Deep burgundy makes brown eyes glow, and that is not a figure of speech. The rich, wine-red tones in the hair pick up the warm flecks in brown eyes and make them look deeper, brighter and more alive, which is why this is the richest winter colour pairing there is. Deep burgundy hair color ideas for women with brown eyes are some of the most flattering looks of the season, because the colour is bold without being loud, and it suits every hair length, every skin tone and every winter outfit. In this guide I am sharing twenty deep burgundy hair color ideas for women with brown eyes, with shade-matching rules, balayage and highlight ideas, maintenance steps and the makeup that makes burgundy hair truly shine.
Why Deep Burgundy Makes Brown Eyes Glow
Deep burgundy and brown eyes are a perfect colour pairing, and the reason is simple colour theory. Brown eyes contain warm, golden and amber tones, and burgundy, with its mix of red and purple, sits opposite those warm tones on the colour wheel, which makes both the hair and the eyes look more vivid. The result is that brown eyes look deeper and more defined, and the hair looks richer and more dimensional. Burgundy also flatters the skin, because its cool red tones balance warm skin and add a healthy glow to cool skin. Deep burgundy hair color ideas for women with brown eyes work in every season, but they are especially beautiful in winter, when the rich colour echoes the deep reds of the season and looks wonderful under warm party lights. If you have brown eyes and you have ever thought about going red, burgundy is the most flattering place to start.
Who Deep Burgundy Suits Best
Deep burgundy suits women with brown eyes best, but it is a generous colour that flatters many others too. If your skin is warm, with golden undertones, a burgundy with more red in it will harmonise beautifully. If your skin is cool, with pink undertones, a burgundy with more purple, like a wine or plum burgundy, will suit you better. The colour is especially beautiful on women with dark brown or black hair, because it lifts the natural colour without the damage of going blonde, and it is lovely on women with lighter brown hair too, where it adds depth and richness. Women with fine hair will find that burgundy adds the appearance of thickness, because the rich colour gives the hair more visual weight. If you have a lot of grey, burgundy blends with it softly, and the grow-out is more forgiving than a bright red.
What Deep Burgundy Hair Color Really Looks Like
Deep burgundy is not one colour, it is a family of rich, wine-red shades, and knowing the differences helps you choose the right one. A true deep burgundy is a dark, saturated red with a hint of purple, like a glass of red wine held up to the light. A wine burgundy is deeper and cooler, with more purple, while a cherry burgundy is brighter and warmer, with more red. A plum burgundy leans purple and looks almost black in low light, then reveals its red tones in the sun. What all of them share is depth: they are dark enough to look sophisticated, and rich enough to catch the light. The colour looks best on healthy, shiny hair, because the shine is what reveals the red tones, so a gloss treatment or a shine spray after colouring makes a real difference. Indoors, burgundy can look almost black, and outdoors it glows red, which is part of its magic.
The Details That Make Burgundy Look Expensive, Not Flat
The difference between burgundy that looks expensive and burgundy that looks flat is all in the dimension and the shine. First, the colour should have dimension: a single, flat burgundy can look dull, while a burgundy with subtle highlights or low lights looks rich and alive. Ask your colourist for a few finer, slightly lighter strands through the top, or a slightly darker underlayer, to create depth. Second, the hair must be shiny, because shine is what shows the red tones; a gloss treatment after colouring, or a weekly shine mask, makes a real difference. Third, the cut should be clean and well-shaped, because burgundy shows every uneven layer. Fourth, the makeup should complement the colour: warm browns and golds on the eyes, and a lip that echoes the hair without matching it exactly. Finally, keep the roots intentional, whether they are a clean burgundy or a soft grow-out with dimension.
