30+ Best Highlights on Brown Hair You Have to See This 2025

Highlights on brown hair can really bring out dimension and make your color pop without going overboard. If you’re looking to brighten things up, caramel or honey tones are always a win—they blend seamlessly with brown hair, giving a sun-kissed effect without drastic contrast. For a bolder look, ash blonde or cool-toned highlights can add that modern, lived-in vibe while still being low-maintenance. The key is to balance where the highlights hit; face-framing pieces can soften your features, while placing them just below the crown can add volume. If you’ve got natural texture, you’ll want to space the highlights out a bit more to keep things looking natural. Curious which shades and techniques will give your brown hair the perfect lift? Let’s check out some fresh highlight ideas for inspiration.

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#1 Straight Dark Brown Hair with Highlights

This sleek, straight look features subtle highlights that blend seamlessly into the dark brown base. The long, smooth layers are perfect for someone with thick hair who wants a polished, low-maintenance style. While the highlights add dimension, this look can sometimes lack volume, so it’s best for those who prefer a smooth, flat finish.

#2 Copper Highlights on Brown Hair

These copper highlights add a striking contrast to the brown base, giving the waves a lot of depth and richness. The copper tones are vibrant yet not overpowering, making it a fun way to add warmth and shine to your hair. Perfect for someone wanting to stand out a bit more. Just keep in mind, copper can fade quickly, so you’ll need to refresh the color more often.

#3 Light Brown Highlights on Medium Brown Hair

This look features soft waves with delicate light brown highlights, perfectly blended into a medium brown base. The soft highlights bring brightness to the face while the waves add texture and movement. Ideal for medium-density hair, the highlights offer a sun-kissed effect. The downside? Lighter highlights on a brown base can fade faster, requiring touch-ups.

#4 Brown Hair with Highlights on Brown Skin

These warm highlights perfectly complement the natural richness of both the brown hair and deeper skin tone. The soft waves showcase the contrast, while the highlights brighten the overall look. Ideal for someone with medium to thick hair, this style gives a sunlit effect. Just be mindful of touch-ups to keep the warmth consistent without fading.

#5 Sunkissed Hair Brunette with Natural Dimension

Natural and effortless, this long brunette style uses hand-painted caramel highlights to enhance natural depth. The color melts softly from a medium brown base into light coppery ends, which adds brightness without overpowering. Great for medium-density hair with loose texture. Ideal for clients who want dimension without the maintenance of full highlights. Best on oval or heart-shaped faces. Not ideal for very fine hair, as the ends may appear sparse when grown out.

#6 Red Highlights in Brown Hair for Bold Vibes

Vibrant and edgy, this deep brunette base is electrified with ribbons of vivid cherry red highlights. The placement is mostly through the top and mid-lengths, adding dramatic streaks that stand out against the dark backdrop. Ideal for someone looking to make a fun, youthful statement. Works best on thick, wavy hair where the color won’t get lost. Not recommended if you want something subtle—this is definitely a head-turning, maintenance-required look. Fades faster, so a color-protecting shampoo is a must.

#7 Brown Hair With Caramel Highlights for Warmth

Warmth and softness define this look. Mid-length brunette hair is lifted with light caramel highlights that hug the outer layers and ends. The result is a gentle glow that flatters fair to medium skin tones. This cut sits just past the shoulders and is styled with loose bends—perfect for fine to medium density. It’s a sweet spot for those who want color but hate the maintenance of full foil highlights. Works especially well on women over 35 seeking a subtle refresh.

#8 Highlights For Dark Brown Hair With Caramel Tones

This long dark brown style gets a dimensional upgrade with rich caramel highlights scattered through the lower half of the hair. The mix of loose and defined waves brings the color alive, adding depth to what could otherwise look flat. A great option for women with long, thick hair who want visible lightening without going blonde. Caramel works beautifully on warm undertones. Just note: darker bases may pull red, so a good toner will be key.

#9 Brown Hair With Blonde Highlights for Soft Contrast

This shoulder-length brunette look is softened with sandy blonde highlights woven subtly throughout. The effect is very natural—ideal for those wanting color with minimal upkeep. The wave pattern adds movement, making it perfect for medium-density hair that lacks volume. Face shapes with softer jawlines benefit most here. If your natural base is very dark, the highlights may take a couple sessions to lift this light. The result is totally worth it for soft contrast without brassiness.

