If you’re looking to give your brown hair a little more life and style, you can’t go past highlights. When done right, highlights have the ability to transform the appearance of your hair in the most flattering of ways. By adding light and dimension, these colored strips can create a radiant appearance. Whether you’re adding subtle, barely-there highlights or something much bolder, you would love the way they enhance and complement your base color. Of course, some combinations naturally look better than others, so it’s important to choose the right highlights for you.
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1. Warm Chocolate Hair with Blonde Highlights
Chocolate brown is a gorgeous warm shade of brown and is flattering on most people because it complements many skin tones. It is easy to wear, but if you want to create a contrast by lightening the hair, blonde highlights are a great choice. Choose darker blonde highlights for a more subtle finish, or opt for very light colors to create even more depth.
2. Brunette with Caramel Highlights
If you are looking for a way to lighten and brighten your hair, highlights are an excellent way to achieve this. Instead of opting for a bright blonde, you can choose a rich, warm color like caramel for a more blended finish. It is a versatile shade that can be added to the hair in various ways. This includes subtle babylights or thick, chunky highlights for a bold look.
3. Brown Hair with Warm Blonde Highlights
Brown hair is a fantastic color and looks great on most women. There are also various ways to adapt the color to best suit your preference, this includes adding highlights. Warm blonde is a rich shade that contains red or orange undertones and will give your hair a lift. The color will lighten your hair but subtly and naturally, giving you a sun-kissed glow.
4. Short Brown Hair with Highlights
The appeal of brown hair is its versatility it can be worn at various lengths and will complement all hair textures and types. Brown hair can also appear healthier than lighter colors because it is less likely to show damage. This is especially true for short hair because there is no appearance of split ends. If you are looking to transform your brown hair and lighten it, try warm highlights for a subtle and pretty finish.
5. Short Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Short hair for women is practical and stylish. It can make it appear healthier and it is low-maintenance and fuss-free, reducing styling time. Brown hair looks great with blonde highlights because it will give the hair depth and dimension. The right color highlights will also enhance your hair’s texture and can create a softer appearance.
6. Rich Brown Hair with Blonde and Caramel Highlights
Rich brown hair is a dark shade that can have red and orange undertones. It is a neutral color, which makes it easy to pair with other shades and will give you versatility with the color options you choose. Caramel highlights are a warm shade that is easy to wear and has a golden undertone. It will look gorgeous against a dark base and instantly give the hair a lift.
7. Red/Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Reddish brown hair is a brilliant blend of brown hair with red undertones. It is a deep, rich color that will complement all hair textures and is gorgeous on women of all ages and skin tones. This shade will make a statement, but you can also create a softer finish by pairing it with blonde highlights.
8. Natural Brown Highlights
Brown hair comes in various colors from light to dark, but you can also alter the shade with coloring techniques like highlights. They are added to the hair to lighten it but will also create depth and dimension. For a natural finish, you want to choose a color that is only one or two shades lighter than your roots.
9. Dark Brown Hair with Medium Brown Highlights
Dark brown hair is the darkest shade of brown you can choose and to create less contrast, you want to pick a medium brown shade of highlights rather than a blonde. The combination will be more subtle and blended, giving you a natural appearance. You can focus the color around the face for a framing finish, or at the end of the hair; the choice is yours.
10. Medium Brown Hair with Highlights
Medium brown is, as the name suggests, a combination of light and dark brown shades. It is a natural-looking color and is incredibly popular. It can easily be lightened with highlights which can appear soft and romantic. There are various ways to add highlights, including focusing them on the tips for an affordable and low-maintenance finish, or throughout the hair to brighten your appearance.
11. Medium Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Medium brown hair is a color that is easy to adjust to suit your preference. For those wanting to give their hair a lift and create depth and dimension, this can be achieved with blonde highlights. It is a light color with various shades but often a yellow or golden undertone.
12. Medium Brown Hair with Blonde and Red Highlights
Medium brown hair looks great when paired with lighter or darker shades. The versatile tone is flattering to most complexions and will complement hair of various textures and types. To transform your medium brown hair and create a fresh and modern finish, try pairing it with red and blonde highlights. This will give your mane a brilliant contrast and create depth and dimension.
13. Dark Brown Hair with Light Brown Highlights
For those who want to create more depth and dimension, but subtly, pair your dark brown hair with light brown highlights. It is the darkest shade of brown and it can look bold but unnatural when paired with blonde highlights. A welcome alternative then is to try light brown highlights which will give the hair a lift but in a more subtle way.
