Brown hair has never looked so sweet.
By
- Chloe Valentine Toscano
May 17, 2024
There are plenty of dessert-inspired hair colors to pick from (looking at you, caramel balayage), but chocolate cherry hair has to be one of our favorites. This dimensional hair color checks all of the boxes: it’s bold but wearable, trendy but timeless, and can complement just about every skin tone. Plus, it doesn’t require as much maintenance as other trendy hues, like platinum blonde.
So if you’re looking to embrace a new hair color, cherry chocolate hair is an option worth considering. Ahead, we’ll share everything you need to know about this vivid hue, including what it is, how to get it, and what you should to do keep your chocolate red hair color fresh between touch-ups.
What Is Chocolate Cherry Hair?
Chocolate cherry hair color is just what the name suggests: an intriguing blend of sultry chocolate brown and rich cherry red tones. The gorgeous hue learns warm, but can easily be adapted to complement cooler complexions, as well. Because it bridges the gap between brown and red, this unexpected hue is a great option for brunettes looking to experiment with red hair—or vice versa.
How Do You Get Chocolate Cherry Hair?
If you’re game to try chocolate cherry hair, there are a few ways you can get the look. Visiting a salon is always an option, and a professional can help tailor the hue to your liking. They can also weave highlights and lowlights throughout for added dimension.
However, chocolate cherry hair is also fairly easy to DIY at home: all you need is the right at-home coloring kit to transform your mane. Keep in mind that depending on the dye you choose (and your starting color), you may need to lighten your hair before applying your cherry brown hair color. This, too, is easy to DIY with the L’Oreal Paris Feria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach. Follow the directions on the box and lighten your hair to the appropriate level. Once you’re done, your strands should be ready for your cherry chocolate hair transformation.
4 Chocolate Cherry Hair Ideas
Chocolate cherry hair isn’t just one, flat color. It’s a versatile look that can range from vibrant reddish-brown to a more muted warm brunette tone. Here, we’re sharing four of our favorite ways to rock chocolate red hair (plus a look at the at-home dyes you can use to achieve the look).
Dark chocolate cherry hair
A dark chocolate cherry hair color is a great option for anyone with a deep dark brown to black base looking for a subtle (but impactful) hair upgrade. The dimensional hue is deep and bold, with a reddish-violet tint that shines in the sun. To achieve dark chocolate cherry hair at home, pick up a box of L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Chocolate Cherry. The rich color works beautifully on medium brown, dark brown, and even black hair—so you don’t need to bleach your mane before applying it.
Chocolate cherry hair with highlights
Adding highlights to a dark hair color base is the perfect way to add warmth and dimension to your mane without committing to an all-over color change. If you have a warm skin tone, we suggest opting for warmer chocolate cherry highlights. Cooler highlights—think maroon or dark violet—are ideal for those with cool skin tones.
Black chocolate cherry hair
If you have naturally dark brown or black hair, lean into it with a sultry black chocolate cherry look. This subtle hue reads as deep brown in low lighting, but in the sunlight, displays brilliant red and violet undertones. Plus, with L’Oréal Paris Féria Midnight Bold Multi-Faceted Hair Color in Blood Moon, you can achieve the hue at home without bleach. The prismatic color is designed for use on darker strands, so you can enjoy a transformation without the damage caused by repeated lightning sessions.
Vivid chocolate cherry hair
Think of this as your “ruby chocolate” approach to chocolate cherry hair. It’s lighter, brighter, and more vibrant—making it a perfect hue for those ready to experiment with a bolder look. To attain this chocolate red hair color, try L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Brilliant Bordeaux. This will yield more fiery and warmer results than some of the deeper chocolate cherry hair shades.
Is Chocolate Cherry Hair High-Maintenance?
Once you’ve achieved the chocolate red hair color of your dreams, you’ll want it to stick around for the long haul. The good news: Chocolate cherry hair isn’t too high maintenance, provided you care for it properly. If you’re not sure what exactly that means, keep reading—we’re breaking down three of our best color-care hair tips below.
1. Use products for color-treated hair
After you dye your hair, it’s time to bid your go-to shampoo and conditioner farewell. You’ll need to upgrade your shower essentials with a system that’s formulated for color-treated hair. Try the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Conditioner. This sulfate-free duo deeply replenishes dry hair and can help keep your chocolate red hair fresh for up to four weeks.
2. Add a hair mask to the mix
If your hair feels dry or brittle after coloring it, consider adding a nourishing hair mask to your weekly regimen. The L’Oréal Paris Total Repair 5 Power Restore Multi Use Treatment goes the extra mile to help restore your hair’s strength. Once or twice a week, work a palmful through your mane after shampooing and conditioning to give your hair some TLC. Or, use a small amount as a leave-in conditioner for strong, healthy-looking strands.
3. Limit heat styling
Help your new chocolate cherry hair color go the distance by minimizing heat-styling, which can speed up color fading. Instead, embrace your natural texture or experiment with heatless hairstyles to give your strands shape, sans damage.
If you can’t seem to part with your hot tools, you’ll need to use a heat protectant to shield your mane from damage. Spritz L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Leave In onto damp strands before blow-drying or styling to protect your strands against temperatures up to 450oF.
Next Up: 15 Honey Blonde Hair Ideas To Warm Up Your Mane
