Nowadays, single-tone hair colors are quite common. In contrast, techniques like highlights, balayage, and color blocking can truly transform your hair. These methods rejuvenate your color and provide depth and texture, giving your dark brown hair a chic and glamorous look. Experimenting with different hair colors can be enjoyable, especially when you leave it to a professional. When you visit a salon, the stylist will want to know your preferences. This article will guide you in making your decision!
What are the best ways to select ideal highlights for dark brown hair?
First, you should determine the effect you want to achieve. Some women choose subtle ombre or highlights that add a natural-looking shimmer to their hair’s base color. Others like bolder color transitions or distinct sections, which can give their haircut a more striking and modern feel. For dark hair, contrasting color accents such as platinum blonde, deep red, copper, or purple, as well as lighter shades like caramel, walnut, bronze, or toffee, can be very appealing. It is essential to select colors that complement your skin tone. Shades like bronze, copper, and rich reds enhance darker skin tones beautifully, while medium skin tones pair well with deep browns, coppers, and toffee. Those with fair skin can opt for blondes, platinum, ash tones, and lighter caramel shades. Be sure to explore our curated collection of looks that highlight the latest hair dye trends for 2024.
1. Light Brown Balayage
@thechemicalqueen
A light brown balayage on dark hair creates a stunning gradient effect. The highlights are skillfully placed to make your dark hair appear naturally sun-kissed. This technique is not only subtle and elegant but also easier to maintain than other highlighting methods.
2. Brown Balayage
If you have long black hair, consider adding highlights to enhance its texture and showcase your lovely layered locks. Additionally, for a shinier and more glamorous appearance, you can use a curling wand to create stunning curls.
@cierra.fleischmann
3. Bronze Highlights
A layered haircut can enhance the depth of your waves, and if you opt for subtle highlights on dark brown hair, you’ll achieve a chic hairstyle that looks stunning whether your hair is styled up or left down. Just take a look at it! It boasts texture, volume, and beautifully blended colors. If you desire this style, a layered cut with jagged ends is a great choice as well.
4. Steel Gray Highlights
Gray hair is no longer just for your grandparents! The trend of dyeing hair gray has gained popularity, particularly among younger people. If you want to experiment with this trend, opting for soft gray or light blue chunky highlights can be an excellent way to try a new hair color without fully committing to a completely different shade.
5. Golden Brown Highlights
That lovely golden hue in your dark brown hair will give you the appearance of having spent an entire day at the beach, completely carefree.
6. Warm Blonde Balayage
Blonde highlights can completely change your hair’s look. They can elevate a plain, lifeless style to one that exudes glamour and is sure to attract compliments. If you’re aiming for that coveted summer glow, the balayage technique is the perfect choice.
@jennabessihair
7. Chocolate and Caramel Balayage
Delicious chocolate and caramel tones highlight the exquisite allure of her brown hair. Achieving the balayage effect can be challenging, but the results justify the cost and effort involved.
8. Ash Brown Highlights
If you’re looking for a hint of glamour, you should definitely consider subtle highlights. They will enhance your hairstyle with a lovely sheen that you’ll adore.
@erinl.lambert
9. Cool-Toned Brown Balayage
Maintain your natural roots while incorporating a dark bronde balayage. This will elevate your brunette hair with a touch of elegance.
10. Honey Blonde Highlights
If you’re looking to lighten your look, think about transforming your dark brown hair with blonde highlights. This combination creates a stylish and vibrant contrast that complements any skin tone. Consult your colorist to find the perfect shade that will enhance your features and make your hair stand out!
11. Caramel Balayage
Caramel balayage on dark brown hair is incredibly beautiful. This transition is seamless while also being quite fashionable. Additional dark strands at the ends add to the overall depth and dimension.
12. Subtle Caramel Highlights
Subtle caramel highlights provide your hair with a natural, glowing appearance that isn’t overly bold. To obtain this effect, it’s important to develop a gentle gradient from dark brown to light caramel highlights. Incorporating soft waves into your hairstyle will enhance the elegance and sophistication of this look.
