Brown hair with blonde highlights is a classic combination that has been adapted across generations. Being one of the most versatile canvasses, brown hair allows you to play with color, be it subtle or bold, and to add dimension to your hair. One such dimension is attained scattering your brown hair with blonde highlights.
The timeless trend of lacing brown hair with blonde highlights is a wonderful way to accent your hair and give it a fresh lease on life. Techniques ranging from lemon juice and sunlight to salon perfection allow people to showcase their individuality, just by adding a pop of color. Who said brunette is boring?
Many first-timers gravitate to this combo as it is accepted across all walks of life: from work, to weddings, from school to the big screen, blonde highlights add movement to brown hair, creating the illusion of fuller, fresher and well-loved hair.
Table of Contents
30 different ways to freshen up brown hair with blonde highlights:
1. Going Short: Short Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
Short brown hair with blonde highlights is a wonderful way to add some spunk to your look. Here, cool-toned blonde has been strategically placed to create light and shadows in and amongst the hair and to add texture to the whole look.
2. Going Long: Long Brown Hair with Blonde Highlights
This longer look creates an image of soft romance in the fading sun. Chocolate brown hair has been elevated with slight touches of ash blonde peeking through with warm caramel tones to create depth.
3. Going Dark: Dark brown hair with blonde highlights
Dark brown hair with blonde highlights is a thing that some women are afraid of as the idea creates too much of a contrast. To them we say, keep the faith! Dark brown hair can be elevated by incorporating thin strands of blonde babylights that adds a gentle sparkle to your hair.
4. Going Bold: Ribbon Highlights for Light Brown Hair
This style of ribbon highlights takes you back to the days of Christina Aguilera circa “Dirrty”. This style incorporates blonde hair with brown highlights and creates the kind of contract the previous post was trying to avoid. It’s bold, it’s a statement and it looks gorgeous!
5. Going Trendy: Dark Base Highlight with light Gold Brown Hair
The Kardashian sisters are permanent hairspiration! Khloe here is rocking a “shadow root” that is created by applying a smoky, dark base before adding in the blonde and brown tones, giving the illusion of blonde hair with slight brown highlights. The benefit of such a look is that it is easily maintained when it is growing out.
6. Going Romantic: Golden-brown Curly hair with blonde highlight
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s waves of golden-brown hair with blonde highlights speaks to the rose-gold soul. The pops of champagne-colored highlights on a caramel base add warmth to the overall look while putting you in mind of that perfect tan that emerges after a day at the beach.
7. Going Soft: Light brown hair with caramel blonde highlights
Cool, caramel toned blonde highlights are the perfect way of offsetting light brown hair. Fine strands of color are woven through sections of hair to create movement in straight hair. It’s subtle and perfect for the workplace professional.
8. Going Mushroom: Brunette hair with blonde highlights
Mushroom hair is a new trend for the fall season that is all about appearing neutral. This is the effect of brunette hair with blonde highlights is created by dispersing fine strands of browns and ash blondes that closely resemble the colors found on a button mushroom. The effect is soft yet glamorous.
9. Going Dirty: Dirty Medium brown hair with blonde highlights
Dirty Brunette is a technique of blending medium brown hair with blonde highlights but the blonde in question is kept well within the territory of brunette. The hair remains a rich, pretty brown but is still brightened with neutral highlights.
10. Going Cool: Beautiful Ashy Blonde Highlights in Brown Hair
Ashy cool tones are a fantastic way of making one’s skin appear warmer. The cooler colors are weaved through warm-toned hair, using shades of honey blonde and ash. This is for those girls who want to maintain their brown hair but still like the look of lightness coming through. Oh, and such short brown hair with blonde highlights has the added benefit of concealing the stray grey hairs!
11. Going Warm: Dark blonde highlights in Neutral caramel Brown Hair
The warmth here is created by keeping a neutral base and adding fine strands of caramel and ash. These colors infuse brown hair with dark blonde highlights, adding movement to still hair without the danger of turning mousey.
12. Going Beachy: Peachy Blonde Highlighted Ideas
These strategically placed highlights make you think of fun in the tropical sun, where the rays have naturally bleached your gorgeous tresses. In true balayage style, steaks of blonde are painted light brown hair in sections, concentrating the color at the ends and to frame the face. The play of light and warm making for a beautiful combination.
13. Going Molten: Loosely wavy, medium brown hair with dark blonde highlights
Think about chocolate lava cake with a caramel center… now think about these tresses. Here, medium brown hair has been laced with dark blonde highlights that capture and trap the light into the hair creating a beautiful melt of colors that you can’t help but touch!
14. Going Gentle: Delicious chocolate brown hair with warm blonde highlights
A delicate balayage brightens up chocolate brown hair with warm blonde highlights. A look like this is created by concentrating the lightest color at the ends and the warmer colors closer to the crown. The added benefit is that it is very easily maintained and trips to the salon are few as there is little to no root touch-ups.
15.Going Icy: Tousled Icy blonde highlights in light brown hair
When light brown hair is flushed with icy blonde highlights, the result the best kind of frost imaginable. Cool brown lowlights are mixed with ice white highlights that looks best on short to medium length hair. Add a sparkly hair accessory to wavy hair and it’s the perfect date night look!
