45 Flattering Style Options For Brown Hair With Highlights (2023)

Brown hair with highlights can be quite stunning. With all of the styling options available today, there is no end to the looks you can get with brown tones, especially with gorgeous highlights.

However, brown hair is quite beautiful on its own. And if you are a natural brunette, you are extremely blessed.

And last but not least, brown hair color is very trendy right now. Hair with highlights, lowlights, or babylights is really elegant. Also, you can consider a pretty brown balayage or ombre to spice it up a bit!

Brown Hair With Blonde Highlights

Even though women still tend to compare blonde and brunette shades, the most flattering and natural looks are born only when these two are mixed! They enhance one another, adding depth or natural shine to the hair color, thus creating a perfect balance and dimension in the hair. Of course, highlights are the best ways to blend these two iconic colors, and here are the hottest ideas for this year.

Light Brown Balayage For Brunette Hair

Credit photo: instagram.com/ashley.m.stylist

Believe it or not, but the most authentic looks are achieved by sticking to one color palette. Yes, we all know that blonde accents work stunningly for brunettes. But, come on, let’s think differently: nothing goes better with brunette shades than the matching brown ones. And this balayage will certainly prove that.

While highlights are just painted streaks, balayage involves coloring your hair in a free-hand manner, sweeping the dye onto the sections. So, your task is to decide what effect you want to get. For more blended looks, consider mixing light and dark brunette shades for balayage. And if you are more into strand coloring, you can try light brown hair with auburn highlights, for example.

Golden And Ash Blonde Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/ashley.m.stylist

Sometimes brunettes come up with the thought of going for a lighter hair shade. In fact, this is how our moody nature works. We just can’t do without color experiments. So why don’t you make the lighter tones take over your base in this combo?

Instead of simply combining blonde highlights with brown hair, you can create your own light palette that goes from a smooth brunette base and graduates to ashy and golden tones, forming a refined happy medium between blonde and brown colors.

Face-Framing Balayage

Credit photo: instagram.com/sheffpavelstylist

Besides adding something new to your everyday palette, balayage can bring even more advantages to your life, and some of them are just priceless. Once you find the right coloring pattern, your brand new color combination can be a flattering detail for your face. Yes, not only cuts can do the framing.

To make this framing fairytale real, you should ask your colorist to put an accent to the front tresses. It can be a subtle balayage with an accentuating blonde shade, for instance. Or you can frame your brown hair with caramel highlights. To enhance the effect, wave the highlighted front and see the difference.

Subtle And Soft Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/suetyrrellstylist

No wonder that girls who seek natural looks for their dark brown hair do not fancy adding blonde elements to it. Some just like to stay loyal to their colors because added ones, even if they’re not too drastic, may draw attention from the beauty of their natural hair.

If you’re one of such girls and you feel that you want to enhance the charm of your color, we strongly recommend that you adorn your dark brown hair with light brown highlights. It’s a subtle coloring decision that won’t be too noticeable to a naked eye. But, it will provide your hair with some effortless and lively dimension, which we can’t have too much.

Ash Blonde Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/suetyrrellstylist

Now, it’s time to talk about the moments when you feel super tired of your natural hair color. It may happen to you at any time, and this idea will show you how to deal with the need for changes. Just try sporting brown hair with highlights!

Ash blonde highlights with a soft greyish undertone is a fascinating way to take a break from the brown hair color. Let the highlights be super intense. Ask your colorist to create a gradation from a darker to a lighter tone. If you’d like to keep a trace of brown, dark roots also won’t hurt. Keep in mind that this idea will perfectly flatter girls with porcelain skin and green or grey eyes.

Golden Blonde Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/sheffpavelstylist

Here comes another classic variation of dark brown hair with blonde highlights that can actually take your brunette hair color to a completely new level. The variety of contrastive colors in your hair can make it appear thicker visually, showing every strand in a new light.

The point of such color decisions is to add lighter hues to the dark primary, yet, without hiding it. Whether you’re a lady with pale skin or a sexy tanned girl, there’s no way this timeless combo won’t work for you. Golden shades are considered the most versatile choice when it comes to coloring.

Light Ash Brown With Blonde Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/sheffpavelstylist

Once you feel that your current mood is all about light shades, it’s time to pair your light brown hair with blonde highlights! Light ash brown is gorgeous as it is, but when it’s accompanied by blonde highlights, nothing can compare to the fascinating dynamics of the color combo.

Obviously, this idea is meant for ladies with light skin tones: it can emphasize their peachy undertones, creating an authentic look.

Cool Highlights With Dark Roots

Credit photo: instagram.com/ashley.m.stylist

As you know, your brown hair with highlights can be as different, eye-catching, and unique as you want. And the idea of cool accents is something that will change your image of this coloring technique once and for all.

Ladies who appreciate the trendy combination of dark brown hair with purple highlights will love the way these colors melt with one another. Of course, applying pastel colors can be a commitment, yet the look is worth a try.

You can start with your deep brown roots, leaving them as they are, and gradually go for a cool lilac base, finishing the color masterpiece with whitish purple highlights.