@linsonhair
13. Dimensional Golden Brown Highlights
A fantastic way to refresh brown hair is by incorporating dimensional golden brown highlights. Brightening the ends of your layers adds a playful and warm look that looks stunning, whether your hair is styled straight or wavy.
@aimee_cuts_and_dyes
14. Bronze Highlights
Golden highlights can enhance the beauty of any hair color, whether it’s caramel brown or deep brunette. Request your stylist to lighten a few strands and style your hair into lovely loose waves for a stunning transformation!
15. Chocolate Brown Babylights
If you adore your base color but want to enhance it slightly, try adding some stylish curls with a flat iron and incorporating a few babylights. These brown highlights can truly transform your appearance.
@jillainhair_mua
16. Lived-In Caramel Highlights
If you’re looking to revitalize your appearance without overly altering your brown hair, consider adding beautiful caramel babylights. These delicate highlights will introduce warmth, brightness, and depth to your dark chocolate color.
@hairstylist.madison
17. Skinny Brown Highlights
Subtle light brown highlights can beautifully accentuate your face. They work particularly well for round or heart-shaped faces and are a good option if you’re looking to experiment with new colors like copper or honey-blonde. To maintain a stylish appearance, it’s best to avoid overly contrasting colors, keeping the look understated.
@laurakay.hair
18. Thin Caramel Highlights
Subtle highlights can turn lackluster hair into a stylish and sophisticated look. Your hair will gain shine and luster, making you feel fantastic! Ultimately, isn’t that the goal of any makeover?
@hair2dyeforu
19. Subtle and Soft Highlights
Not every highlight needs to be bold! For someone trying highlights for the first time, it’s advisable to choose a shade that’s a bit lighter than their natural hair color for a softer, more subtle effect. This approach is ideal if you’re feeling apprehensive about how the highlights will look.
@styledbycarolyn
20. Copper on Black Base
Copper highlights on black hair create a breathtaking contrast because of the vibrancy and depth of both colors. To ensure the copper shade stands out and makes a statement, ask your hairstylist to apply the highlights all the way to the roots.
21. Warm Brown Balayage
Adding highlights that are one or two shades lighter than your natural hair color will bring a fresh vibrancy to your deep natural hue. This look is particularly flattering for women with warm skin tones.
22. Subtle Partial Highlights
You don’t always require bold colors or thick highlights. Sometimes, simplicity is the best approach. You can achieve this appearance with softly done light brown highlights.
@erin_mckay
23. Face-Framing Highlights
Layered hair naturally appears voluminous. However, if you want to enhance its dimension further, consider adding face-framing highlights that are slightly lighter than your natural color. This technique works especially well for girls and women with fine hair.
@linsonhair
24. Copper Highlights
Cooper is an amazing color that completely changes your hair when combined with a darker base tone. Adding some loose curls can enhance the definition of your highlights, and it’s worth doing since they look so beautiful and elegant.
25. Luminescent Highlights
Illuminate your hair! This combination of hues is vibrant and sparkles as if glitter were woven into it. If you want your hair to truly make a statement, this style with caramel highlights is essential.
@hair_by_bailey_
26. Roasted Almond Highlights
Hair that is brown with almond-colored highlights presents a striking and attractive look. Conversely, almond hair enhanced with brown lowlights is equally distinctive and captivating. No matter which combination you choose, apply the contrasting color all the way to the roots to achieve a charming balayage effect as your hair lengthens.
@hairstylist.madison
27. Partial Matte Copper Balayage
If you’re looking to enhance your hairstyle subtly, consider getting partial highlights. This technique involves applying highlights to select areas of your hair. In this case, streaks are added around the face to create a brightening effect and to frame it. The outcome is a simple, understated appearance.
@hairbymichaelaokeefe
28. Subtle Golden Brown Highlights
If you’re fond of your dark hair and prefer to keep it natural, consider adding some highlights at the ends. Curl the highlighted sections, and you’ll achieve a look that’s fit for a shampoo commercial. Dark hues reflect light, ensuring your hair always looks its best.
@thehairstandard
29. Delicate Face Framing
These wavy chocolate tresses appear very full, thanks to the light chocolate highlights that are predominantly placed at the front. This hairstyle will be especially beautiful on women with dark brown hair that has warm undertones, as well as those with warm skin tones.
