Dark hair with highlights is a popular hair color trend achieved by painting luminous streaks on dark strands. This technique allows you to blend depth and shine into one look, producing a multi-dimensional finish.
Connecticut-based hair colorist Meeghan Truss has been enhancing hair with highlights for several years. She discusses the first two factors that should be taken into account when contemplating brown hair color ideas.
She notes, “Always discuss budget and upkeep with the stylist. The biggest hair blunder you can make is settling on a color you can’t maintain.”
As with any coloring service, upkeep may necessitate a woman to visit the salon every 4-6 weeks, depending on her hair growth rate. Coloring the base dark and incorporating highlights isn’t the best approach. The regrowth will be prominent, and the process can become quite costly.
Highlighted dark hair can benefit from a purple shampoo the most, as advised by Truss. “Dark hair often lifts towards the brassy side. A professional purple shampoo will eliminate the warmth and golden tones.”
Some women may start with a lighter base but desire hair highlights, too. Truss suggests lowlights in these scenarios. “The stylist can integrate some darker pieces into the existing blonde.” She remarks, “It provides the contrast and dimension that most women aspire to create.”
Before your upcoming hair appointment, take a look at these inspiring images of the finest dark hair with highlights!
#1: Delicious Dark Chocolate Brown Ombre Hair
Consider dark chocolate brown ombre hair if you’re seeking a striking hair color! The warm blonde on the mids and ends will stand out beautifully against the rich dark chocolate base tone. This hue is ideal for women with warmer skin tones wanting a natural-looking finish.
#2: Contemporary Dark Brown Hair Featuring Highlights
The light shines on dark brown hair with highlights. To add movement and dimension to really dark hair, incorporate caramel highlights for contrast. The light will bounce off the dark brown highlights and make your hair gleam like never before!
#3: Textured Highlights for Short Dark Hair
Highlights for short dark hair create a significant dimensional effect and depth, particularly when styled with waves. This technique is ideal for women with fine, thin hair, giving the appearance of a fuller, thicker look.
#4: Gorgeous Long Dark Tresses with Caramel Highlights
Stunning, long dark hair featuring caramel highlights will make everyone envious of you! Don’t forget to ask for face-framing pops of blonde to ensure your features shine. Brown hair color with highlights looks even more striking with some waves to showcase the dimension.
#5: Elegant Highlights for Dark Curly Hair
Adding highlights to dark, curly hair enhances the curls’ distinction beautifully. Highlights accentuate the curl pattern and make the spirals stand out even more. Women who cherish their curls will gain from this striking contrast.
#6: Stylish Brown Hair Featuring Highlights and Lowlights
Explore brown hair with highlights and lowlights for a fresh look. Incorporating these shades will create depth in your hair color. Adding beach waves as a final touch will beautifully accentuate the various tones in your hairstyle!
#7: Stunning Crimson Highlights on Deep Tresses
Crimson highlights on dark tresses create a striking, vivid color with an edgy dimension. Colorist Summer Ramsey of Upstate, SC, is the creator of this fantastic shade of locks. “This would be perfect for women who want a touch of color without being overwhelmed. It has a perfect balance, depth, and dimension,” says Ramsey. For the upkeep, she suggests “shampooing less and opting for dry shampoo.” These keep the color’s vibrancy, for sure!
#8: Delicious Caramel Highlights for Natural Dark Locks
Caramel highlights add a touch of warmth to natural brunette hair. Lightening hair will always introduce warmer tones. Thus, these highlights will seamlessly blend with your color, maintaining a natural dimension.
#9: Shimmering Silver Accents
Silver highlights provide a stunning enhancement for women with darker hair. They offer a striking contrast against the base compared to lighter shades. To achieve the best ash tone, hair must reach a pale yellow hue. Utilize Olaplex No.3 weekly to maintain healthy and radiant locks.
#10: Lovely Honey Blonde Accents for Dark Hair
Honey blonde highlights are an excellent way to add warmth to dark hair. Not everyone prefers ash blonde or platinum blonde highlights. Many women still wish to retain the warmth of a lovely honey blonde that shines in the sunlight.
#11: Chic Platinum Highlights Trends
Platinum highlights are a stunning way to enhance any hair color! Achieving this shade of blonde can be challenging, but the results are undeniably gorgeous. Platinum demands the most upkeep among blondes, requiring more salon visits than usual. Additionally, diligent at-home care is essential. Make sure to consult with a stylist about the upkeep before committing to this look.
#12: Ash Blonde Accents on Dark, Long Hair
Ash-blonde accents with darker hair have a smokey tone. It has a marbled effect that flatters natural bases, especially ones that haven’t been colored before. It enables the correct lift and longevity to your color, too.
Related: Top blonde highlights hairstyle ideas.
#13: Highlighted Black Locks with Contrast
Black hair with highlights is an exquisite choice for women looking to introduce contrast. Dark locks against any hue always create an impression. With dark hair highlights, this style idea imparts the hair a dimension and a splendid variation of colors.
