When I first started to take clients, I remember hearing someone say, “I want to get highlights, but I don’t want to spend all day in the salon.” This made me think, “Honestly, I get it”, and then it hit me about how the patron’s statement reformed my thoughts on color service for all of the clients that are brunettes. I remember this really nice dark base that had been fighting with it for years and was done with it, sick of the whole cycle so she would get it bleached every six weeks like clockwork. We agreed to go for soft pieces that were actually colored to her natural color rather than something that worked against it, and when she came back four months later, it still looked intentional. This was the start of my slight obsession with low-maintenance brunette highlights, and these were the first low-maintenance highlights I did on a client about 10 years ago.
There are other factors such as placement and color choice, which makes the low-maintenance aspect so much easier, and let’s face it, some colors grow out nicer than others. So by month three, it shouldn’t look like a mistake, it should look like a choice. Brunettes are lucky because there is so much depth to work with and even slightly warm dimensions mixed in can totally change the way your hair reflects light. I put together fifteen of my top favorites from short bobs to long beach waves and to be honest, I want to do most of these on every brunette who walks into my salon.
#1: Sleek Modern Bob with Subtle Texture
I think bobs are my favorite but this one especially knows how to hit all the right notes. The length hits just above the shoulders where it wants to swing when you move, and that’s the sort of detail that elevates a good bob to a great bob. There’s just enough layering throughout the design to keep it from becoming flat or blocky, but not so much that you lose the clean shape. Excelent shapes like this can become shaggy quite quickly, so you will want to keep up with trims every 6 to 8 weeks, but the daily styling is very minimal, and it works especially well if your hair is a bit more on the thicker side because the weight helps it behave.
#2: Elegant Chocolate Waves with Subtle Highlights
I could stare at this color for how long? The base color is a deep, rich chocolate brown with highlights so blended that it looks like there is no color work and natural light is reflecting off the hair. You want people to think you have beautiful hair, not that you just got your hair done at a salon. The waves show movement, and if your hair already has a bit of a wave to it, the effort to style this will be minimal. A good sulfate-free shampoo is recommended to keep those tones rich.
#3: Soft Caramel Waves with Subtle Dimension
I enjoy suggesting caramel highlights to brunettes since it works with every skin tone, looks good with regrowth, grows out nicely, and it ages great as it fades! This version has layering in the mid-lengths and face framing which draws the eye really smartly. Her flowing layered cut is great, she moves beautifully without those awkward bits. The warmth in the color is really nice and radiates healthy glow skin, which sells itself. To increase the wave a really light curl cream should work but otherwise this is totally wash and go!
#4: Gorgeous Warm Brown Waves with Subtle Highlights
What stood out to me the most was the placement of the highlights. They clearly thought about where each light piece would land so they reflect light where it needs to be, and also avoid a stripy effect. The base is a warm brown which has some natural richness to it that the highlights also enrich instead of compete with it. It’s one of those colors that looks good in all lighting situations which is so important. I’m sure you remember the highlights you loved at the salon but hated in your bathroom mirror. The density is fantastic and gives such great fullness that I’m honestly a little jealous of it.
#5: Warm Brown Waves with Subtle Caramel Highlights
This is a great example of framing the face. The caramel front pieces are bright enough to add some lightness to the entire look, yet not so bright that they unbalance the rest of the hair. In this case, the waves do a lot of work. They soften the jawline, and create a beautiful lived-in look. This is the kind of look that most people mean when they refer to something as ‘effortless’. If warmer tones are more your thing, this is a lovely direction to take, and those caramel tones will fade nicely without any brassy tones, which is always my concern when lifting brunette hair.
#6 Rich Chestnut Layers with Seamless Ash Blonde Streaks
Brown hair with ash tones can go very wrong or very right, and this picture shows an example of very right. The cool streaks blend nicely with the rich chocolate base and the contrast is just right. The long layers create movement and prevent the whole style from looking too cut. To be completely honest with you, ash tones on brown hair will pull more maintenance than warm highlights, in the sense that they can get brassy. To keep the ashy look, a good purple shampoo should be used at least once a week. But this is a great way to experiment if you have been considering going lighter without a full commitment.
#7: Rich Brunette Waves with Subtle Caramel Highlights
The lighter strands of hair are going to work with a lot of different styles which makes me think of a summer beach vacation with natural sun kissed streaks in the hair. Getting highlights is an art form that takes a considerable amount of practice to master. The larger more spaced out waves are great because they help the hair look thick and full. This is a good look for the whole work week and is great for the weekends as well. Most hairstyles should not be too formal or stiff and this one really hits the mark.
