Dark brown hair with caramel highlights and lowlights

If you think that highlights are only flattering on blondes or those with lighter hair, think again. Highlights on dark brown hair can be a great way to add shine and dimension to your tresses. The key to achieving a gorgeous look with dark hair and highlights comes down to color selection and highlight application. 

If you’re ready to make this change to your hair color, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’re sharing our favorite ideas for dark brown hair with highlights.

What to Know Before Getting Highlights on Dark Brown Hair 

The truth is, highlights are not one-size-fits-all. If you want to lighten your dark brown hair, there are different highlighting techniques and shades to choose from. Keep in mind that highlighting dark brown hair requires bleaching — and the darker your starting shade, the more work it will require to achieve your desired level of highlight. 

Even for the most experienced at-home colorists, it would be wise to visit a professional if you’re thinking of getting highlights. However, if you have light hair and would like a dark base with highlights, you can start your transformation journey with an at-home dye. 

Try the L'Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color, L'Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color or L'Oréal Paris Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color. All three options offer a variety of brown hues and will leave you with fresh, tresses that have that straight-from-the-salon look.

10 Highlighting Ideas to Spice Up Dark Brown Hair

Highlights are a great way to change up your hair while complementing the richness of your dark brown strands. There’s no shortage of colors that flatter dark brown strands — whether it’s subtle caramel highlights to add a bit of dimension or something bold like rose gold highlights, read on to discover our favorite highlighting ideas for dark brown hair.  

1. Ombré

When starting with dark hair, ombré highlights are great because, with this style, the roots are darker than the ends. The word ombré means to shadow, and when it comes to hair, it’s meant to be a gradation from dark at the roots to lighter ends. It looks amazing on brunettes because ombré highlights can give your hair a ton of contrast from root to tip and you can customize your highlight color to flatter your base hair color. 

Ombré highlights are also popular because they are super-low maintenance and easy to take care of since you’re not dyeing your roots. That means when your highlights start to grow out, you don’t have to touch things up right away. 

Editor’s tip: For a more seamless look, try the color melt technique to give your roots the most gradual and low-maintenance dark to light transition.

2. Sombré

If ombré is a little too bold for you, then give sombré highlights — a more subtle, toned-down version of ombré highlights — a go. You can still get that gradient effect, but with a softer overall appearance. To get these subtle highlights, start by choosing a shade that is a few shades lighter than your current hair color. Remember, the transition should be gradual when opting for this technique.

3. Blonde Highlights

If you’re looking for a bold look with lots of contrast, go for blonde highlights. To make it blend seamlessly, pick a highlight shade with the same undertones as your base color. For example, if you have cool-toned brown hair, opt for blonde highlights with cool, ashy undertones. 

4. Caramel Highlights

When it comes to warm-toned highlights, caramel highlights reign supreme on dark brown strands because they look so good. This rich, gilded shade looks particularly flattering against skin with warm undertones. A colorist can help perfectly blend your highlights, but you can also get the look at home with easy cap highlights using the tried-and-true L’Oréal Paris La Petite Frost in Creme Caramel.

5. Bronde

As the name suggests, bronde highlights are a combination of blonde and brown color. Technically, bronde hair is equal parts blonde and brown, which results in an overall dirty blonde color that we love for any time of the year. 

The bronde look is also customizable to your natural hair and skin undertones. If you have a warm skin tone, opt for bronde highlights with subtle golden, amber and honey undertones. If your skin tone is cooler, pick an icier hue for your highlights. To achieve a natural look, stick to a color that’s just one or two shades lighter than your regular hair color. 

6. Light Brown Highlights

Just because you have brown hair doesn’t mean you have to get blonde highlights. Opt for a light brown shade that can still add vibrance, like chestnut highlights. Dark brown hair with shades of light brown highlights will still add plenty of dimension to your dark hair without so much contrast. This is ideal if you want brunette strands that are natural and subtle-looking.

7. Balayage 

Developed by French hair colorists in the '70s, balayage has gained popularity over the decades. In French, the word balayage means to sweep. As such, balayage highlights are created with a freehand streaking (or sweeping) technique for a natural-looking effect. 

The balayage technique is usually applied to a darker base with lighter highlights. The result is typically a little lighter than bronde hair, and it focuses on a more natural progression. If you’re looking for a lived-in, sun-kissed look, this is for you.

8. Cool-Toned Balayage

The cool-toned balayage technique is exactly what it sounds like: a version of balayage that uses cool tones to provide dimension to the hair. After the highlights are placed, the hair is toned once again to create a cool-toned color. Since dark brown hair tends to be on the cooler side, this is an especially fitting choice for brunettes who aren’t looking for a drastic change in their color but still want to get highlights. 

9. Highlights and Lowlights 

Contrary to popular belief, brown hair can totally rock lowlights. Along with highlights, lowlights are a great way to add dimension and depth to dark brown hair. The highlights will help add lightness to your dark brown hair while the lowlights will create shadows., plus, lowlights are a great way to add brightness without damaging your hair with bleach.

10. Red Highlights 

Dark brown hair with red highlights is a great option if you’re looking to play with vivid color. There are plenty of ways to achieve red highlights — from cherry red to golden copper hair to auburn to rich mahogany strands, the options are endless and ultra-flattering. 

If you already have highlighted brown hair, DIY red highlights with the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Burgundy. This temporary color lasts four to ten shampoos making it the perfect way to play with vibrant tones sans the long-term commitment.

Editor’s tip: Switch it up and opt for a blend of pink and red highlights to achieve a strawberry brunette shade.

Next: How to Lighten Dark Brown Hair

Edited by: Reece Andavolgyi, Written by: Alyssa Kaplan, Photo Credit: Matthew Kelly

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