Deep Burgundy All Over, Step by Step
Colouring your hair a deep burgundy all over is a straightforward process, and knowing the steps helps you talk to your colourist. Start with a consultation, because your colourist needs to see your hair, your skin and your natural colour before they can choose the right burgundy. The colour is applied from root to tip, usually with a permanent colour for a rich, long-lasting result, or a demi-permanent colour for a softer, more temporary change. If your hair is dark, the colourist may lift it slightly first, so the burgundy shows up vividly rather than disappearing into the dark base. The colour processes for about thirty to forty-five minutes, then it is rinsed, treated with a conditioner and styled. The whole appointment takes about two hours, and you will leave with a colour-protecting shampoo and a maintenance schedule. The result is a rich, glossy burgundy that makes your brown eyes glow.
The Tools and Products to Have Ready Before You Start
Burgundy hair needs a specific kit, and having it ready makes maintenance much easier. You will want a colour-protecting shampoo and conditioner, which are sulphate-free and designed to keep red tones from fading. A colour-depositing mask or conditioner, used once a week, tops up the burgundy tones and keeps the colour rich between appointments. A deep conditioning mask, used once a week, keeps the hair soft and shiny, because coloured hair needs more moisture. A heat protectant is essential, because heat fades red tones faster than any other colour. A wide-tooth comb is kinder to wet, coloured hair than a brush, and a silk pillowcase reduces breakage overnight. For styling, keep a light shine spray nearby, and a root touch-up spray in a matching burgundy for the weeks between salon visits.
Deep Burgundy Hair Color Ideas for Women With Brown Eyes: Looks 1 to 4, All-Over Colour
Let us start with all-over burgundy, because it is the boldest and often the most beautiful version of this colour. Look one is the classic all-over deep burgundy, a rich, saturated wine red from root to tip, which looks stunning on dark hair and makes brown eyes glow. Look two is the all-over burgundy with a gloss finish, where a clear gloss is applied after the colour to add mirror shine and make the red tones pop. Look three is the all-over burgundy on a sleek bob, which looks modern and polished, with the colour showing beautifully in the clean lines of the cut. Look four is the all-over burgundy on long, wavy hair, where the waves catch the light and reveal the depth of the colour. All four share the same foundation: a rich, even colour, a glossy finish and a clean cut. If you are new to burgundy, start with look one, because a single, even colour is the easiest to maintain, and once you see how it flatters your eyes, you will know whether to add dimension.
Looks 5 to 8: Burgundy Balayage and Highlights
Balayage and highlights are the softer way to wear burgundy, and they add dimension that a flat colour cannot match. Look five is the burgundy balayage, where the burgundy is painted onto the lengths and left softer at the roots, which grows out beautifully and needs very little maintenance. Look six is the burgundy highlight, where fine strands of burgundy are woven through dark brown hair, which adds a subtle red glow without a full colour change. Look seven is the burgundy money piece, where two face-framing strands are coloured a brighter burgundy, which brightens the face and makes brown eyes pop. Look eight is the burgundy ombre, where the roots stay dark and the lengths fade into burgundy, which is dramatic and very modern. The key with all of them is the blend: the transition should be soft and diffused, not a hard line, and your colourist should melt the burgundy into your natural colour with a brush.
Looks 9 to 12: Burgundy for Short Hair
Burgundy looks wonderful on short hair, and the results are some of the most striking looks in this guide. Look nine is the burgundy pixie, a sharp, clean pixie in deep burgundy, which looks bold, modern and wonderfully low-maintenance. Look ten is the burgundy bob, a chin-length bob in rich burgundy with a deep side part, which is elegant and frames the face beautifully. Look eleven is the burgundy crop with texture, where the top is left longer and tousled with texturising spray, which adds softness and movement. Look twelve is the burgundy bob with a gloss finish, where a clear gloss is applied after the colour to add shine and make the red tones glow. Short burgundy hair is easier to maintain than long, because the colour is fresher and the ends are healthier, and a little shine spray is all you need to keep it looking salon-fresh.