30. Nuanced Underlights
You can choose the intensity of your highlights, making them as bold or subtle as you prefer. Although many people use highlights to alter their hair’s overall color, they can also serve as gentle accents. A few strands of color can enhance curly hairstyles and will become more noticeable with movement.
31. Chestnut Highlights
Natural dark brown hair is stunning, but trying out different shades and adding highlights can make it even more striking! Use a volumizing product and a curling iron to style your curls for added flair.
@hairbyedwin
32. Shine-Boosting Brunette Highlights
If you’re looking to enhance the appearance of your hair, adding a few subtle highlights can achieve that effect. Additionally, loose waves are a great way to introduce texture, and they are a favorite among many women.
@styledbycarolyn
33. Ash Brown Balayage
Soft brown highlights are ideal for brunettes looking to achieve an effortlessly stylish appearance. While curls can enhance the look, they aren’t necessary as long as your balayage is done beautifully.
@sincerely__melissa
34. Barely There Brown Highlights
Certain highlights are so subtle that they appear to be entirely natural. If you’re considering highlights but have concerns about the result, opt for a soft approach by adding lighter strands in an uneven pattern. This style is straightforward, yet it looks effortless and is perfect for someone who prefers a natural aesthetic.
@hailtothehair
35. Babylights and Partial Highlights
Consider mixing both partial highlights and babylights into your hair for an exciting burst of color. When applied throughout your entire hairstyle, they can enhance your natural hair color and emphasize your facial features effectively.
36. Chocolate Brown Highlights
Medium-length chocolate hair can quickly be refreshed with light brown highlights. This color pairing is appealing regardless of hair length, but wearing it in waves will enhance the overall effect.
@simone_studiograntham
37. Ashy Ribbon Highlights
This incredibly long dark brown hair with highlights is simply enchanting! Part your hair down the center, create some soft waves, and you’ll carry yourself with an effortless confidence. You’ll find it impossible to tire of this captivating style. Everyone will be focused on you!
38. Sun-Kissed Highlights
Okay, we acknowledge that chestnut hair isn’t typically associated with a “sun-kissed” look, but the bronde technique gives this beautiful hairstyle an effortlessly natural appearance. These golden highlights require minimal maintenance and upkeep, making it an ideal choice for a busy girl.
@jeffersonbolina
39. Cinnamon Swirls
The “cinnamon swirl” effect combines the ideals of hair and dessert. It features a striking contrast of light and dark tones in the hair, resulting in a dynamic appearance. In this style, the dark base color represents the Danish pastry, while the lighter brown highlights mimic the cinnamon filling. Irresistible!
@alissonacostaoficial_
40. Bright Blonde Highlights
Take a look at how this dark brown hair is enhanced by blonde highlights, thoughtfully applied around the face. These fashionable and striking highlights will add fresh colors to your natural shade. By styling your hair to the side, you can achieve additional volume on top.
@hairbyydani
41. Milk Chocolate Highlights
These highlights appear entirely natural! The milk chocolate shade gives you a look that seems like you’ve never visited a salon. Since these highlights are quite subtle, you can easily transition from the office to an after-work get-together. It’s a style that matches your versatility perfectly!
42. Caramel Color Melt
This perfect caramel melt enhances a vibrant and captivating appearance that catches attention. Additionally, because your roots remain untouched, this color offers a low-maintenance option.
43. Distinct Blonde Highlights
At first glance, these may appear to be just basic blonde highlights, but a detailed examination reveals that they are skillfully blended with light chocolate tones. This ombre style creates a boho chic appearance that will set you apart from others. After all, who wouldn’t want shiny dark brown hair complemented by blonde highlights?
@southmarksouth
44. Chocolate Ribbon Highlights
Feel free to try out different hair dye techniques to make your look unique! Choose something bold and fun, such as these stunning chocolate balayage highlights. Lighten up your dark brown hair with some lighter strands to create depth and texture.
@desanchez.ss
45. Muted Cool-Toned Highlights
Dark brown hair with subtle highlights may not stand out, but it remains captivating, particularly when styled in loose beachy waves. To further boost the volume of your hair, apply a texture paste or gel, and soon you’ll find yourself receiving plenty of compliments.
