No matter your natural brown shade, adding highlights can bring new life to brunette hair. During spring and fall, lighter strands catch the sunlight and create dimension that makes hair appear fuller. Through summer and winter, highlights can soften facial features and add warmth to your overall look without the commitment of going fully blonde.
The options for brunette highlights are extensive, working well with every hair texture and length. From subtle caramel ribbons to bold money pieces, face-framing streaks to traditional balayage, these highlighting techniques can refresh your look while keeping your brown base. (As a stylist of 12 years, I recommend bringing reference photos to your consultation.)
Here are 15 ways to wear highlights in your brunette hair.
Cool-Toned Swirls of Silver and Brown
Let’s talk about that perfect mix of ash brown and silver highlights swirling through these bouncy waves. The way those cool tones play together creates such an easy, lived-in look – and those loose curls? They’re giving us major hair goals. (Between us, it’s the kind of color that makes everyone ask for your stylist’s number.)
Sun-Kissed Waves With Caramel Ribbons
Looking for that perfect balance between basic brown and beach blonde? These soft caramel highlights woven through chocolate brown hair create movement without going overboard. The placement is spot-on – starting subtle at the roots and getting gradually lighter toward the ends, just like natural sun-lightened strands would. It’s the kind of color that makes people wonder if you spent the summer surfing in Malibu or if your stylist just really knows their stuff.
Subtle Rose Gold Peeks Through Rich Brunette Waves
Looking for a way to spice up your brown hair without going too bold? The soft rose gold highlights woven through these rich brunette waves add just the right amount of warmth and dimension. What I love about this look is how the highlights catch the light as they curl through the mid-lengths and ends, creating movement that feels natural and effortless. It’s perfect for brunettes who want to try something fun while keeping their overall look grounded in their natural color.
Caramel Waves on Chocolate Base
Catching light at every angle, these wavy layers show off a perfect mix of warm caramel ribbons dancing through rich chocolate strands. The shoulder-grazing cut keeps things fun and flirty, while those loose curls add just the right amount of body. (And can we talk about how those highlights hit different when they catch the sun?)
Face-Framing Money Piece Highlights
Ready to brighten up your brunette base? Soft blonde pieces around the face create a natural sun-kissed effect that grows out beautifully. The mix of warm and cool tones blended throughout long layers adds dimension while keeping the overall look perfectly low-maintenance.
Rich Mocha Waves with Caramel Ribbons
Looking for that perfect balance between natural and notice-me? Those soft caramel ribbons woven through deep brown waves create movement that catches the light just right. The highlights are painted on with a light hand, giving the hair a sun-kissed glow without going overboard. It’s the kind of color that makes you want to skip the Instagram filter – the dimension does all the work for you.
Rich Chocolate Waves with Subtle Caramel Ribbons
Looking for a way to give your brown hair some extra oomph without going too drastic? Soft caramel highlights woven through a deep chocolate base create just the right amount of dimension. The gentle waves add movement while the strategic placement of lighter pieces catches the light in all the right places. Perfect for anyone who wants their hair to look naturally sun-kissed, as if they spent a summer afternoon outdoors rather than in the salon chair.
Rich Brown Waves with Subtle Light-Catching Dimension
Long, flowing waves in deep brown shades are having a major moment. The mix of darker base tones with perfectly placed lighter pieces creates natural-looking movement throughout the lengths. It’s the kind of effortless style that makes you want to grow your hair super long – and the subtle color variations mean you won’t have to visit the salon every few weeks for touch-ups. The best part? These soft waves work just as well for casual coffee runs as they do for special occasions.
Rich Dark Waves with Subtle Brown Dimension
Long, flowing waves take on a whole new level of depth when dark brown meets hints of lighter tones throughout. The gradual fade from deep espresso roots to softer brown ends creates movement that catches the light in all the right places. Perfect for anyone looking to add some gentle dimension to their dark locks without going too dramatic – these waves prove that sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest impact.
Sun-Kissed Caramel Waves
Looking for that perfect mix of warm and cool? Those subtle caramel ribbons woven through brown waves create movement that catches light in all the right places. The dimensional color makes those loose waves pop without trying too hard (and who doesn’t love that effortless vibe?). Plus, the way those highlights are placed means you won’t be rushing back to the salon every three weeks.
Sun-Kissed Caramel Waves
Long layers and soft caramel highlights bring warmth to brown hair, creating that perfect lived-in look. The highlights are painted on freehand, blending seamlessly from roots to ends, while loose waves add movement and texture that make it look effortlessly cool. It’s the kind of style that works just as well for casual coffee runs as it does for dinner dates.
Soft Ash Waves with Silver Undertones
Let’s talk about that perfect ash-brown to silver melt. Starting with a rich brown base, the color gradually fades into those cool-toned highlights that catch light like nobody’s business. The loose waves add movement while showing off every dimension of the blend. (And between us, it’s giving serious mermaid vibes, right?)
Soft Caramel Ribbons Through Rich Brown
Long waves come alive with perfectly placed caramel highlights that catch the light just right. The natural-looking color blend starts with a rich brown base while warm honey tones weave throughout, creating that coveted dimensional effect without trying too hard. It’s the kind of hair that makes you want to skip the heat tools and let your natural texture do its thing.
Soft Mushroom Brown Balayage for Natural-Looking Dimension
Looking for a low-maintenance way to brighten up your brunette base? The mushroom brown trend with subtle caramel ribbons gives you that perfect lived-in look without feeling overdone. By keeping the highlights a few shades lighter than your natural color, you’ll get movement and depth that grows out seamlessly. I’m loving how the painted-on technique creates those soft waves of warmth throughout – it’s basically the hair equivalent of ‘I woke up like this.’ Plus, the mid-length cut with long layers helps show off all those pretty tones while keeping things effortlessly cool.
Lived-In Ashy Brunette with Subtle Dimension
Looking for that perfect balance between natural and noticed? Soft ash-toned highlights woven through a rich brunette base create movement without trying too hard. The mid-length cut with textured ends lets those highlights catch the light just right, while keeping maintenance on the lower end of demanding. It’s the kind of color that makes people wonder if you were born with it or paid for it – and that’s exactly the point.