Yesterday, I had a customer say, “I want my hair to look like it has a SECRET!” What a description of highlights and low lights. When hair gets highlighted, people see that there is a hidden depth. People will be drawn to your hair, and they will not be able to figure out what the secret is. They will only say it looks good. My favorite thing is meeting people, and I know that all of the highlighted hair of many colors is showing.
Commonly, people think that dark brown hair is one of the worst colors to work with, but it’s one of the best. You can work with warm and cool tones, and it will all look intentional. I’ve had people walk in wanting a tiny bit of change, and they walked out with a completely new look because of the color changes, even if we didn’t go too far in either direction. Your hair doesn’t have to be bleached a ton to have that volume and dimension. My favorite changes were when people didn’t know what changed. They just knew they looked amazing! So here are 15 looks that I love, and I know you will love them too.
#1: Chic Layered Cut with Highlights That Actually Blend
This look is definitely giving me ‘I woke up like this…’ and I am here for it! These highlights are blended so well into the dark brown base that they don’t say ‘I just got my hair done’. They look so rich on their own! The swingy layers above the shoulders give such soft movement, and the volume is just divine. No less and no more. With this color job, you’d look fresh and be able to go 10-12 weeks between appointments which let’s be honest is what most of us need!
#2: Long Wavy Dark Brown with the Softest Highlights
This type of wave pattern is my favorite because the highlights get to shine. Look at how the color reflects differently on each curve! That’s what you call dimension. The asymmetric layers add to that effortless “I woke up like this” vibe. Those layers also beautifully frame the face without being too harsh about it. If you have medium to thick hair, this is going to be your best friend. Just make sure to grab a hydrating leave in conditioner so that your waves are soft and defined, not crunchy.
#3: Rich Dark Brown with Caramel That Actually Looks Natural
This is amazing! The caramel highlights are not horrible burnt orange color which is a relief. The caramel color is warm and looks like a summer in Tuscany! Caramel highlights on a dark brown base can go wrong so easily but they are done right like here it’s amazing! The layered cut gives it movement without thinning anything out, and the waves are perfect. So if you have dark hair and have been worrying about going lighter, show this to your stylist because this is the goal!
#4: Glossy Dark Brown Layers That Look Expensive
In total seriousness, we can see the price of that haircut very clearly. The shine is working overtime and the lowlights are so subtle that you could miss them. The layers are great for your face if you have an oval or heart-shaped face. With this kind of haircut, you need to get your trims regularly because as the layers grow out, it can lose that polished look really quickly. The color is a nice low commitment foof for it which is super worth it for that my hair is my personality vibe.
#5: Textured Waves with Caramel That POPS
This style gives me the urge to stand up and spin in my chair. The dimensionality of the color melty really makes me want to smile. The color working with the waves looks so dimensional, especially the caramel highlights that are woven throughout the hair. The multi tonal look with 3-4 layers of highlights woven throughout the hair looks so great. If your hair is wavy or has a natural texture, the color will enhance the waves, and you will love it. The styling is super easy too. Just a little bit of texturizing spray and you’re good to go!
#6: Layered Dark Brown Waves with Caramel Lowlights
I don’t think lowlights get enough credit, and I think this style proves my point. Instead of lifting some pieces to a lighter shade, you’re tucking in darker shades around the mid-lengths. This method adds a dimension that is greater than what highlights would achieve by themselves. The caramel here acts more like a midtone that bridges the gap between the darker and lighter pieces. The whole look flows really nicely. The layers add the movement as intended without the ends looking too thin or left average. If you have only ever done highlights and never tried lowlights, I implore you to take this look as a sign.
#7: Sleek Dark Brown with Just a Whisper of Dimension
Girls with straight hair: highlights are for you too! You don’t even need waves to show the colors! That soft white-blonde will really light up and be super eye-catching. Check out these delicate baby highlights that are very subtle and secretive! They create little warm glints when your hair moves. The light layering at the ends can create the appearance of a blunt cut, but she’s still got all that length. Fair warning, straight styles show EVERYTHING. Be ready to apply a good serum to keep this w look glassy and polished.