14. Brown Hair with Icy Blonde Highlights
Brown hair is a versatile color that can be worn with all hair textures and types. It complements various skin tones and can be easily adapted to suit your preference, this includes highlights. Icy blonde is a bold color choice because it is a very bright, cool color and violet or blue undertones. This makes it instantly noticeable and while it is challenging to maintain a full head of icy blonde hair, adding it to your hair with highlights is much easier to do and great for giving it a lift.
15. Dark Brown Hair with Golden Highlights
Dark brown hair looks gorgeous when paired with highlights but finding the right color is essential. Golden highlights are an excellent choice because the color is warm and will lighten the mane in a subtle and natural way. It will give you depth and dimension and it is flattering on most complexions. You can also create contrast with chunky streaks.
16. Brown Hair with Golden Highlights
Golden highlights are a mixture of warm hues that will give you a natural shine. It is stunning for the summer months if you want to lighten your hair and brighten your appearance. But that is not to say you cannot transform your brown tone in the winter too, and this is a beautiful shade for lightening in a subtle and natural way.
17. Deep Brunette Hair Color with Caramel Highlights
A deep brunette color is a general term to describe a shade of medium to dark brown. This could include chocolate, walnut, and mocha. To lighten this stunning tone, you can add highlights. There are various shades to choose from, but for a subtle finish with warm, golden undertones, caramel highlights are an excellent choice. It will brighten your appearance and lighten your hair.
18. Dark Red/Brown Hair with Caramel Highlights
A mixture of reddish brown hair is a stylish and bold option. The red undertones make the color interesting and will create a subtle contrast, giving it depth and dimension. This is a gorgeous choice on its own, but you can lighten it with caramel highlights to create a warm and golden glow. Focus the highlights around the face to create a framing effect.
19. Dark Honey Hair with Highlights
Honey brown is a warm, rich brown shade that is often golden in appearance. A dark honey tone will simply be a darker version of this hue, but one that will be complemented with highlights. They are beneficial for several reasons, including giving the hair depth and dimension and making it lighter. For the best, most natural results choose a dark blonde for your highlight color.
20. Dark Chocolate Hair with Thin Blonde Streaks
Blonde streaks are a great way to update your appearance and create a fresh and modern look. Chocolate is a dark shade of blonde but it is deep and rich in appearance and hair in this shade can look healthy and shiny. Pairing your dark chocolate base color with thin blonde streaks will create contrast while also lightening the hair.
21. Dark Chocolate Hair with Light Chocolate Highlights
There are few shades as beautiful as dark chocolate and it is flattering and versatile. The tone is deep and rich, but it is also dark and you may want to create depth and dimension by pairing it with lighter colors. Light chocolate is a brighter version of your base shade and adding it to the hair with highlights is an excellent way to achieve contrast.
22. Dark Chocolate Hair with Caramel Highlights
If you wish to transform your hair but want it to look healthy and natural, then why not add caramel highlights? It is a warm shade with golden undertones which are flattering and beautiful. This hue complements a wide range of tones including light and dark, like dark chocolate hair.
23. Dark Brunette with Brown Highlights
It is a dark shade of brown that will look gorgeous when paired with a medium or light tone of brown highlights. This will also give you a more natural finish than if you were to add lighter highlights over such a dark base coat. Instead, you will achieve a subtle contrast that will lighten your hair and brighten your appearance.
24. Dark Brown Hair with Vibrant Red Highlights
Red is a bright color and adding vibrant highlights to your dark brown hair will give you a brilliant, modern look. The highlights can enhance your natural hair texture and draw the eye to your features, but it is also expressive and fun. Focus the color around the face and toward the ends for a bold finish.
25. Dark Brown Hair with Toffee Highlights
Toffee is a beautiful, warm color that resembles confectionery. It is a blend of tones including brown, golden, and caramel, making this multi-tonal hue an excellent addition to your dark brown hair to create contrast and brighten it. Dark brown is an incredibly multifaceted shade and it is easy to wear, but your toffee highlights can soften it.
26. Dark Brown Hair with Subtle Highlights
Dark brown hair is a deep tone that will benefit from subtle highlights to give your hair an update, while also keeping it looking natural. The technique and the shade you choose will impact the overall result, and it is often best to choose a hue that is one or two shades lighter than your base color. You can also add thin streaks or babylights and focus them around the face to highlight your features.