Drama Queen

Credit photo: instagram.com/ashley.m.stylist

When you are feeling daring, try this dramatic style with very light blonde highlights on deep, dark brown for a striking contrast that is almost artistic.

Blonde Highlighted Waves

Credit photo: instagram.com/off7thsalon

One of the best ways to put your natural hair color in the spotlight is to go for truly distinctive and even contrastive highlights. If you want to lighten up your dark or medium brown hair with blonde highlights, go big then!

Let the blonde strands be as visible as possible, but make sure they won’t overlap with your natural brow hue. The popular coloring will make your hair look dimensional and full due to the play of colors. Just look at how gorgeous the short brown hair with blonde highlights looks when it’s waved! Isn’t that enough to give it a try?

Dark To Honey Ombre

Credit photo: instagram.com/thassiodutra

Dark brown hair is naturally beautiful, however, we know how to make it even more stunning. What we suggest you is the dark to honey transition. Curl it up and you are ready for the win! In case you'd like to learn how to highlight hair at home yourself, you can achieve such a look by going just a half-tone lighter, as darker manes usually give warm undertones when bleched.

Long Curly Sandy Ombre

Переглянути цей допис в Instagram

Допис, поширений Roxy Akopyan (@roxybeautytouch)

Would you like the vacation mood to stay with you for a little longer? Then go for sandy ombre! Every look in the mirror will take you back to the warmth of sandy beaches and the ocean.

Fabulous Brown Hair With Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/stephanie_stylist

Credit photo: instagram.com/cristen_smith

When we say rainbow hair, the first thing that comes to mind is bright-colored hair. But what we have in mind here is the variety of shades starting from blonde to dark brown intertwined together. The effect is indeed breath-taking!

Different Shades Of Brown Highlights

Once you decide that the next makeover will be all about highlights, you open the world of endless color choices. The brown hair color chart is pretty diverse itself, so you are free to mix your own unique brunette base, as well as enhance it with another lighter brown hue. Although the ways to combine browns are infinite, we've collected the most prominent ideas for those who either want to become a brunette or give a fresh take at their brown manes.

Chestnut Brown Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/petermenezes

Remember that you always can play around with your brown hair, as the diversity of the brown hair color chart is pretty impressive. Those lucky ones who proudly sport dark shades of brown can accentuate their colors with lighter brunette hues.

Chocolate brown hair with highlights that are two tones lighter will look as if your hair faded, which appears very attractive and lightweight at the same time. The best thing is that it will look ravishing against any complexion!

Sandy Brown Hair With Golden Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/sheffpavelstylist

Do you know the main advantage of looks that feature light brown hair with highlights? They are effortless, which means that even though your colorist mixes a couple of new colors, they will blend naturally into your brownish base, highlighting the beauty of your color.

Ladies who flaunt their medium brown hair that is close to a wet-sandy shade can nicely accentuate their deep warm locks with a touch of golden highlights. They will not only give a fresh take on your primary hair color but will also enliven your green eyes and a tawny skin tone.

Bob With Multi-Toned Lowlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/balayageombre

Want to create depth in your hair, adding more movement and dimension at the same time? You need to become friends with lowlights. In simple words, it’s just the opposite for highlights: the added colors involve darker accents for lighter bases.

Whether you wear a short bob or rock your days with a long chevelure, this coloring technique will adapt to any image. Nowadays, it’s very trendy to opt for faded and washed out colors. So, you can embellish your light brown hair with caramel highlights and lowlights. The lowlights will make the look deeper, while the highlights will accentuate the ends, thus producing a multi-toned, a bit washed-out color.

Light Honey Brown Tresses

Credit photo: instagram.com/michaelgrayhair

This warm, natural look with caramel-colored highlights and light brown undertones is classy and sophisticated at once. In other words, you won't go wrong with this combo if you need a new take at your base.

Caramel Balayage

Credit photo: instagram.com/hair_by_zolotaya

If you have naturally dark brown hair but want a softer look, this stylish mix of caramel and brown balayage tones is especially dazzling.

Soft And Subtle

Credit photo: instagram.com/salsalhair

If you are new to highlights and don’t want anything too bold for your first try, why not get some thin blonde streaks woven in your natural brown strands for a subtle look?

Luscious Lowlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/sheffpavelstylist

Add some alternating lowlights and highlights to your base color in order to create more depth and volume.

Caramel Highlights For Dark Brown Hair

Credit photo: instagram.com/flirtwithjoy

Credit photo: instagram.com/flirtwithjoy

Credit photo: instagram.com/aimee_cuts_and_dyes

Brown hair with highlights is the easiest way out for those who do not seek some dramatic change. Go for something that is slightly different from your natural shade, just to add some silky glow to your mane.

Cool And Trendy Autumn Colors

Credit photo: instagram.com/stephanie_stylist

Credit photo: instagram.com/stephanie_stylist

Credit photo: instagram.com/stephanie_stylist

Your locks will look mesmerizing if you spend a bit more time on styling: in fact, even a soft wave will be enough to intensify the color play on your locks.