#8: Long Luxurious Waves with Caramel Lowlights
I almost gasped because of how luxurious this is. The base is a dark chocolate color with so much depth and gloss, and the caramel lowlight just wave through like little whispers. Stunning. All lowlights should shoot for this. It’s one of those looks where every little movement changes the color. That wave pattern is spot on! The hair looks healthy with the perfect amount of natural, beachy waves. It’s great for medium to thick hair. If you want something that looks really luxe but isn’t too high maintenance, bookmark this.
#9: Flowing Waves with Rich Caramel Throughout
This look has caramel detailing which is supposed to be more generous than some of the other looks and I love it. The caramel is placed everywhere and not just at the ends or at the face framing pieces which means all that warm detail completely changes the vibe of the look with the dark brown base. The waves are soft and voluminous and honestly this is the sort of hair that makes you want to do a slo mo hair flip every time you walk past a mirror. The subtle layering keeps everything moving while also retaining all that fullness, which is so critical when you’re adding this much highlighting because you don’t want it to look stringy and this one just makes me happy.
#10: Cascading Dark Brown with Sun-Kissed Caramel
I can picture someone who walks into my shop and says, “I want to look like I’ve been to the beach!” It brings to mind that sun-kissed look with a tan and nice subtle beachy waves. It’s usually more difficult to achieve that look on darker hair, but this one is really nice. The waves make it super natural looking, and if it was straight for example, it would look overdone. She said that you would have to get your roots touched up every 8 weeks to maintain that fresh off the beach look, but it’s such a vibe so I really don’t mind.
#11: Sleek Blunt Cut with the Most Satisfying Highlights
I love blunt cuts and this one is giving me life. The straight edges are super nice, and I love how the soft highlights break up the sleekness. The look is super clean and editorial. It also looks really great on straight, medium to thick density hair because of the blunt cut at the bottom. Also, one length means less maintenance which is a bonus. If you have a round face, I recommend discussing length adjustments with your stylist, but it looks super clean and chic and I love it!
#12: Voluminous Curls with Sun-Kissed Highlights
I think I need to step back for a moment to process what I’ve witnessed. I’m back now though. Highlights and curly hair usually don’t go together, since the highlight placement has to be perfect to achieve maximum effect. I really don’t want to over-exaggerate, but the highlights are amazing and sit just right on the outer edge of the ringlets for every single curl. There is volume and health in each strand of hair, and the color is bright and sophisticated, without being boring or drab. The highlights give the hair a lot of youthful energy. The highlights are so well placed that I am convinced that even loosely curled hair is the best, and that social norms telling people with curly hair to avoid getting waves don’t even matter.
#13: Softly Layered Waves with Warm Golden Highlights
This one does have a nice warmth to it, almost like a cozy feeling. It has an autumn vibe to it, yes I know that sounds odd, but seriously look at the color and tell me I’m wrong. The highlights are more of a golden tone than caramel and that makes a HUGE difference in the overall vibe of the color. It feels more warm and romantic in comparison to some of the cooler toned options. The layers cascading past the shoulders create such an elegant shape and the highlights are in all the right places to really enhance the movement in the hair. This is a great “I want a change but I don’t want to freak anyone out” kind of color because it’s really shiny, and super dimensional without taking away your vibe.
#14: Dark Brown Waves with Warm Caramel Lowlights
I see this color combination and say “Your hair, but BETTER” because the way caramel lowlights are blended in with the hair is seamless. The skill involved in making this hair look lived in is super respectable, and it looks like I’ve had this color for years. The wave pattern is obviously super effortless and the hair has great movement. The lowlights are super breathable and are great. For those with fine hair that are lacking in volume, lowlights like these are going to be your secret weapon. They provide the illusion of increased thickness and depth without actually changing the texture.
#15: Cascading Chocolate Curls with Sneaky Dimension
I’m finishing with this one because it could be my favorite and I’ve done my best not to have a favorite this whole time but I just can’t help it. These cascading curls in that deep rich chocolate with the tiniest lowlight dimension are stunning and annoyingly look effortless. The curls are so voluminous and add so much movement. You don’t need a ton of color variance to keep it interesting and that restraint is what works. If you’re going to be using a curling iron to get this look please, please, please use a heat protectant. We are not sacrificing hair health for an aesthetic on my watch. Overall the effect is effortlessly gorgeous and I think about this look way too often.
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