Looks 13 to 16: Burgundy for Long Hair
Long burgundy hair is dramatic, romantic and surprisingly wearable, especially with the right cut. Look thirteen is the long all-over burgundy, with the hair kept long and layered, in a rich wine red from root to tip, which looks like liquid velvet in winter light. Look fourteen is the long burgundy with soft waves, where the length is curled into loose waves that catch the light and show off the colour beautifully. Look fifteen is the long burgundy with a balayage, where the roots stay darker and the lengths glow burgundy, which makes the grow-out softer and the maintenance easier. Look sixteen is the long burgundy with a braid or a twist, where the colour shows beautifully in the plait and makes a simple style look special. Long burgundy needs more care than short, because the ends are older and the colour fades faster, so a colour-depositing mask once a week is essential.
Looks 17 to 20: Burgundy With Dimension
Dimension is what makes burgundy look expensive, and these four looks show how to get it. Look seventeen is the burgundy with copper low lights, where fine strands of a warmer copper are woven through, which adds warmth and makes the colour look more natural. Look eighteen is the burgundy with plum low lights, where strands of a deeper plum are added, which creates a rich, multi-tonal effect. Look nineteen is the burgundy with a darker underlayer, where the underneath is kept darker, which creates depth when the hair moves and makes the top look even brighter. Look twenty is the burgundy with face-framing highlights, where the strands around the face are a touch lighter, which brightens the face and makes brown eyes glow. Dimension is especially flattering after fifty, because it softens the colour and makes it look more like natural hair. It also helps the colour last longer, because the low lights break up the grow-out.
Choosing the Right Burgundy Shade for Your Skin Tone
Matching burgundy to your skin tone is the difference between a colour that lights up your face and one that washes you out. If your skin is warm, with golden undertones, a burgundy with more red in it, like a cherry or wine burgundy, will harmonise beautifully. If your skin is cool, with pink undertones, a burgundy with more purple, like a plum or wine burgundy, will suit you better. If your skin is neutral, you can wear almost any burgundy, so choose by eye colour and outfit. Hold a piece of white paper next to your face in daylight: if your skin looks pink next to it, you are cool, and if it looks yellow, you are warm. Your colourist can also hold colour swatches next to your skin to find the shade that makes your brown eyes look brightest, which is the real test. For more winter colour inspiration, see our guide to Winter Hair Color Ideas for Women With Hazel Eyes.
Maintenance: Keeping the Depth
Burgundy is a red, and reds fade faster than any other colour, so maintenance matters. Wash your hair less often, because every wash fades the colour, and use a sulphate-free, colour-protecting shampoo and conditioner. Use lukewarm water rather than hot, which strips colour faster, and rinse with cool water to seal the cuticle and lock in shine. A colour-depositing mask or conditioner, used once a week, tops up the burgundy tones and keeps the colour rich between appointments. Protect the hair from sun and chlorine, both of which fade red tones quickly, and always use a heat protectant before styling. Root touch-ups are needed every four to six weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows, and a gloss treatment at the salon every six to eight weeks will refresh the colour and add shine.
Makeup That Matches Burgundy Hair
Burgundy hair calls for makeup that is warm, rich and a little bit glamorous, because the hair already brings the drama. Start with a warm, glowing base, a light foundation and a touch of cream blush in a warm rose or terracotta. For eyes, warm browns, coppers and golds work beautifully, with a little shimmer on the lid and a soft wing if you feel like it. A deep berry lip echoes the hair without matching it exactly, which is the key: match the mood, not the shade. A classic red lip also works, especially a warm, brick red. Keep brows defined but soft, because a strong brow frames the face and balances the rich hair colour. Finish with a setting spray, because your makeup needs to last as long as your colour. If you wear glasses, the burgundy hair and a warm lip together look wonderful behind frames.
