I’ve seen mushroom brown hair everywhere recently. Clients come to me with pictures of it. It’s also all over Instagram and TikTok. It seems to be trending so hot right now.
What exactly is mushroom brown? It’s a mix of brown, gray and taupe – looks kiiinda like a mushroom, hence the name. The coolest part about this shade is that it works on most people, as you can style it either warm or cool. Below are the some cute ways I’ve done mushroom brown hair here at the salon.
Multidimensional Ash Brown
There are multiple colors in this design. Ash and brown colors are used together. The more wavy your hair is, the more you’ll be able to see the variety of colors. That’s why I always suggest to curl or add waves after getting this design. It adds a beautiful depth.
Deep Charcoal Mushroom Brown Waves
This is a darker, moodier take on the mushroom brown trend. There’s a deep charcoal quality to it that makes it feel rich and dramatic. The cool gray undertones are really the star here. When you add waves, you can see how the color shifts and creates incredible depth throughout the hair.
Taupe Mushroom Brown with Flipped Layers
This is a beautiful example of mushroom brown on long layered hair. The taupe undertones give it that classic mushroom quality, not too gray, not too brown. The layers are cut in a way that lets the ends flip out slightly, which adds movement and makes the color look even more dimensional.
Cool Ash Balayage Waves
My personal favorite is this design. The cool ash tone is gorgeous and visually appealing. I paint it by hand so it blends beautifully with your hair. Adding curls or waves to your hair makes the color stand out more, so it’s a win-win.
Sleek Cool Ash Brown
The straighter your hair is, the more visible the color will be. This cool mushroom brown color looks amazing when you straighten your hair. The shine and richness of the color will be evident. This color looks elegant and sophisticated. The mushroom brown color is rich and deep.
Mushroom Brown Hair Color On Medium Length
For people with medium-length hair, this color will look amazing! The ash mushroom tones will complement your volume perfectly. When you have waves in your hair, the color will be more pronounced. Your hair will appear thicker due to the multi-dimensional color. It adds a lot of life to medium-length hair.
Gradient Cool Ash Balayage
This design transitions smoothly from dark to light. But, it’s only ash mushroom tones. In the back, you can really see how smooth the transition is. Because of the movement of the hair, wavy hair will show off the gradient even better.
Silky Straight Cool Ash Mushroom Brown
This one is for the sleek hair lovers. The cool ash mushroom tone really shines when hair is perfectly straight like this. You can see how the color catches the light and creates that beautiful sheen. I always recommend a good flat iron and a smoothing serum after getting this color to make the most of it.
Dark Root to Ash Mushroom Gray Ombre
This is a bold and beautiful contrast. The roots are kept very dark — almost black — and then melt into a cool ash mushroom gray toward the ends. The transition is dramatic but still wearable. If you’re drawn to edgier color but still want something that looks intentional and chic, this is it.
Greige Mushroom Brown with Side-Swept Layers
This color sits right at the intersection of gray, beige, and brown — which is exactly what makes it so flattering. The layered cut with side-swept styling makes the color look full and alive. This is the kind of mushroom brown that turns heads because it looks both effortless and intentional at the same time.
Natural Olive-Toned Mushroom Brown
This version leans slightly warmer with a soft olive undertone, which makes it feel very natural and wearable. It’s a great choice if you want mushroom brown but don’t want anything too ashy or gray. The waves give it a lived-in quality that I absolutely love. Perfect for someone going for that “I just naturally have beautiful hair” look.
Smoky Ash Brown Waves
This is a cool, smoky mushroom brown that’s consistent throughout the hair. It’s not too light, not too dark. just that perfect middle-ground that works on so many people. The waves really show off how rich and multi-tonal the color is, even though it looks relatively uniform at first glance.
Straight and Sleek Mushroom Taupe
Another stunning example of mushroom brown worn straight. The color here is a gorgeous taupe — warmer than a pure ash but still very much in the mushroom family. Worn straight like this, you can really appreciate how smooth and glossy the finish is. This is the kind of color that makes your hair look incredibly healthy.
Light Ash Mushroom Brown with Subtle Highlights
This is for clients who want mushroom brown but on the lighter side. The base is a soft ash mushroom and then subtle highlights are woven in to add brightness without making it look streaky. The result is airy and luminous. The waves really let the highlights catch the light and shimmer.
Dark Root Mushroom Brown Melt
This is a softer, more natural take on the dark root trend. The roots stay deep and then gradually melt into a lighter ash mushroom brown toward the ends. There are no harsh lines here, just everything transitions beautifully. It’s also one of the lowest-maintenance options because the grow-out looks intentional.
Silver Mushroom Brown – Almost Platinum Ash
This one pushes the mushroom brown into very silver-ash territory. It’s striking and incredibly cool-toned. The straight, smooth styling makes the silver tones pop even more. If you love the idea of going silver but want a wearable, intentional version of it rather than gray roots, this is the way to do it.
