
Mushroom hair can refer to either a hairstyle or a hair colour. As a hairstyle, mushroom hair is a bowl cut, with hair on the top of the scalp cut into thick, rounded layers, and the bottom layers either buzzed or cut close to the scalp. This style was popular in the 80s and 90s with celebrities like Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, and has recently been revived by Gen Z. As a hair colour, mushroom hair is a brunette shade with ashy undertones and grey, silver or beige highlights. This hue is inspired by the portobello mushroom and is considered a natural, earthy tone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Haircut, Hair color |
| Haircut | Rounded hairstyle resembling a mushroom cap |
| Hair color | Neutral brown with undertones of light gray, silver, or beige |
| Inspiration | Portobello, shiitake, and porcini mushrooms |
| Skin tone | Flattering for those with cool undertones; those with warm undertones may prefer a neutral-toned version |
| Maintenance | Low maintenance; touch-ups every 6-8 weeks if natural hair color is far from mushroom brown |
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What You'll Learn

Mushroom brown hair colour
Mushroom brown hair is inspired by the natural, earthy tones of mushrooms, like portobello, shiitake, and porcini mushrooms. It is a trendy brunette hair colour that is generally considered to be a neutral brown hair colour with undertones of light grey, silver, or beige. While it may look like a standard brown shade, a closer look will reveal subtle dimensions of light grey and brown hues.
The original mushroom brown hair colour, inspired by the portobello mushroom, is ashy and cool-toned with hints of grey or silver. This shade has a matte finish and is ideal for those with cooler undertones in their skin. Those with warmer skin undertones may opt for a neutral-toned version, such as a taupe hue with gold or beige highlights, similar to the natural colour of a porcini mushroom.
Mushroom brown hair can be achieved by applying highlights and/or lowlights on top of an ash brown base to create a natural-looking, multi-dimensional hue. For a lighter shade, a light brown base with plenty of highlights can be requested. Conversely, for a darker mushroom brown, chocolate brown lowlights can be blended into an ash brown base.
Mushroom brown hair is a fairly low-maintenance hair colour. If your natural hair colour is similar to mushroom brown, you can go several weeks or even months between touch-ups. To maintain the colour, a colour-toning shampoo and conditioner system, such as the Redken Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo and Conditioner, can be used to prevent the ashy hue from becoming brassy over time.
Mushroom brown hair is a versatile and flattering shade that has been gaining popularity. It is a great option for those looking for a softer, more subtle hair colour or an easy way to blend in grey hair.
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Inspired by portobello, shiitake, and porcini mushrooms
Mushroom brown hair is inspired by the earthy tones of mushrooms, like portobello, shiitake, and porcini mushrooms. This hair colour is generally a neutral brown with undertones of light grey, silver, or beige. It is created by applying highlights and lowlights to an ash brown base, resulting in a natural-looking, multi-dimensional hue.
The portobello mushroom-inspired shade is ashy and cool-toned with hints of grey or silver. This brunette hue has a matte finish and is ideal for those seeking a subtle hair colour or an easy way to blend in incoming grey hair. It suits people with cool undertones to their skin.
Shiitake mushroom-inspired hair colour is a soft, understated mushroom brown. It blends a cool, ashy brunette base with light brown babylights, resulting in a natural-looking brunette shade with a whisper of coolness. This shade suits those seeking a subtle change that complements a variety of skin tones.
Porcini mushroom-inspired hair embraces the rich, earthy colour palette of this fungus. It is achieved by adding warm brown or copper highlights to an ash brown base, resulting in a neutral-toned shade. This shade is similar to the natural tones of a porcini mushroom, with gold or beige highlights, and suits people with warm undertones to their skin.
To achieve the desired mushroom brown shade, it is recommended to consult a professional colourist, who can help you choose the right shade to flatter your features and provide instructions for maintaining vibrant, healthy-looking hair.
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A neutral brown with grey, silver, or beige undertones
Mushroom blonde is a cool-toned shade of blonde that sits at the cusp between blonde and brunette. It is inspired by the varied, ashy shades of mushrooms, which tend to be lighter on top and darker underneath.
Mushroom blonde hair colour is achieved by combining shades of brown, ashy blonde, and grey to create a neutral, earthy look. It is a multi-dimensional blend of light brown and ashy blonde shades, resulting in soft, muted hues that offer a subtle and sophisticated appearance. The shade is versatile and provides a natural, understated look with depth and dimension.