27. Dark Brown Hair with Light Blonde Highlights
When paired with light blonde highlights, there will be a brilliant contrast in your dark brown hair. Highlights are used to lighten the hair and they can be added in various ways depending on how subtle or bold you want the finish to be. For those who want a natural look, add thin streaks or babylights to the hair and strategically place them around the face to frame it.
28. Dark Brown Hair with Honey and Blonde Highlights
Honey is a blonde shade that is warm and golden. It can also have undertones that are brown, red, and amber, making this a color that is flattering on most skin tones and can easily be added to light or dark hair. When paired with blonde highlights and added to a dark brown base, the combination will give your hair a striking blend of shades, adding depth and dimension.
29. Dark Brown Hair with Wispy Gold Highlights
Wispy gold highlights are one of the dreamiest ways to try out the highlighting technique. It is subtle and gorgeous and will give your dark brown mane an instant lift, lightening the shade in a subtle and natural way. It is the darkest tint of brown hair and will benefit from the addition of highlights, which can be placed around the face to highlight your features and give the hair a more modern finish.
30. Dark Brown Hair with Dark Blonde Highlights
When adding highlights to dark brown hair it is important to consider the shade you choose. Very light tones will create a brilliant contrast but it can also look unnatural and require higher maintenance. On the contrary, opting for a darker tone but one that is still several shades lighter than your base color will give you the lift you desire.
31. Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Streaks
Blonde streaks are added to the hair to lighten it and brighten your appearance. On dark brown hair, the streaks will be very noticeable because they are created much larger and chunkier than traditional highlights; which are often thin and more subtle in appearance. This is a bold and edgy option, which is ideal for any woman who wants to give her hair a makeover.
32. Dark Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
If you have been wanting to transform your hair and try out something fun and flattering, then highlights are for you. Dark brown hair will look stunning with blonde highlights and there is a range of shades to choose from depending on your preference. This could include very light hues like icy blonde which will make a statement, to darker, golden colors for a natural finish.
33. Dark Brown Hair Color with Chestnut Highlights
Chestnut is a deep reddish-brown hue that will complement your dark brown base. The vibrancy of this hue makes it a great choice for highlights and an excellent way to create depth and dimension while also lightening the hair. While most women opt for blonde-colored highlights, chestnut will give you something different and could feel bold and adventurous.
34. Light Brown Hair with Cool Blonde Highlights
Cool blonde is a light shade that has violet and blue tones in it. There are several hues that fall into this category that vary in vibrancy and these include platinum, ash blonde, and icy. If you have light brown hair and want to make the color pop, pairing it with your favorite cool blonde shade will look gorgeous.
35. Chocolate Hair with Chestnut Highlights
Chocolate brown is a deep tone. It looks stunning on most women because it suits different personalities and will appear great when paired with light or dark shades and it is flattering on most complexions. To create a color that is rich and bold, pair chocolate hair with chestnut highlights. Chestnut is a combination of red and brown tones and will give your hair a subtle but gorgeous contrast.
36. Chocolate Hair with Blonde Highlights
Chocolate hair gets its name because of its resemblance to confectionery. It is a rich, deep shade that is stunning and can be added to the hair in various ways. You can also lighten it and create a softer, less vibrant finish by pairing it with blonde highlights. It will make your color pop, without creating a drastic change.
37. Chocolate Hair with Blonde and Caramel Highlights
When deciding on highlights you do not have to stick to one tone and can add multiple hues to the hair to achieve a more natural and blended appearance. Blonde and caramel are often added together because the coolness of the blonde and the warmness of the caramel mix well together. Blonde and caramel highlights will give your chocolate brown hair a delectable finish.
38. Chocolate Brown Hair with Light Brown Highlights and Red Ends
The great thing about the modern approach to hair coloring techniques is that your creativity is often your only limit because colorists are so skilled. You can try out bold and bright looks or opt for something subtle. Chocolate brown hair with light brown highlights and red ends is definitely not for the faint-hearted, but the highlights will add depth while the red ends can enhance the texture.
39. Chocolate Brown Hair with Highlights
If you are looking for a way to update your chocolate brown hair and want to give it a warm glow, the best way to do this is with highlights. Your choice of highlights could be a light brown to create a subtle contrast and give you a natural finish. Or you could opt for a light blonde to create depth and dimension; the choice is yours.
