They say blondes have more fun, but lately, brunettes are stealing the spotlight. Brown hair is one of the most versatile shades out there, and it instantly transforms with the addition of highlights.
From sun-kissed brunette balayage to rich, spicy tones with a hint of red, the options are endless. The key is knowing what you want your brunette to deliver: extra dimension, a boost of texture, or more volume.
With the right placement of highlights, you can achieve all three, creating a dimensional look full of depth, movement, and body.
That’s when the fun really begins. Depending on the shades you choose, your brunette can lean cool and sophisticated, soft and natural, or bold with striking contrast.
Ahead, you’ll find some of the most stunning brown hair with highlights transformations you’ll definitely want to screenshot (and maybe take straight to your colorist).
1. Light Brown Hair With Highlights
Brunette hair with highlights is one of the most popular sun-kissed looks that accentuates the beauty of brunette hair and its texture.
Blonde money piece (lighter sections around your face) makes this style look super natural, giving that lived-in blonde hair vibes.
2. Dark Brown Hair With Caramel Highlights
Caramel highlights on dark brown hair are more subtle than classic blonde highlights.
Still, they also give you a stunning sun-kissed appearance that looks even more natural because of the muted blonde undertones.
I suggest combining caramel and blonde highlights to achieve maximum dimension and radiant appearance, especially on long wavy hair.
3. Color-Blocked Long Wavy Hair
Color-blocked long waves feature full highlights on brown hair in trending, contrasting colors like orange, pink, purple, and blonde.
This sweet style lets you maximize dimension while showing off your personality with color combinations that are uniquely yours.
4. Short Brown Hair With Highlights
Short brown hair with highlights is a dimensional masterpiece that abounds with allure and modern vibes.
Notice how the highlights on this short brown hair blend seamlessly to create a soft, lived-in look.
This gorgeous effect is known as babylights on brown hair. It’s an ultra-popular, low-maintenance trend right now.
5. Brown Hair With Highlights For Black Women
Dark hair with highlights instantly feels revived, with added dimension and volume.
No matter your shade of brown, there are blonde highlight ideas that perfectly complement it and bring out the best in your mane.
For dark brown hair, honey blonde highlights create a soft, beautifully blended effect. It’s one of the hottest summer styles for black women.
6. Brown Hair With Honey Blonde Highlights
Brown hair with honey blonde highlights features a soft brunette balayage that gives off a natural bronde look.
Lowlights on brown hair paired with highlights make this style even more textured, dimensional, and lived-in.
7. Curly Brown Hair With Highlights
Do you have curly hair? Do you want to make your curls pop and enhance your curl pattern? Short curly brown hair with blonde highlights is the best bet, especially if you have thin, fine hair.
Your curls will become naturally bouncy, and the curl pattern will be accentuated with the addition of highlights.
8. Golden Blonde Highlights On Brown Hair
When talking about natural highlights for dark brown hair, golden blonde highlights are the best. They perfectly blend with dark brown tones to create a natural sun-kissed appearance.
Strategically placed golden blonde highlights allow you to go for weeks without those boring and time-consuming root touch-ups.
9. Dark Brown Hair With Highlights
Dark brown hair with blonde highlights and delicious pink streaks is everything you need to nail the Neapolitan ice cream hair trend. If you have straight hair, adding layers can help boost both volume and dimension.
10. Red Highlights On Brown Hair
Do you want to bring out your fiery side in a subtle way without drastic changes? Are you dreaming of rocking a red-brown hairstyle but aren’t sure whether it’s for you?
Do you want to add a subtle dimension to your brunette hair?
If yes, red highlights on brown hair are the best you can do for your mane.
11. Brown Hair With Highlights And Money Piece
Natural brown hair with highlights and a money piece guarantees a beautiful sun-kissed appearance.
This style is recommended for every brunette during the summer because it’s low-maintenance, summer-approved, and simply beautiful.
12. Medium Brown Hair With Caramel Highlights
Caramel highlights on brown hair create a soft appearance with incredible glow. Whether you have short, medium, or long hair, layers are your secret weapon to maximizing this lived-in brunette balayage look.
13. Beige Blonde Balayage Highlights On Brown Hair
Beige blonde balayage highlights on brown hair are darker than platinum blonde but still lighter than golden blonde.
Beige blonde is on the same spectrum as ash blonde, and the former is a few shades lighter than the latter.
If you’re looking for summer-y low-maintenance hair color, you’ll most certainly like this one. Speaking from experience.
14. Brown Hair With Rainbow Highlights
Rainbow has the power to make everything more exciting, fresh, and vibrant. Rainbow highlights transform brown hair into a colorful, vivid, and eye-catching hair masterpiece.
Suggestion: Cherry red or auburn hues look amazing when paired with rainbow highlights. As a result, your hair has more depth and texture.
15. Short Brown Hair With Auburn And Caramel Highlights
Short brown hair with auburn and caramel highlights is a true example of the fact that the most natural and simplest color combinations can have the same statement-making effect as the vibrant ones.
If you’re unsure about which short haircut to choose, a layered angled bob is a surefire way to maximize your hair’s volume and make it look thicker and fuller.
16. Light Brown Hair With Buttery Blonde Highlights
Buttery blonde highlights add softness and a creamy-like appearance to light brown and dark brown tresses.
This shade looks best on those with warm skin undertones. The best is that it looks completely natural on all brown base colors.
17. Platinum Blonde Highlights On Dark Brown Hair
Platinum blonde is the best highlight color choice for everyone with cool skin undertones and dark brown or light brown tresses.
Just remember to use a purple shampoo at least once a month to keep brassiness and yellow tones at bay.
Also, avoid washing your hair with very hot water, as it can weaken and damage delicate platinum strands.
18. Brown Hair With Vanilla Blonde Highlights
Vanilla blonde highlights are also a great choice for those with cool skin undertones. This beautiful shade has cool, creamy blonde ashy undertones that beautifully balance and enhance your tan.
19. Partial Highlights On Brown Hair
Who said you have to go “full highlights”? Partial highlights or balayage are a popular way to add soft, light strands that subtly brighten dark base colors like brown.
If you opt for this look, I suggest adding a few light strands around your face to achieve a subtly sun-kissed face-framing effect.
20. Calico Hair With Raccoon Tail Stripes
Calico hair with raccoon-tail stripes is a bold and funky color choice that highlights your natural texture while showcasing your personality. This playful baddie style pairs beautifully with any dark base color.
21. Dark Brown Hair With Highlights And Lowlights
Are you considering caramel lowlights for dark brown hair?
You’ve finally got the green light! Dark brown hair with caramel highlights and lowlights adds incredible dimension, creating the illusion of fuller, thicker strands.
This color combo is a true lifesaver for anyone with fine or thin hair.
22. Light Brown Highlights
Light brown highlights on dark brown hair create a blended brunette look.
Dark roots with lighter lengths and ends is a dream come true for maintenance, meaning you can freely grow out your brown hair without committing to frequent root touch-ups.
Does that sound appealing enough to you? Then you know what you ought to do!