Mushroom blonde hair is perfect for those seeking a shade that is neither too light nor too dark. It is a great choice for blondes who want to darken their hair without committing to an all-over dye job, and for brunettes who want to go lighter without a dramatic colour change.
The colour is especially flattering on those with cool-toned, fair skin but can be customised to suit any skin tone or undertone. It is important to note that mushroom blonde hair won't suit warm undertones because its cool, ashy tones can clash with the natural warmth of the skin.
To achieve the mushroom blonde shade, ask your stylist to stick to cool, icy, and ashy blondes. You can also add a few lighter highlights at the front for a face-framing effect. To maintain the colour, use a purple shampoo to keep unwanted warmth at bay.
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How to style a mushroom haircut
The mushroom haircut, also known as the bowl cut, is a rounded hairstyle with short, sometimes buzzed layers of hair on the bottom and longer, stacked layers on top. The modern mushroom haircut focuses on the rounded fringe and allows for more styling options at the back.
To style a mushroom haircut, you can straighten your top layers for a sleeker look. Apply heat protectant to dry hair and work your flat iron through your hair in sections. At the end of each section, you can turn the flatiron inward to create a curve or pull down for a blunt edge.
For a textured, effortless look, work in a hair texturizing product. This will make your hair look intentionally messy. You can also enhance your natural curls to achieve a voluminous mushroom style.
If you want a sharp, neat look, use a hair straightener to straighten your hair and create a multi-length style that is longer on the top and shorter on the bottom. You can also add choppy bangs to frame your face.
To add shine and hold to your mushroom haircut, finish with a mist of hair spray.
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Modern iterations of the mushroom hairstyle
The mushroom hairstyle, also known as a bowl cut, is characterised by its bowl-like shape. It typically features longer lengths on top, shorter sides, and bangs. While the traditional mushroom cut is the same length all around, modern iterations focus on the rounded fringe and allow for more styling options at the back.
The Long Mushroom
The long mushroom is a modern take on the traditional mushroom cut. It maintains the signature rounded fringe while allowing for longer hair at the back, providing more styling options. This version offers a playful retro-inspired look with a modern edge and can be a great choice for those seeking to cover damaged hair and give it a fresh and neat appearance.
The Textured Mushroom
The textured mushroom is a perfect way to add movement to the style, which can sometimes appear stiff. It can be achieved by adding texture and playing with different lengths, such as keeping the sides longer. This variation proves that you don't need straight hair to rock a mushroom hairstyle, as it can look beautiful with curly hair as well.
The Jaw-Grazing Bob
This modern iteration of the mushroom cut is a slightly longer take on the traditional style. It features a jaw-grazing length with a bowl-cut shape. Celebrities like Zendaya have sported this look on the red carpet.
The Asymmetrical Mushroom
For a unique twist on the traditional mushroom cut, try an asymmetrical style. This version leaves one side super short, almost like an extended version of curtain bangs, while the other side is just long enough to graze the chin. Hailey Bieber's mod-inspired take on the mushroom cut is a great example of this variation.
The Voluminous Mushroom
To make a statement with your mushroom haircut, focus on volume and texture. You can complete the look with undone bangs and a shaved undercut for an extra edgy feel. Singer Halsey has been known to rock this edgy, voluminous version of the mushroom cut.
These modern iterations of the mushroom hairstyle showcase how this retro look is making a comeback with a fresh and trendy twist.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom hair is a hairstyle that resembles a mushroom cap. It is often referred to as a bowl cut. Traditional mushroom haircuts are the same length all around, but modern iterations focus on the rounded fringe and allow for more styling options in the back.
Mushroom brown hair is a hair colour inspired by the natural, earthy tones of mushrooms, like portobello, shiitake, and porcini mushrooms. It is a neutral brown hair colour with undertones of light grey, silver, or beige.
To achieve mushroom brown hair, you can ask your stylist to create a light brown base and blend in blonde highlights. If you prefer a deeper mushroom shade, ask your stylist to blend chocolate brown lowlights into an ash brown base.
To style mushroom hair, you can blow it out for a soft look. Apply a heat protectant to damp hair, comb through to remove tangles, and then use a hair dryer on low heat, pointing it at your hair at a downward angle. You can also straighten your top layers for a sleeker look using a flat iron on medium-high heat.

