Natural Mushroom Brunette Waves
It resembles the sun just naturally lightening your hair. The balayage is extremely soft. It’s been blended nicely. The layering allows the color to spread evenly. As if you just happen to have naturally pretty hair and did nothing to it.
Uniform Silver-Ash Mushroom Brown
This is one of the most refined takes on mushroom brown I’ve seen. The color is incredibly even and consistent from root to end, which gives it that sophisticated, polished look. The silver-ash tone is cool and modern. This works best on people who want a cleaner, less streaky result.
Platinum Ash Mushroom Toned
This is for the people who want to have really light hair. The mushroom brown transitions to platinum at the ends. It’s very light. Keep in mind that light hair needs to be taken care of more, but it’s worth it. The ash tones from the mushroom brown pair perfectly with platinum.
Warm Natural Mushroom Brown Balayage
This is the warmest mushroom brown on the list, and I love it for people who feel like cool tones wash them out. The balayage is soft and sun-kissed, adding just a touch of warmth to the natural brunette base. The waves give it that effortlessly beachy feel. It’s approachable, flattering, and very wearable for everyday life.
Ash Balayage With Light Pieces Framing Your Face
The light pieces are placed around your face. This will give your face a nice frame. I use a light hand to paint the ash mushroom color on both sides of your face to frame your features. Since you won’t need to visit the salon often to maintain it, this is great.
Feathered Ash Mushroom Brown, Long and Straight
This is a long, elegant look with beautiful feathered layers at the ends. The mushroom brown here is cool and ashy with just a touch of warmth running through the mid-lengths. When worn straight like this, the layers create gorgeous movement without losin
Warm Mushroom with Highlights
Not everyone likes the grayish tone. Many people prefer to have a warmer color. If you’re someone who prefers to have a warmer color, these mushroom brown highlights will look stunning on you. The light will catch them and create an incredible glow.
Dark Root Ash Blonde Ombre
This is a bolder design. Your roots will be dark mushroom brown and then transition to blonde at the end. This is a bigger difference, but it still works. The mushroom brown at the top will soften the blonde and make it less harsh. I recommend this to clients who want to try something new and bold.
Mushroom Brown Balayage
Shadow roots are a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to come back to the salon every few weeks. Your roots will remain dark on purpose and then blend with the light-colored mushroom brown balayage. The layers will enhance the visual effect of the color. I recommend this design to busy clients who don’t have time to come back to the salon every month.
Mushroom-y Dirty Blonde
A dirty blonde and mushroom brown combination. The shadow root gives it a natural look as if you were born with it. I do this for blondes who want to darken their hair, but not too much. The balayage will retain some lightness in the hair.
Deep Chocolate Mushroom Brown
If you already have dark hair, this is a great option. This chocolate mushroom brown is a combination of chocolate and mushroom tones, but it’s not too light. It adds interest to regular brown hair. Much more exciting than flat brown hair. It’s rich and lovely and not a drastic change.
Money Piece Mushroom Brown
Money pieces are large chunky blonde sections in the front. The money piece looks fantastic paired with mushroom brown. The contrast is fun and playful. However, the mushroom brown is soft enough, so it doesn’t overpower the bright section. This adds brightness without going full-on blonde.
Rich Dimensional Cool Brown
These highlights run through your entire head of hair. It produces a ton of dimension. The mushroom brown is the base color and then highlights are added. The highlights will show even more when you curl or wave your hair. A ton of movement and shine.
Shadowed Balayage
Another shadow root, but this one blends super smooth. In the back view, you can see how nice it melts together. There aren’t any harsh lines from the dark roots transitioning to the light ends. It grows out very well. Great for people who dislike seeing roots growing in.
Silver Ash Money Piece on Cool Brown
This is a bit more silver-toned, but still has mushroom brown in it. This is a modern-looking color, especially when you have straight hair. The color is very cool-toned and has a smoky quality. Extremely trendy and different.
Subtle Uniform Dimension
There are times when you don’t want to see a lot of contrast. This mushroom brown is relatively uniform throughout. The dimension is still present, but not dramatic at all. Some people prefer simpler styles, and this is perfect for that.
Warm Chestnut-Mushroom Balayage
Warm chestnut is mixed with mushroom brown. It adds warmth to the mushroom brown. The balayage helps to lighten it. Earthy and cozy. Less ashy than some of the other designs, but still retains that mushroom essence.
Caramel Mushroom Ombre
You start with a darker color at your roots and then transition to a caramel color at the bottom. The mushroom brown color is in the middle and fades down to the caramel color at the bottom. I love this because when it grows out you cannot really tell where it started. You get the popular mushroom brown color and the warmth of caramel.
Cool Chocolate Brown Waves
Last one is cool chocolate mushroom brown. Perfect for the people who enjoy balance between warm and cool tones. The chocolate is rich and the mushroom undertones make it unique. The waves will show how shiny and deep the color is. It’s a stylish choice for everyday wear and is easy to wear.