46. Caramel Brown Streaks
Streaks differ from highlights in that the colored sections are bigger and more noticeable. While they have a natural appearance, streaks can look very vibrant when the hair is styled straight. To achieve beachy waves, scrunch your long hair while it’s damp and use volumizing mousse for a playful, mermaid-inspired look.
@live_love_dohair
47. Stretched Golden Brown Highlights
Stretched highlights are a low-maintenance approach to hair coloring. They allow for a subtle transition without a noticeable regrowth line, even after several months, as illustrated here. When your hair is straight, the color looks seamlessly blended and natural.
48. Subtle Dimensional Highlights
Dimensional highlights are gentle yet effectively add depth. They are fine enough to remain understated, yet abundant and prominent for all the right reasons.
@beth_at_thebhc
49. Glossy Bronze Highlights
The light bronze highlights have been applied to create a smooth and natural transition. Using a curling iron to style your hair enhances the appearance of the balayage color, and you can complete your hairstyle with a spray of shine spray for extra gloss.
50. Ash Brown Ombre
Ombre hair is equally trendy as balayage, so consider merging the two styles with balayage ombre highlights. In this case, you achieve the same gradient effect characteristic of both methods, but it involves distinct color blocks transitioning from dark to light without any dark strands remaining underneath. Balayage ombre looks its best when your hair is styled in a messy or naturally tousled manner.
@judy.mai.hair
51. Caramel and Burgundy Balayage
Be daring and craft a stunning hue by mixing caramel and burgundy tones. Step outside the norm and embrace your individuality! If blue or green are the colors of your eyes, this hairstyle is essential for you.
52. Delicate Chestnut Balayage
If you’re new to highlighting your hair and want to experiment, think about brightening your dark locks with light brown highlights. This chestnut balayage is perfect for beginners because of its subtle and gentle appearance.
53. Toffee Highlights
The combination of dark brown and toffee will certainly look stunning. If you have long hair, consider asking your stylist to add more highlights to create a striking, contemporary look.
@hairbyangelaalberici
54. High-Contrast Highlights
If your hair is very dark, it’s advisable to gradually lighten it over multiple sessions. The truth is that, even with the use of bleach, reaching your desired color may take some time since darker shades often turn into an undesirable brassy tone. Afterward, you’ll need to tone your hair or apply an ash dye to achieve the right look.
@constancerobbins
55. High-Contrast Caramel Balayage
In this balayage example, the caramel blonde shade stands out prominently against the model’s naturally dark hair. The smooth gradient from the roots to the tips is gentle enough to avoid being too harsh or overwhelming, yet it still has a strong visual effect.
@jenghair
56. Dark and White Chocolate
If you’re open to daring choices, a striking difference in hair colors, such as dark brown highlights, can appear very vibrant and attention-grabbing.
@american_salon
57. Chocolate and Copper Balayage
A shade that complements all skin tones, milk chocolate hair featuring hints of copper and darker roots creates a sophisticated and stylish look throughout the year. Just use a curling iron to add curls to your hair, and then smooth it out with your fingers using a styling balm for a refined, glamorous finish.
@hairbyparris
58. Brown on Black Base
Brown is usually not a common choice for highlights on black hair, as it might not be very visible. While it isn’t a bright color, it can add a sun-kissed brightness and depth to richly pigmented hair. This look is perfect for women seeking a subtle hairstyle that remains fashionable and can adapt to various occasions.
@mina_huynhchi
59. Blonde Money Piece
If you’ve chosen to transform your hairstyle with a low-maintenance option, we recommend opting for something like money piece highlights. By emphasizing the area around your face, you can be confident that you’ve selected a style that offers maximum visual effect.
@jeffersonbolina
60. Dark to Milk Chocolate Melt
You can quickly introduce warmth and allure to dark hair by incorporating highlights. Opting for a seamless color blend is perfect if you’re looking for a change without a long-term commitment. The outcome is a gentle, matte hue that appears beautiful and unique.
@hairbykacie1
All celebrities are actively using highlights and ombre to present their breathtaking hairstyles on the red carpet and big events. Follow their best examples, borrowing the ideas you like and creating your own individual style.