#14: Stunning Dark Brown Hair Featuring Blonde Highlights
Dark brown hair with blonde highlights offers a wonderful way to enhance your brunette locks—the strands of blonde harmonize beautifully with a deep brunette foundation, particularly when styled with gentle waves. This look is anything but ordinary!
#15: Deep Brunette Locks with Warm Highlights
Deep brunette locks with highlights create a warm sun-kissed appearance. It’s an excellent method to introduce dimension to golden buttery tones, gently enhancing the skin complexion. Consult with your colorist regarding how much lighter to go based on your maintenance preferences when opting for dark hair with highlights.
#16: Charming Ash Brown Highlights on Dark Tresses
Ash brown highlights on dark tresses present a neutral tone that enhances any skin tone. For women looking to refresh their style without making a significant change, consider this color trend! I used babylights to achieve this low-maintenance hue. Babylights are micro-highlights with fine, thin weaves that provide your hair a seamless blend. They exhibit less dimension and offer an almost solid appearance compared to a balayage.
#17: Layered Curly Hair with Black Cherry Accents
Adding black cherry highlights to dark curly hair is an excellent way for women to introduce a touch of radiance and dimension to their appearance. Keep in mind that when opting for a deeper color, it’s essential to invest in products that are color-safe. Additionally, utilize tools to minimize heat damage and maintain curl hydration. When selecting this style, it’s advisable to choose a black cherry hue. It should not exceed two shades lighter than the base color for a smooth transition and gradual growth.
#18: Sleek Dark Hair with Subtle Highlights
If your hair is dark and straight, you might want to explore subtle highlights. Summer is an ideal season to experiment with these highlights if you’re aiming to add some brightness to your look. A warm, luscious caramel tone would beautifully complement your dark hair. Keep your hair well-hydrated with Morocconoil’s oil treatment.
#19: Ombre Highlights for Deep Natural Hair Tones
Consider ombre highlights for deep natural hair tones if you’re feeling uninspired by your current hair color! This combination is a fantastic way to illuminate your locks while maintaining a natural appearance for effortless grow-out. This shade works beautifully with waves or can be worn straight.
#20: Vivid Purple Accents
Purple highlights in dark hair offer a charming and playful shift from a uniform dark shade. Incorporating these painted highlights can present a subtle variation or a daring statement. Purple tends to show less vibrantly indoors, but it becomes a striking feature when exposed to direct sunlight. Additionally, it ranks as one of the simpler fashion colors to upkeep.
#21: Stunning Dark Brown Tresses with Brunette Highlights
Dark brown hair with brunette highlights is an exquisite natural hair color you will adore. When coloring your chocolate brown locks with highlights, you must use sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners to ensure the longevity of your hue. Our hair is one of our most cherished features, so we must nurture it!
#22: Sophisticated Grey Highlights
Grey highlights create a delicate, color-melting effect that enhances dark tresses. Dark hair with highlights is perfect for women seeking a playful hue that can’t wear vibrant pink or red shades. If you’re hesitant about dark roots, this color may not be ideal for you.
#23: Sleek Blonde Highlights for a Chic Look
Opt for blonde highlights on dark hair to create a more striking appearance. This color blending technique harmonizes your natural base with your skin tone. The added blonde creates a luminous effect not only for your hair but for your overall complexion as well.
#24: Vibrant Blue Highlights
Having blue highlights makes a stunning, eye-catching statement. Blue is a challenging color to achieve and keep vibrant. It requires more maintenance than many other colors, as it can easily shift to green. It tends to fade rapidly, so additional appointments are generally necessary. At home, tinted shampoos can assist with the maintenance to preserve the vivid and attractive color.
#25: Stylish Bob with Stunning Burgundy Highlights
These stunning burgundy highlights on a bob cut are a fantastic way to introduce some flair to dark hair. Hair must be lightened first, and then the burgundy is added for bursts of vibrant color throughout.
This is perfect for women who desire shine and striking contrast to darker hair. Reds, like other fashion colors, can fade quicker than usual, so consult with a stylist about at-home care.
#26: Timeless Auburn Highlights with Subtle Copper Hues
Auburn highlights are ideal for women who appreciate copper shades and have a brunette background. This blend of shades harmonizes beautifully and produces a vibrant glow on medium skin tones. Consult with your stylist about transitioning the color from a natural base for an effortless grow-out.
#27: Mesmerizing Blonde Balayage Highlights
Blonde balayage highlights in long dark hair create an ideal look for women seeking a fashionable style with minimal upkeep. The root area maintains a more natural tone while the remainder is lightened. This facilitates appointments that are further apart.
Related: Top balayage highlights ideas.
#28: Stunning Dark Hair Enhanced with Soft Brown Highlights
Dark brown hair with soft brown highlights is perfect for a subtle change. A shade or two difference in the base color and highlight color gives enough contrast to your hair. Having delicate brown highlights is an excellent choice for low-maintenance colors.
#29: Blonde Highlights + Caramel Balayage
Blonde highlights and a caramel balayage for dark hair color create a striking contrast. Women looking to lighten their hair can effortlessly incorporate balayaged blonde highlights. This technique helps diversify the color and adds depth to your hair.
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