#10 Light Brown Hair with Highlights for Brightness

Soft and radiant, this light brown base is subtly lifted with golden blonde highlights that add a natural sunlit effect. The hair is very long, fine, and sleek, which makes the color placement seamless from root to ends. Great for someone with naturally light brown or dark blonde hair looking for brightness without harsh regrowth lines. Best on oval and heart-shaped faces. Keep in mind—long fine hair like this can need extra hydration post-lightening to maintain shine.

#11 Dark Brown Hair with Highlights That Pop

Bold and noticeable, this dark brown style is brought to life with chunky golden highlights that create serious contrast and depth. The highlights are concentrated mid-length to ends, allowing the natural root to ground the look. Perfect for medium to thick density hair with natural wave—those pieces reflect light beautifully with a quick blowout. Not great for very fine hair, as chunky lightness can look stripey. Great for women wanting a dramatic color without full bleaching.

#12 Honey Brown Balayage for Radiant Shine

Warm and glowing, this honey brown balayage adds shine and life to deep brunette hair. The honey tones start midshaft and melt downward in soft, flowing waves. Ideal for oval and heart-shaped faces, especially with long layers that elongate the neck. Works best on medium to thick hair with natural wave or slight texture. While the warmth enhances shine, it can turn brassy without the right toning shampoo.

#13 Blonde Highlights on Dark Hair with Contrast

High-contrast and bold, this look combines rich brunette roots with golden-blonde highlights that pop. Ideal for someone looking to brighten their overall color without going fully blonde. The waves help blend the contrast, but this style will require toning and root care every 6-8 weeks to keep the color clean. Best on medium to thick hair types that can support visual dimension. Avoid if you want a subtle or natural look—this one makes a statement.

#14 Dark Caramel Balayage on Deep Brown Hair

Rich and warm, this deep brown base transitions beautifully into dark caramel tones, giving just enough brightness without straying too far from brunette. Great for naturally dark hair that tends to look flat—this gives life and warmth. Perfect for those in their 30s or 40s with thicker textures. The balayage technique keeps the roots untouched, making upkeep easier. May not show up as dramatically on coarse or curly hair unless styled smooth.

#15 Brown With Blonde Highlights Blended Seamlessly

Effortlessly blended highlights make this style a go-to for those wanting the “no-lines” look. A soft golden blonde works its way through the midshaft and ends of a natural medium brown base. Perfect for medium-density hair with wave, as the texture helps highlights scatter evenly. This blend grows out gracefully and doesn’t require frequent salon visits. Works on most face shapes, though it can flatten round faces without added volume at the crown.

#16 Babylights Brunette For a Soft Glow

Delicate and natural, these babylights mimic the look of gently lightened strands after a summer outdoors. The fine weaving of warm-toned highlights blends seamlessly with a light chocolate brown base. Great for someone with medium to thick density who wants low-maintenance lift. Especially flattering for women in their 40s wanting softness around the face without committing to bold contrast. Not ideal for coarse hair, as the detail can get lost.

#17 Brunette Balayage Hair with Face Framing Pieces

Framing the face with brightness, this balayage starts with a medium brown base and melts into sandy-toned ribbons concentrated near the front. These lighter pieces draw attention to the cheekbones and jawline, flattering long or angular faces. The length keeps it versatile for ponytails or updos. Best on dense hair that can hold soft wave styles. May require root touch-ups more often due to front placement of lightness.

#18 Dimensional Brunette with Soft Highlights

Subtle yet impactful, this medium-length brunette uses soft beige highlights to bring out dimension. Perfect for someone new to color or looking to enhance their natural tone without a stark contrast. The highlights are expertly diffused, making it ideal for fine to medium hair types. Adds fullness and texture visually, especially for shoulder-length cuts. Works beautifully on round and square face shapes for added softness.

#19 Warm Bronde Balayage with Subtle Blonde Accents

Warmth radiates from this bronde balayage, where subtle honey and golden blonde accents blend into a warm brunette base. Perfect for naturally dark hair wanting sunlit lift without going full blonde. The long layers help the highlights pop and create bounce in styling. Flattering for medium to thick hair with natural movement. It’s forgiving as it grows out, but may need toning to keep brass in check.

