
Natural Oils (Argan, Coconut): Dyes enriched with high-quality oils usually leave hair shinier and prevent excessive dryness.
Permanent Color: For the longest-lasting results, choose permanent dye. It fully changes the natural pigment inside the hair shaft.

Quality Reducers (Reduces Quality)

Box Dye on Previously Bleached Hair: If your hair is very light, medium brown dye might turn out too dark or too ashy initially.
Metallic Dyes: Avoid dyes listing metallic salts. These can react badly with previous chemical treatments, causing strange colors or breakage.
Semi-Permanent Formulas (If You Need Coverage): Semi-permanent colors fade fast and usually do not cover grey hair well.

User Experience and Use Cases

Consider when and why you are coloring your hair.

Common Use Cases

Refreshing Natural Color: If your natural medium brown is dull, a simple deposit-only (no-lift) color gloss can restore shine without major commitment.
Covering Early Grey Strands: For 25% to 50% grey, a standard permanent medium brown dye with good grey coverage claims works best.
Transitioning from Darker Color: If you are going from black to medium brown, you might need a color remover first, or the brown will look almost black.

Tip: Always strand test! Apply the mixed dye to a small hidden section of hair first. This shows you the true final color and checks for any allergic reactions.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Medium Brown Hair Dye

Q: How long does medium brown dye usually last?

A: Permanent medium brown dye lasts until your hair grows out, usually 6 to 8 weeks before roots show significantly.

Q: Will medium brown look too dark on my light brown hair?

A: It might look darker right after coloring. Wait 2-3 shampoos; the color usually softens to the intended medium shade as it washes slightly.

Q: Can I use box dye if I have highlights?

A: Yes, but the medium brown will cover or tone down the highlights. It will not make them lighter.

Q: What does ‘Neutral Medium Brown’ mean?

A: Neutral means the color has no strong red, gold, or ash tones. It looks like natural medium brown hair.

Q: Is developer always included in the box?

A: For permanent color kits, yes, the developer is always included for you to mix.

Q: How do I prevent my medium brown from looking brassy or red?

A: Choose a dye labeled ‘Ash’ (like 6.1) or one with a blue/violet base to cancel out unwanted warmth.

Q: Should I wash my hair before applying the dye?

A: It is best not to wash your hair for 24 hours before dyeing. Natural scalp oils protect your skin from irritation.

Q: What if my hair is very porous (damaged)?

A: Porous hair absorbs color faster. Use the dye quickly and check the color often, as it might turn darker than expected.

Q: Do I need to buy extra developer if I have very long hair?

A: Yes. If your hair goes past your shoulders, buy an extra box or a separate bottle of 20 Volume developer to ensure full saturation.

Q: How often can I safely re-dye my roots?

A: Only touch up your roots every 4 to 6 weeks. Overlapping the color on old sections causes buildup and potential darkening or damage.