#8: Dynamic Chocolate Waves with Subtle Highlights
The highlights are so blended that it’s hard to tell where the colors are, and that’s the goal. Your hair will look like it has so much more shine and dimension. The waves also add to this because they create surfaces that reflect light at different angles. If you’re unsure about highlights, then it is a good option because it is the least permanent way to add dimension. People might think your hair looked good without being able to tell why, and it’s also so easy to do. The one thing I would flag is keeping that shine at home. A clear gloss treatment every few weeks makes a real difference.
#9: Warm Brown Textured Waves with Subtle Caramel Highlights
Another thing I love about this is that it looks easiest to recreate with shoulder length hair as opposed to the longer looks. I can definitely see myself doing this on a Tuesday morning. The waves look really nice and natural and are kind of bouncy in a fun way. I really love the way these highlights are framing the face, and I love the warmth they add to the ends. The highlights add fullness to the hair without the bulk which is perfecto for medium density hair like this. This hairstyle gives the impression that you have your life together, even when you don’t, and I speak from experience.
#10: Warm Brunette Waves with Lively Caramel Highlights
You will love how the tones are balanced to feel warm and bright without being overwhelming! This one sits just above the shoulders, which is the sweet spot since you can throw it all up in a ponytail, and it looks intentional when it’s down. Of all the looks on this list, the caramel is a little more pronounced here, so if you’re searching for highlights that read more as highlights instead of vague dimension, this is it. The waves provide a lot of texture and movement, but not the kind that i a 45-minute styling session. More the kind where you just need to scrunch it up and use some texturizing spray, and walk away.
#11: Stylish Chocolate Waves with Subtle Ash Highlights
I’m all for another ash situation. The base chocolate is deep and glossy and the ash pieces add a nice touch with their coolness. If warm tones aren’t your thing, then this is the direction I’d suggest. The waves are refined enough to show off the color work without looking overdone, and there’s a sophistication to this that translates across ages. Just know what you’re signing up for with ash, it’s stunning when it’s fresh, but it will need some maintenance love to stay that way. For the look you’re getting, it’s absolutely worth it.
#12: Effortless Beachy Waves with Subtle Highlights
The aim here is to look like you just rolled out of bed and your hair is naturally this perfect. The goal of this look is to have a slight beach type of wave and an undone look. When paired with the right highlights, all of the beach waves will give the illusion of having your hair done at a salon instead of having foils placed in your hair. The best part of this hairstyle is that no effort at all goes into styling it which ironically is the hardest part of the whole process. The good news is that if your hair is naturally wavy and a bit thick, then you are about halfway towards achieving this hairstyle. The final step is simply good highlight placement and for some clients just leaving their hair which is often the hardest and most frustrating part of the whole process.
#13: Warm Chocolate Waves with Luminous Highlights
The word luminous is often used to describe hair but in this case it is fully deserved. This hair glow is caused from a warm chocolate base with lighter pieces. The long waves are beautiful as they create a cascading effect that highlights every shift in tone. Of all the looks this one is the most polished and is versatile enough to look great while running casual errands or dressing up for dinner events. I love this polished look and the color work is incredible. If you want hair that looks truly expensive, this is what expensive looks like. To keep that salon finish between salon visits I recommend a warm brunette color depositing conditioner.
#14: Effortless Dark Chocolate Beach Waves
I love how this style shows how few highlights are required to get a great result. Here, a dark chocolate base does a lot of the talking, with the added interest of a few lighter pieces. It helps create a distinction in the hair rather than the finish looking flat or one-note. The messy waves look effortless, and there’s that “I didn’t try, but I look amazing” vibe that I get requests for all the time. If you have finer hair, using a light volumizing mousse in damp hair will give you the body to do this without weighing down the hair. This style is also one of the easiest to maintain on this entire list, and often the most straightforward options end up being the best.
#15: Radiant Chestnut Waves with Subtle Sun-Kissed Highlights
I love this sun-kissed look and chestnut color for brunette hair! The highlights are great and the base color is super rich and warm. It looks like you just got back from a warm holiday! The soft waves and the medium length look super easy and approachable to wear. At the end of the day, that is way more important than any stylist trying to talk about the intangible things like face shapes and undertones. It’s just going to look great as it grows out! That’s the goal, beautiful hair that doesn’t tie you to a salon! This is definitely a look I would screenshot and send to a friend and say “this. Do this.”
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