#20 Ashy Bronde Balayage with Cool Tones

Cool-toned and chic, this ashy bronde balayage offers a muted elegance perfect for neutral or cooler skin tones. The base is a medium ash brown with beige-blonde ribbons hand-blended from midshaft to ends. Works beautifully on thick, textured hair that holds wave patterns well. A great choice for women in their 30s and 40s wanting low-brass lightening. Avoid this tone if your hair pulls a lot of red naturally—it takes extra maintenance to stay cool.

#21 Brown Hair with Honey Brown Highlights

These honey brown highlights add a soft golden glow to the medium brown base. The highlights are blended beautifully to avoid harsh lines, giving a natural sun-kissed effect. This is a great option for someone with a warmer skin tone or someone who wants a low-contrast, natural look. The downside is that honey tones can turn brassy without proper maintenance.

#22 Auburn Brown Highlights in Brown Hair

These rich auburn brown highlights add warmth and vibrancy to the darker brown base. The combination of waves and warm tones brings out a lively depth. Perfect for medium to thick hair, this look will give you a natural, autumn-inspired glow. Just remember, auburn hues tend to fade faster, so using color-protecting shampoo is a must.

#23 Cool Brown Highlights on Brown Hair

These cool brown highlights subtly brighten the deep brunette base, adding dimension without too much contrast. The loose waves help reflect light, making the color pop in just the right way. Cool tones are great for those wanting a modern, sleek look, but be aware that maintaining the coolness may require purple shampoo to keep brassiness at bay.

#24 Chocolate Brown with Light Brown Highlights

These soft waves show off the perfect blend of chocolate and light brown highlights. The highlights give the hair a beautiful, warm glow and enhance the natural movement of the waves. This style is great for someone wanting subtle color contrast without going too bold. The only catch? The lighter highlights can require extra toning to avoid brassiness.

#25 Brown Highlights on Short Hair

This chic bob is brought to life with soft brown highlights, adding dimension and texture to the dark brown base. The highlights are perfect for giving short hair more movement, especially for those with straight or fine hair. Just be mindful that short hair grows out faster, meaning you’ll need regular trims to maintain this sharp style.

#26 Curly Dark Brown Hair with Light Brown Highlights

These tight, voluminous curls are enhanced with soft light brown highlights, which add depth and dimension to the dark brown base. Perfect for naturally curly hair, these highlights give texture without overpowering the curl pattern. However, keeping curls defined and frizz-free will require extra moisturizing products.

#27 Subtle Highlights on Brown Hair

These subtle highlights blend so seamlessly into the brown base that they create a barely-there, natural look. Great for someone with fine to medium-density hair who wants added texture without a major color change. This look gives dimension and movement, but it’s low-maintenance in terms of root regrowth since the highlights are so soft.

#28 Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights

These blonde highlights are finely blended throughout the brown base, giving it a sun-kissed, beachy vibe. The loose waves help the highlights pop, creating a nice contrast without looking harsh. Ideal for medium to fine hair, this look brightens your overall appearance. Just be mindful, blonde highlights on dark hair may require more upkeep to avoid brassiness.

#29 Cinnamon Highlights on Brown Hair

The cinnamon highlights here bring a warm, spicy touch to the brown base. The soft waves allow the color to shimmer and catch the light beautifully. It’s a perfect option for those with medium-density hair who want a natural-looking pop of color. Cinnamon tones can fade to a reddish hue over time, so keeping up with color care is key.

#30 Dark Highlights on Brown Hair

This look is all about subtle depth, with dark chocolate highlights adding texture to the already dark brown base. These highlights give dimension without much contrast, which makes this style great for those who want a low-maintenance option. It’s a great way to make thick, straight or wavy hair look fuller and healthier.

#31 Caramel Highlights on Brown Hair

This medium-length wavy style showcases rich caramel highlights blended seamlessly into a dark brown base. The soft waves enhance the dimension and add movement, making it great for thick hair. Caramel tones work beautifully for adding warmth to brunette hair without feeling too bold. However, these highlights can turn brassy, so regular toning is a must for maintenance.