Honey-Shaded Brown Hair With Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/jleighwebdoeshair

Credit photo: instagram.com/jleighwebdoeshair

Credit photo: instagram.com/flirtwithjoy

Despite what they may say, it is always easier to work with middle length hair. Just look at these honey-shaded highlights making the hair look so shiny and bright even without much effort.

Deep Dark Brown Hair With Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/xo.farhana.balayage

Credit photo: instagram.com/amhair_

Brown hair with blonde highlights is the perfect solution for those who think about going blonde, but still not ready for the commitment. Apart from that, it also looks very stylish and trendy. Show off those blonde highlights of yours with the light waves added to your locks.

Brown Hair With Red Highlights

Red hair colors are the most sought-after picks of this year, especially if they're applied as highlights. And the good news is that your brown mane can easily get that warm accent and therefore spice up your look with a fiery character! Since brown stands pretty close to red, you can switch from one shade to another without much commitment or bleaching, and now you're going to behold the most amazing ways to build balance with brown hair and red highlights.

Brunette Tones With Purple Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/xostylistxo

Why not take a chance and add some red-to-purple highlights to this cute and stylish asymmetrical cut?

Light Brown And Reddish Caramel Tones

Credit photo: instagram.com/balayageombre

This youthful style with light brown hair and soft, buttery caramel highlights gives off a trendy, diminutive air of excitement.

Chestnut Sombre

Credit photo: instagram.com/brookebent

Highlights, whatever they are, always play the role of the most distinctive detail of your look, even if they are added minimally. Some girls prefer softer and more seamless color gradations to accentuating ones. That’s why we’d like to share a subtle sombre idea with you.

Sombre is a soft version of the popular ombre coloring, where colors melt more organically. Such a technique is usually chosen by women with dark hair, as it can perfectly spice up the hair at midway with a matching color. So why don’t you ask your colorist for chestnut sombre over your dark base instead of the commonly offered dark brown hair with highlights?

Burst Of Pink

Credit photo: instagram.com/michellehair

Hair with highlights doesn't have to stick to traditional shades of brunette and blonde. Why not add some neon pink streaks in your gorgeous brown tresses?

A-Line Cut With Streaks Of Copper

Credit photo: instagram.com/sharchang

It’s no secret that every lady thought about adding some bold colors to her brunette shade at least once in her life. Yet, those who appreciate all things natural tend to stay away from this idea because they don’t want to sacrifice a healthy and effortless look. And you know what? You can spice up your brown hair with red highlights. Just make sure that they match your roots and that they’re not too intense.

Soft, copper streaks that remind you of the good old henna will add natural reddish shining to the brown hue, without standing out too much. It’s a nice idea for girls with fair to medium skin tones who want to add some warmth to their overall look.

Dark Brown With Hints Of Auburn

Credit photo: instagram.com/balayageombre

If you prefer a darker look, this rich combo of deep brown locks with auburn highlights gives off a very sexy vibe.

Reddish Highlights For Dark Brunettes

Credit photo: instagram.com/irisdoeshair_

It’s never too late to reveal your fiery soul, and your brown hair will help you to do that! A soft red ombre or reddish highlights in pastels will work awesome for ladies with dark chestnut or black hair, as the contrast of deep and vibrant shades never fails.

Brown hair with red highlights can flatter any girl, regardless of her initial hair color. But for a really natural look, it’s better to work with dark bases and light or warm complexions.

Also, based on your preferences you can regulate the intensity of color. For example, this fall can’t do without soft and pastel shades!

Red To Dark Blue Long Bob

Credit photo: instagram.com/off7thsalon

When you are still afraid to devote to the solid bright color, adding blue highlights is the perfect suggestion, not to mention that it looks very sweet and feminine.

Brown To Caramel Ombre

Credit photo: instagram.com/centro_degrade_joelle

Brown to caramel ombre looks so tasty that if you could, you would try to eat it, wouldn’t you? The transition is so soft and gradual that, no matter where you go, the gazes will follow.

Auburn Strands

Credit photo: instagram.com/hairbyjessysilva

What can make your hair look more radiant than the addition of bright auburn strands?

As you can see, these captivating color combinations for brown with highlights are quite breathtaking!

Chestnut Brown Hair With Highlights

Credit photo: instagram.com/balayageartists

Credit photo: instagram.com/cristen_smith

Credit photo: instagram.com/cristen_smith

Those with really dark brown hair will benefit from adding some gold into their hair. The gold highlights will create the sun-kissed effect and ladies with the hair like that can’t be anything but gorgeous-looking!

Now that you've seen the hottest looks that you can create with brown hair colors, you've got everything to make your next color session game-changing. Today, we've shown you how you can accentuate your natural shade to love it even more, as well as make it more dramatic with the vivid side of brown hair color chart. Whenever you feel the need for color inspo, come back: we will be constantly updating this gallery for our trendy brunettes.

FAQ: Brown Hair With Highlights

REFERENCES:

• Whether you prefer traditional foil highlights or balayage, all over highlights or babylights, this roundup has the best hair color ideas for brown hair with highlights. Source
• We`ve rounded up examples of dark brown hair with highlights to show to your colorist. Source