40. Chocolate Brown Hair with Caramel Highlights
Chocolate brown is a deep, rich shade that is complemented by highlights, in particular warm, golden tones like caramel. It is a popular choice because it is stunning and flattering on most women, in particular those with warm and neutral skin tones. It is not a harsh tone, which makes it easy to wear, and it will look gorgeous over a dark base like chocolate brown.
41. Chestnut Hair Color with Blonde Highlights
Chestnut hair tone is a beautiful, rich blend of red and brown colors. It is a shade that will demand attention because of its vibrancy, and there are several ways to style it. Highlighting is a technique that is used to give the hair depth and dimension. You can choose from several colors in varying shades of lightness, depending on the contrast you wish to achieve.
42. Brunette Hair with Caramel Highlights
Brunette hair is incredibly flattering on women of all ages and will complement a wide range of hair textures and types. It is also sexy and can be easily adapted to suit your preference with various techniques including highlights which can transform the hair and brighten your appearance. Caramel is a brilliant blend of blonde and brown and can have undertones of red and orange.
43. Caramel Color Hair with Blonde and Auburn Highlights
Caramel hair tone is a stunning choice because it is warm and less maintenance than lighter shades like blonde. It is incredibly flattering and is a soft hue, which makes it easy to wear and great for women of all ages. If you love the hair color but want to give it a modern update, you can do this by adding blonde and auburn highlights to the hair.
44. Light Brown Hair with Caramel and Blonde Highlights
Light brown hair is, as the name suggests, the lightest shade of brown. Because your base is lighter, this makes it easier to add other light shades to the hair and will create a more subtle and natural finish. A blend of caramel and blonde highlights will create a contrast with a mix of light and dark tones.
45. Dark Blonde and Light Brown Hair with Caramel Highlights
You do not have to stick to one color and often a blend of different hues is a flattering and cool option because it allows you to find a shade combination that best suits your complexion. A mixture of light brown and blonde hair will look natural and will be complemented by warm caramel highlights to create depth and dimension.
46. Burgundy Brown Hair with Bold Red Highlights
Burgundy has been one of the hottest trends in recent years and is a great way to make a statement. The blend of red, brown, and purple tones will make your hair texture and cut even more noticeable. This is already a bold choice but will be even more so when paired with red highlights throughout.
47. Brunette Hair with Caramel Highlights
Brunette hair looks lovely when paired with caramel highlights because the warm hue will give your hair a natural-looking glow. The combination of dark and light tones will create lift and can enhance your texture. You can strategically place the color around the face, creating a framing effect that will be exceptionally flattering and will draw attention to your features.
48. Brunette Hair with Caramel and Blonde Highlights
Caramel and blonde highlights are an excellent addition to any base tone, including brunette hair, because the warmth of the caramel and the coolness of the blonde create a brilliant blend. This is the best way to achieve depth and dimension and the shades are flattering, complementing most skin tones and appealing to women of all ages.
49. Brunette Hair with Auburn Highlights
When women with brunette hair decide to add highlights to their hair most opt for a shade of blonde hair, but, for those looking for something different, auburn highlights are an excellent alternative. It is a shade of red hair that has brown or orange tones and can vary in vibrancy, ranging from light or dark. It will make your mane look warmer.
50. Brown Hair with Brown Highlights
Brown hair is gorgeous when worn naturally, but highlights are appealing because they help to create contrast or give it depth and dimension. For the perfect blend of tones, brown hair with brown highlights is the way to go. This combination will leave you with a subtle tone change that will create a slight contrast and give your hair a beautiful glow.
51. Brown Hair with Red Highlights
Red is bold and vibrant shade and adding red highlights to your brown hair is a guaranteed way to make the color pop. You can choose subtle red highlights to give your hair warmth. Or be adventurous with chunky streaks that demand attention. The shade of red you choose will also affect the results, and picking a color that is similar to your natural hue will give you the most desired finish.
52. Brown Hair with Highlights
Highlights are one of the most popular techniques because they can be added to the hair in various ways and are often less maintenance than a full-color change. Highlights will create a contrast with your base shade and can create depth and dimension. They can also enhance your texture and make your cut more noticeable. If you have brown hair and you’re looking for a way to update it, this is how.
53. Brown Hair with Golden Highlights
Golden blonde is a warm hue that is a blend of honey, gold, and blonde tones. It feels buttery and warm and is an excellent way to brighten brown hair. The tone change will be subtle, especially when added in thin streaks or babylights, and will give your hair a glow when it catches the light.