How to Keep Burgundy From Fading
Burgundy fades faster than most colours, but a few habits will keep it rich for weeks longer. Wash your hair as little as possible, ideally two or three times a week, and use dry shampoo between washes. Always use a sulphate-free, colour-protecting shampoo, and rinse with cool water, which seals the cuticle and locks in the colour. A colour-depositing mask once a week tops up the burgundy tones, and a gloss treatment at the salon every six to eight weeks refreshes the colour and adds shine. Avoid chlorine and salt water, which strip red tones quickly, and wear a hat or a UV-protecting spray in strong sun. Use as little heat as possible, and always use a heat protectant when you do style with heat. If the colour does start to fade, a colour-depositing conditioner will bring it back without a salon visit.
Common Burgundy Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistake is washing too often with a harsh shampoo, which strips the colour within days. Switch to a sulphate-free shampoo and wash less often. The second mistake is using very hot water, which opens the cuticle and lets the colour escape. The third mistake is skipping the colour-depositing mask, which is the easiest way to keep burgundy rich between appointments. The fourth mistake is choosing a burgundy that is too bright for your skin, which can look harsh; a deeper, wine burgundy is usually more flattering than a bright cherry red. The fifth mistake is forgetting heat protection, because heat fades red tones faster than any other colour. Finally, do not try to colour dark hair burgundy at home without lifting it first, because the colour will barely show, and you will be disappointed with the result.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deep Burgundy Hair Color Ideas for Women With Brown Eyes
Before you book the salon, here are the answers to the questions I hear most about deep burgundy hair color ideas for women with brown eyes. The colour looks bold and high-maintenance, but with the right products and routine, it is very manageable. The key points are colour-protecting products, washing less often and regular glossing, and once you have those, the rest is easy. Below are the three questions that come up again and again, from cost to doing it at home.
How Much Does Deep Burgundy Cost?
A full burgundy colour typically costs between $100 and $250, depending on your hair length, your natural colour and your salon, and a balayage or highlight version costs between $150 and $300. Root touch-ups every four to six weeks cost between $50 and $100, and a gloss treatment costs between $30 and $60. At home, budget for a colour-protecting shampoo and conditioner, a colour-depositing mask and a heat protectant, which together cost around $40 to $70 and last several months. It is a mid-priced colour, and many women find the way it makes their brown eyes glow is worth every penny. Ask your salon for a full quote before you start, including the maintenance appointments, so there are no surprises.
Can I Go Burgundy at Home?
You can, and burgundy is one of the more forgiving colours to do at home, especially if your hair is already brown. A box dye in a deep burgundy will show up well on brown hair, and a demi-permanent colour is a good choice if you want to try it without committing. Do a strand test first, follow the instructions exactly, and protect your skin and clothes, because burgundy stains. If your hair is very dark or previously coloured, the result may be subtler than you expect, and a salon can lift the colour first for a more vivid result. A safer home option is a colour-depositing mask on already-coloured hair, which tops up the burgundy without any dye. For a balayage or a dramatic change, a professional colourist is worth the money.
Will Deep Burgundy Suit My Brown Eyes?
Yes, and that is the whole point of this guide. Burgundy is one of the most flattering colours for brown eyes, because the red and purple tones in the hair make the warm, amber tones in brown eyes look deeper and brighter. It suits light brown, medium brown and dark brown eyes, and it works with warm, cool and neutral skin tones, as long as you choose the right burgundy shade for your skin. If you are unsure, ask your colourist for a few face-framing burgundy highlights first, so you can see how the colour looks against your eyes before committing to a full head. For more winter colour inspiration, take a look at Winter Hair Care Routine for Women Over 50 for tips on keeping coloured hair healthy.
Save This Deep Burgundy Look for Winter
Pin this look to your winter hair board so you can find it when you are ready for a change. The image below is the one to save, with all twenty deep burgundy shades in one place.
Want a caption for your own pin? Try our free Pinterest Caption & Pin Generator to create a caption for this look in seconds. Then follow Nova Fashion on Pinterest for more winter hair color ideas, and save your favourite burgundy shade from this list to ask your colourist about. I hope one of these twenty looks is the rich, wine-red colour your brown eyes have been waiting for.