16. Going Retro: Sleek, dark brown hair with dark blonde chunky highlights.
The queen of glam channels the ‘90s in this soft brown look. The pairing of dark brown hair with dark blonde highlights has created a glossy look that compliments the warmth on her skin. Even though this is the campaign picture for her new collection, it’s the hair that steals the show.
17.Going Toffee: Loosely curled medium brown hair with light blonde highlights.
This fresh look involves medium brown hair that is feathered through with medium to ash blonde highlights. The result is of a yummy, toffee cappuccino that is perfect for anyone who wants a subtle hit of color that doesn’t take away from their natural hair.
18. Going Slowly: Dark Brown hair with warm cinnamon lowlights
This is for the beginners who aren’t quite ready to commit to going very light. Dark brown hair is subtly illuminated with cinnamon and blonde highlights that add gentle movement without any drastic change. It is a slow dance between the light and dark that compliments and moves together, beautifully.
19.Going Curly: Playfully warm brown hair with yummy blonde highlights
These dark, bouncy, beautiful curls have been brought to life with a splash of color. Warm, brown hair is saturated with yummy blonde highlights of butterscotch and caramel that will bring the curls to life. The blonde highlights have been toned through to appear as though the tresses themselves are holding sunlight.
20. Going Nude: Sleek Nude brown hair with blonde highlights
Nude brown with blonde highlights is having a moment and we are living for it! This is a color trend involving a sandy hue that is created by weaving through the finest strands of hair on a brown base and topping it off with cool ashy blondes. This gorgeous color suits all skin tones, warm and cool.
21. Going Smoky: Angular short brown hair with cool blonde highlights
Super edgy and trendy, this cool, smoky bob is a go-to for those who refuse to be one of the many. This technique pairs short brown hair with blonde highlights by sectioning, backcombing and coloring through to create a seamless blend of contrasting colors that makes cooler skin tones pop.
22. Going Shiny: Glossy medium brown hair with blonde highlights
A super tight blend of varying techniques has been incorporated to curate this ensemble. Medium brown hair is streaked through with blond highlights and lowlights, giving the illusion of sunbeams and moonbeams racing to shine through the hair. Perfect for those who wish to stand out.
23. Going Low: Dark brown hair with icy blonde balayage highlights
Blonde balayage broke out onto the scene in 2015 and it is here to stay! This technique creates a seamless blend of colors that normally wouldn’t mix but it is so gorgeous, how can you not want it! The benefit of this style is that you maintain your natural color while adding a splash in as well. Here, dark brown hair is met with blonde highlights that blend in a beautiful ombre. Moreover, when you want to change it up, simply cut off the dried ends and start over.
24. Going Tousled: Dark blonde hair with brown and blonde highlights
Yet another throwback to the ‘90s, this tousled style starts dark and is juxtaposed with thick sections of blonde, bronze, and chestnut. It is the perfect style to incorporate short dark blonde hair with brown highlights. Be fearless, be tousled and be you.
25.Going Caffeinated: Yummy dark brown hair with coffee toned blonde highlights
Coffee doesn’t have to be limited to your cup. Go ahead and spread the joy by adding a shot of espresso and splash of lait to your lovely long locks. Dark brown hair would be ideal for such blonde highlights and lowlights. Go out and wake up the world with your coffee inspired tresses.
26. Going Summery: Sun kissed blonde highlights in medium brown hair
Sun-kissed hair is the thing of dreams! This California style look incorporates medium brown hair with blonde highlights that are made to be worn long and wavy. Full of movement and pizzazz, this style looks like there is always a wind machine aimed at you.
27.Going Glamorous: Loosely wavy brown hair with honey blonde highlights
This hair was designed for you, glamour girl! Long, voluminous, cool brown tresses are frosted with a myriad of honey blonde highlights to sparkle and shine in any light. The highlights are deliberately placed and hand-painted to maximize ‘oomph’ and draw every eye. Toss on an LBD, slick some lip gloss and you’re golden (no pun intended).
28. Going Royal: Dark brown lowlights in warm honey hair
All hail Queen Bey! More than brunette, Beyoncé is been known for her gorgeous honeyed tresses. Perfect for warm skin toned people, her hair encapsulates shadow roots, dark brown lowlights, and a generous warm honey base. It makes a statement while maintaining its poise low-key sass. Okay ladies, now let’s get information!
29. Going Cold Brew: Soft coffee colored blonde highlights in brunette hair
According to celebrity stylists, ‘cold brew’ hair is when lighter blonde tones are carefully and strategically placed on the mid to lower sections of the hair as a means of boosting brunette hair with blond highlights and making the overall look pop! The overall effect is soo yummy!
30. Going Fresh: Glossy dark brown hair with caramel blonde highlights.
Medium length hair is a hot favorite for those who want to freshen up their style and maintain a comfortable length. Calling all the ladies who love them a monochrome look – dark brown hair laced with glossy caramel highlights that are gentle positions to capture the light, frame your face and kiss your shoulders. All you need now is a leather jacket and fall boots to complete this ensemble.
Conclusion
Brown hair with blonde highlights is a quintessential go-to for anyone blessed with brunette locks. Your hair is your crowning glory, but that does not mean that you can’t have fun with it – the world is your oyster! The above-listed styles are just the tip of the iceberg if you’re ready to explore the possibilities. Find a stylist you trust with your life and then have at it. Cut it, color it, add texture, style it, curl it, blow it out. Bring your fierce personality out into the world and we hope that the listed styles are a good guide to help you navigate your brown hair with blonde highlights.