54. Brown Hair with Dark Blonde Highlights
Dark blonde is often easier to wear than lighter blonde hues and will require less upkeep and maintenance. It is a shade between light brown and blonde and looks natural and beautiful. It is also flattering on most skin tones and because it is not a vibrant shade, it is easy to wear. To give your brown hair depth without opting for a full-color change, dark blonde highlights are an excellent choice.
55. Brown Hair with Blonde and Caramel Highlights
The combination of blonde and caramel highlights is a match made in heaven. It will give your brown hair a warm, buttery, and super luxurious finish and banish bad hair days for good. This blend will catch the light and make your hair glow. It is also a low-maintenance option and will add texture and depth to the hair.
56. Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Are you wanting to embrace a color change and give your hair a modern update? Well, without changing your color entirely, you can give your hair depth and dimension with the addition of highlights. On brown hair, blonde highlights will look gorgeous and will lighten your hair but also brighten your appearance. Choose a light shade of blonde to create more contrast.
57. Blonde and Brown Hair
Is the combination of blonde and brown shades the perfect look for your hair? There is a good chance that this is true because this is a classic pairing and a brown base color will always look incredible with blonde highlights. This is because the lighter shade will create a contrast, enhancing your texture and giving the hair depth.
58. Ash Brown Hair with Caramel Highlights
Every woman understands the importance of having great-looking hair because it can give you confidence and make you feel incredible. Ash brown is a medium shade of brown and a distinct color because of the grey undertones in the hair, which make it unique and interesting. The hue is cool-toned, so to give your hair warmth you can pair it with dreamy caramel highlights.
59. Ash Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
There is so much to love about highlights and they are often more affordable and less time-consuming than other hair coloring techniques. Blonde highlights on ash-brown hair will let the base color pop, while also making it lighter and creating contrast. Focus your highlights around your face to soften your features and draw attention to your eyes.
60. Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Do brunettes have more fun? Maybe, but why not try the best of both worlds by combining brown hair with subtle blonde highlights to create the lift and glow you have been dreaming of? There are various shades to choose from ranging from light to dark and it is a color that will complement all hair textures and will be flattering on women of all ages.
Brown Hair Color FAQs
What color highlights look good on brown hair?
Any lighter brown and blonde shades look beautiful as highlights in brunette hair. Try caramel, honey, gold, natural brown, toffee, or chestnut highlights. These all look great in both dark, medium, and light brown hair. If you want something more adventurous, try icy blond or vibrant red, which contrasts incredibly against darker browns.
How can I highlight my brown hair at home?
Some brands, such as L’Oreal Paris, have kits designed explicitly for highlights with a special brush to make it easier. Alternatively, you can use a regular dye brush and paint the highlights on by hand. It helps if you style your hair as you usually would to identify the strands you should color. Choose pieces of hair that the sun would naturally hit, and apply the dye. The highlighted strand should be no more than a quarter-inch wide to keep it looking natural. Wash out, tone if required, and style as usual.
What highlights and lowlights for brown hair?
Highlights should be at least two to three shades lighter than your base color and sit where the sun would naturally hit your hair. On the flipside, lowlights should be two to three shades darker than the base and provide additional depth and dimension. You can do one or the other, or both. Good color combinations include caramel and chocolate, icy blond and dark brown, or red and deep auburn.
Should brunettes get highlights?
Brunettes don’t have to get highlights, but it is a great way to add movement, dimension, and interest if your hair feels a bit flat. Brown hair is one of the easiest and most versatile shades to add highlights to, as it works with so many different hues from caramel and honey to icy blond and red.
Are highlights better to cover grey?
If you don’t have many greys, highlights are a great way to cover and disguise them without changing your whole hair color. It can also look more natural, as well. The different shades will help distract from the greys, making them look like part of the style and minimizing regrowth. However, if you have a lot of greys, coloring all over will still be the best option.
Cailyn Cox holds a degree in journalism and has been working with The Trend Spotter as a writer for over ten years. She has worked with some of the most prestigious women’s and men's lifestyle publications. For her, writing is not just a job; it’s a passion, which is why each article she writes is approached with such enthusiasm and dedication. She has extensive knowledge of hairstyles, tattoos, and beauty and has made a career out of creating informative articles that appeal to women and men of all ages.
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